JP2000286014A - Connector lock structure - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] Even without confirming the state of the lock member itself,
A connector lock structure is provided which allows easy detection of forgetting to lock or unlocking after assembling the vehicle. SOLUTION: A lock member 51 which can be locked to one connector 35 fitted to the other connector 35 is rotatably supported by one connector 35. A spring member 87 made of a conductive material and for urging the lock member 51 in the unlocking direction with respect to the other connector is attached to the lock member 51 and held. A pair of bus bar contacts 99, 99 which are connected to the electric circuit and are short-circuited by contacting with the spring member 87 of the lock member 51 arranged at the unlocked position are provided on one connector 35 or the electric connection box 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector lock structure for double-locking one connector provided on an electric connection box or the like with another connector fitted thereto.
The state of the double locking can be electrically detected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to prevent a poor electrical connection between an electric junction box and a wire harness, for example, after a wire harness connector is fitted into a connector housing of the electric junction box, a dedicated part provided on the electric junction box is provided. Is double-locked to a wire harness connector to detect a poor fitting, that is, a poor electrical connection.

An example of this type of connector lock structure is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Hei 8-9911, for example, in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. A connector housing 3 is integrally protruded from an electric connection box 1 made of synthetic resin. A pair of parallel guide plates 5 are provided on the front wall surface of the connector housing 3. Locking projections 7 are provided on both side walls of the connector housing 3. A lock member 9 is rotatably mounted on the connector housing 3. The lock member 9 includes cylindrical projections (shafts) 1 provided on both side walls.
The guide plates 1 and 11 are rotatably supported by the guide plates 5 and 5. The lock member 9 includes a lock plate 13 for locking the mating connector, flexible locking pieces 15, 1 for locking to the locking projections 7, 7.
5 are provided. A leaf spring 17 bent in a J-shape is inserted into the lock member 9. The leaf spring 17 inserted is
The engagement hole 19 is locked by the locking projection 21 and held by the lock member 9.

In this connector lock structure, the leaf spring 17 held by the lock member 9 makes the other end elastically contact along the front wall 23 of the connector housing 3, and
In the unlocking direction (the direction of arrow A). Then, the mating connector 25 is inserted into the connector housing 3,
The primary locking means 27 and 29 are locked to complete the primary locking. Thereafter, the lock member 9 is rotated in the direction of arrow B to lock the shoulder 28 of the mating connector 25 with the lock plate 13 and, at the same time, the flexible locking pieces 15, 15 are locked to the locking projections 7.
7 to perform double locking.

[0005]

In the above connector lock structure, at the time of mating work of the mating connector, an operator operates and locks the lock member after mating the connector. At that time,
If the lock member was not completely locked (locked), it was determined that the fitting was poor. That is, the poor fitting is detected only by the operating state of the mechanical mechanism. For this reason, if the worker performs double locking by the lock member, it is possible to detect a poor connection. However, if the worker forgets the double locking by the lock member, the poor connection is detected. There was a possibility that it could not be detected. In addition, the conventional connector lock structure, in order to discover a poor fit in a series of assembly work process, if the lock member is unlocked by an external force after the vehicle is assembled, release of double lock, Further, it has been difficult to find a poor connection caused by the failure. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a connector lock structure that makes it possible to easily find locking forgotten or unlocking after assembling the vehicle without checking the state of the locking member itself. With the goal.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector lock structure according to the present invention.
A locking member rotatably supported by one connector and capable of locking to the other connector fitted to the one connector;
A spring member made of a conductive material and held by the lock member to bias the lock member in the unlocking direction with respect to the other connector; and a spring member provided on the one connector and connected to an electric circuit for unlocking. And a pair of busbar contacts that are short-circuited by being brought into contact with the spring member of the lock member disposed at a position.

In this connector lock structure, when the lock member is in the unlocked state, the lock member is urged by the spring member and disposed at the unlocked position, and the spring member held by the lock member is a pair of spring members. Contact the busbar contacts. Therefore, the pair of bus bar contacts are short-circuited, the electric circuit is closed,
An unlocked state of the lock member is detected as an electric signal of the electric circuit. As a result, it is possible to easily find that the lock has been forgotten or the lock has been released after the vehicle has been assembled without checking the state of the lock member itself visually or by tactile sensation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the connector lock structure, the one connector is provided in an electric connection box, and the pair of bus bar contacts are connected to a lighting circuit of a warning lamp in a meter, which is the electric circuit. And

In this connector lock structure, one connector is provided in the electric connection box, and a wire harness connector is fitted to the one connector. Also, a pair of bus bar contacts are provided in the lighting circuit of the warning light in the meter. Therefore, when the lock member is in the unlocked state with respect to the other connector, the spring member contacts the pair of bus bar contacts, and the lighting circuit is closed. As a result, the warning light in the meter is turned on, and it is possible to easily grasp the double unlocked state between the electric connection box and the wire harness connector.

The connector lock structure according to a third aspect is characterized in that the pair of bus bar contacts is formed by extending a part of a bus bar pattern disposed inside the electric connection box.

In this connector lock structure, an existing spring member made of a conductive material is used, and a bus bar pattern in an existing electric connection box is extended to form a bus bar contact. The detection structure can be configured without adding new components.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the connector lock structure, a fall prevention portion that contacts the pair of bus bar contacts is formed on the one connector or the electrical connection box, and the pair of bus bar contacts are pressed by the spring member. The fall is carried and prevented by the fall prevention portion.

In this connector lock structure, the pair of bus bar contacts pressed by the spring member is carried by the fall prevention portion, and the deformation, fall and breakage of the bus bar contact due to the pressing force received from the spring member are eliminated.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a connector lock structure according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the connector lock structure according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electric connection box shown in FIG.

In the drawing, reference numeral 31 denotes an electric connection box made of a synthetic resin in which a connector housing 35 is integrally provided on a base wall 33 so as to protrude therefrom. Plates 39, 39 are suspended. An insertion plate 41 for reinforcement is provided upright between the pair of guide plates 39 and 39.

On the inner wall side 39a of the guide plate 39, a groove 43 cut out from the upper part to the middle part is provided, and at the bottom of the groove 43, a shaft hole 45 as a pivoted part is provided orthogonally. Also, on both side walls 47 of the connector housing 35,
Each has a locking projection 49.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lock member shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the locking surface side. In the figure, reference numeral 51 denotes a lock member rotatably mounted on the connector housing 35, and a pair of flexible support pieces 55, 55 are provided on both sides of the member main body 53. On the outer surface of the flexible support piece 55, a short columnar projection (shaft) 63 as a pivot portion is provided. The lower part of the columnar projection 63 is provided with a tapered chamfer 65 for improving insertability.

Further, a fitting groove 67 for the above-mentioned insertion plate 41 is provided in a lower portion of the member main body 53, and a lock for engaging a mating connector (not shown) is provided in the upper portion as in the conventional case. On both sides of the plate 69, flexible locking pieces 71 for the locking projections 49 are provided.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lock member to which the spring member is attached, as viewed from the rear side. A leaf spring locking portion 75 is provided on the rear wall surface of the member main body 53. The leaf spring locking portion 75 couples a pair of guide walls 77, 77 parallel to the rear wall surface to form an insertion groove 79 between the pair of guide walls 77, 77 and an intermediate portion between the pair of guide walls 77, 77. Is provided with a locking projection 81. The locking projection 81 has tapered chamfers on both sides and a lower side, and has a vertical surface formed on an upper side.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the spring member shown in FIG. The distal end portion 89 of a spring member (hereinafter, referred to as “leaf spring”) 87 bent substantially in a J-shape is inserted into the leaf spring locking portion 75 and locked. The distal end 89 of the leaf spring 87 is provided with an engagement hole 91 for the locking projection 81.
A slit 93 is formed in the insertion direction from the
3 has a chamfer 95 extending forward. An escape hole 97 for the insertion plate 41 is provided in the middle of the leaf spring 87 in the longitudinal direction.

When the distal end 89 is inserted into the insertion groove 79, the slit 93 is opened to
1 and enter, and the locking projection 81 is fitted and locked in the engagement hole 91.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bus bar contacts and the fall prevention portion shown in FIG. The electrical connection box 31 includes a base wall 33.
, A pair of bus bar contacts 99, 99 are erected. The bus bar contacts 99 are formed by extending a part of a bus bar pattern (not shown) provided inside the electric connection box 31. The bus bar contact 99 is located on the opposite side of the connector housing 35 with the lock member 51 interposed therebetween, and faces the leaf spring 87 mounted on the lock member 51.

On the back side of the bus bar contact 99, a base wall 33 is provided.
A fall prevention part 101 integrally formed and protruding from the projection is provided upright. The fall prevention unit 101 has a receiving surface 103 that contacts the bus bar contact 99 on a surface facing the bus bar contact 99. In this embodiment, the bus bar contact 9
9. The case where the fall prevention unit 101 is provided on the base wall 33 of the electric connection box 31 will be described as an example. However, when one connector is a single unit, the bus bar contact 99 and the fall prevention unit 101 are provided.
May be provided in the connector housing 35 of this one connector.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of an electric circuit to which bus bar contacts are connected. For example, a relay 105 and a fuse 107 shown in FIG. 7 are built in the electric connection box 31, and these are connected by a bus bar pattern to form an electric circuit. In this embodiment, a pair of bus bar contacts 99, 99 are connected to the lighting circuit of the warning light 109 in the meter. That is, one of the pair of bus bar contacts 99, 99 is connected to the input terminal 111 of the bus bar pattern,
The other of the pair of busbar contacts 99, 99 is connected to the warning light load terminal 113 of the busbar pattern. Therefore,
By shorting the pair of bus bar contacts 99, 99,
Power is input to the in-meter warning light 109, and the in-meter warning light 109 is turned on.

The operation of the connector lock structure configured as described above will be described. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the lock member in an unlocked state (A) and a locked state (B), and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lock member in a locked state as viewed from the rear side.

In this connector lock structure, the leaf spring 87 held by the lock member 51 elastically contacts the other end along the front wall surface 37 of the connector housing 35, and the lock member 51 is released in the unlocking direction (the direction of arrow A). ). In the lock member 51, the mounted leaf spring 87 abuts on the pair of bus bar contacts 99, 99, and further rotation is prevented.
It is inclined at a predetermined inclination angle α and arranged at the unlocked position.

At this time, a pair of bus bar contacts 99, 99
Are short-circuited by contacting the conductive leaf spring 87 together. Therefore, current flows from the input terminal 111 of the bus bar pattern to the warning light load terminal 113, and the warning light
09 will light up. Thereby, the lock member 5
1 can be detected as being in the unlocked state.

The mating connector 121 is inserted into the connector housing 35, and the primary locking means (not shown) is locked to complete the primary locking. Thereafter, the lock member 51 is rotated in the direction of arrow B, and the mating connector 121 is rotated.
And the flexible locking pieces 71, 71 are locked to the locking projections 49, 49 to complete the double locking.

As a result, as shown in FIG.
7 is separated from the pair of bus bar contacts 99, 99, the short circuit is released, and the lighting circuit of the warning light 109 in the meter is opened by the pair of bus bar contacts 99, 99, and the warning light 1 in the meter is released.
09 goes out.

When double locking is completed in a series of assembling work steps and the locking member 51 is unlocked by an external force after the vehicle is assembled, the locking member 51 is urged by the leaf spring 87. 8A, the bus bar contacts 99, 99 contact the leaf spring 87, and the meter warning light 109 is turned on again. Thereby, it is detected that the lock member 51 is in the unlocked state for some reason.

As described above, according to the above-described connector lock structure, when the lock member 51 is in the unlocked state, the lock member 51 is urged by the leaf spring 87 and is arranged at the unlocked position, and the lock is released. The leaf spring 87 held by the member 51 contacts the pair of bus bar contacts 99, 99. Accordingly, the pair of bus bar contacts 99 and 99 are short-circuited, the lighting circuit of the warning lamp 109 in the meter is closed, and the unlocked state of the lock member 51 is detected as the lighting of the warning lamp 109 in the meter. As a result, it is possible to easily find that the lock member 51 has been forgotten to be locked or unlocked after the vehicle is assembled without checking the state itself of the lock member 51 visually or by tactile sensation.

According to this connector lock structure,
Since the existing leaf spring 87 made of a conductive material is used and the bus bar pattern in the existing electric connection box 31 is extended to form the bus bar contact 99, an electric lock member detecting structure is newly provided. It can be configured at low cost without increasing the number of components.

Further, a fall prevention portion 101 is protruded from the base wall 33, and a pair of bus bar contacts 99, 99 pressed by the leaf spring 87 are held in contact with the fall prevention portion 101 in an unlocked state. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the bus bar contact point 99 from being deformed, fallen, or damaged by the pressing force received from the leaf spring 87.

[0034]

As described above in detail, the connector lock structure according to the present invention is provided with a lock member which can be engaged with one connector and which can be locked to the other connector. A pair of bus bar contacts that contact the spring member when the lock member is in the unlocked position, so that the pair of bus bar contacts contact the spring member when the lock member is unlocked. Then, the electric circuit is closed. Therefore, the unlocked state of the lock member can be detected as an electric signal of a desired electric circuit. As a result, it is possible to prevent the worker from forgetting to lock the lock member, and it is also possible to easily find that the lock member is unlocked due to external force or the like after the vehicle is assembled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a connector lock structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electric junction box shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lock member shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from a locking surface side.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lock member to which a spring member is attached, as viewed from the back side.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the spring member shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bus bar contact and a fall prevention unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of an electric circuit to which a bus bar contact is connected.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the lock member in an unlocked state (A) and a locked state (B).

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the lock member in a locked state as viewed from the rear side.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional connector lock structure.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a conventional connector lock structure in which a lock member is in an unlocked state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 31 electrical connection box 35 connector housing (one connector) 51 locking member 87 leaf spring (spring member) 99 bus bar contact 101 fall prevention part 109 warning light 121 mating connector (other connector)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H02G 3/16 H02G 3/16 Z

Claims (4)

[Claims] A lock member rotatably supported by one connector and capable of being locked to the other connector fitted to the one connector; and a lock member made of a conductive material and held by the lock member. A spring member for urging the member in the unlocking direction with respect to the other connector; and a spring member of the lock member provided at the one connector and connected to an electric circuit and arranged at the unlocking position. A connector lock structure comprising: a pair of bus bar contacts that are short-circuited by contact. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the one connector is provided in an electric connection box, and the pair of bus bar contacts are connected to a lighting circuit of a warning lamp in a meter, which is the electric circuit. Lock structure. 3. The connector lock structure according to claim 2, wherein said pair of bus bar contacts are formed by extending a part of a bus bar pattern disposed inside said electric connection box. 4. A fall prevention portion for contacting the pair of bus bar contacts is formed on the one connector or the electrical connection box, and the fall of the pair of bus bar contacts caused by pressing of the spring member is carried by the fall prevention portion. 4. The connector lock structure according to claim 2, wherein the connector lock structure is stopped.