Fixture device for use in connection of flat wire member with terminal connector

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a fixture device for use in electrical connection of a flat cable, a ribbon wire, a FPC (flexible printed circuit) or like flat wire member, in which flat rectangular conductors are arrayed side by side, with a circuit board or the like.

There has been generally known a connector assembly for flat wire member which assembly is comprised of a connector for circuit board (terminal-side connector) which accommodates a plurality of terminals side by side and is to be mounted on a circuit board, and a mating connector (wire-side connector) to be mounted on an end portion of a flat wire member such as a flat cable, the flat wire member being connected with the circuit board by connecting the two connectors.

In such a connector assembly, the flat wire member has its end portion processed to expose conductors to outside, and this end portion is supported on a plate-shaped supporting member provided in the wire-side connector. When the two connectors are connected, the end portion of the flat wire member is inserted together with the supporting member into the terminal-side connector to bring the respective conductors into contact with the terminals. As a result, the respective conductors of the flat wire member and patterns on the circuit board are electrically connected.

Electrical connection of audio equipments installed in an automotive vehicle is, for example, thought as one of applications of the connector assembly for flat wire member as above.

As automotive vehicles have come to possess more functions in recent years, the number of such audio equipments is on the increase, forcing the audio equipments to be laid out in a limited narrow space. Thus, at the time of assembling, repairing and inspecting the audio equipment, the flat wire member needs to be inserted and detached in a narrow space.

However, in many cases, the detaching operation cannot be performed in such a narrow space by gripping the connector fast, making the insertion and detachment of the flat wire member difficult. Particularly, if the connector assembly is small, the inserting and detaching operations are even more difficult. Therefore, it is desired to solve this problem from the structural aspect of the connector assembly.

In addition to the above type of the connector assembly for flat wire member in which the two connectors are connected with each other, there is, for example, a connector assembly of the type in which conductors of the flat wire member are brought into contact with terminals by directly inserting an end portion of the flat wire member into the terminal-side connector and placing a plate-shaped member called slider on or under this end portion of the flat wire member. In the connector assembly of this type, the slider needs to be inserted and detached upon inserting and detaching the flat wire member. The inserting or detaching operation may not be performed in a narrow space by gripping the slider fast. Similar to the connector assembly of the former type, it is difficult to insert and detach the flat wire member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fixture device for use in connection of a flat wire member with a terminal connector which is free from the problems residing in the prior art.

According to an aspect of the invention, a fixture device is used in connection of a flat wire member with a terminal-side connector for accommodating terminals. The fixture device comprises: a housing having a shape engageable with the terminal-side connector for holding conductors of a flat wire member in contact with the terminals when the housing is placed in the terminal-side connector; and a handle changeable between an accommodated position and a used position, the handle extending in a direction opposite from an engaging direction of the housing with the terminal-side connector when the handle is located at the used position.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a perspective view showing an audio unit to be installed in an automotive vehicle to which a connector assembly for flat wire member according to an embodiment of the invention is applied;

FIG. 2

is a perspective view showing a terminal-side connector to be mounted on a circuit board of a CD player and a wire-side connector for a flat cable to be connected with the terminal-side connector;

FIG. 3

is an exploded perspective view showing the terminal-side and wire-side connectors;

FIGS. 4A and 4B

are sections showing constructions of the terminal-side and wire-side connectors prior to and at an intermediate stage of connection of the two connectors, respectively;

FIGS. 5A and 5B

are sectional views showing constructions of the terminal-side and wire-side connectors at an intermediate stage of and after connection of the two connectors, respectively;

FIG. 6

is a sectional view showing constructions of the terminal-side and wire-side connectors;

FIG. 7

is a plan view showing a construction of the flat cable;

FIG. 8

is a sectional view along the line

8

—

8

in

FIG. 7

showing the construction of the flat cable;

FIG. 9

is a sectional view along the line

9

—

9

in

FIG. 7

showing the construction of the flat cable;

FIGS. 10A and 10B

are sectional views showing construction of the wire-side connector before and after being connected or assembled with the flat cable, respectively;

FIG. 11

is a perspective view of a holder forming the wire-side connector;

FIGS. 12A

,

12

B and

12

C are sectional views showing constructions of the terminal-side and wire-side connectors, corresponding to

FIGS. 4B

,

5

A and

5

B, respectively;

FIG. 13

is a perspective view showing a connected state of the terminal-side and wire-side connectors;

FIG. 14A

is a sectional view along the line

14

A—

14

A in

FIG. 14B

;

FIG. 14B

is a plan view showing a housing of a wire-side connector according to a modification of the first embodiment;

FIGS. 15A and 15B

are sectional views showing a construction of the connector assembly according to the modification of the first embodiment prior to and after connection of the two connectors, respectively;

FIGS. 16A and 16B

are sectional views showing a construction of the connector assembly according to the modification of the first embodiment when a lock piece starts being unlocked and when the lock piece is completely unlocked, respectively;

FIG. 17

is a perspective view showing a connector assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention comprised of a terminal-side connector to be mounted on a circuit board of a CD player and a wire-side connector for a flat cable to be connected with the terminal-side connector;

FIG. 18

is an exploded perspective view showing the terminal-side connector and the wire-side connector of the second embodiment;

FIG. 19

is a perspective view showing the terminals-side connector and the wire-side connector of the second embodiment when being viewed from below;

FIG. 20

is a diagram showing a housing of the wire-side connector of the second embodiment;

FIGS. 21A

,

21

B and

21

C are sectional views showing constructions of the terminal-side and wire-side connectors of the second embodiment prior to, at an intermediate stage of and after connection of the two connectors, respectively;

FIGS. 22A and 22B

are sectional views showing constructions of the terminal-side and wire-side connectors of the second embodiment at an intermediate stage of and after connection of the two connectors, respectively;

FIG. 23

is a perspective view showing a connected state of the terminal-side connector and the wire-side connector of the second embodiment;

FIG. 24

is a perspective view showing a connector assembly for flat wire member according to a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 25

is an exploded perspective view showing the connector of the third embodiment;

FIGS. 26A and 26B

are sectional views showing the connector assembly of the third embodiment prior to and after connection of the flat wire member;

FIG. 27

is a perspective view showing a connector assembly for flat wire member according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 28

is an exploded perspective view showing a wire-side connector of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 29

is a perspective view of the wire-side connector, when being viewed from below;

FIGS. 30A and 30B

are sectional views showing the connector assembly of the fourth embodiment prior to and after connection of the flat wire member;

FIG. 31

is a perspective view showing a connector assembly for flat wire member according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 32

is an exploded perspective view showing a wire-side connector of the fifth embodiment;

FIGS. 33A and 33B

are sectional views showing the connector assembly of the fifth embodiment prior to and after connection of the flat wire member; and

FIGS. 34A and 34B

are perspective views showing an example in which the wire-side connector of the connector assembly of the fifth embodiment is provided with a jig insertion portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1

schematically shows an audio unit to be installed in an automotive vehicle, embodying the invention. In

FIG. 1

, identified by

10

is a casing having openings at its front and rear sides, and a main circuit board

12

for centrally controlling this unit, a CD player

14

, a MD (mini-disc) player

16

and a CS (cassette) player

18

are accommodated and fixed in this order from above inside this casing

10

.

The respective players

14

,

16

,

18

have insertion openings

14

a,

16

a,

18

a

for corresponding media, and are accommodated in the casing

10

such that these insertion openings

14

a,

16

a,

18

a

face a front opening

10

a

of the casing

10

. These players

14

,

16

,

18

are assembled in a passenger's compartment with the insertion openings

14

a,

16

a,

18

a

thereof faced toward the passenger's compartment by mounting the casing

10

on an instrument panel from behind. Thus, the media can be inserted and taken out in the passenger's compartment. Though not shown, a panel (execution panel) provided with operable members for operating the respective players

14

,

16

,

18

is mounted on the front side of the casing

10

.

The respective players

14

,

16

,

18

are provided with flat wire members

15

,

17

,

19

for electrical connection (flat cables in this embodiment: hereinafter referred to as cables

15

,

17

,

19

) and connectors C

14

, C

16

, C

18

(terminal-side connectors). By connecting the cables

15

,

17

,

19

of the players

14

,

16

,

18

with the connectors C

12

, C

14

, C

16

of the main circuit board

12

or the players

14

,

16

,

18

located vertically adjacent with the main circuit board

12

and the players

14

,

16

,

18

accommodated while being vertically arranged as described above, the players

14

,

16

,

18

are electrically connected in a chain with the main circuit board

12

.

The respective connectors C

14

, C

16

, C

18

of the players

14

,

16

,

18

and the respective cables

15

,

17

,

19

have the same construction, so that, even if the players

14

,

16

,

18

are rearranged or any of them is omitted, they are connectable with each other. Hereinafter, these constructions are described, taking the CD player

14

as an example.

As shown in

FIGS. 2

,

3

and

4

A, the CD player

14

has a circuit board P inside its casing

140

(see FIG.

4

A), and the connector C

14

is provided on the lower surface of the circuit board P. The connector C

14

is a connector for circuit board, is secured to the circuit board P by being mounted and is exposed to outside at the bottom side of the CD player

14

via an opening

14

b

formed in the casing

140

.

The connector C

14

is formed at its front side (left side in

FIG. 4A

) with a section to be connected with the cable

17

of the MD player

16

, and the cable

15

of the CD player

14

is fixedly inserted at its rear side.

More specifically, the connector C

14

has a female housing

20

narrow in the widthwise direction of the CD player

14

(direction normal to the plane of FIG.

4

A: hereinafter referred to merely as widthwise direction). This housing

20

is formed with two connection sections

21

A,

21

B separated along the widthwise direction (vertical direction in

FIG. 6

) as shown in FIG.

6

.

A plurality of cavities

22

are formed side by side along the widthwise direction in each connection section

21

A,

21

B, and terminals

24

(see

FIG. 4A

; not shown in

FIG. 6

) are accommodated in the respective cavities

22

. As shown in FIG:

4

A, each terminal

24

is comprised of a bottom portion

24

d

extending in forward and backward directions along the bottom of the cavity

22

, resiliently deformable pieces

24

a

,

24

b

for connection which extend forward and backward from a middle portion of the bottom portion

24

d

and are vertically resiliently changeable, and a leg portion

24

c

extending obliquely upward to the back from the middle between the resiliently deformable pieces

24

a

24

b

. Each terminal

24

is electrically connected with a circuit on the circuit board by the leg portion

24

c

thereof being soldered to a land or the like (not shown) on the circuit board P.

In the front surface of the housing

20

, insertion openings

26

A,

26

B for the cable (cable

17

of the MD player

16

) corresponding to the respective connection sections

21

A,

21

B are independently formed. During connection of the cable

17

, connectors C

22

of the cable

17

to be described later are inserted into the housing

20

through these insertion openings

26

A,

26

B to bring the respective conductors of the cable

17

into contact with the front resiliently deformable pieces

24

a

of the respective terminals

24

. In other words, in the first embodiment, the connector assembly for the flat wire material according to the present invention is formed by the connector C

14

(C

12

, C

16

, C

18

) and the connectors C

22

.

Tubular hoods

27

are formed around the respective insertion openings

26

A,

26

B, and the connectors C

22

of the cable

17

are fitted into these hoods

27

during connection of the cable

17

. Further, guide grooves

28

for guiding the connectors C

22

of the cable

17

are formed at the opposite widthwise ends of the respective insertion openings

26

A,

26

B.

On the other hand, the rear surface of the housing

20

is formed with an insertion opening

30

narrow in widthwise direction and common to the both connection sections

21

A,

21

B, and a slider

32

is insertably and detachably supported in this insertion opening

30

.

As shown in

FIG. 3

, the slider

32

is a narrow member extending in the widthwise direction of the housing

20

, and includes a tongue

34

extending in its longitudinal direction and fixing hooks

36

at its opposite ends. The slider

32

is inserted into the housing

20

through the insertion opening

30

together with the cable

15

while being placed on the cable

15

, and is attached to the housing

20

by engaging the hooks

36

with projections

38

formed on the side walls of the housing

20

, thereby fixing the cable

15

inserted into the connector C

14

. A method for fixing the cable

15

is described in detail later.

Inside the housing

20

of the connector C

14

, a pair of locking pieces

40

resiliently deformable in widthwise direction are provided near the respective insertion openings

26

A,

26

B and at the opposite outer sides of the respective connection sections

21

A,

21

B as shown in FIG.

6

. Each locking piece

40

is provided with a hook

40

a

at its leading end (left end in FIG.

6

). When the connectors C

22

mounted on the cable

17

are inserted into the housing

20

through the respective insertion openings

26

A,

26

B, the hooks

40

a

are engaged with locking portions

60

a

of the connectors C

22

to be described later.

As shown in

FIGS. 7

to

9

, the cable

15

takes a forked structure by cutting away a middle portion (widthwise middle portion) of one end portion (left end portion of

FIG. 7

) to split this end portion into split pieces

44

A,

44

B. Ends of the cable

15

(i.e., end where the split pieces

44

A,

44

B are located and an end opposite therefrom) are processed to expose conductors

2

, and reinforcing plates

4

,

6

for restricting the deformation of the cable end portions are secured to the rear surfaces of these end portions. Positioning plates

8

are additionally secured to the reinforcing plates

4

of the split pieces

44

A,

44

B at a position more backward (rightward in

FIG. 8

) than the exposed sections of the conductors

2

.

The cable

15

is connected with and fixed to the connector C

14

with the end thereof opposite from the split pieces

44

A,

44

B inserted into the housing

20

through the insertion opening

30

in the rear surface of the connector C

14

. Specifically, after the end of the cable

15

is loosely fitted into the housing

20

through the insertion opening

30

in the rear surface as shown in

FIG. 4A

, the slider

32

is inserted into the housing

20

through the insertion opening

30

as shown in FIG.

4

B. Then, the end of the cable

15

is pushed up by the tongue

34

of the slider

32

, thereby fixing the conductors

2

of the cable

15

while holding them in contact with the deformable pieces

24

b

of the terminals

24

accommodated in the respective connection sections

21

A,

21

B. The respective conductors

2

of the cable

15

are connected with the circuits of the circuit board P via the terminals

24

by the contact thereof with the terminals

24

. Partial locking projections

6

a

are formed at the opposite widthwise ends of the reinforcing plate

6

of the cable

15

as shown in FIG.

7

. When the end of the cable

15

is loosely inserted into the housing

20

through the insertion opening

30

(state shown in FIG.

4

A), the cable

15

can be partly locked in the housing

20

until the slider

32

is inserted by engaging the projections

6

a

with recesses

37

formed in the inner surfaces of the side walls of the housing

20

(see FIG.

6

).

Although the conductors

2

are present at the middle portion (widthwise middle portion) of the cable

15

according to this embodiment, this middle portion of the cable

15

is a dead space over its longitudinal direction since the middle portion at one end portion is cut away to form the split pieces

44

A,

44

B as described above. Thus, the conductors

2

at the middle portion are also omitted as shown in

FIG. 7

at the end of the cable

15

to be fixed to the connector C

14

(i.e., end opposite from the split pieces

44

A,

44

B).

On the other hand, the connectors C

22

(fixture devices; wire-side connectors) are mounted on the ends of the respective split pieces

44

A,

44

B of the cable

15

as shown in

FIGS. 2 and 3

. Although the connectors C

22

are mounted on the cable

17

in

FIGS. 2 and 3

, since the cables

15

,

17

have a common construction as described above, the cable

15

is described below, if necessary, with reference to

FIGS. 2 and 3

for the sake of convenience.

Each connector C

22

is comprised of a housing

50

a

and the holder

50

b

as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 10A

, and is mountable on the end of the split piece

44

A (

44

B) of the cable

15

by inserting the holder

50

b

into the housing

50

a

while placing the holder

50

b

on the split piece

44

A (

44

B).

Specifically, the housing

50

a

has a tubular shell portion

52

formed with an insertion hole

51

narrow in widthwise direction and penetrating in forward and backward directions (transverse direction in

FIG. 10

) into which hole the holder

50

b

and the like are insertable. This shell portion

52

is provided with a lock piece

54

in the form of a thin plate and serving as a handle at its rear end (left end in

FIG. 10A

) and at an upper part of an insertion opening

51

a

of the holder

50

b.

This lock piece

54

is vertically pivotal (bendable) about its base end between an exposure position to expose the insertion opening

51

a

(position shown in

FIG. 10A

) and a closing position to close the insertion opening

51

a

(accommodated position shown in FIG.

10

B). By holding the lock piece

54

at a substantially horizontal position (used position) during its pivotal movement (see FIG.

13

), the connector C

22

extends in a direction opposite (left side in

FIG. 4A

) from the connecting direction thereof with the connector C

14

. The lock piece

54

has elongated projections

54

a

formed on its outer surface to prevent a slip.

Further, a pair of leg portions

56

are provided at the opposite widthwise ends of the shell portion

52

. When the lock piece

54

is bent to reach the closing position, hooks

58

formed on the leg portions

56

are engaged with the lock piece

54

to lock the lock piece

54

at the closing position. In other words, the locking mechanism according to the present invention is formed by the hooks

58

and the like.

On the other hand, the holder

50

b

is a plate member having a flat alignment surface

60

on top as shown in

FIG. 11

, and is placed on the rear surface (reinforcing plate

4

) of the split piece

44

A(

44

B) via the alignment surface

60

. A positioning recess

62

is formed at a rear part (left part in

FIG. 10A

) of the alignment surface

60

in order to restrict a displacement of the split piece

44

A(

44

B) and the holder

50

b

by fitting the positioning plate

8

of the split piece

44

A(

44

B) into the recess

62

. An interference preventing rib

64

for protecting the cable

15

from interference during connection such as turning-up of the conductors

2

is formed at the leading end (right end in

FIG. 10A

) of the holder

50

b.

The connector C

22

is mounted on the split piece

44

A(

44

B) as follows. The holder

50

b

is placed on the rear surface of the split piece

44

A(

44

B) via the alignment surface

60

as shown in

FIG. 10A

, and the split piece

44

A(

44

B) is inserted together with the holder

50

b

into the insertion hole

51

of the housing

50

a

from its leading end (i.e., from the rib

64

of the holder

50

b

) in this state. Then, the lock piece

54

is so bend as to close the insertion opening

51

a

of the housing

50

a

, and is locked by being pushed between the two hooks

58

. In this way, the connector C

22

is mounted on the split piece

44

A(

44

B).

With the connector C

22

mounted on the split piece

44

A(

44

B), the exposed sections of the conductors

2

at the end of the split piece

44

A(

44

B) are supported together with the holder

50

b

while projecting from the opposite side of the shell portion

52

of the housing

50

a

as shown in FIG.

10

B. Further, as shown in

FIG. 10B

, a hook

68

formed on the rear surface of the holder

50

b

is engaged with a locking hole

52

a

formed in the inner bottom wall of the shell portion

52

of the housing

50

a

, with the result that the holder

50

b

is doubly locked in the housing

50

a

in cooperation with the lock piece

54

so as not to come out of the housing

50

a.

The locking portions

60

a

project at the opposite widthwise ends of the holder

50

b

of the connector C

22

as shown in

FIG. 11

, and a pair of guides

66

which are elongated projections extending in forward and backward directions (transverse direction in

FIG. 10A

) are provided at the opposite widthwise ends of the rear surface of the holder

50

b.

The constructions of the connector C

14

, the cable

15

and the like are described above, taking the CD player

14

as an example. The connectors C

16

, C

18

, the cable

17

,

19

and the like of the other players

16

,

18

have the same constructions as the connector C

14

and the cable

15

of the CD player

14

. Further, the connector C

12

to be mounted on the main circuit board

12

also has the same construction as the connector C

14

of the CD player

14

.

The cables

15

,

17

,

19

of the respective players

14

,

16

,

18

are bent as shown in

FIG. 1

, and are drawn to the tops of the front surfaces of the players

14

,

16

,

18

while being laid along the side surfaces of the players

14

,

16

,

18

.

The audio unit as above is assembled as follows. First, the main circuit board

12

, the CD player

14

, the MD player

16

and the CS player

18

are fixed in a specified order in the casing

10

, and the cables

15

,

17

,

19

of the respective players

14

,

16

,

18

are connected with the players or the like located right above. Specifically, the cable

15

of the CD player

14

is connected with the connector C

12

of the main circuit board

12

; the cable

17

of the MD player

16

with the connector C

14

of the CD player

14

; and the cable

19

of the CS player

18

with the connector C

16

of the MD player

16

.

For example, in the case of connecting the cable

17

of the MD player

16

with the connector C

14

of the CD player

14

, the respective connectors C

22

of the cable

17

are opposed to the respective insertion openings

26

A,

26

B of the connector C

14

, and the projecting portions of the holders

50

b

of the respective connectors C

22

are inserted into the insertion openings

26

A,

26

B from their leading ends as shown in

FIGS. 4B and 12A

. At this time, the connectors C

22

are inserted into the insertion openings

26

A,

26

B while the guides

66

of the holders

50

b

are guided along the guide grooves

28

formed in the insertion openings

26

A,

26

B.

In this way, the housings

50

a

(shell portions

52

) of the respective connectors C

22

are fitted into the hoods

27

of the connector C

14

, i.e., a state shown in

FIGS. 5A and 12A

changes to a state shown in

FIGS. 5B and 12B

. As the connector C

22

is inserted, a pair of locking pieces

40

inside the connector C

14

are pushed wider apart by the locking portions

60

a

formed on the holder

50

b

. When the holder

50

b

is inserted to the back end of the connector C

22

, the hooks

40

a

of the respective locking pieces

40

are engaged with the corresponding locking portions

60

a

of the holder

50

b

, with the result that each connector C

22

is locked into the connector C

14

. Each locking portion

60

a

of the holder

50

b

is formed into such a substantially trapezoidal shape in plan view which is tapered from its base end toward its leading end. Accordingly, this locked state is a so-called “semi-locked” state and, when being pulled in a withdrawing direction with a specified force or larger, the connector C

22

can be detached from the connector C

14

while being unlocked.

When the connectors C

22

are thus connected with the connector C

14

, the exposed sections of the conductors

2

of the cable

17

are inserted into the connection sections

21

A,

21

B of the connector C

14

together with the holder

50

b

, thereby being brought into contact with the deformable pieces

24

a

of the respective terminals

24

. By this contact, the respective conductors

2

of the cable

17

are connected with the circuits of the circuit board P of the CD player

14

via the terminals

24

, and corresponding pairs of the conductors

2

of the cable

15

of the CD player

14

connected with the rear surface of the connector C

14

and those of the cable

17

are connected via the terminals

24

.

In the operation of connecting the cable

15

, etc. with the main circuit board

12

, etc., if, for example, the connectors C

22

are small-size connectors or are spatially restricted, the lock pieces

54

of the connectors C

22

are disengaged (unlocked) as shown in FIG.

13

and the connecting operation can be performed by gripping the lock pieces

54

with fingertips or pliers. By doing so, the connectors C

22

are easier to grip, enabling the connecting operation to be more smoothly performed. In such a case, there is no likelihood that the holder

50

b

comes out of the housing

50

a

since the holder

50

b

is engaged with the housing

50

a

via the hooks

68

even if the lock piece

54

is disengaged.

The respective players

14

,

16

,

18

can be connected with the main circuit board

12

in a chain by connecting the cables

15

,

17

,

19

with the respective players located vertically adjacent to each other.

As described above, in this audio unit, the main circuit board

12

and the respective players

14

,

16

,

18

vertically arrayed are electrically connected in a chain by the cables

15

,

17

,

19

provided in the players

14

,

16

,

18

. The ends of the cables

15

,

17

,

19

of the players

14

,

16

,

18

take a forked structure (split into the split pieces

44

A,

44

B), and the connectors C

22

are mounted on the splits pieces

44

A,

44

B. On the other hand, the connectors C

12

, C

14

, C

16

, C

18

each having two connection sections

21

A,

21

B corresponding to the connectors C

22

are provided as mating connectors. Thus, even in the case that the cables

15

,

17

,

19

have quite a number of conductors

2

, they can be easily and securely connected with the main circuit board

12

and the players

14

,

16

,

18

. Specifically, according to this construction, the connecting operation for the cables

15

,

17

,

19

can be split: after one connector C

22

of the cable

15

,

17

or

19

is connected, the other connector C

22

thereof is connected. Thus, an operation force necessary for one connecting operation of the connector C

22

can be reduced. Therefore, even in the case that the cables

15

,

17

,

19

have quite a number of conductors

2

, they can be easily and securely connected by splitting the connecting operation.

Further, in this audio unit, the connector C

22

is provided with the lock piece

54

serving also as the handle and can be more easily handled by using this locking piece as described above. Thus, the connector C

22

can be inserted into and detached from the connector C

14

while being more securely gripped. Therefore, operability in connecting or detaching the cable

15

, etc. with or from the main circuit board

12

can be improved. Particularly, after the respective players

14

,

16

,

18

are mounted inside an instrument panel, a work space is considerably restricted, making it difficult to insert and detach the connector C

22

for repair, inspection, etc. However, by providing the connector C

22

with the lock piece

54

as described above, the connector C

22

can be smoothly and quickly inserted and detached even in a narrow space.

If the lock piece

54

is locked at the closing position except during the operation of inserting or detaching the connector C

22

, space taken up by the connector C

22

is small. Thus, the connector C

22

does not hinder other operations. It may be considered to, for example, fixedly provide a projection or the like as a grip at part of the connector. However, the inventive construction is more rational than such a construction.

As a modification, the connector C

22

and the connector C

14

(C

12

, C

16

, C

18

) may take such a construction provided with a disengaging mechanism for disconnecting the connector C

22

from the connector C

14

(C

12

, C

16

, C

18

) as the lock piece

54

is unlocked as shown in FIG.

15

A. Hereinafter, this modification is specifically described.

In a connector C

22

shown in

FIG. 15A

is used a housing

50

a

as shown in

FIGS. 14A and 14B

. In this housing

50

a

, a center portion (widthwise center portion) at the base end of the lock piece

54

is not coupled to a shell portion

52

, and a plate-shaped cam member

55

(cam) extends from this center portion. This cam member

55

extends in a direction opposite from a main portion (portion more leftward than a pivotal point in

FIG. 14A

) of the lock piece

54

with respect to the pivotal point (i.e., portion coupled to the shell portion

52

) of the lock piece

54

, and a slidable portion

55

a

extending in widthwise direction and having a substantially circular cross section is provided at a distal end thereof.

The housing

50

a

is constructed such that, when the connector C

22

is mounted on the split piece

44

A(

44

B) of the cable

17

and the lock piece

54

is locked, the cam member

55

of the lock piece

54

stands straight up atop the connector C

22

as shown in FIG.

15

A.

As shown in

FIG. 14B

, dimension “ha” between the pivotal point of the lock piece

54

of the housing

50

a

and a distal end of the main portion is set longer than dimension “hb” between the pivotal point and the slidable portion

55

a

(end of the cam).

On the other hand, in the connector C

14

, a cam follower

29

is integrally formed at the front side (left side in

FIG. 15A

) of the housing

20

as shown in FIG.

15

A. The cam follower

29

is formed to stand atop the respective hoods

27

of the housing

20

, and a slide surface

29

a

which has a curved recess-shaped cross section and on which the slidable portion

55

a

of the cam member

55

can slide is formed on the front surface of the cam follower

29

.

When the connectors C

14

, C

22

of this example are connected, the cam member

55

(slidable portion

55

a

) of the lock piece

54

of the connector C

22

is in contact with the cam follower

29

(slide surface

29

a

) of the connector C

14

as shown in FIG.

15

B. If the lock piece

54

is unlocked to detach the connector C

22

in this state, the lock piece

54

is pivotable (rotatable) about a contact portion of the slidable portion

55

a

of the cam member

55

with the slide surface

29

a

of the cam follower

29

as shown in

FIG. 16A

with the slidable portion

55

a

and the slide surface

29

a

held in contact, and the connector C

22

is moved in withdrawing direction (disengaging direction) with respect to the connector C

14

as the lock piece

54

is pivoted. When the lock piece

54

is displaced to a substantially horizontal position, a partly connected state where the connector C

22

is almost withdrawn from the connector C

14

as shown in

FIG. 16B

is reached.

Specifically, in the connector construction provided with the disengaging mechanism, the connector C can be disconnected from the connector C

14

only by unlocking the lock piece

54

. Further, since the disengaging mechanism serves as a so-called leverage (incorporated with a power-multiplying mechanism) by setting the dimension “ha” of the lock piece

54

of the housing

50

a

from its pivotal point to the distal end of the main portion longer than the dimension “hb” from the pivotal point to the slidable portion

55

a

as described above, the connector C

22

can be disconnected from the connector C

14

with a small operation force by the action of this leverage upon unlocking the lock piece

54

. Accordingly, there is an effect of improving an operability during the detachment of the cable

17

as compared to the connector construction (construction shown in

FIG. 2

, etc.) described above.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is described.

FIGS. 17

to

19

and

21

A show another embodiment of the connectors C

12

, C

14

, C

16

, C

18

and C

22

. The basic constructions of the connectors C

12

to C

18

and the connector C

22

according to the second embodiment are common to those of the first embodiment. Accordingly, no description is given below on the common elements by identifying them by the same reference numerals and differences between the first and second embodiments are described in detail, taking the connector C

14

as an example.

In the connector C

14

of the second embodiment, the locking pieces

40

as in the first embodiment are not provided in the housing

20

(see

FIG. 22A

) and, instead, a pair of locking holes

27

a

for locking the connector C

22

are formed on the ceiling of the hood

27

corresponding to each insertion opening

26

A,

26

B. The guide grooves

28

for guiding the connector C

22

are not provided in the housing

20

, either.

The construction of the connector C

22

according to the second embodiment is similar to that of the connector C

22

according to the first embodiment in being comprised of the housing

50

a

and the holder

50

b

. However, these two connectors C

22

are different in following points.

Specifically, the housing

50

a

of the second embodiment includes a rear plate

70

a

, side plates

70

b

and a ceiling plate

70

c

and has a substantially L-shaped cross section as shown in

FIG. 20. A

guiding portion

72

extending in forward and backward directions (transverse direction in

FIG. 21A

) for guiding the holder

50

b

is formed on the inner wall of each side plate

70

b

of the housing

50

a

, and a locking hole

74

for locking the holder

50

b

is formed in each guiding portion

72

.

Further, a pair of pressing bars

76

intersecting with each other and resiliently deformable extend obliquely with respect to widthwise direction from the inner wall surface of the rear plate

70

a.

A pair of handles

78

in the form of a thin plate are provided on the outer wall surface of the rear plate

70

a

as shown in

FIGS. 17 and 18

. The handles

78

are secured to the widthwise center of the rear plate

70

a

and are pivotal about their base ends, i.e., fixed ends between an accommodated position (position shown in

FIG. 17

, etc.) where the handles

78

are laid over the outer wall surface of the rear plate

70

a

and a used position where the handles

78

are upright with respect to the rear plate

70

a

and held back-to-back (see FIG.

23

). A hook

78

a

is formed at the leading end of each handle

78

. When the handles

78

are set at the accommodated position, the hooks

78

a

are engaged with the side plates

70

b

via the locking holes

79

formed in the side plates

70

b

, with the result that the handles

78

are locked at the accommodated position. In other words, the locking mechanism of the present invention is formed by the locking holes

79

, etc.

Protuberances

80

corresponding to the locking holes

27

a

of the connector C

14

are formed on the upper surface of the ceiling plate

70

c

of the housing

50

a

as shown in FIG.

18

.

On the other hand, the holder

50

b

of the second embodiment is basically identical to that of the first embodiment, but no rib

64

is provided at the leading end of the alignment surface

60

. Further, instead of the hooks

68

on the bottom surface of the holder

50

b

, hooks

63

are provided on the outer side surfaces of the holder

50

b

as shown in FIG.

18

.

In the second embodiment, as shown in

FIG. 21A

, a dimension “Wa” of the positioning plate

8

of the cable

17

in forward and backward directions is set shorter than a dimension “Wb” of the recess

62

of the holder

50

b

in forward and backward directions, so that the split piece

44

A(

44

B) is relatively slidable with respect to the holder

50

b

in forward and backward directions while being placed on the holder

50

b

. Further, a dimension of the reinforcing plate

4

in forward and backward directions is set and the positioning plate

8

is positioned in forward and backward directions with respect to the split piece

44

A(

44

B) such that the leading end of the split piece

44

A(

44

B) projects forward (rightward in

FIG. 21A

) from the alignment surface

60

when the front end surface of the positioning plate

8

is in contact with the front end wall of the recess

62

as shown in FIG.

21

A.

The connector C

22

is mounted on the split piece

44

A(

44

B) as follows. The holder

50

b

is placed under the split piece

44

A(

44

B) via the alignment surface

60

and, in this state, the split piece

44

A(

44

B) is inserted together with the holder

50

b

into the housing

50

a

along the guiding portions

72

from its rear end. The hooks

63

at the sides of the holder

50

b

are engaged with the locking holes

74

to lock the holder

50

b

and the housing

50

a

into each other. As a result, each connector C

22

is mounted on the split piece

44

A(

44

B).

When the connector C

22

is thus mounted on the split piece

44

A(

44

B), the exposed sections of the conductors

22

at an end of the split

44

A(

44

B) are supported together with the holder

50

b

while projecting forward from the front end of the housing

50

a

as shown in FIG.

21

A. Further, the leading end of the split piece

44

A(

44

B) is pressed forward from behind the reinforcing plate

4

by the pressing bars

76

and the front end surface of the positioning plate

8

is held in contact with the front end wall of the recess

62

, with the result that the leading end of the split piece

44

A(

44

B) is held while projecting from the leading end of the holder

50

b.

The cable

17

is connected with the connector C

14

constructed as described above as follows. First, the connector C

22

is placed to face the insertion opening

26

A(

26

B) of the connector C

14

, and the connector C

22

is inserted into the insertion opening

26

A(

26

B) from the leading end of the holder

50

b

as shown in FIG.

21

B.

Then, as shown in

FIGS. 21B and 22A

, the housing

50

a

of the connector C

22

starts entering the hood

27

of the connector C

14

and the leading end of the split piece

44

A(

44

B) comes into contact with the back end of an insertable range in the connector C

14

. When the connector C

22

is further inserted, the housing

50

a

and the holder

50

b

are moved with respect to the split piece

44

A(

44

B). When the connector

22

is further inserted until the leading end of the holder

50

b

comes into contact with the back end of the insertable range in the connector C

14

as shown in

FIGS. 21C and 22B

, the front end of the housing

50

b

is completely engaged with the hood

27

and the protuberances

80

are engaged with the locking holes

27

a

of the hood

27

. In this way, the connector C

22

is locked into the connector C

14

. Each protuberance

80

a

of the holder

50

b

is tapered from its base end toward its leading end, thereby being substantially trapezoidal in side view (see FIG.

21

A). Accordingly, this locked state is a so-called “semi-locked” state and, when being pulled in a withdrawing direction with a specified force or larger, the connector C

22

can be detached from the connector C

14

while being unlocked.

When the connectors C

22

are thus connected with the connector C

14

, the exposed sections of the conductors

2

of the cable

17

are inserted into the connection sections

21

A,

21

B of the connector C

14

together with the holder

50

b

, thereby being brought into contact with the deformable pieces

24

a

of the respective terminals

24

. Further, as shown in

FIGS. 21C and 22B

, the split pieces

44

A,

44

B are pushed back with respect to the holder

50

b

, thereby resiliently deforming the respective pressing bars

76

. The leading ends of the split pieces

44

A,

44

B are biased toward the back ends of the insertable ranges in the connector C

14

by the resilient restoring forces of the pressing bars

76

. Therefore, the split pieces

44

A,

44

b

are held in the connector C

14

with the leading ends thereof securely held in contact with the back ends of the insertable ranges in the connector C

14

.

The connectors according to the second embodiment can also easily and securely connected with each other since the connectors C

22

are provided with the handles

78

as described above. Specifically, the respective handles

78

of each connector C

22

are unlocked and placed back-to-back as shown in

FIG. 23

, and the connector C

22

is connected with the connector C

14

by gripping the handles with fingertips or using pliers or the like. Thus, even if the connectors C

22

are small or connected in a narrow work space, they are easy to grip, enabling the cable

17

to be easily and securely connected. Not only the connecting operation, but also an operation of detaching the cable

17

from the connector C

14

at the time of a repair or inspection can also be easily and securely performed.

Accordingly, similar to the first embodiment, the connector assembly for flat wire member (i.e., connector C

14

and connectors C

22

) according to the second embodiment has also an effect of an improved operability in connecting and detaching the cable

15

, etc. with and from the main circuit board

12

, etc. Further, since the handles

78

can be locked at the accommodated positions also in the second embodiment as described above, they do not hinder other operations as in the first embodiment by being locked at the accommodated positions except during the operation of inserting or detaching the connectors C

22

.

The second embodiment is more advantageous than the first embodiment in terms of the strength of the handles

78

since the connector C

22

is provided with a pair of handles

78

, which are simultaneously gripped by being held back-to-back.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention is described.

FIGS. 24

,

25

and

26

A show a connector assembly for flat wire member according to the third embodiment. The third embodiment is independent of the audio units of the first and second embodiments.

A connector C

30

for flat wire member (hereinafter, merely “connector C

30

”) shown in these FIGURES is a connector for circuit board to be mounted on the lower surface of a circuit board P and is so constructed as to electrically connect two identically constructed (having the same number of conductors arrayed at the same intervals) flat cables

91

A,

91

B (hereinafter, merely “cables

91

A,

91

B”) with the circuit board P and to connect corresponding pairs of the conductors of the respective cables

91

A,

91

B via terminals.

As shown in these FIGURES, the connector C

30

includes a long and narrow housing

90

, and a multitude of terminal cavities

102

arrayed in longitudinal direction are formed inside the housing

90

and have terminals

104

accommodated therein. Each terminal

104

includes, as shown in

FIG. 26A

, a base portion

104

a

extending in forward and backward directions along the ceiling of the cavity

102

, a trunk portion

104

b

extending downward from a middle position of the base portion

104

a

, deformable pieces

104

c

,

104

for connection extending forward and backward at the bottom end of the trunk portion

104

b

, and a leg portion

104

e

extending upward from the rear end of the base portion

104

a

to the outside of the housing

90

. The respective terminals

104

are electrically connected with circuits on the circuit board P by having the leg portions

104

e

thereof soldered to a fixing land (not shown) or the like on the circuit board P.

Insertion openings

90

a

,

90

b

are formed at the front and rear sides (left and right sides in

FIG. 26A

) of the housing

90

, and a first and a second sliders

92

,

94

are insertable into these insertion openings

90

a

,

90

b

. Further, a hollow guiding portion

90

c

for guiding the first slider

92

is formed above the front insertion opening

90

a.

The first slider

92

(fixture device) is comprised of a slider main body

92

a

and a holder

92

b.

The slider main body

92

a

is a member having a U-shaped cross section and including a plate-shaped tongue

110

extending in the longitudinal direction of the insertion opening

90

a

and a guide plate

112

arranged below and parallel with the tongue

110

as shown in

FIGS. 25 and 26A

. The tongue

110

is inserted into the insertion opening

90

a

and the guide plate

112

is inserted together with the holder

92

b

into the guiding portion

90

c.

The holder

92

b

is a member having an L-shaped cross section and including a plate-shaped insertable portion

115

and a handle

116

extending downward from the rear end (left end in

FIG. 26A

) of the insertable portion

115

. The holder

92

b

is inserted into the guiding portion

90

c

of the housing

90

with the insertable portion

115

placed on the guide plate

122

.

A recess

114

whose rear wall is formed by the handle

116

is formed in the lower surface of the insertable portion

115

, and the guide plate

112

is placed on the holder

92

b

while being fitted in the recess

114

. A dimension “Wc” of the recess

114

in forward and backward directions is set larger than a dimension “Wd” of the guide plate in forward and backward directions so as to permit a movement (sliding displacement) of the guide plate

112

in forward and backward directions (transverse direction in

FIG. 26A

) within a specified range while restricting a widthwise movement of the guide plate

112

. Further, as shown in

FIG. 25

, a hook

118

facing outward is provided on the widthwise outer side of each insertable portion

115

. When the insertable portion

115

is inserted into the guiding portion

90

c

, these hooks

118

are engaged with engaging portions formed in the guiding portion

90

c

to lock the holder

92

b

into the housing

90

. Each engaging portion in the guiding portion

90

c

is, for example, tapered from its base end toward its leading end, thereby being substantially trapezoidal in side view. Accordingly, this locked state is a so-called “semi-locked” state and, when being pulled in a withdrawing direction with a specified force or larger, the holder

92

b

can be detached from the housing

90

while being unlocked.

On the other hand, the second slider

94

includes a plate-shaped tongue

120

extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing

90

and insertable into the insertion opening

90

b

. Hooks

122

are provided at the opposite shorter sides of the second slider

94

. When the second slider

94

is inserted into the housing

90

, these hooks

122

are engaged with locking portions

90

d

formed in the side surfaces of the housing

90

to lock the second slider

94

into the housing

90

.

The ends of the respective cables

91

A,

91

B are processed to expose conductors

3

, and reinforcing plates

7

,

9

in the form of a thin plate are mounted on the upper surfaces thereof as shown in

FIGS. 25 and 26A

.

In the construction as described above, the cable

91

A is connected with the connector C

30

as follows. First, as shown in

FIG. 26A

, the end of the cable

91

A is loosely inserted into the housing

90

through the front insertion opening

90

a

until coming into contact with the back end of an insertable range in the housing

90

. In this state, the first slider

92

is inserted into the housing

90

from front. Specifically, as shown in

FIG. 26A

, the holder

92

b

is placed on the slider main body

92

a

with the guide plate

112

fitted in the recess

114

of the insertable portion

115

from below and, in this state, the tongue

110

of the slider main body

92

a

is inserted into the insertion opening

90

a

and the guide plate

112

of the slider main body

92

a

is inserted together with the holder

92

b

into the guiding portion

90

c

. At this time, the handle

116

of the holder

92

b

is pushed from behind.

If the slider main body

92

a

is inserted in this way until the leading end of the tongue

110

comes into contact with the back end of the insertable range in the housing

90

, the hooks

118

of the holder

92

b

are engaged with the engaging portions in the housing

90

to lock the second slider

94

into the housing

90

, and the ends of the conductors

3

of the cable

91

A are pushed down by the tongue

110

of the slider main body

92

a

as shown in

FIG. 26B

, with the result that the respective conductors

3

are held in contact with the deformable pieces

104

c

of the terminals

104

.

On the other hand, the cable

91

B is connected with the connector C

30

as follows. As shown in

FIG. 26A

, the end of the cable

91

B is loosely inserted into the housing

90

through the rear insertion opening

90

b

until coming into contact with the back end of the insertable range in the housing

90

. Then, the second slider

94

is inserted into the housing

90

with the tongue

120

placed on the cable

91

B.

Upon completion of the insertion of the second slider

94

, the leading end of the tongue

120

is in contact with the back end of the insertion range in the housing

90

and the hooks

122

are engaged with the locking portions

90

d

to lock the second slider

94

into the housing

90

. Then, the end of the cable

91

B is pushed down by the tongue

120

, thereby bringing the respective conductors

3

into contact with the deformable pieces

104

d

of the terminals

104

.

By bringing the respective conductors

3

of the cable

91

A and the respective conductors

3

of the cable

91

B into contact with the terminals

104

in this way, the conductors

3

of the respective cables

91

A,

91

B are connected with the circuits on the circuit board P via the terminals

3

and the corresponding pairs of the conductors

3

of the respective cables

91

A,

91

B are connected via the terminals

104

.

In the connector C

30

according to the third embodiment as well, the cable

91

A connected at the front side of the connector C

30

can be easily and securely detached since the first slider

92

is constructed as described above. Specifically, upon detaching the cable

91

A, if the handle

116

is gripped and pulled backward, only the holder

92

b

can be easily withdrawn backward from the housing

90

by a difference between the dimension “Wc” of the recess

114

and the dimension “Wd” of the guide plate

112

(Wc>Wd) described above (state shown by chained line in FIG.

26

B: used position). Thus, even if the connector C

30

is, for example, small or used in a narrow work space, the first slider

92

can be easily gripped by utilizing the withdrawn holder

92

b

, thereby enabling the cable

91

A to be easily and securely detached.

Accordingly, similar to the connector assemblies of the first and second embodiments, the connector assembly for flat wire member (connector C

30

) of the third embodiment has an effect of improving an operability in detaching the cable

91

A.

In the connector C

30

of the third embodiment as well, if the slider main body

92

a

is locked at a position where it is pushed into the housing

90

as shown by solid line in

FIG. 26B

(position where the handle

116

is pressed against the housing

90

: accommodated position) except during the operation of detaching the cable

91

A, the handle

116

does not hinder other operations by taking up a small space.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention is described.

FIGS. 27

to

29

and

30

A show a connector assembly for flat wire member according to the fourth embodiment.

The connector assembly shown in these FIGURES is comprised of a wire-side connector C

42

to be mounted on an end of flat cable

130

(hereinafter, “cable

130

”) and a connector C

44

for circuit board (terminal-side connector) to be mounted on a circuit board (not shown). The basic constructions of these connectors C

42

, C

44

are common to those of the connectors C

22

and C

14

of the first embodiment (connectors provided with the disengaging mechanism) shown in FIG.

15

. Particularly, the wire-side connector C

42

has substantially the same construction as the connector C

22

shown in FIG.

15

. Thus, no description is given on elements of the wire-side connector C

42

common to those of the connector C

22

of the first embodiment by identifying them by the same reference numerals, and only differences are described in detail below.

The wire-side connector C

42

(hereinafter, “connector C

42

”) is comprised of a housing

50

a

and a holder

50

b

as shown in

FIG. 28

, and is similar to the connector C

22

of the first embodiment in construction in that the connector C

42

is mounted on an end of the cable

130

by placing the cable

130

on the holder

50

b

and inserting the cable

130

and the holder

50

b

into the housing

50

a

. However, the fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in construction in the following points.

Specifically, unlike the first embodiment, the holder

50

b

of the fourth embodiment is not provided with the recess

62

for positioning the cable and the locking portions

60

a

to be engaged with the mating connector (terminal-side connector C

44

). Instead, projections

67

for positioning the cable are provided at the opposite widthwise ends of the alignment surface

60

. Further, cable pressing portions

65

are provided at the outer sides of a rib

64

at the leading end of the alignment surface

60

, and slot-shaped inserting portions

65

a

are formed between the cable pressing portions

65

and the alignment surface

60

.

An end of the cable

130

is processed to expose conductors

131

, and a reinforcing plate

132

for restricting the deformation of the cable end portion is secured to the rear surface of the end portion. Notches

132

a

corresponding to the projections

67

of the holder

50

b

are formed at the opposite widthwise ends of the reinforcing plate

132

. Further, fixing pieces

132

b

project at the opposite widthwise ends of the leading end of the reinforcing plate

132

.

The cable

130

is mounted on the connector C

42

as follows.

First, the cable

130

is passed through the housing

50

a

by inserting the end portion of the cable

130

through the insertion opening

51

a

with the lock piece

54

of the housing

50

a

opened, and the holder

50

b

is placed under the cable

130

in this state. Specifically, the respective fixing pieces

132

b

of the reinforcing plate

132

are inserted into the inserting portions

65

a

of the holder

50

b

, and the cable

130

is placed on the alignment surface

60

of the holder

50

b

while the respective notches

132

a

of the reinforcing plate

132

are engaged with the projections

67

of the holder

50

b

. By doing so, movements of the reinforcing plate

132

in forward and backward directions and transverse direction are restricted by the projections

67

, with the result that the cable

130

is positioned with respect to the holder

50

b.

Next, the holder

50

b

is inserted into the insertion hole

51

of the housing

50

a

from its rear end (end opposite from the rib

64

) in this state. Then, as shown in

FIG. 30A

, the hooks

68

formed on the rear surface of the holder

50

b

are engaged with the locking holes

52

a

of the housing

50

a

to undetachably lock the holder

50

b

into the housing

50

a

. The lock piece

54

is bent to close the insertion opening

51

a

of the housing

50

a

and is pushed in between the hooks

58

, thereby completing the mounting of the cable

130

on the connector C

42

.

In this connector C

42

, a pair of hooks

68

of the holder

50

b

and a pair of corresponding locking holes

52

a

of the housing

50

a

are provided while being spaced apart in the widthwise direction of the connector C

42

as shown in

FIG. 29

, and a hook-shaped locking portion

53

for locking the terminal-side connector C

44

is formed between the respective locking holes

52

a

of the housing

50

a.

Further, elongated projections

56

a

,

66

a

are formed at the opposite sides of the housing

50

a

and the holder

50

b

and, when the holder

50

b

is mounted into the housing

50

a

, these elongated projections

56

a

,

66

a

cooperatively form guiding portions (guiding portions when the connector C

42

is fitted into the terminal-side connector C

44

) extending in forward and backward directions (connector connecting direction) as shown in

FIGS. 27 and 29

.

On the other hand, the terminal-side connector C

44

(hereinafter, “connector C

44

”) has a long and narrow housing

140

as shown in

FIG. 27

, and a multitude of terminal cavities

142

arrayed in longitudinal direction are formed inside the housing

140

and have terminals

144

accommodated therein as shown in FIG.

30

A. Each terminal

144

includes a deformable piece

144

a

for connection extending in forward and backward directions and a leg portion

144

b

extending toward a rear upper part of the housing

140

. The respective terminals

144

are electrically connected with circuits on the circuit board by being soldered to a fixing land or the like (not shown) on the circuit board.

An insertion opening

146

for the cable

130

is provided at the front surface of the housing

140

, and a tubular hood

147

is integrally formed around the insertion opening

146

. A cam follower

149

having a slide surface

149

a

for the cam member

55

is formed at the upper front end of the hood

147

. Guide grooves

147

corresponding to the guiding portions (elongated projections

56

a

,

66

a

) of the connector C

42

are formed in the inner side surfaces of the hood

147

, and slits

147

b

for guiding the guides

66

of the connector C

42

and a locking hole

147

c

corresponding to the locking portion

53

are formed in the bottom wall of the hood

147

.

In the fourth embodiment thus constructed, when the connector C

42

is placed to face the insertion opening

146

of the connector C

44

as shown in FIG.

30

A and the connector C

42

is inserted into the housing

140

(through the insertion opening

146

) of the connector C

44

from the leading end of the holder

50

b

, the housing

50

a

of the connector C

42

is fitted into the hood

147

of the connector C

44

as shown in

FIG. 30B

, the exposed sections of the conductors

131

of the cable

130

are held in contact with the deformation pieces

144

a

of the respective terminals

140

, and the locking portion

53

of the connector C

42

enters the locking hole

147

c

of the hood

147

to lock the housings of the connectors C

42

, C

44

into each other. When the two connectors C

42

, C

44

are thus connected, the cam member

55

(slidable portion

55

a

) of the lock piece

54

of the connector C

42

is in contact with the cam follower

149

(slide surface

149

a

) of the connector C

44

.

When the lock piece

54

is unlocked to detach the connector C

42

in this state, the connector C

42

is withdrawn from the connector C

44

as the lock piece

54

is pivoted. The locking portion

53

is tapered from its base end toward its leading end, thereby being substantially trapezoidal in side view. Accordingly, this locked state of the connectors C

42

and C

44

is a so-called “semi-locked” state and, upon action of a load on the connector C

42

in withdrawing direction during the unlocking operation of the lock piece

54

as described above, the connector C

42

can be detached from the connector C

44

while being unlocked.

In the connectors C

42

, C

44

of the fourth embodiment, since the locking portion

53

is so formed on the bottom surface of the housing of the connector C

42

as to be engageable with the hood

147

of the connector C

44

, there is less restriction on the size of the locking portion(s) as compared, for example, to the connector construction in which the locking portions (

60

a

) are provided on the side surfaces of the holder

50

b

as in the first embodiment. Thus, the relatively large locking portion

53

can be provided and the connectors C

42

, C

44

can be more strongly locked into each other by providing the relatively large locking portion

53

. Further, since these connectors C

42

, C

44

are provided with the disengaging mechanism, the locked state of the connectors C

42

, C

44

can be relatively easily cleared when the cable

130

is to be detached while enhancing the locking strength as described above.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention is described.

FIGS. 31

,

32

and

33

A show a connector assembly for flat wire member according to the fifth embodiment. Since the basic construction of the connector assembly according to the fifth embodiment is substantially common to that of the fourth embodiment, no description is given below on the elements common to those of the fourth embodiment by identifying them by the same reference numerals and differences between the fourth and fifth embodiments are described in detail.

The connector assembly for flat wire member according to the fifth embodiment is identical to that of the fourth embodiment in construction in that it is comprised of a wire-side connector C

42

to be mounted on an end of the cable

130

and a terminal-side connector C

44

to be mounted on a circuit board (not shown).

Unlike the fourth embodiment, the respective connectors C

42

, C

44

of the fifth embodiment are not provided with the disengaging mechanism, and the mechanism for locking the connectors C

42

, C

44

into each other differs from the fourth embodiment as follows.

Specifically, the housing

50

a

of the connector C

42

is not provided with the locking portion

53

unlike the fourth embodiment and the lock piece

54

is not provided with the cam member

55

. Instead, a tubular guiding portion

152

hollow in forward and backward directions (connector connecting direction) is integrally formed on top of the housing

50

a

, and an operable lever

150

having a hook

151

at its leading end is provided inside the guiding portion

152

.

On the other hand, the housing

140

of the connector C

44

is provided with neither the locking hole

147

c

nor the cam follower

149

unlike the fourth embodiment. Instead, a pair of ribs

155

for guiding the guiding portion

152

are formed on the upper surface of the housing

140

, and a locking portion

154

projects between the ribs

155

.

In the construction of the fifth embodiment as described above, as the two connectors C

42

, C

44

are connected with each other, the leading end of the operable lever

150

of the connector C

42

is pushed up upon coming into contact with the locking portion

154

of the connector C

44

. When the two connectors C

42

, C

44

are completely connected, the hook

151

of the operable lever

150

moves over the locking portion

154

to engage the locking portion

154

as shown in

FIG. 33B

, with the result that the two connectors C

42

, C

44

are locked into each other.

The connector C

42

is detached as follows. After unlocking and gripping the lock piece

54

and pivoting the operable lever

150

to disengage the hook

151

from the locking portion

154

, the connector C

42

is withdrawn. Specifically, the connector C

42

is withdrawn with the rear end (end opposite from the hook

151

) of the operable lever

150

pushed down, thereby being detached from the connector C

44

.

In the connectors C

42

, C

44

of the fifth embodiment as well, there is less restriction on the size of the portions (hook

151

, locking portion

154

) for locking the two connectors C

42

, C

44

as in the fourth embodiment. Accordingly, there can be obtained the effects similar to the fourth embodiment: the two connectors C

42

, C

44

can be securely locked into each other, whereas the connector C

42

can be easily detached by pivoting the operable lever

150

to disengage the connectors C

42

, C

44

upon detaching the cable

130

.

The connector assemblies for flat wire member described in the first to fifth embodiments are representative embodiments of the present invention, and specific constructions can be suitably changed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(1) Although the handle (lock piece

54

, handle

78

) is in form of a thin plate in the first, second, fourth and fifth embodiment, it is not necessarily in the form of a thin plate, but may be, for example, in the form of a bar.

(2) Although the handle (lock piece

54

, handle

78

) is pivotal between the used position and the accommodated position in the first, second, fourth and fifth embodiment, it may be slidable in the direction in which the connector C

22

is connected with the connector C

14

and the like).

(3) Although the first slider

92

is comprised of the slider main body

92

a

and the holder

92

b

to be slidably assembled with the slider main body

92

a

in the third embodiment, it may have a single-element construction comprised of only a member corresponding to the slider main body

92

a

and the pivotal handle as in the first and second embodiments may be provided.

(4) The connectors C

14

, etc. and the connector C

22

of the second embodiment may be provided with the disengaging mechanism as shown in the modification (example shown in

FIGS. 14 and 15

) of the first embodiment.

(5) In the connector C

42

of the fourth embodiment, the lock piece

54

may be formed with a hollow jig insertion portion

160

as shown in FIG.

34

A and may be unlocked using a driver or a like jig as shown in

FIG. 34B

in a narrow space where fingertips cannot be used. This construction is also applicable to the first, second and fifth embodiments. Further, the holder

92

b

may be provided with the jig insertion portion in the third embodiment.

Although the present invention is applied to an electrical connection construction of an audio unit installed in a vehicle in the foregoing embodiments, it is, of course, also applicable to an other electrical connection construction such as the one for an electrical unit.

Although the flat cables (

15

,

17

,

19

, etc.) are used as flat wire members in the foregoing embodiments, the flat wire members are not limited to flat cables. Ribbon wires, FPCs (flexible printed circuits) and the like may be used as such.

As described above, an inventive fixture device is used in connection of a flat wire member with a terminal-side connector for accommodating terminals. The fixture is provided with a housing having a shape engageable with the terminal-side connector for holding conductors of a flat wire member in contact with the terminals when the fixture device is placed in the terminal-side connector, and a handle changeable between an accommodated position and a used position and extends in a direction opposite from an engaging direction of the fixture device with the terminal-side connector when being located at the used position.

The fixture device can be made easily grippable by setting the handle provided on the fixture device at the used position during the operation of connecting or detaching the flat wire member. Accordingly, the flat wire member can be more quickly and securely connected and detached in a narrow space by using the handle, thereby improving the operability. Further, The handle is set at the accommodated position except during the operation of connecting or detaching the flat wire member. This is advantageous in that the handle does not hinder other operations by taking up only a small space.

Preferably, a locking mechanism for locking the handle at the accommodated position may be further provided. Such a locking mechanism can effectively prevent the handle to hinder other operations by being inadvertently displaced to the used position and from coming into contact with other parts arranged in proximity.

Preferably, there may be further provided a disengaging mechanism for clearing a connected state of the fixture device and the terminal-side connector as the handle is changed from the accommodated position to the used position.

With such a disengaging mechanism, the connected state of the fixture device and the terminal-side connector is automatically cleared by changing the handle from the accommodated position to the used position when the fixture device is to be detached from the terminal-side connector. Thereafter, the fixture device can be easily detached by gripping the handle. In such a case, the disengaging mechanism particularly includes a power-multiplying mechanism for reducing an operation force used to clear the connected state. Accordingly, the connected state can be cleared with a small operation force and, therefore, the disconnecting operation can be more easily performed. It should be noted that “clear the connected state” means to clear the completely connected state. This clearing is not limited to complete clearing of the connected state, and also includes clearing of the connected state to reach a partly connected state.

Preferably, the handle may be pivotal between the accommodated position and the used position or slidable between the accommodated position and the used position.

In the connector assembly in which the handle is pivotal and the disengaging mechanism is provided, the disengaging mechanism may include a cam provided on the handle and a cam follower provided on the terminal-side connector. The cam comes into contact with the cam follower when the fixture device is connected with the terminal-side connector with the handle set at the accommodated position. The handle is pivoted about a contact position of the cam and the cam follower with the cam and the cam follower held in contact with each other when the handle is changed to the used position in this state. The fixture device and the terminal-side connector are relatively displaced in a disengaging direction as the handle is pivoted.

In such a case, if the handle includes a handle main body at one side of a pivotal point thereof and the cam at the other side, and a dimension between the pivotal point and a distal end of the handle main body is set larger than a dimension between the pivotal point and a distal end of the cam, a so-called leverage can be incorporated as a power-multiplying mechanism into the disengaging mechanism. As a result, the fixture device and the terminal-side connector can be disconnected with a smaller operation force by the action of the leverage.

In the case that the handle is made pivotal, the plate-shaped handle may be formed at a tailing end wall surface at a side of the fixture device opposite from the side thereof to be connected with the terminal-side connector, and may be changeable between the accommodated position where the handle is laid over the tailing wall surface and the used position where the handle is upright with respect to the tailing wall surface. Then, the handle can be provided by a structurally simple construction.

The number of the handle may be one. However, it may be appreciated to provide a pair of handles which are held back-to-back at the used position. This construction is more advantageous in view of strength since the detaching operation can be performed by simultaneously gripping the two handles.

For the easier detaching operation, the handle may be preferable formed with a non-slip configuration on the outer surface thereof.

The housing may be held with a flat wire member in the terminal-side connector. The housing may be made slidable in the connector assembly of the type in which the slider is insertably mounted into the terminal-side connector while being placed on or under an end portion of the flat wire member. Further, the fixture device may be a wire-side connector in the connector assembly constructed such that the flat wire member is inserted into the terminal-side connector by mounting the wire-side connector on the end portion of the flat wire member and connecting the wire-side connector with the terminal-side connector.

The fixture device may be used as the wire-side connector. The wire-side connector includes a plate-shaped holder for supporting an end portion of the flat wire member. The holder is placed in the housing. The handle preferably serves also as a locking member for locking the holder so as not to be disengaged from the housing by closing an insertion opening of the housing with the holder inserted. This construction is rational in that the locking member is used as the handle.

This application is based on patent application Nos. 2001-11327, 2001-40178, and 2001-325339 filed in Japan, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by references.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to embraced by the claims.

Number	Date	Country
2001-011327	Jan 2001	JP
2001-040178	Feb 2001	JP
2001-325339	Oct 2001	JP

Number	Name	Date	Kind
3853380	Baker	Dec 1974	A
4469388	Narozny	Sep 1984	A
4973255	Rudoy	Nov 1990	A
5738545	Igarashi et al.	Apr 1998	A
6066000	Masumoto et al.	May 2000	A
6203346	Wu et al.	Mar 2001	B1
6386905	Ito	May 2002	B1
6475025	Inoue	Nov 2002	B2
6520797	Okamura et al.	Feb 2003	B2
20020076975	Sakai et al.	Jun 2002	A1
20020094717	Sakai et al.	Jul 2002	A1
20020146932	Yamatani et al.	Oct 2002	A1

Fixture device for use in connection of flat wire member with terminal connector

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Term Extension

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (3)

US Referenced Citations (12)