JPH067167U - Hood connector with lock mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To reduce the size of the hood connector with a lock mechanism, and in particular to reduce the width W. [Structure] A substantially linear lock piece (4) having a lock hook portion (4a) at one end, a supported portion (4e) at the other end, and a pressing portion (4c) at the supported portion side is provided with the pressing portion (4). 4c) is pushed in the direction of the arrow (a), so that the pressing portion (4c) can be bent and bent, so that the lock piece of the connector hood (3) at the fulcrum portion (4b) and the supported portion (4e). Accommodation space (3
It is formed in such a manner that it can be unlocked and locked by being supported in the inside of a), and when the pressing portion is pressed and released, the lock hook portion is displaced in the direction opposite to the bending direction and the bending return direction of the lock piece (4). Thus, the width of the hood connector can be reduced by eliminating the folded portion of the lock piece for applying the spring force for returning the lock piece in the conventional connector.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a connector provided with a lock mechanism for preventing a fitted connector from falling off, and particularly to a hood connector with a lock mechanism used for an interface cable or the like.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 As a hood connector with a lock mechanism used for an interface cable or the like, the one shown in the sectional view of FIG. 3 has been widely used. This connector is a connector (2) that is fitted and connected to the other side connector (1), a connector hood (3) that fixes the connector (2), and lock piece storages on both sides of the connector hood (3). The lock mechanism includes lock pieces (4) provided in the space (3a). The tip of the lock piece (4) on one end side (on the side where the connector (2) is provided) has a lock hook portion (4a) facing inward, which is a locking portion for the mating connector (1). ) Is formed, and in the middle portion of the lock piece (4), a fulcrum portion (rotatably supported on a shaft (3b) provided in the connector hood (3) in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface ( 4b) is provided. Further, it is folded back so as to continue from the tip of the pressing portion (4c) provided on the other end side of the lock piece (4) and project from the pressing recess (3c) to the outside of the connector hood (3). A return spring body (4d) formed by the above is provided, and the tip of this spring body (4d) is in contact with the spring receiving walls (3d) on both sides which are portions of the connector hood (3). Further, in the space (3e) for inserting the cable core wire between the spring receiving walls (3d) on both sides, the core wire (5b) of the cable (5) which is disentangled by removing the cable jacket (5a) is connected to the hood base (3f). ), And is electrically connected to the connector (2). This connector is locked and unlocked by the following procedure. That is, when the mating connector (1) is inserted into the connector (2) for mating connection, the locking hook portion (1a) of the mating connector (1) is connected to the lock piece (4) of the connector (2). Locking is performed by temporarily opening the lock hook portion (4a) provided at the tip end in the outward direction and returning by the spring force when the lock hook portion (1a) is overcome. When releasing the mating of the connectors (1) and (2), the pressing portion (4c) of the lock piece (4) of the connector (2) is pushed in the direction of the arrow (a) in the figure to restore the spring. The body (4d) is bent to rotate the lock piece (4) about the fulcrum portion (4b). Then, the lock hook part (4a) is moved in the direction of the arrow (b) in the figure to release the lock, and the connector (2) is pulled out from the mating connector (1) so that the pressing force of the pressing part (4c) is reduced. By releasing, the lock piece (4) is returned to the original state by the repulsive force of the return spring body (4d) to prepare for the next lock.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

In recent years, the miniaturization of electrical equipment and light electrical equipment has strongly demanded the miniaturization of the outer dimensions of the hood connector with a lock mechanism. For example, up to now, when the number of cores of the cable (5) is 24, The length L shown in 3 is reduced to 40 mm and the width W is reduced to about 30 mm. However, the demand for further miniaturization is not limited to this, and there is a demand for a length L of 35 mm and a width W of 25 mm or less. However, of these requirements, especially with regard to the width dimension, it is the current situation that the requirements cannot be met at all due to the following reasons. That is, in the conventional structure described above with reference to FIG. 3, the dimension between the pressing portion (4c) and the tip of the return spring body (4d) is determined by the thickness of the lock piece (4) and the flexure for ensuring the spring property. For this reason, a minimum width of 6 mm is required. Further, the thickness of the spring receiving wall (3d) with which the tip of the return spring body (4d) abuts must be at least 1 mm in terms of strength even if the material of the connector hood (3) is selected. Therefore, the width dimension of at least 7 mm is required for the lock piece (4) on one side, and the width dimension of 14 mm is required for the lock pieces (4) on both sides. On the other hand, when the number of core wires of the cable (5) is, for example, 24 cores, in order to accommodate the loosened cable core wires (5b) excluding the jacket (5a), the width dimension W of the cable core wire insertion space (3e) is set. 15mm is required as ₁ . Therefore, the minimum width W of the connector hood (3), which is 14 mm for installing the lock mechanism and 15 mm for accommodating the cable core wire (5b), is 29 mm. The demand for the width W of the connector hood (3) to be 25 mm or less cannot be met at all.

[0004]

[The purpose of the device]

 An object of the present invention is to make it possible to reduce the width of the connector hood to a degree that cannot be achieved by the prior art, and to meet the demand for miniaturization.

[0005]

[Means of the Invention for Solving the Problems]

 The object of the invention is achieved by the following means based on a new technician taken on the locking piece forming the locking mechanism. That is, [a connector that mates with a mating connector, a connector hood that fixes this connector, and a locking mechanism that is provided with this connector hood and that holds the mating connector are provided. Has a locking part that is locked to the mating connector on one end side, and a pressing part that is an operating part of the lock mechanism on the other end side. In a hood connector with a lock mechanism including a lock piece provided with a fulcrum portion rotatably fixed to the connector hood, the lock piece is a substantially linear elastic body, Has a supported part supported on the connector hood, and either the fixing part of the fulcrum part to the connector hood or the supporting part of the supported part to the connector hood. One of them is slidable in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the fulcrum portion.]

[0006]

[Action]

 With this connector, when the mating connector is inserted, the locking hook is automatically locked by the locking hook and locking is performed. Also, by pushing the pressing portions of the lock pieces on both sides, the lock hooks are displaced in the direction opposite to the pressing direction, and the lock is released. As described above, in the present invention, the lock piece is linear, and the supported portion of the lock piece can be placed substantially on the extension line between the fulcrum portion and the pressing portion. It does not have a folded part to obtain the spring force. Therefore, the width of the connector can be made smaller and smaller than the conventional connector. Also, since the folded portion of the lock piece for obtaining the spring force for return does not come into contact with the wall between the cable core wire insertion space, its thickness can be made smaller than that of the conventional connector. Also, the width of the connector hood can be reduced and the size can be reduced. Further, in this invention, since either the fulcrum portion or the supported portion of the lock piece is formed so as to slide in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the fulcrum portion, the fulcrum portion of the lock piece and the supported portion are formed. It can be largely bent in the space, that is, by the pressing of the pressing portion. Therefore, even if the lock piece is linear, the amount of bending does not become insufficient, and the amount of movement of the lock hook can be easily increased to reliably perform locking and unlocking.

[0007]

【Example】

 Next, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, (2) is a connector, (3) is a connector hood, and the connector hood (3) is a connector (2). An inner wall (3h) for fixing and creating an insertion space (3e) for the cable core wire, a pressing recess (3c) for creating a lock piece accommodating space (3a), and a protrusion serving as a fulcrum part (4b). An outer wall (3j) having (3i), and attached to the hood base (3f). Reference numeral (4) is a lock piece formed of an elastic body having a pressing portion (4c), which is formed in a substantially linear flat plate shape, and has an inward locking hook portion (4a) at one end thereof. The other end has a supported portion (4e) formed by being bent into an L shape. The fulcrum portion (4b) of the lock piece (4) is slidably sandwiched between the protrusion (3i) of the connector hood (3) and the inner wall (3h), and the pressing portion (4c) is depressed for pressing (4c). The L-shaped supported portion (4e) is inserted into the slit (3k) provided in the hood base (3f) so as to be located inside 3c) and is accommodated in the lock piece accommodation space (3a). In addition, (5) is a cable connected to the connector (2), (5a) is a cable jacket, and (5b) is a cable core wire.

In this connector, the fulcrum portion (4b) of the lock piece (4) is slidably sandwiched between the protrusion (3i) and the inner wall (3h), and the supported portion (4e) is fixed to the hood base portion (3f). Has been done. Therefore, when the pressing portions (4c) of the lock pieces (4) on both sides are pressed in the direction of the arrow (a) in FIG. 1, the lock pieces (4) slide on the fulcrum portion (4c) and the locking piece (4) is moved as shown in FIG. As shown by the dotted line in the figure, the fulcrum portion (4b) and the supported portion (4e) immediately bend inwardly at the pressing portion (4c). For this reason, the lock hook portion (4a) at the tip is largely displaced in the direction of the arrow (b) in FIG. 1 to be surely displaced from the locking hook portion of the mating connector (not shown), so that the lock can be securely released. The connector of the other side can be pulled out. When the pressing of the arrow (a) in FIG. 1 is released, the bending between the fulcrum part (4b) and the supported part (4e) is caused by the elasticity of the lock piece (4) to return to its original shape, and the lock hook part is returned. (4a) is surely returned to the original position to prepare for the next lock. Therefore, even if the lock piece (4) is linear, a reliable locking action can be obtained.

Although an example in which the lock piece (4) is formed in a flat plate shape has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. In short, when the pressing portion (4c) is pushed, the fulcrum portion (4b) is a boundary. As long as it bends as required, the cross-sectional shape may be a rod-shaped body such as a circle, a hollow circle, an ellipse, a triangle, a square, or a semi-circle, and the lock piece (4) has a cross-sectional shape along its entire length. Need not be uniform. Although the lock piece (4) is formed of an elastic body, it does not necessarily have to have elasticity over the entire length. For example, between the lowest fulcrum portion (4b) and the supported portion (4e), that is, the pressing portion. It is sufficient that (4c) has bending elasticity. A bulging portion (4c1) as shown in the partial perspective view of FIG. 2 (a) may be provided on one surface of the pressing portion (4c) (see the dotted line in FIG. 1). In this way, when the pressing part (4c) is pressed, the bulge part (4c1) is rapidly deformed catastrophically, so that the lock hook parts (4a) of the lock pieces (4) on both sides are cut off at once. It can be displaced well, and the click sound accompanying the deformation that occurs at this time can detect the opening of the lock hook (4a) by sound. Such a bulge portion (4c1) can be easily formed by pressing. Although the fulcrum portion (4b) is formed by one upper protrusion (3i) as shown in FIG. 1, the protrusion (3i) may be provided on the lower side as shown in FIG. 2 (b). Part may be formed by two protrusions (3i) facing each other as shown in a side view. In this case, the width of the protrusion (3i) is set to be equal to or larger than the width of the lock piece (4) so as to make linear contact with the surface of the lock piece (4), or the tip of the protrusion (3i) is formed into a needle shape. It is also possible to form a fulcrum part (4b) in point contact with 4). Further, in the above, the fulcrum portion (4b) is formed by sandwiching the lock piece (4) with the protrusion (3i). For example, as shown in the partial perspective view of FIG. 2C, the lock piece (4b) is pressed. ) Is formed with a shaft hole (4f), and the shaft (3b) provided on the connector hood (3) is inserted into the shaft hole (4f) as in the conventional case shown in FIG. Good. In this case, it is necessary to support the supported portion (4e) so that it can slide, as shown in the partial sectional view of FIG. 2 (d).

[0010]

[Effect of device]

 The width dimension of the connector hood in this invention is the width dimension for inserting the cable core wire, the inner wall thickness smaller than the conventional one, and the width dimension corresponding to the bending amount due to bending by pressing the linear lock piece. Determined by Therefore, the width of the connector hood can be made smaller than the conventional one in which one end of the lock piece is folded back and the folded back end is abutted against the wall to provide the spring force for restoration, which is unachievable with the conventional technology. It is possible to provide a small hood connector with a lock mechanism that can respond.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a conventional hood connector with a lock mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Mating connector (1a) Locking hook (2) Connector (3) Connector hood (3a) Lock piece housing space (3b) Shaft (3c) Pressing recess (3d) Spring receiving wall (3e) Inserting case Space for use (3f) Hood base (3g) Cable outlet hole (3h) Inner wall (3i) Protrusion (3j) Outer wall (3k) Slit (4) Lock piece (4a) Lock hook (4b) Lock point (4c) Pressing part (4c1) Bulging part (4d) Return spring body (4e) Bearing part (5) Cable (5a) Cable jacket (5b) Cable core wire

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A connector for mating with a mating connector,
A connector hood for fixing the connector, and a lock mechanism provided on the connector hood for retaining the mating connector, wherein the lock mechanism is engaged with the mating connector at one end side. A stop portion is provided, and a pressing portion that is an operating portion of the lock mechanism is provided on the other end side, and a fulcrum that is rotatably fixed to the connector hood between the locking portion and the pressing portion. In a hood connector with a lock mechanism including a lock piece provided with a portion, the lock piece is a substantially linear elastic body, and the connector hood is provided at a tip end opposite to the locking portion of the pressing portion. Has a supported part supported on the connector hood, and either the fixing part of the fulcrum part to the connector hood or the supporting part of the supported part to the connector hood is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the fulcrum part. Locking mechanism hood connector, characterized in that as the slidable direction.