阅读说明：本技术 连接器 (Connector with a locking member ) 是由 王树春 于 2020-03-03 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种提高设计的自由度的连接器。连接器具备：第一连接器；方筒状的罩部,在第一连接器的前表面开口；第一锁定部,形成于罩部；第二连接器,以使前表面朝向第一连接器的状态嵌入到罩部内；以及第二锁定部,形成于第二连接器,通过卡挂于第一锁定部而将第二连接器保持在嵌入到罩部的状态,在罩部内的比第一锁定部靠后方的区域形成有加强壁,该加强壁与构成罩部的多个壁部中的相互对向的两个壁部相连,在第二连接器中的比第二锁定部靠前方的区域形成有收容槽,该收容槽在第二连接器嵌入到罩部时收容加强壁。(The invention provides a connector with improved design freedom. The connector includes: a first connector; a square tubular cover part which is opened on the front surface of the first connector; a first locking portion formed on the cover portion; a second connector embedded in the hood in a state that the front surface faces the first connector; and a second locking portion formed on the second connector and engaged with the first locking portion to hold the second connector in a state of being fitted into the cover portion, wherein a reinforcing wall is formed in a region of the cover portion rearward of the first locking portion, the reinforcing wall being continuous with two wall portions facing each other among the plurality of wall portions constituting the cover portion, and a housing groove is formed in a region of the second connector forward of the second locking portion and housing the reinforcing wall when the second connector is fitted into the cover portion.)

1. A connector is provided with:

a first connector;

a square tubular cover portion formed on the first connector and opened on a front surface of the first connector;

a first locking portion formed on the hood portion;

a second connector embedded in the hood in a state where a front surface faces the first connector; and

a second locking portion formed on the second connector and engaged with the first locking portion to hold the second connector in a state of being fitted into the cover portion,

a reinforcing wall is formed in a region of the hood portion rearward of the first locking portion, the reinforcing wall being continuous with two of the wall portions facing each other among the plurality of wall portions constituting the hood portion,

a housing groove is formed in a region of the second connector forward of the second locking portion, the housing groove housing the reinforcing wall when the second connector is fitted into the cover portion.

2. The connector of claim 1,

the first locking portion is in a form in which relative displacement with respect to the hood portion is restricted,

the second locking portion is elastically displaceable.

3. The connector of claim 2,

the second connector has:

a terminal housing portion for housing a terminal fitting; and

an elastic arm portion extending rearward from an outer surface of the terminal housing portion along the housing groove and capable of elastic deformation,

the second locking portion is formed in the elastic arm portion.

4. The connector of claim 3,

a pair of the elastic arm portions are disposed so as to be separated from the housing groove,

the second locking portion is configured to connect the pair of elastic arm portions.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to connectors.

Background

A connector for a substrate having a square cylindrical body part disclosed in patent document 1 is disclosed. The main body portion has two connection holes partitioned by a partition plate. The front end portion of the counterpart connector divided into two is fitted into the two connection holes. The partition plate partitioning the two connection holes can function to improve the strength of the square cylindrical main body.

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The spacer formed in the substrate connector is formed from the back end to the opening end of the body. Therefore, if a lock portion for holding the board connector and the mating connector in a fitted state is formed in the main body portion, the lock portion must be disposed at a position different from the spacer, and the degree of freedom in setting is low.

The connector of the present disclosure is completed based on the above-described situation, and an object thereof is to improve the degree of freedom in design.

Means for solving the problems

The disclosed connector is provided with:

a first connector;

a square tubular cover portion formed on the first connector and opened on a front surface of the first connector;

a first locking portion formed on the hood portion;

a second connector embedded in the hood in a state where a front surface faces the first connector; and

a second locking portion formed on the second connector and engaged with the first locking portion to hold the second connector in a state of being fitted into the cover portion,

a reinforcing wall is formed in a region of the hood portion rearward of the first locking portion, the reinforcing wall being continuous with two of the wall portions facing each other among the plurality of wall portions constituting the hood portion,

a housing groove is formed in a region of the second connector forward of the second locking portion, the housing groove housing the reinforcing wall when the second connector is fitted into the cover portion.

Effects of the invention

The degree of freedom in design of the connector of the present disclosure is high.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first connector constituting a connector of embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the first connector.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the second connector.

Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of the second connector.

Fig. 5 is a side sectional view showing a state where the first connector and the second connector are fitted together.

Fig. 6 is a partially cut-away plan view showing a state where the first connector and the second connector are fitted together.

Description of the reference symbols

10: first connector

10F: front surface of first connector

11: first shell

12: terminal holding part

13: cover part

14: upper wall part (wall part)

15: lower wall part (wall part)

16: side wall part (wall part)

17: first locking part

18: reinforced wall

19: first terminal fittings (terminal fittings)

19H, the ratio of: wire harness connection part

19P: substrate connecting part

20: second connector

20F: front surface of the second connector

21: second shell

22: terminal housing part

23: accommodating groove

24: locking arm

25: elastic arm part

26: second locking part

27: operation part

28: second terminal fitting

Detailed Description

[ description of embodiments of the present disclosure ]

Embodiments of the present disclosure are first listed for illustration.

(1) The disclosed connector is provided with:

a first connector;

a square tubular cover portion formed on the first connector and opened on a front surface of the first connector;

a first locking portion formed on the hood portion;

a second connector embedded in the hood in a state where a front surface faces the first connector; and

a second locking portion formed on the second connector and configured to be hooked to the first locking portion to hold the second connector in a state of being fitted into the hood portion,

a reinforcing wall is formed in a region of the hood portion rearward of the first locking portion, the reinforcing wall being continuous with two of the wall portions facing each other among the plurality of wall portions constituting the hood portion,

a housing groove is formed in a region of the second connector forward of the second locking portion, the housing groove housing the reinforcing wall when the second connector is fitted into the cover portion.

According to the configuration of the present disclosure, since the formation range of the reinforcing wall is the region behind the first locking portion, the position of the first locking portion is not restricted by the positional relationship with the reinforcing wall. Further, since the formation range of the housing groove is an area of the second connector which is located forward of the second lock portion, the position of the second lock portion is not restricted by the positional relationship with the housing groove when setting the position of the second lock portion. Therefore, the degree of freedom in design of the connector of the present disclosure is high.

(2) Preferably, the first locking portion is configured to be restricted from relative displacement with respect to the cover portion, and the second locking portion is configured to be elastically displaceable. With this configuration, the first locking portion can be formed in a narrow shape and disposed at a position close to the opening end of the cover portion. Thus, in the fitting direction of the second connector into the hood, the range of formation of the reinforcing wall can be expanded to a position close to the front end of the hood, and therefore the reinforcing function of the reinforcing wall is improved.

(3) In (2), preferably, the second connector includes: a terminal housing portion for housing a terminal fitting; and an elastic arm portion extending rearward from an outer surface of the terminal housing portion along the housing groove and capable of being elastically deformed, wherein the second locking portion is formed in the elastic arm portion. According to this configuration, since the elastic arm portion is arranged along the housing groove, the elastic arm portion does not interfere with the reinforcing wall when the second connector is fitted into the cover portion. The front-rear length of the second connector can be shortened as compared with a case where the elastic arm portion is disposed rearward of the housing groove.

(4) In the aspect (3), it is preferable that the pair of elastic arm portions are disposed so as to sandwich the accommodation groove, and the second lock portion is configured to connect the pair of elastic arm portions. According to this configuration, the pair of elastic arm portions are guided by the reinforcing wall without being deformed improperly in the process of fitting the second connector into the cover portion, and therefore the second locking portion can be reliably caught by the first locking portion.

[ details of embodiments of the present disclosure ]

[ example 1]

Embodiment 1 embodying the connector of the present disclosure will be explained with reference to fig. 1 to 6. The connector includes a first connector 10 and a second connector 20. The first connector 10 and the second connector 20 are fitted to each other by bringing the front surfaces 10F and 20F of both of them close to each other in an opposing (facing) direction.

In this embodiment 1, the diagonally downward right direction in fig. 1 is defined as the front with respect to the front-rear direction of the first connector 10, and the diagonally downward left direction in fig. 3 is defined as the front with respect to the front-rear direction of the second connector 20. The vertical direction is defined as the upper and lower directions as they are in the directions shown in fig. 1 to 5. The left-right direction of the first connector 10 is directly defined as the left and right directions as shown in fig. 2.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the first connector 10 is referred to as a male-side connector, and includes a first housing 11 (male-side housing) and a plurality of male-type first terminal fittings 19 attached to the first housing 11. The first terminal fitting 19 is referred to as a male terminal fitting. The first connector 10 functions as a substrate connector to be mounted on a circuit board (not shown).

The first housing 11 is made of synthetic resin and is a single member obtained by integrally molding the terminal holding portion 12 and the cover portion 13. The terminal holding portion 12 is formed in a wall shape having a rectangular front view shape with the long sides thereof facing in the left-right direction. A plurality of first terminal fittings 19 bent in an L shape are attached to the terminal holding portion 12 by press fitting so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction. The front end portion of the harness connection portion 19H extending in the front-rear direction in the first terminal fitting 19 is housed in the hood portion 13. The substrate connection portion 19P extending in the vertical direction in the first terminal fitting 19 is exposed rearward of the terminal holding portion 12.

The cover 13 is composed of 4 wall portions (an upper wall portion 14, a lower wall portion 15, and a pair of left and right side wall portions 16). The 4 wall parts 14-16 are formed in parallel with the fitting/removing direction of the first connector 10 and the second connector 20. The upper wall portion 14 is formed with a first locking portion 17 that vertically penetrates the upper wall portion 14. The first locking portion 17 is not relatively displaceable with respect to the hood 13. The first locking portion 17 is disposed at a front end portion of the upper wall portion 14 (cover portion 13) in the front-rear direction (direction parallel to the fitting/removing direction of the two connectors 10, 20). The first locking portion 17 is disposed in the center of the upper wall portion 14 (cover portion 13) in the left-right direction (direction orthogonal to the fitting/removing direction of the two connectors 10, 20).

The cover portion 13 is formed with a reinforcing wall 18 that is continuous with the inner surface (lower surface) of the upper wall portion 14 and the inner surface (upper surface) of the lower wall portion 15. The reinforcing wall 18 is formed in a plate shape perpendicular to the upper wall 14 and the lower wall 15. The thickness dimension (dimension in the left-right direction) of the reinforcing wall 18 is smaller than the left-right dimension of the first locking portion 17. The wall surface of the reinforcing wall 18 is parallel to the fitting/removing direction of the two connectors 10, 20. The reinforcing wall 18 is formed only in a region rearward of the first locking portion 17 (on the rear end side of the hood portion 13) in the front-rear direction. That is, the first locking portion 17 and the reinforcing wall 18 are not partially overlapped in the front-rear direction (direction parallel to the fitting direction of the two connectors 10 and 20), but are arranged at completely different positions.

The reinforcing wall 18 is disposed at the center of the cover 13 in the lateral direction (the direction perpendicular to the wall surface of the reinforcing wall 18). Therefore, the first locking portion 17 and the hood portion 13 are arranged at the same position in the left-right direction. In other words, the upper end portion (a part) of the reinforcing wall 18 overlaps the first locking portion 17 in a front view of the hood 13 from the front (parallel to the wall surface of the reinforcing wall 18).

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the second connector 20 is used as a female-side connector including a second housing 21 (female-side housing) and a plurality of female-type second terminal fittings 28 (terminal fittings described in the scope of protection). The second terminal fitting 28 is referred to as a female terminal fitting. In the process of fitting the first connector 10 to the second connector 20, the second housing 21 is fitted into the hood 13. The second housing 21 is made of synthetic resin and has a terminal housing portion 22, and the terminal housing portion 22 is formed in a laterally long block shape having a larger lateral dimension than a vertical dimension. A plurality of second terminal fittings 28 are accommodated in the terminal accommodation portion 22.

The terminal housing portion 22 is formed with a housing groove 23 in which the front surface of the terminal housing portion 22 is recessed rearward. The housing groove 23 is opened in a slit shape in the vertical direction in the front surface of the terminal housing portion 22. The housing groove 23 is opened in a slit shape in the front-rear direction in the upper surface and the lower surface of the terminal housing portion 22. The housing groove 23 is disposed at the center of the terminal housing portion 22 (second connector 20) in the lateral direction (the direction perpendicular to the fitting direction of the second housing 21 into the housing portion 13). The width (dimension in the left-right direction) of the housing groove 23 is the same as the thickness of the reinforcing wall 18 or slightly larger than the thickness of the reinforcing wall 18.

The second housing 21 has a lock arm 24 integrally formed with the terminal receiving portion 22. The lock arm 24 has a pair of right and left elastic arm portions 25, a second lock portion 26, and an operation portion 27. The pair of elastic arm portions 25 extend rearward from the front end portion of the outer surface (upper surface) of the terminal housing portion 22. The pair of elastic arm portions 25 are arranged at the center of the terminal housing portion 22 in the left-right direction. The pair of elastic arms 25 are disposed along both left and right side edges of the opening edge of the housing groove 23 in a plan view of the terminal housing portion 22 viewed from above.

The second locking portion 26 is configured to connect rear end portions of the pair of elastic arm portions 25 to each other. The second locking portion 26 is disposed adjacent to the rear end (the rear end) of the housing groove 23 in the front-rear direction (the direction parallel to the fitting direction of the second connector 20 into the housing portion 13). In other words, the accommodating groove 23 is formed only in a region forward of the second lock portion 26 in the front-rear direction. The second locking portion 26 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the elastic arm portion 25 (the surface opposite to the surface facing the upper surface of the terminal housing portion 22). The width dimension (dimension in the left-right direction) of the second lock portion 26 is larger than the groove width dimension of the housing groove 23 and smaller than the left-right dimension (width dimension) of the formation region of the pair of elastic arm portions 25 in the lock arm 24. The operating portion 27 is disposed adjacent to the rear end portion of the lock arm 24, i.e., the rear end portion of the second lock portion 26.

The lock arm 24 is elastically deformable in the up-down direction (direction of approaching and separating to and from the outer surface of the terminal receiving portion 22) with the tip end portion of the elastic arm portion 25 as a fulcrum. With the elastic deformation of the lock arm 24, the elastic arm portion 25 and the second lock portion 26 are elastically displaced in the up-down direction. The direction of elastic displacement of the lock arm 24 (elastic arm portion 25) is a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction of the second connector 20 into the hood 13. The direction of the elastic displacement of the lock arm 24 is a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the pair of elastic arm portions 25 are arranged (the direction in which the pair of elastic arm portions 25 are separated).

When the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 are fitted to each other, the second housing 21 is fitted to the cover 13 while maintaining a facing orientation. When the second housing 21 (second connector 20) is fitted into the cover portion 13, the distal end edge portion of the reinforcing wall 18 enters between the distal end portion of the receiving groove 23 and the pair of elastic arm portions 25. After the reinforcing wall 18 enters between the housing groove 23 and the elastic arm portion 25, the second lock portion 26 interferes with the tip end portion of the upper wall portion 14 of the hood portion 13, and the lock arm 24 is elastically displaced downward (in a direction approaching the terminal housing portion 22).

From this state, the fitting of the second housing 21 into the hood 13 further progresses, and when the two connectors 10 and 20 reach the standard fitting state, the second lock portion 26 is released from interference with the upper wall portion 14, so the lock arm 24 elastically returns upward. With the elastic return of the lock arm 24, as shown in fig. 5, the second lock portion 26 is engaged with and caught by the first lock portion 17. The two connectors 10 and 20 are locked in a standard fitting state by engagement of the first locking portion 17 and the second locking portion 26. As shown in fig. 6, the reinforcing wall 18 is deeply fitted into the receiving groove 23, and the pair of elastic arm portions 25 are positioned to sandwich the reinforcing wall 18 from the left and right.

When the two connectors 10 and 20 in the mated state are disengaged, the lock arm 24 is elastically displaced downward by pressing the operation portion 27 exposed to the outside of the cover portion 13. By the pressing operation of the operation portion 27, the second locking portion 26 is disengaged from the first locking portion 17, and the locked state of the two connectors 10, 20 is released. Thereafter, the two connectors 10 and 20 may be pulled apart while maintaining the unlocked state.

The connector of the present embodiment 1 has a first connector 10 and a second connector 20. The first connector 10 is formed with a square tubular cover portion 13 that opens at a front surface 10F of the first connector 10. A first locking portion 17 is formed on the upper wall portion 14 of the hood 13. The second connector 20 is fitted into the hood 13 in a state where the front surface 20F of the second connector 20 faces the first connector 10. A second locking portion 26 is formed in the second connector 20. The second connector 20 is fitted into the hood 13 by the second locking portion 26 being engaged with the first locking portion 17, and is held in a state where the two connectors 10 and 20 are fit to each other.

A reinforcing wall 18 is formed in a region of the hood 13 rearward of the first locking portion 17. The reinforcing wall 18 is continuous with two mutually facing wall portions (an upper wall portion 14 and a lower wall portion 15) among the plurality of wall portions 14 to 16 constituting the cover portion 13. In other words, the reinforcing wall 18 is formed by connecting two wall portions (the upper wall portion 14 and the lower wall portion 15) that are arranged to face each other and constitute the cover portion 13. The second connector 20 has a housing groove 23. The housing groove 23 is disposed in a region of the second connector 20 forward of the second lock portion 26. When the second connector 20 is fitted into the hood 13, the reinforcing wall 18 is received in the receiving groove 23.

According to this configuration, since the formation range of the reinforcing wall 18 is a region rearward of the first locking portion 17, the position of the first locking portion 17 in the left-right direction is not restricted by the positional relationship with the reinforcing wall 18. That is, the first locking portion 17 and the reinforcing wall 18 may be disposed at different positions in the left-right direction, or may be disposed at the same position in the left-right direction.

Further, since the formation range of the housing groove 23 is an area of the second connector 20 forward of the second lock portion 26, the position of the second lock portion 26 in the left-right direction is not restricted by the positional relationship with the housing groove 23. That is, the second locking portion 26 and the housing groove 23 may be arranged at different positions in the left-right direction, or may be arranged at the same position in the left-right direction. Therefore, the connector of embodiment 1 has a high degree of freedom in design when setting the positions of the first locking portion 17, the reinforcing wall 18, the second locking portion 26, and the receiving groove 23.

The first locking portion 17 is in a form in which relative displacement with respect to the hood portion 13 is restricted. In contrast, the second locking portion 26 is elastically displaceable relative to the terminal housing portion 22. With this configuration, the first locking portion 17 can be formed in a narrow shape and disposed at a position close to the opening end of the cover portion 13. Thus, the range of formation of the reinforcing wall 18 can be extended to a position close to the front end of the hood 13 in the fitting direction (front-rear direction) in which the second connector 20 is fitted into the hood 13. Since the reinforcing wall 18 is formed in a wide range in the front-rear direction, the reinforcing wall 18 has an excellent function of reinforcing the cover portion 13.

The second connector 20 has a terminal housing portion 22 that houses the second terminal fitting 28 and an elastic arm portion 25. The elastic arm portion 25 extends rearward from the outer surface of the terminal housing portion 22 along the housing groove 23, and is elastically deformable relative to the terminal housing portion 22. A second locking portion 26 is formed in the elastic arm portion 25, and the second locking portion 26 is elastically displaced integrally with the elastic arm portion 25.

According to this configuration, since the elastic arm portion 25 is disposed along the housing groove 23, the elastic arm portion 25 does not interfere with the reinforcing wall 18 when the second connector 20 is fitted into the hood portion 13. In addition, the second connector 20 of embodiment 1 can be shortened in the front-rear length as compared with the case where the elastic arm portion 25 is disposed rearward of the housing groove 23.

The pair of elastic arm portions 25 are disposed from both left and right sides with the accommodation groove 23 interposed therebetween. The second lock portion 26 is a form in which the pair of elastic arm portions 25 are connected. According to this configuration, the pair of elastic arm portions 25 are guided by the reinforcing wall 18 and do not deform in the left-right direction in the process of fitting the second connector 20 into the hood portion 13. Therefore, when the two connectors 10 and 20 are mated with each other, the second locking portion 26 can be reliably engaged with the first locking portion 17.

[ other examples ]

The invention is not limited to the embodiment 1 illustrated by the above description and drawings, but is shown by the scope of protection claimed. The present invention includes all modifications within the meaning and range equivalent to the claimed range and is intended to include the embodiments described below.

In embodiment 1 described above, the first connector functions as a substrate connector to be mounted on a circuit board, but the first connector may be a connector to be connected to a wire harness.

In embodiment 1, the first locking portion is not relatively displaceable with respect to the cover portion, and the second locking portion is elastically relatively displaceable with respect to the terminal receiving portion, but the first locking portion may be elastically displaceable with respect to the cover portion, and the relative displacement of the second locking portion with respect to the terminal receiving portion may be restricted.

In the above embodiment 1, the elastic arm portion is in a form extending rearward from the outer surface front end portion of the terminal accommodating portion, but the elastic arm portion may be in a form extending forward from the outer surface rear end portion of the terminal accommodating portion.

In embodiment 1 described above, the pair of elastic arm portions are disposed so as to sandwich the storage groove, but only one elastic arm portion may be provided.