阅读说明：本技术 连接器 (Connector with a locking member ) 是由 水田博隆 于 2020-03-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种连接器。锁定臂(5)包括：锁定臂主体(50),其由绝缘性的外壳(4)支承；爪部(60),其从锁定臂主体(50)向外突出,越过并卡定于对方连接器的锁定部；以及解除凸部(70),其通过从外侧被按压而使锁定臂主体(50)挠曲,从而解除爪部(60)与所述锁定部的卡合。解除凸部(70)由与外向槽(72)交替配置的外向肋(71)形成。锁定臂主体(50)在挠曲方向(B)上的厚度(t)在锁定臂主体(50)中划分出外向槽(72)的底部的部分(P)处为最小厚度(tMIN)。(The invention provides a connector. The lock arm (5) includes: a lock arm main body (50) supported by an insulating housing (4); a claw part (60) which protrudes outward from the lock arm main body (50) and passes over and is locked on a lock part of a counterpart connector; and a release protrusion (70) that releases the engagement between the claw (60) and the lock section by flexing the lock arm main body (50) when pressed from the outside. The releasing projection (70) is formed by outward ribs (71) alternately arranged with outward grooves (72). A thickness (t) of the lock arm main body (50) in the flexing direction (B) is a minimum thickness (tMIN) at a portion (P) of the lock arm main body (50) that marks off a bottom of the outward facing groove (72).)

1. A connector is provided with:

a housing that is an insulative housing inserted in a connector coupling direction with respect to an insertion recess of a mating connector, and includes a predetermined wall portion extending in the connector coupling direction; and

a locking arm which is provided on the outer side of the locking arm,

the locking arm includes:

a lock arm main body supported by the predetermined wall portion in a cantilevered state or a state supported on both sides so as to extend in the connector coupling direction, and elastically deflectable and displaceable;

a claw portion protruding outward from the lock arm main body, passing over and being locked to a lock portion of the mating connector as the housing is inserted in the connector coupling direction with respect to the insertion recess portion; and

at least one releasing projection which is disposed on the opposite side of the connector coupling direction with respect to the claw portion and projects outward from the lock arm main body, the releasing projection being capable of releasing the engagement of the claw portion with respect to the lock portion by being pressed from the outside to flex the lock arm main body,

the release protrusion is formed of ribs alternately arranged with the grooves,

the thickness of the lock arm main body in the flexing direction is a minimum thickness at a portion of the lock arm main body dividing a bottom of the groove.

2. The connector of claim 1,

the slots include outward slots.

3. The connector of claim 1,

the slots include inward slots.

4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the locking arm is supported in a both-side supported state,

the ribs are arranged along the connector coupling direction and the heights of the tops of the ribs are uniform,

the depth of the groove gradually increases toward the claw portion side in the connector coupling direction.

5. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the lock arm main body includes a base end portion connected to the predetermined wall portion and a distal end portion provided with the claw portion, and is supported in a cantilever state by the base end portion,

the ribs are arranged along the connector coupling direction and the heights of the tops of the ribs are uniform,

the depth of the groove gradually increases toward the base end portion side in the connector coupling direction.

6. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the ribs are arranged along the connector coupling direction,

when the lock arm main body is flexed, the tops of the ribs adjacent in the connector coupling direction abut against each other, so that the maximum flexing amount of the lock arm main body is limited.

7. The connector of claim 6,

the locking arm main body is supported in a both-side supported state,

the ribs include outward ribs.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a connector.

Background

In the positioning device of the electrical connector described in japanese utility model registration No. 3106809, outward elastic arms (lock arms) are connected to both left and right sides of an insulating main body in which terminals are positioned. The front end and the rear end of the elastic arm are connected with the insulator main body, and other positions of the insulating arm form a suspended part. The front suspension parts of the left and right elastic arms are provided with outward locking blocks locked with the counterpart connector. In addition, the rear sections of the left and right elastic arms are provided with convex strip-shaped pressing parts.

However, the thickness of the strip-shaped pressing portion is large, and the rigidity of the pressing portion is higher than that of other portions. Therefore, when the lock arm is flexed, stress concentration occurs, and the elastic arm (lock arm) is easily damaged.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a connector with a locking arm which is difficult to damage.

In order to achieve the above object, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a connector including: a housing that is an insulative housing inserted in a connector coupling direction with respect to an insertion recess of a mating connector, and includes a predetermined wall portion extending in the connector coupling direction; and a locking arm, the locking arm comprising: a lock arm main body supported by the predetermined wall portion in a cantilevered state or a state supported on both sides so as to extend in the connector coupling direction, and elastically deflectable and displaceable; a claw portion protruding outward from the lock arm main body, passing over and being locked to a lock portion of the mating connector as the housing is inserted in the connector coupling direction with respect to the insertion recess portion; and at least one release projection that is disposed on the opposite side of the connector coupling direction with respect to the claw portion and projects outward from the lock arm main body, the release projection being formed of ribs alternately disposed with grooves, the release projection being capable of releasing the engagement of the claw portion with respect to the lock portion by being pressed from the outside, the thickness of the lock arm main body in the direction of flexure being a minimum thickness at a portion of the lock arm main body that defines a bottom portion of the groove.

In the present embodiment, the thickness of the lock arm main body is the minimum thickness at a portion of the lock arm main body that demarcates the bottom of the groove between the ribs of the release protrusion. Therefore, the lock arm body can be easily bent as a whole while suppressing an increase in rigidity of the portion where the release projection is disposed. This can alleviate the stress concentration and prevent the lock arm from being damaged.

Additionally, the slots may also include outward slots. In this case, the grooves alternately arranged with the ribs forming the release protrusion are outward grooves. Therefore, the release protrusion is easily molded.

Further, the slots may also include inward slots. In this case, the grooves alternately arranged with the ribs forming the release protrusion are inward grooves and do not open outward. Therefore, when the releasing projection is pressed by a finger from the outside, the nail is not caught in the inward groove, and the operation is easy.

Further, the lock arm may be supported in a both-side supported state, the ribs may be aligned in the connector coupling direction, tops of the ribs may have a uniform height, and a depth of the groove may gradually increase toward the claw portion side in the connector coupling direction.

In this case, in the lock arm supported in the both-side supported state, the depth of the groove alternately arranged with the rib forming the release protrusion gradually increases toward the claw portion side in the connector coupling direction. Therefore, the portion of the lock arm main body where the claw portion is arranged is more easily deflected. Therefore, the lock is easily released.

Further, the lock arm main body may include a base end portion connected to the predetermined wall portion and a distal end portion provided with the claw portion, and may be supported in a cantilever state by the base end portion, the ribs may be aligned in the connector coupling direction, a height of a top portion of the ribs may be uniform, and a depth of the groove may gradually increase toward the base end portion side in the connector coupling direction.

In this case, in the lock arm supported in a cantilever state, the depth of the groove alternately arranged with the rib forming the release protrusion gradually increases toward the base end portion side. Therefore, the distal end portion of the pawl portion provided in the lock arm main body is more easily deflected. Therefore, the lock can be easily released.

Further, the ribs may be arranged in the connector coupling direction, and when the lock arm main body is deflected, tops of the ribs adjacent in the connector coupling direction may abut against each other, so that a maximum deflection amount of the lock arm main body is limited. In this case, the amount of deflection of the lock arm main body is limited by abutment of the top portions of the ribs forming the release protrusion with each other. Therefore, the occurrence of damage due to excessive deflection can be prevented.

In addition, when the maximum deflection amount of the lock arm main body is limited, it is preferable that the lock arm main body is supported in a both-side supported state, and the rib includes an outward rib.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention before being connected to a mating connector.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the housing of the connector of the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the housing.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the housing.

Fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of the housing.

Fig. 6A is a sectional view of the peripheral structure of the lock arm in the locked state.

Fig. 6B is a sectional view of the peripheral structure of the lock arm in the unlocked state.

Fig. 7 is a schematic sectional view of a lock arm in a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a schematic sectional view of a lock arm in a third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a schematic sectional view of a lock arm in a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the maximum deflection state of the lock arm in the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the maximum deflection state of the lock arm in the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a front view of a connector of a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the periphery of the release protrusion of the lock arm in the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the periphery of the release protrusion of the lock arm in the ninth embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the reference symbols

1. 1U: a connector;

3: a terminal;

4: a housing;

5. 5Q, 5R, 5S, 5T, 5U: a locking arm;

41: a top wall portion (predetermined wall portion);

44: a gap;

50. 50U: a locking arm body;

51: a first end portion;

51U: a terminal portion;

52: a second end portion;

52U: a base end portion;

53: a central convex strip;

54: concave strips;

60: a claw portion;

61: a top portion;

62: a card-holding section;

63: a drive face;

70. 70Q, 70S, 70U: removing the convex part;

71. 71S, 71U: an outward rib;

71Q: an inward rib;

71 a: a top portion;

72. 72S, 72U: an outward groove;

72Q: an inward groove;

100: a counterpart connector;

110: a terminal;

120: a housing;

140: an insertion recess;

150: a locking portion;

b: a direction of deflection;

g: a guide groove;

s: an interior space;

x1: a connector connection direction;

x2: the opposite side (in the connector coupling direction);

eMAX: maximum deflection;

t: thickness;

tMIN: a minimum thickness.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(first embodiment)

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connector and a counterpart connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 1, the connector 1 includes: a housing 4 that accommodates and holds a terminal 3 connected to an electric wire 2 as a connection member; and a lock arm 5 supported by the housing 4. The connector 1 is coupled to the counterpart connector 100 in the connector coupling direction X1.

The counterpart connector 100 is a connector mounted on a surface 210 of, for example, the circuit board 200 as a mounting object. The mating connector 100 includes a terminal 110 connected to the terminal 3 of the connector 1, a hollow housing 120 accommodating and holding the terminal 110, and a shield member 130 shielding the terminal 110.

The housing 120 includes a top wall portion 121, a bottom wall portion 122, and a pair of side wall portions 123. The housing 120 is formed with an insertion recess 140 defined by a top wall 121, a bottom wall 122, and a pair of side walls 123.

The front half of the housing 4 of the connector 1 in the connector coupling direction X1 is inserted into the insertion recess 140 of the mating connector 100. A pair of locking portions 150 are formed to protrude from an inner surface of the top wall portion 121 of the counterpart connector 100. Each locking portion 150 is formed by a short rectangular cross-sectional ridge (see fig. 6B) extending parallel to the connector coupling direction X1.

Next, the housing 4 and the lock arm 5 of the connector 1 will be described.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the housing 4. Fig. 3 is a top view of the housing. Fig. 4 is a front view of the housing 4. Fig. 5 is a partially cut-away front view of the housing 4, corresponding to a sectional view taken along the line V-V in fig. 3.

As shown in fig. 2 to 5, the housing 4 includes a top wall portion 41, a bottom wall portion 42, and a pair of side wall portions 43 extending in the connector coupling direction X1. The housing 4 has an internal space S defined by a top wall portion 41, a bottom wall portion 42, and a pair of side wall portions 43.

The lock arm 5 includes a lock arm main body 50, a pair of claw portions 60, and a release protrusion 70. The lock arm main body 50 extends along the connector coupling direction X1. The lock arm main body 50 is supported by both sides by a first end 41a, which is an end of the top wall portion 41 on the side of the connector coupling direction X1, and a second end 41b, which is an end of the top wall portion X2 on the opposite side of the connector coupling direction X1.

The first end 51 of the lock arm main body 50 is supported by the first end 41a of the ceiling wall portion 41, and the second end 52 of the lock arm main body 50 is supported by the second end 41b of the ceiling wall portion 41. As shown in fig. 2 and 5, the lock arm main body 50 can be deflected and displaced toward the internal space S with both ends (the first end 51 and the second end 52) as fulcrums.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the pair of slits 44 extending in parallel with the connector connecting direction X1 are formed in the top wall portion 41 so as to be adjacent to the pair of side wall portions 43. The locking arm main body 50 is formed between the pair of slits 44.

On an upper surface 50a of the lock arm main body 50 are formed: a center protrusion 53 extending from the first end 51 to the opposite side X2 of the connector coupling direction X1 to the vicinity of the release protrusion 70; and a pair of concave strips 54 arranged on both sides with the center convex strip 53 therebetween. A claw portion 60 is formed to protrude from each concave strip 54.

The guide grooves G are formed by the concave strips 54 arranged between the upper portions of the side wall portions 43 and the center convex strip 53. Each guide groove G functions to guide the corresponding lock portion 150 of the counterpart connector 100 when the housing 4 of the connector 1 is inserted into the insertion recess 140 of the counterpart connector 100. Each claw portion 60 is disposed at a middle portion of the guide groove G in the connector coupling direction X1.

Next, the claw portion 60 will be described. As shown in fig. 2 and 5, the pawl portion 60 includes a top portion 61, a locking portion 62 disposed on the connector connecting direction X1 side of the top portion 61, and an inclined driving surface 63 disposed on the opposite side X2 of the top portion 61 in the connector connecting direction X1.

As the housing 4 of the connector 1 is inserted into the insertion recess 140 of the mating connector 100, the claw portion 60 passes over and is locked to the lock portion 150 of the mating connector 100 as shown in fig. 6A which is a schematic sectional view.

Although not shown, first, the driving surface 63 of the claw portion 60 engages with the lock portion 150 of the mating connector 100, and the force in the insertion direction is converted into the force in the bending direction of the lock arm main body 50. Thereby, the lock arm main body 50 is deflected toward the internal space S, and the top portion 61 of the claw portion 60 goes over the lock portion 150 of the counterpart connector 100. As a result, as shown in fig. 6A, the locking portions 62 of the pawls 60 are locked to the locking portions 150 of the mating connector 100, and locking is achieved.

Next, the release protrusion 70 will be described. As shown in fig. 2 and 5, the release protrusion 70 is disposed on the opposite side X2 from the claw portion 60 in the connector coupling direction X1. The release projection 70 projects outward from the upper surface 50a of the lock arm main body 50.

As shown in fig. 6B, the release protrusion 70 is pressed from the outside to deflect the lock arm main body 50 toward the internal space S, so that the engagement of the pawl 60 with the lock portion 150 can be released. The release protrusion 70 is formed by a plurality of outward ribs 71 arranged along the connector connection direction X1 and alternately arranged with the outward grooves 72. In the extending direction of the outward groove 72, both ends of the outward groove 72 are open.

As shown in fig. 5, the thickness t of the locking arm main body 50 in the flexing direction B is a minimum thickness tMIN at a portion P of the locking arm main body 50 that demarcates the bottom of the outward facing groove 72.

In the present embodiment, the thickness t of the lock arm main body 50 becomes the minimum thickness tMIN at the portion P of the lock arm main body 50 that defines the bottom of the outward groove 72 between the outward ribs 71 of the release protrusion 70. Therefore, the portion of the lock arm main body 50 where the release protrusion 70 is disposed can be prevented from increasing in rigidity, and the entire lock arm main body 50 can be easily bent. This can alleviate the stress concentration and prevent the lock arm 5 from being damaged.

In addition, the outward ribs 71 and the outward grooves 72 forming the release protrusions 70 are alternately arranged. Therefore, the release protrusion 70 is easily molded.

(second embodiment)

Fig. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the lock arm 5Q of the second embodiment of the present invention.

In fig. 7, the triangular-mark fulcrum schematically indicates a first end portion 41a and a second end portion 41b that support the top wall portion 41 of the lock arm 5Q in a both-side supported state.

The lock arm 5Q of the second embodiment of fig. 7 is different from the lock arm 5 of the first embodiment of fig. 5 in that a release protrusion 70Q formed of an inward rib 71Q arranged alternately with an inward groove 72Q is provided.

In the present embodiment, the inward grooves 72Q alternately arranged with the inward ribs 71Q forming the release protrusion 70Q are open to the internal space S side and are not open to the outside. Therefore, when the release protrusion 70Q is pressed from the outside with a finger, the nail is not caught in the inward groove 72Q, and the pressing operation is easy. Further, it is difficult for dust and the like from the outside to enter the inward groove 72Q. The releasing projection 70Q also has excellent appearance.

(third embodiment)

Fig. 8 is a schematic sectional view of a lock arm 5R of a third embodiment of the present invention.

The lock arm 5R of the third embodiment in fig. 8 is different from the lock arm 5 of the first embodiment in fig. 5 or the lock arm 5Q of the second embodiment in fig. 7 in that a plurality of release protrusions 70 and 70Q are provided.

Although not shown, as a modification of the third embodiment, only a plurality of release projections 70 formed by the outward rib 71 may be provided. Further, only the plurality of release projections 70Q formed by the inward ribs 71Q may be provided.

(fourth embodiment)

Fig. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a lock arm 5S of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The lock arm 5S of the fourth embodiment of fig. 9 differs from the lock arm 5 of the first embodiment of fig. 5 in the following points. That is, the release protrusion 70S formed of the outward ribs 71S having the same height of the top is provided. The depth of the outward groove 72S between the adjacent outward ribs 71S in the connector coupling direction X1 gradually increases toward the claw portion 60 side in the connector coupling direction X1.

In the present embodiment, the portion of the lock arm main body 50 where the claw portion 60 is disposed is more easily bent. Therefore, the lock can be easily released. Although not shown, as a modification of the fourth embodiment, the depth of the inward groove between the plurality of inward ribs forming the release protrusion may be increased toward the claw portion.

(fifth and sixth embodiments)

Fig. 10A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the lock arm 5T in the maximum deflected state according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 10B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the maximum deflected state of the lock arm 5U of the sixth embodiment which is a modification of the fifth embodiment.

In the fifth embodiment of fig. 10A, when the lock arm main bodies 50 in the case of both-side support are deflected, the top portions 71a of the outward ribs 71 adjacent in the connector connecting direction X1 abut against each other, whereby the maximum deflection amount eMAX of the lock arm main bodies 50 is restricted. Therefore, occurrence of damage due to excessive deflection can be prevented.

The sixth embodiment of fig. 10B is different from the fifth embodiment of fig. 10A in that the outward rib 71 of the lock arm 5U is higher than the outward rib 71 of the fifth embodiment of fig. 10A. Therefore, in the sixth embodiment, the maximum deflection amount eMAX of the lock arm main body 50 of the lock arm 5T is limited to be smaller than the maximum deflection amount eMAX of the lock arm main body 50 of the lock arm 5U in the fifth embodiment. That is, by setting the height of the outward rib 71, the maximum deflection amount eMAX of the lock arm main body 50 can be adjusted as desired.

Although not shown, when the lock arm main body in the cantilever-supported state is deflected, the maximum deflection amount of the lock arm main body may be restricted by abutting top portions of the inward ribs which are alternately arranged with the inward grooves and adjacent in the connector coupling direction with each other.

(seventh embodiment)

Fig. 11 is a front view of a connector 1U according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

In a connector 1U of the seventh embodiment of fig. 11, a lock arm main body 50U of a lock arm 5U supported in a cantilever state includes: a base end portion 52U supported by the top wall portion 41 of the housing 4; a terminal portion 51U; a claw portion 60 disposed at the distal end portion 51U; and a release protrusion 70U disposed between the claw portion 60 and the base end portion 52U.

The release protrusion 70U is formed by a plurality of outward ribs 71U aligned in the connector connection direction X1 and having uniform heights at the tops. The outward grooves 72U between the outward ribs 71U are gradually deeper toward the base end portion 52U.

In the present embodiment, in the lock arm 5U supported in the cantilever state, the depth of the outward groove 72U alternately arranged with the outward rib 71U forming the release protrusion 70U is gradually increased toward the base end portion 52U side. Therefore, the distal end portion 51U of the lock arm main body 50U where the claw portion 60 is disposed is more easily bent. Therefore, the lock is easily released.

Further, although not shown, as a modification of the seventh embodiment, the depth of the inward groove between the inward ribs forming the release protrusion may be gradually increased toward the base end portion 52U.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and for example, as shown in the eighth embodiment of fig. 12 and the ninth embodiment of fig. 13, the outward ribs 71 (or inward ribs) forming the release protrusion 70 may be arranged in a direction intersecting the connector coupling direction X1. Specifically, as shown in the eighth embodiment of fig. 12, the outward ribs 71 forming the release protrusion 70 may be arranged in a direction perpendicular to the connector coupling direction X1. As shown in the ninth embodiment of fig. 13, the outward ribs 71 forming the release protrusion 70 may be arranged in a direction inclined with respect to the connector coupling direction X1.

The outward rib 71 of at least a part of the release protrusion 70 of the lock arm 5 may have a shape that does not fit into the outward groove 72 of the release protrusion 70 of the other connector (for example, a shape having a thicker base end side as in the outward rib 71 on the right side in fig. 4). Thus, the connectors are not entangled with each other during transportation, and therefore, the operation of disentangling the connectors is not required at the time of assembly. Although not shown, at least a part of the outward ribs 71 may be arranged at unequal pitches, thereby preventing the connectors from being entangled with each other.

While the present invention has been described in detail with respect to the specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is to be measured by the appended claims and their equivalents.