JPH09245904A - Movable connector mounting structure - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] To prevent fine sliding wear between terminals of male and female connectors due to vehicle vibration and the like. A pair of elastic arms (12) that engage with a panel hole (2a) is provided in one connector (3), and a locking projection (24) is loosely fitted into an engagement groove (28) of a fixed wall (4) facing the panel hole.
A pair of elastic pieces 20 having the above are provided on the other connector 5, and the other connector 5 is provided with an elastic arm 22 that abuts the front end 34 of the fixed wall and urges the other connector in the connector fitting direction. Elastic arm 1 of one connector 3
2 and the elastic arm 22 of the other connector 5 are arranged in the same direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector movable mounting structure in which male and female connectors are integrally moved in the same direction to prevent fine sliding wear between terminals due to vehicle vibration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a movable mounting structure of a conventional connector described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-40952. This structure has a female connector 42 on one panel 41.
Is movably fixed to the other panel 43. Both connectors 42 and 44 are respectively provided with front elastic arms 45 and 46 extending rearward from an intermediate portion of the connector housing made of synthetic resin, and rear elastic arms opened in a V shape from the base portion of the connector housing toward the intermediate portion. Arms 47 and 48 are provided.

The front elastic arms 45 and 46 are mounted on the panel 4
Has locking projections 49, 50 that come into contact with the front surfaces of 1, 43,
The front ends of the rear elastic arms 47 and 48 contact the rear surfaces of the panels 41 and 43. The connectors 42, 44 are movably supported in the front direction by rear elastic arms 47, 48, movably in the left and right directions by the front elastic arms 45, 46, and fixed in the rear direction by locking protrusions 49, 50. A male terminal (not shown) is accommodated in the female connector 42, and a female terminal (not shown) is accommodated in the male connector 44, so that both terminals are connected at the same time when both connectors 42 and 44 are fitted. It

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, each connector 42, 44 has the panel 4
Since they are fixed immovably in the rear direction with respect to the connectors 1, 43, even when one of the connectors 42 is moved forward due to vibration while the vehicle is running, the other connector 42, 44 is engaged with the other connector 42, 44. There is a concern that 44 is immovable, and as a result, slight sliding wear occurs between the male terminal and the female terminal, which deteriorates electrical contactability.

In view of the above points, the present invention improves the reliability of electrical connection and the like without causing slight sliding wear of the terminals of both connectors due to vibration when the male and female connectors are fitted. An object of the present invention is to provide a movable mounting structure for a connector to be obtained.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pair of elastic arms for engaging with a panel hole in one connector, and an engaging groove of a fixed wall facing the panel hole. A pair of elastic pieces having locking projections that engage loosely with the other connector are provided on the other connector, and the other connector is brought into contact with the front end of the fixed wall to urge the other connector in the connector fitting direction. A structure with elastic arms is adopted. A structure in which the elastic arm of the one connector and the elastic arm of the other connector are arranged in the same direction is also effective.

The operation will be described below. The elastic arm of the other connector presses the other connector against the one connector in the connector mating direction. This prevents looseness in the fitting direction. The elastic arm of one of the connectors makes the fitted connectors movable in the left-right direction. At that time, the lock protrusion moves left and right in the engagement groove. Further, the elastic arm of the other connector can move both connectors in the front-rear direction and the elastic piece can move both connectors in the vertical direction.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a movable mounting structure for a connector according to the present invention. This structure includes a switch connector 3 having a female connector portion 1 and fixed to an instrument panel (instrument panel) 2 of a vehicle, and a frame-shaped fixed wall 4 separated from the instrument panel 2 so as to be movable. And a male connector (standby connector) 5 which is fitted and connected to the connector portion 1.

The switch connector 3 has a body portion 6 having a built-in switch mechanism, a switch operating portion 7 provided on the upper portion of the body portion 6 and lowered by a pressing operation, and formed so as to project below the body portion 6. , And the female connector portion 1 having a male terminal 8 inside. The main body 6 is covered with a synthetic resin housing 9, and a female connector housing 10 is integrally connected to the housing 9. A flange portion 11 is formed on the upper wall of the housing 9, and a pair of elastic arms 12, 12 are formed so as to hang down from the flange portion 11 along both side walls 13 of the housing 9. The elastic arm 12 is provided on the outside with a locking projection 14 that engages with the edge of the panel hole 2a.
have.

The male connector 5 fitted into the switch connector 3 is a male connector housing 15 made of synthetic resin.
A female terminal 16 housed inside the connector housing 15; and a pair of straight support plates 19 projecting rearward from near the rear ends of the upper and lower walls 17 and 18 on the long side of the connector housing 15. 19, a pair of elastic pieces 20 and 20 notched in the center of the support plates 19 and 19, and projecting toward both sides at the rear portions of the side walls 21 and 21 on the short side of the connector housing 15. It is composed of a pair of curved elastic arms 22 and 22.

The elastic piece 20 is formed in the support plate 19 so as to be able to bend in a direction orthogonal to the support plate (up and down direction A) via a slit 23 having a substantially U-shape, and has a short cylindrical lock near the tip of the outer surface. It has a protrusion 24. The axis of the lock projection 24 extends in a direction orthogonal to the elastic piece (direction A). The slit 2
3 is cut out to a position in front of the rear end 25 of the connector housing 15, whereby the elastic piece 20 is extended and formed to exhibit a large bending stroke. The frame-shaped support plate 19 around the elastic piece 20 may have flexibility in the elastic piece bending direction (direction a). The support plate 19 and the elastic piece 20 may be integrated to form a large elastic plate (not shown).

The pair of elastic arms 22, 22 are positioned 90 ° out of phase with the elastic piece 20 and are positioned in front of the lock projection 24 on the left and right sides of the connector housing 15. The elastic arm 22 is arranged in the same direction as the elastic arm 12 of the switch connector 3. The elastic arm 22 has a plate-like shape, is curved like an arc around a certain position in the projecting direction of the support plate 19, extends obliquely downward, and has a substantially cylindrical support portion 26 at the tip.

The frame-shaped fixed wall 4 for fixing the standby connector (male connector) 5 has a notch 2 for inserting an electric wire.
7 and a pair of engagement grooves 28, 28 for the pair of lock projections 24, 24 are formed, and a rectangular insertion hole 29 is formed inside the fixed wall 4. The engagement groove 28 is carved in the upper and lower inner wall portions 30 of the fixed wall 4 from the rear end of the wall portion toward the front, and has a terminal end portion 28a near the front end of the fixed wall 4.

The width of the engagement groove 28 is set to be larger than the outer diameter of the lock projection 24, and the lock projection 24 is set in the engagement groove 28.
Can be moved back and forth and left and right. The width S ₁ formed by the upper and lower inner wall portions 30 is set to be approximately equal to the distance between the pair of elastic pieces 20, 20 on the outer surface side, and the width S ₂ formed by the left and right inner wall portions 32 is set on both side walls of the male connector housing 15. The tip portion 2 of the pair of elastic arms 22 and 22 is larger than the interval formed by 21 and 21.
It is set smaller than the interval formed by 6, 26. An inclined guide chamfer 33 is provided on the front end of the inner wall portion of the fixed wall 4. The fixed wall 4 faces the panel hole 2a and faces the panel 2
And are formed integrally.

When the standby connector 5 is inserted into the insertion hole 29 of the fixed wall 4, the lock projection 24 slides on the inner wall portion 30 along the guide chamfer 33. The elastic piece 20 is bent inward, and the lock projection 24 is provided with the inner wall front end portion (projection portion) 30.
At the same time when the vehicle gets over a, the elastic piece 20 is restored outward, and the lock projection 24 is loosely engaged with the engagement groove 28 as shown in FIG. The tip ends 26 of the pair of elastic arms 22 contact the front end surface 34 of the fixed wall 4 in a state of being slightly bent in the compression direction, and push the connector 5 itself forward. Lock protrusion 2
4 abuts on the end (front end) 28a of the engaging groove 28. The standby connector 5 stands upright with respect to the fixed wall 4 by the same biasing force of the pair of elastic arms 22, 22. The electric wire 35 of the connector 5 is inserted through the notch 27 into the fixed wall 4.

After the standby connector 5 is attached to the fixed wall 4, the switch connector 3 is inserted into the panel hole 2a and fitted into the standby connector 5. The pair of elastic arms 12 of the switch connector 3 are engaged with the panel hole 2a, so that the connectors 3 and 5 are movably supported in the left-right direction. The lock protrusion 14 of the elastic arm 12 gets over the panel 2 and engages with the panel back surface 2b side. As a result, the switch connector 3 becomes immovable in the pull-out direction (separation B direction).

The plate-like portion (outer flat surface) 12a of the elastic arm 12 contacts the peripheral surface of the panel hole 2a. The standby connector 5 is pushed slightly backward (in the direction of C) and the lock projection 24
Is separated from the front end 28a in the engaging groove 28 as shown in FIG.
Bend to. The standby connector 5 is constantly pressed against the switch connector 3 by the urging force of the elastic arm 22 as indicated by arrow D, and rattling in the fitting and releasing directions is prevented. The switch connector 3 is immovable in the detaching direction (B direction),
It is movable in the fitting direction (direction C), and when the switch connector 3 moves in the fitting direction, the standby connector 5 bends the elastic arm 22 against the spring force and moves in the same direction as the switch connector 3. Moving.

In this way, the switch connector 3 and the standby connector 5 always move integrally, and the housing 1 during vibration
The fine sliding wear of 0, 15 and terminals 8, 16 is prevented. Further, since the standby connector 5 always pushes the switch connector 3 in the fitting direction (dual direction), the fitting margin of the connectors 3 and 5 is secured, and the loose fitting of the connectors 3 and 5 is prevented.

A pair of elastic arms 1 of the switch connector 3
2 and 12 provide lateral movability, the pair of elastic pieces 20 and 20 of the standby connector 5 provide vertical movability, and the pair of elastic arms 22 and 22 also provide longitudinal movability. To be done. When the connectors 3 and 5 move integrally in the left-right direction, the lock protrusion 24 moves in the left-right direction within the engagement groove 28. In addition, in the state where the switch connector 3 and the standby connector 5 are fitted in advance, the panel 2
It is also possible to attach it to the fixed wall 4.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the elastic arm 12 is twisted by a spatula (not shown) in order to detach the switch connector 3 for maintenance or the like. The switch connector 3 is moved in the left-right direction (e direction). Along with the tilt, the standby connector 5 follows the switch connector 3 around the lock protrusion 24 and tilts integrally. The lock projection 24 swings in the engagement groove 28 in the left-right direction. This is not limited to when the connector is detached, and for example, when the connector vibrates, both connectors 3 and 5 similarly move integrally. As a result, the connector 3 is smoothly detached without applying an unreasonable external force to the connectors 3 and 5.

The lock projection 24 is provided at the front end 28 of the engaging groove 28.
It comes into contact with a and becomes immovable in the forward direction, and is prevented from coming out when the connector is detached. The one elastic piece 22 on the tilt side is compressed and bent to absorb the tilt. When the switch connector 3 is detached from the standby connector 5, the elastic arm 22,
The spring force of 22 restores the standby connector 5 perpendicularly to the panel (fixed wall 4). Thereby, when the switch connector 3 is fitted again, the connector fitting can be smoothly and surely performed.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, since one connector is always urged in the connector fitting direction by the spring force of the elastic arm, both connectors are the same when vibrating. In the same direction, so that slight sliding wear between the terminals and loose fitting of the connector can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a movable mounting structure for a connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which a connector is attached to a panel.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which a switch connector is pulled out.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2a Panel hole 3 Switch connector 4 Fixed wall 5 Standby connector 12, 22 Elastic arm 20 Elastic piece 24 Lock protrusion 28 Engagement groove 34 Front end face

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A pair of elastic arms engaging with a panel hole are provided in one connector, and a pair of elastic pieces having a locking projection engaged with an engaging groove of a fixed wall facing the panel hole for loose fitting. A movable mounting structure for a connector, wherein the other connector is provided with an elastic arm that abuts a front end of the fixed wall to urge the other connector in a connector fitting direction. . 2. The movable mounting structure for a connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic arm of the one connector and the elastic arm of the other connector are arranged in the same direction.