JPH0223982B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a connector in which a socket connector to which a cable is attached is mated to a pin connector, and particularly a lock mechanism for confirming that the socket connector is completely inserted into the pin connector. The present invention relates to a connector equipped with a connector.

<Background> A socket connector with a cable attached is mated to a pin connector with connection pins planted inside, and each core wire of the cable is connected to the pin contacts of these pin connectors via the socket contacts. A connector is used that connects the cable to the pin contact.

Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the structure of the pin connector 11 and the socket connector 12, and Fig. 2 shows their fitted state. It is of a format called . In this seesaw type lock, the protrusion 13 formed on the side opposite to the opening surface of the pin connector 11 and the pin connector 11
An engagement piece 1 formed on the upper plate surface of the insertion side end of the socket connector 12 inserted from the opening surface of the socket connector 12.
4 elastically engage with each other as shown in FIG. 2 when fitted.

Similarly, the configurations shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, are of a type called a cantilever lock among conventionally used connectors of this kind. In this cantilever lock, a protrusion 13 is formed on the upper plate surface of the pin connector 11 on the opening side, and a locking piece 13 is formed on the upper plate surface of the socket connector 12 inserted from this opening surface. The connecting piece 14 is configured to be elastically engaged with the connecting piece 14.

This type of connector is also used for electrical circuits inside vehicles. Particularly in recent years, as the number of internal electronic devices in vehicles has increased, almost all types of connectors have been used to connect wiring within the vehicle. Furthermore, there is a special condition in the use of a vehicle, in which the connector part is subject to considerable vibration when the vehicle is running.

On the other hand, this type of connector used for vehicles, for example, has been significantly downsized as the number of wiring has increased. However, in such a connector, it is still necessary to check whether a complete connection has been made by checking the protruding piece 13 and the engaging piece 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 when installed.
This is done by a click feeling or a sound when the device is engaged with the device 4.

Confirmation based on the click sensation or attachment sound generally becomes less clear as the connector becomes smaller. On the other hand, it has been proven that the confirmation of connection using the click feel or the sound of attachment is not a completely reliable confirmation method, as it is highly dependent on the environmental conditions in which the judge is placed, even from an ergonomic point of view.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned difficulties in such connectors, especially connectors of this type that require miniaturization, and makes it possible to easily confirm that the socket connector has been completely inserted into the pin connector. In addition, the present invention provides a connector which can be constructed in an integrated and compact manner without requiring any special parts, and which has a robust structure.

The connector of the present invention has pin contacts planted at right angles on the inner surface, and the pin connector has a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape with the surface facing the inner surface being an open surface. It has a structure into which a connector is inserted and fitted. In this inserted and fitted state, the core wire exposed at the end of the cable attached to the socket connector is connected to one end side of the socket contact attached to the socket connector.

A pin contact is inserted and fitted to the other end of this socket contact by inserting and fitting the socket contact into the pin connector, and it corresponds to the core wire of the cable by inserting and fitting the pin connector and the socket connector. The pin contacts are electrically connected to each other via socket contacts.

In this invention, a lock piece is attached to the pin connector and is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the insertion direction of the socket connector. An engaging piece is formed that faces the back surface of the butt connector in the insertion direction. Therefore, this engaging piece can be disposed in opposition to the back surface of the socket connector in the insertion direction only when the socket connector is properly inserted and fitted to the pin connector. It can be easily confirmed that the pin connector and socket connector are properly inserted and fitted.

<Example> Hereinafter, the connector of the present invention will be described in detail based on the example using the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of the connector of the present invention, in which a rectangular socket connector 12 is fitted into a rectangular cylindrical pin connector 11 made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The structure is such that

Both the pin connector 11 and the socket connector 12 can be made integrally, for example, by molding means. Pin contacts 22-11 and 22-21 are planted on the inner surface 21 of the pin connector 11, which faces the open surface 20, substantially perpendicular to the plate surface, and the other ends of these pin contacts are led out to the outside of the pin connector 11. ing.

An engaging body 24 is integrally formed on the upper plate surface 23 of the pin connector 11 at a central position on the side of the open surface 20 and protrudes perpendicularly to the plate surface. The upper plate surface of this engaging body 24 protrudes and extends toward the opposite side of the open surface 20, and the protruding piece 2
4-T is formed.

The socket connector 12, which is inserted into the pin connector 11 from the opening surface, has cable mounting holes 35-1 to 35-4 and 36- on its upper and lower opposing plate sides.
1 to 36-4 are socket housings 12, respectively.
It is formed by penetrating in the longitudinal direction. Conductive socket contacts 3 are located within these cable mounting holes.
7-1 to 37-4 and 38-1 to 38-4 are attached, respectively.

Pin connector 1 of these socket contacts
One end portion on the inner surface 21 side of 1 projects from the inner surface 21. A fitting portion that fits the pin contact is formed. Further, the other end of the socket contact is formed with a connecting portion that is electrically connected to the core wire of a cable that is inserted through the mounting hole and mounted.

Cable 40-1 with core wire exposed at the end
~40-4 and 41-1~41-4 through mounting hole 35
-1 to 35-4 and 36-1 to 36-4 to electrically connect each core wire to the connection portion of the corresponding socket contact. In this state, when the socket connector 12 is inserted into the pin connector 11 from the opening surface 20 side, the corresponding pin contacts are inserted and fitted into the fitting portions of the socket contacts, and the electrical connection between the corresponding cable and pin contact is established. connection is made.

In the present invention, a locking means is provided for checking whether or not the socket connector 12 is inserted and fitted into the pin connector 11 in a completely normal state.

That is, a locking piece 46 is attached via a hinge 45 to the upper edge of the surface opposite to the opening surface 20 of the pin connector 11.
is rotatably attached to the pin connector 11. This lock piece 46 part is also pin connector 1.
For example, it can be integrally formed with 1 by a molding process.

The end surface of this lock piece 46 opposite to the hinge 45 extends perpendicularly to the plate surface of the lock piece 46, and an engaging piece 47 is integrally formed therein. The distance between the end surface 47-P of the engagement piece 47 on the hinge 45 side and the end surface 46-P of the locking piece 46 on the hinge 45 side is such that the socket connector 12 is completely inserted and fitted into the pin connector 11. In the normal inserted and fitted state, the end face 47-
P is the back side 12 in the insertion direction of the socket connector 12
- selected to be in contact with B.

Further, a locking piece 48 is formed at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction of the locking piece 46, parallel to the plate surface of the locking piece 46. The lock piece 46 is rotated in the direction of the pin connector 11 so that the back surface 12-B in the insertion direction of the socket connector 12 inserted and fitted into the pin connector 11 and the end surface 47-P of the engagement piece 47 are brought into contact with each other. Then, the locking piece 48 engages with the engaging body.

In this way, cables 40-1 to 40-4 and 4
Socket connector 1 with 1-1 to 41-4 installed
2 is inserted into the pin connector 11 to its normal insertion and fitting position, the locking piece 46 can lock the socket connector 12, and in this locked state, the locking piece 48 and the engaging body 24 are engaged. do. Therefore, the socket connector 12 is firmly locked by the lock piece 46, and the lock is not released by vibration or the application of external force.

Socket connector 1 to pin connector 11
2 is not properly inserted and fitted, the engagement piece 47 will abut against the upper plate surface of the socket connector 12 even if the locking piece 46 is rotated, making it impossible to lock the socket connector 12. . Therefore, after inserting and fitting the socket connector 12 into the pin connector 11, the locking piece 46 is rotated and the engaging piece 47 is inserted into the pin connector 11.
By locking the back surface 12-B of the socket connector 12 with the connector 12, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the socket connector 12 is properly inserted and fitted.

For example, the pin connector 11 and the lock piece 46 can be easily manufactured integrally with high precision by molding, and the socket connector 12 can also be molded by molding, making it easy to manufacture and highly accurate. be exposed. Therefore, it is possible to easily manufacture a highly reliable product that is significantly smaller in size as a whole, and the connection operation of the pin contact to the cable can be performed completely and stably.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective in FIG.
It has a configuration divided into 1 to 50-6. In this embodiment, a socket connector having a corresponding cross-sectional shape is inserted and fitted into each of the divided rooms. In Figure 9, room 5
Cables 40-21, 40-22 for 0-4
The state in which the socket connector 12-2 fitted with the socket connector 12-2 is inserted and fitted is representatively shown.

This embodiment is suitable for inserting and mounting various socket connectors into corresponding rooms of the pin connector 11, and for classifying cable connections according to information content, for example.

Other details of the configuration and operation are the same as those of the basic embodiment of the present invention already described, so repeated explanation will be omitted.

According to this invention, as explained in detail above,
It is possible to easily manufacture a product that is compact and has good dimensional accuracy, and it is possible to easily check on the lock piece whether or not the socket connector has been properly inserted and fitted to the pin connector. Cable connections are made securely and firmly.
It is possible to provide a connector that is not unlocked even by vibration or the application of external force and can maintain a stable connected state.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 are diagrams showing the structure of a conventionally proposed connector, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of an embodiment of the connector of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of an embodiment of the connector of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a pin connector, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a socket connector in an embodiment of the connector of this invention, and FIG. 8 is a normal insertion and fitting state of the embodiment of the connector of this invention. The sectional view shown in FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the structure of another embodiment of the connector of the present invention. 11: Pin connector, 12: Socket connector, 12-B: Back, 21: Inner surface, 22-11,
22-21: Pin contact, 33: Upper plate surface, 2
4: Engaging body, 24-T: Projection piece, 35-1 to 35-
4, 36-1, 36-4: Cable mounting hole, 37
-1 to 37-4, 38-1 to 38-4: socket contact, 40-1 to 40-4, 41-1 to 4
1-4: Cable, 45: Hinge, 46: Lock piece, 47: Engagement piece, 46-P, 47-P: End surface.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A socket connector is inserted and fitted from the open surface into a cylindrical pin connector with pin contacts planted on the inner surface and an open surface facing the inner surface, The core wire of the cable attached to this socket connector is connected to the socket contact attached to the socket connector at its end, and the pin contact and the socket contact are electrically connected by the insertion and fitting. In the connector connected to the pin connector, a lock piece is rotatably attached to the edge of the upper surface of the pin connector opposite to the open surface via a hinge, and an end of the lock piece opposite to the hinge is attached. When the socket connector is properly inserted and fitted into the pin connector, when the lock piece is tilted onto the upper surface of the pin connector, an engaging piece is formed that faces the back surface of the socket connector in the insertion direction, and the lock A locking piece and an engaging body that can be engaged with each other and hold the lock piece in a state where it is tilted down on the top surface of the pin connector are respectively formed protrudingly formed on the lower surface of the piece and the upper surface of the pin connector, and the locking piece is What is claimed is: 1. A connector comprising: a claw; the claw is configured to engage with the hinge-side end surface of the engaging body;