JPH0590849U - Connector lock structure - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a reliable electronic device by ensuring a mating connection state between connectors even if it is not a lock type, and to increase the height of each mounted component in the electronic device incorporating this device. Density mounting is possible to reduce the number of parts and cost. [Structure] Recording medium device 7 fixed on bracket 11
In order to maintain the fitting between the female side connector 6 and the male side connector 2 attached to the cable 1, both connectors 2, 6 are provided on one end side of the device bracket 11 corresponding to the position of the female side connector 6. A pair of cut-and-raised parts 12 and 13 are provided so as to be sandwiched from both sides. In addition, the circular portion 15a at one end,
The other end has a locking portion 15c, which is a linear contact portion 15b.
The holding wire 15 connected by the spring is formed by a spring material,
The circular part 15a is rotatably attached to one of the pair of cut-and-raised parts 12 and the locking part 15c of the holding wire 15 is locked to the other part 13 so that the male part is contacted by the contact part 15b. The connector 2 is pressed and locked in the direction of the female connector 6.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention is directed to a connector that maintains a mating connection state between connectors when an electronic device including a large number of electronic components is electrically connected to an external device or the like via a pair of connectors. It concerns the lock structure.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 As an example of an electronic device, a recording medium device (for example, an FDD, a BMT, or the like) will be described here. The recording medium device is built in a higher-level electronic device housing, and is structured to operate by being connected to the power supply device and other external devices via a cable etc. in the housing inside the housing. In recent years, a connector having a lock structure has been increasingly used as one of means for connecting the cable or the board.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a conventional lock-type connector having this lock structure. In the figure, 1 is a cable for connection and 2 is a male side as a cable-side connector attached to the end of the cable 1. It is a connector, and has a rectangular box shape formed so as to surround a large number of terminals (not shown). Reference numeral 3 denotes a female connector as a device-side connector attached to one side surface of a recording medium device (not shown) for fitting and connection with this male-side connector 2. A concave portion 3a corresponding to the outer shape of the connector 2 is provided, and a large number of terminals 4 are arranged on the surface of the concave portion 3a which abuts the male connector 2.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a pair of lock claws that lock the male side connector 2 so that the male side connector 2 and the male side connector 2 are not disengaged when the male side connector 2 is fitted to the female side connector 3. The concave portion 3a of the female side connector 3 is formed so as to project from both left and right ends thereof, and the front end thereof is provided with a claw portion 5a projecting inward so as to lock the rear end surface of the male side connector 2, respectively.

When connecting the connectors having the above-mentioned structure, first, as shown in the figure, both connectors 2 and 3 are opposed to each other, and the male side connector 2 is moved to the female side connector 3 in the direction of arrow A in the figure. It moves and is inserted into the concave portion 3a from between the lock claws 5. At this time, since the tip of the lock claw 5 is narrower than the width of the male side connector 2 by forming the claw portion 5a, the male side connector 2 pushes the lock claw 5 outward in the left and right directions. , And is inserted into the recess 3a. Then, when the female connector 3 enters the concave portion 3a of the male connector 2 and is pushed in until it abuts against the abutting surface, the male connector 2 passes through the claw portion 5a of the lock claw 5. Therefore, the lock claw 5 that has been deformed outward by the side surface of the male connector 2 returns to its original position, and the claw portion 5a is caught and locked on the rear end side of the male connector 2. As a result, the male side connector 2 and the female side connector 3 are locked, and an electrical connection is secured between them.

However, the connector provided with the above-described lock structure is hardly adopted in the conventional recording medium device which has been widely spread, and the number thereof is very small at present. FIG. 10 shows a structure of a conventional connector fitting portion when such a lock structure is not provided. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the structure of a conventional connector fitting portion having no lock structure. In the figure, 1 is a cord, 2 is a male connector attached to the end of the cord 1, and 6 is this. It is a female connector that is fitted and connected to the male connector 2. Unlike the female connector 3 shown in FIG. 9 described above, the female connector 6 is simply a rectangular box-shaped member having an opening on the surface facing the male connector 2, and the male connector 2 is opened from this opening side. By inserting, both connectors 2 and 6 are fitted and connected.

Therefore, according to such a structure, since there is no means for locking the both, the fear that the fitted state becomes unstable cannot be eliminated, and as shown in FIG. 11 below. It is decided to use a different alternative structure. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an alternative structure of the connector lock, and the structure of the male and female connectors 2 and 6 in this figure is the same as the structure shown in FIG.

In the figure, 7 is a recording medium device having a female connector 6 attached to the back side thereof, and 8 is a device bracket for fixing the recording medium device 7 to the upper side thereof. Further, there is a mounting space for mounting an alternative metal fitting for holding the fitting of the male side connector 2. Reference numeral 9 is a cable holding metal fitting as an alternative metal fitting which is screwed to the space behind the device bracket 8, and which connects the cable 1 of the male connector 2 fitted and connected to the female connector 6 of the recording medium device 7. By being held so as to be sandwiched between the device bracket 8 and the device bracket 8, an alternative mechanism relating to fitting and holding between the connectors was provided.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a connector fitting portion that does not have a lock alternative mechanism. As shown in FIG. 12, the conventional product does not have an alternative mechanism for holding a connector. Sometimes it was. In other words, it is difficult to select the type of connector attached to this recording medium device because most of the recording medium devices are purchased from the manufacturer and built into the electronic device. Even if a lockable connector with a lock mechanism is desired, if there is a fear that the mating connection may be unstable if it is not mounted on the desired recording medium device, a connector without such a lock structure has been provided in the past. The recording medium device had to be built in.

[0010]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 For this reason, the above-mentioned conventional technique has some problems as described below. First, in the cable holding metal fitting as an alternative structure as shown in FIG. 7, it is necessary to secure a space on the device bracket for mounting the cable holding metal fitting. As a result, the size of the device bracket becomes large, the space occupied by the device in the electronic device becomes large, and the space for other mounting components is reduced, which impedes high-density mounting.

In addition, since both ends of the cable pressing fitting are fixed to the device bracket by screwing, the number of parts is increased, the cost is increased, and the maintainability is deteriorated. there were. Furthermore, with such a structure, there is a risk that the connector may come off due to vibration or shock during transportation or handling of the device.In such a case, the connector may be uncoupled at the installation site. There was a problem in that the work of disassembling the parts and reassembling them to ensure the fitting and connection of the connector occurred.

[0012] The disconnection of the connector is even greater for the structure shown in FIG. 8 in which the cable holding metal fitting is not mounted, and the risk of disconnection of the connector is further increased. In addition, even if the connector does not come off as described above, it may be in an unstable connection state where it is not securely mated, and there is a problem that it is possible to ship with such an unstable connection state. It was That is, even if the connector is not detached due to vibration or shock during transportation or handling and the connector is misaligned and incomplete mating, this cannot be reliably detected by visual inspection. It may be possible to ship, and it may be shipped in an incomplete state. In such a case, it can be understood that the device will not operate until it is at the stage to start driving the device at the installation site, which may cause a situation such as incomplete mating between connectors to be found, and the reliability of the device. There was a problem that the reliability was significantly reduced.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to provide a fitting connection between connectors without providing a locking structure on the connector itself or a cable holding metal fitting as an alternative structure of this locking structure. The state is secured and a reliable electronic device is provided, and the size of the device bracket is reduced by not using the cable holding metal fittings that require screwing, which enables high-density mounting of each mounted component in the electronic device. The purpose is to reduce the number of parts and cost.

[0014]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is designed to directly hold the cable side connector without using an alternative mechanism and hold the fitting of both. First, as a first means, a cable attached to one end of a cable is attached to a device-side connector provided in an electronic device to obtain an electrical connection with an electronic device fixed on a device bracket made of a thin plate. In the connector locking structure in which the side connectors are fitted and connected and the fitting between the fitted and connected connectors is held, first, at one end side of the device bracket corresponding to the position of the connector provided in the electronic device device, A pair of cut-and-raised parts are provided so as to sandwich the both connectors from both side surfaces thereof.

Further, a holding wire having a circular portion at one end, a linear contact portion extending from the circular portion, and a bent engaging portion provided at the other end is formed of a spring material. Then, the circular portion of the holding wire is rotatably attached to one of the pair of cut-and-raised portions, and the retaining wire locking portion is locked to the other cut-and-raised portion to be attached to the cable. The connector is pushed and locked in the direction of the connector provided in the electronic device by the contact portion of the holding wire.

The second means is to have an inner shape substantially corresponding to the outer shape of the connector in the state where both the device side connector and the cable side connector are fitted and connected, and the lower end portions of both side surfaces of the connector have flexibility. A substantially box-shaped holding bracket having a pair of claws is formed, and a predetermined position of the device bracket corresponding to the position of the claw when the holding bracket is fitted over both connectors in the mating connection state. In addition, a locking hole for locking the claw portion is formed.

Then, the claw portion of the holding bracket is inserted into the locking hole of the device bracket while being bent and locked in the locking hole to lock the holding bracket to the device bracket. It is designed to lock the connector by covering the connector with a holding bracket.

[0018]

With the above-described structure, first, the holding wire of the first means has the circular portion at one end thereof rotatably attached to one of the pair of cut and raised portions and the other end thereof at the other cut and raised portion. Since the device side connector and the cable side connector are fitted between the pair of cut-and-raised parts, the holding end of the holding wire comes into contact with the rear end surface of this cable side connector, It will press the cable side connector.

Therefore, the restoring force when the contact portion bends presses the cable-side connector toward the device-side connector, and maintains the fitting connection state of both. In addition, the holding bracket as the second means covers the holding bracket by covering both connectors in the fitted state from above, and at the same time, the claws provided on the lower end portions of both side surfaces of the holding bracket are attached to the holding bracket of the device bracket. Insert it while bending it into the locking hole.

When the claw portion enters the locking hole, the claw portion returns from the bent state to the original shape and locks with the locking hole, thereby locking the holding bracket to the device bracket. By this locking, the outer shape of the two connectors is almost covered by the holding bracket in a fitted state, and the upward, leftward, rightward, and rearward movements (retracting direction of the male connector) are restricted, and both connectors are locked. Is retained.

[0021]

【Example】

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is an overall perspective view showing the connector locking structure of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a connector fitting portion, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of a cut-and-raised portion, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a connector fitting portion.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, 1 is a cable, 2 is a male connector as a cable side connector, 6 is a female connector as a device side connector, and 7 is a recording medium device. Since they are the same, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted. Reference numeral 11 denotes a device bracket that supports the recording medium device 7, and a lock structure described below is provided at the rear end portion corresponding to the female connector 6 provided on the back side of the recording medium device 7. A small space for it is secured.

Reference numerals 12 and 13 denote a pair of cut-and-raised parts formed on the rear end side of the device bracket 11, and these cut-and-raised parts 12 and 13 are arranged on the back surface of the recording medium device 7 as shown in the figure. It is formed so as to sandwich both the female side connector 2 and the male side connector 2, and its tip is bent in an inverted L shape so as to face the back side of the recording medium device 7. ..

A screw hole 12 a is provided on the upper end surface of the one cut and raised portion 12. Reference numeral 14 denotes a shoulder screw having a threaded portion which is screwed into the screw hole 12a, and 15 is fixed to the cut-and-raised portions 12 and 13 via the shoulder screw 14 to hold the fitting between the male and female connectors 2 and 6. A holding wire as a holding member for The holding wire 15 is made of a flexible spring material, and has a circular portion 15a at one end into which the lower portion of the shoulder screw 14 is inserted, as shown in the figure, and from the upper end and the lower end of the coil portion 15a, respectively. At the other end of the wire-shaped abutting portion 15b extending in parallel, an engaging portion 15c bent to engage with the cut-and-raised portion 13 is formed.

When the fitting between the connectors 2 and 6 is locked by the above-described configuration, first, the male connector 2 provided at the end of the cable 1 is attached to the recording medium device 7 fixed on the device bracket 11. It is fitted and connected to the female connector 6 arranged at the rear end. At this time, the male side connector 2 is in a state in which the cable 1 is passed through between the contact portions 15b through the gap between the contact portions 15b of the holding wire 15.

After that, the shoulder screw 14 is inserted from the lower end into the circular portion 15 a of the holding wire 15, and the threaded portion thereof is screwed into the screw hole 12 a of the cut-and-raised portion 12 of the apparatus bracket 11, and one end of the holding wire 15 is fastened. Is rotatably attached to the device bracket 11. Next, the engaging portion 15c at the other end of the holding wire 15 is hooked and engaged with the other cut-and-raised portion 13. As shown in FIG. 4, the positions of the cut-and-raised portions 12 and 13 are such that when the male connector 2 is fitted in the female connector 6, the male connector 2 is inserted into the recording medium device 7 side from the rear end face thereof. Therefore, when the locking portion 15c is locked to the cut-and-raised portion 13, the contact portion 15b of the holding wire 15 is curved so as to press the rear end surface of the male connector 2. .. Then, the male connector 2 is pushed toward the female connector 6 by the restoring force of the holding wire 15 which tries to recover from the bent and deformed state, and thereby the mated state of both connectors is held.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 is an overall perspective view showing a lock structure of the connector of the second embodiment, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a connector fitting portion, and FIG. 7 is a sectional perspective view taken along the line AA of FIG. 6 showing a locked state. 8 and 9 are plan views of the connector fitting portion. Also in this second embodiment, since the structure of the cable 1, the male side connector 2 and the female side connector 6 is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted. To do.

In FIGS. 5 to 8, reference numeral 16 denotes a device bracket for fixing the recording medium device 7. Also, a small space for a lock structure is secured at the rear end of the recording medium device 7, and the female bracket is provided in this space. Square holes 17 as locking holes are formed at predetermined intervals so as to sandwich the side connector 6 and the male side connector 2 therebetween. Reference numeral 18 is a holding bracket as a holding member for holding the fitting of the two connectors 2 and 6, and this holding bracket 18 is a substantially box so as to cover all or part of the upper surface, both side surfaces and the rear end surface of the male side connector 2. It is formed in a mold and has a claw portion 18a that engages with the square hole 17 at the lower end portions of both side surfaces. Further, the male connector 2 also has a notch portion 18b which becomes an outlet of the cable 1 of the male connector 2 when fitted to the female connector 6, and the claw portion 18a has flexibility. It has a structure.

With the above configuration, the male and female connectors 2 and 6 are locked by providing the male connector 2 attached to the end of the cable 1 on the back side of the recording medium device 7 fixed on the device bracket 16. Fit and connect to the female connector 6. In order to maintain the fitting between the male side connector 2 and the female side connector 6, the holding bracket 18 is provided with the holding bracket 18 so that the outer peripheral surfaces of the male side connector 2 and the female side connector 6 are the upper part, the left and right side faces, and At the same time as covering the back surface so as to cover a part thereof, the claw portions 18a provided at the lower end portions of both side surfaces thereof are respectively inserted into the square holes 17 formed in the device bracket 16.

Due to its flexibility, the holding bracket 18 enters the inside of the square hole 17 while the claw portion 18a is deformed inward, and when the whole of the claw portion 18a enters into the square hole 17, the claw portion 18a moves into the square hole 17. Enter the bottom side and lock. At this time, the positional relationship between the square hole 17 and the holding bracket 18 is as shown in FIG. 8, and when the claw portion 18a engages in the square hole 17, the holding bracket 18 is abutted above the cutout portion 81b. The surface 18c contacts the rear end surface of the male connector 2. In other words, the holding bracket 18 is formed into a shape whose inner shape substantially corresponds to the outer shapes of the female side connector 6 and the male side connector 2, so that the holding bracket 18 can be made into the male and female connectors 2 and 6. By fixing and by covering the upper surface, both side surfaces, and a part of the rear end surface side, the movement is restricted and the fitting of both is maintained.

[0031]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, both the device-side connector and the cable-side connector are sandwiched from both side surfaces of one end of the device bracket corresponding to the position of the connector provided in the electronic device according to the first claim. A holding wire provided with a pair of cut-and-raised parts in an arrangement, a circular part at one end, a linear contact part extending from the circular part, and a bent locking part at the other end. Forming a spring member, the circular portion of the holding wire is rotatably attached to one of the pair of cut-and-raised portions, and the retaining wire locking portion is locked to the other cut-and-raised portion. Since the connector attached to the cable is pressed and locked in the direction of the connector provided in the electronic device by the contact portion of the holding wire, the device-side connector and the cable-side connector are So that the fitting state is maintained by the pressing force.

Therefore, even if the connector itself provided in the electronic device is not provided with a lock structure, the fitting with the connector on the cable side can be maintained, so that even if the connector is subjected to vibration or shock during movement, The electrical connection between them can be secured. In addition, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional lock alternative structure, and according to the present application, the locking part hooked to the other cut-and-raised part can be removed even during maintenance and inspection. It is possible to easily remove both connectors without removing screws as in the conventional case, and it is possible to improve workability.

Further, as a second claim, a pair of claws having an inner shape substantially corresponding to the outer shape of the connector in a state where the both connectors are fitted and connected, and having flexibility at the lower end portions of both side surfaces thereof. Forming a substantially box-shaped holding bracket, and holding the holding bracket at a predetermined position of the device bracket corresponding to the position of the claw when the two holding connectors are covered with the holding bracket. The holding bracket is formed by forming a locking hole for locking the holding bracket, and inserting the claw portion of the holding bracket into the locking hole of the device bracket while bending and inserting the locking hole into the locking hole. It was locked to the bracket so that the holding bracket covers the approximately periphery of both connectors and locks them.

Therefore, the holding bracket covers the device-side connector and the cable-side connector so as to cover the upper side, both side surfaces, and a part of the rear end surface side to restrict the movement, so that both connectors can be fitted and connected. Secured. Since this holding bracket does not require fixing means such as screws, it can be easily attached and detached, which improves workability and eliminates the need for fixing parts such as screws, reducing the number of parts. Therefore, the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a lock structure of a connector according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of essential parts of a connector fitting portion according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of a cut and raised portion.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a connector fitting portion.

FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view showing a lock structure of a connector according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of essential parts of a connector fitting portion according to a second embodiment.

7 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 6 showing a locked state.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a connector fitting portion.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a conventional lock-type connector having a lock structure.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a structure of a conventional connector portion having no lock structure.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an alternative structure of a connector fitting portion by screwing.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a connector fitting structure without an alternative mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cable 2 Male-side Connector 6 Female-side Connector 11 Device Bracket 12 Cut-and-raised part 13 Cut-and-raised part 15 Holding wire 15a Circular part 15b Abutting part 15c Locking part 16 Device bracket 17 Square hole 18 Holding bracket 18a Claw part

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A cable-side connector attached to one end of a cable is fitted to a device-side connector provided on the electronic equipment device in order to obtain an electrical connection with an electronic equipment device fixed on a device bracket made of a thin plate material. In the connector locking structure for connecting and retaining the fitting between the fitted connectors, the both connectors are provided on one side of the device bracket corresponding to the position of the connector provided in the electronic device. A holding wire having a pair of cut-and-raised parts arranged in a sandwiched manner from each other, a circular part at one end, a linear contact part extending from the circular part, and a bent locking part at the other end. Is formed of a spring material, the circular portion of the holding wire is rotatably attached to one of the pair of cut-and-raised portions, and the retaining wire locking portion is engaged with the other cut-and-raised portion. A lock structure for a connector, wherein when stopped, the connector attached to the cable is pressed and locked in the direction of the connector provided in the electronic device by the contact portion of the holding wire. 2. A cable-side connector attached to one end of a cable is fitted to a device-side connector provided on the electronic equipment device in order to obtain an electrical connection with the electronic equipment device fixed on a device bracket made of a thin plate material. In a connector locking structure for connecting and holding the fitting between the two connectors that have been mated and connected, the connector has an inner shape that approximately corresponds to the outer shape of the connector when the both connectors are mated and connected, and the lower ends of both side surfaces of the connector. Forming a substantially box-shaped holding bracket having a pair of flexible claws in the portion, and corresponding to the position of the claw when the holding bracket is covered over both connectors in a fitted connection state. A locking hole for locking the claw portion is formed at a predetermined position of the device bracket, and the claw part of the holding bracket is inserted while being bent into the locking hole of the device bracket and locked in the locking hole. Do Thus, the holding bracket is locked to the device bracket, and substantially the periphery of both connectors is covered with the holding bracket to be locked.