JPH06267611A - Locking mechanism for connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To hold the fitting condition between a first and a second housings securely by providing an elastic member to a locking arm of the first housing, and forming this elastic member with a reinforcement part, which contacts with the second housing elastically. CONSTITUTION:A metal spring 17 is installed along a part from the lower surface of a push part 16 to an arm part 14. This spring 17 made of metal plate having elasticity consists of a free end 18, which contacts with the lower surface of the push part 16 elastically, a locking claw 21 to be fitted in a lock hole 20 of a housing 19 of an object, a curved part 22 for energizing the free end 18 and the claw 21 outward, and a fixed end fitted to a fitting groove 24 provided in a base 23 of a housing main body 11. The curved part 22 is divided into three, and two pieces arranged outside are swelled outward as reinforcing springs 26, and these springs 26 contact with the back wall 19a of the housing 19 elastically when the housing main body 11 is fitted in the housing 19. The springs 26 further reinforce the energizing force of the free end 18 and the claw 21 and the contact force of the lock hole 20 and the claw 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector locking mechanism for holding a connected state of a pair of male and female connectors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a connector housing accommodating a connection terminal, a locking claw of a cantilever locking arm provided on one male connector is fitted into a locking hole provided on the other female connector. A locking mechanism that is often used.

In addition, a waterproof seal is often attached to the lock mechanism of such a connector, and this seal also serves as a cushioning material between the male connector and the female connector, and between them. It is designed to prevent the rocking of.

Further, since the cantilever-shaped locking arm is apt to be inadvertently pushed during fitting and the fitting is released, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-3900 is known as a countermeasure. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the locking arm 2 of the male connector 1 is supported by the three fulcrums 2a, 2b, 2c, and the step portion 3 provided on the surface of the locking arm 2 has a mating female part (not shown). It is designed to fit into the lock hole of the mold connector.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when the seal is not mounted between the male connector and the female connector, rocking occurs between the connectors,
The plating of the connection terminals may come off or contact failure between the connection terminals may occur. Further, even when the three-point-supporting locking arm is used as described above, the occurrence of swinging between the connectors cannot be avoided.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a connector locking mechanism capable of reliably maintaining a fitted state between housings.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, a connector locking mechanism according to the present invention is provided with a second housing by means of a locking arm provided integrally with the first housing made of synthetic resin. In the locking mechanism of the connector for holding the coupling, an elastic member formed by bending a metal plate is additionally provided to the locking arm, the elastic member elastically contacting the pressing portion of the locking arm, and the second housing. A lock claw that fits into the lock hole, a free end and a curved portion that biases the lock claw, a fixed end that is attached to the first housing, and a free end that is elastically contacted with the second housing. It is characterized in that it has a reinforcing portion that strengthens the biasing force of the lock claw and the contact force between the lock hole and the lock claw.

[0008]

The lock mechanism of the connector having the above-mentioned structure is
Since the elastic member made of a metal plate is attached to the rocking arm provided in the first housing, and the elastic member is provided with the reinforcing portion that elastically contacts the second housing, the first housing and the second housing are joined together. Then, the lock claw fits into the lock hole, the reinforcing portion elastically contacts the second housing, the elastic member is pressed by the second housing, and the urging force between the free end and the lock claw is strengthened, and at the same time, between the housings. Swing can be eliminated.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part. A housing body 11 is molded from, for example, a heat-resistant synthetic resin material, and a plurality of terminal accommodating holes 12 are provided therein, and the left and right sides thereof are formed. Locking arms 13 having a cantilever shape are symmetrically provided on both sides.

The locking arm 13 includes parallel arm portions 14,
Housing body 1 at bases 15, 15.
A pressing portion 16 that is integrated with 1 and that is pressed by a fingertip or the like when unlocking is provided on the tip ends of the arm portions 14, 14. A metal spring 17 is mounted in a space extending from the lower surface of the pressing portion 16 to the housing body 11 along the space between the arms 14, 14.

The metal spring 17 is formed of an elastic metal plate and, as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 3, is fitted into a free end 18 that elastically contacts the lower surface of the pressing portion 16 and a lock hole 20 of the mating housing 19. Locking claw 21, free end 1
8 and the curved portion 22 that biases the lock claw 21 outward, and the mounting groove 2 provided in the base 23 of the housing body 11.
4 and a fixed end 25 attached to the No. 4 unit.

Further, the curved portion 22 is divided into three, and the outer two
The sheet is bulged outward as a reinforcing spring 26, and when the housing body 11 is fitted into the mating housing 19, the reinforcing spring 26 is elastically contacted with the back wall 19a of the mating housing 19. The reinforcing spring 26 applies the urging force of the free end 18 and the lock claw 21, and the lock hole 20 and the lock claw 21.
It further strengthens the contact force of. Furthermore, the fixed end 25
Is divided and bent inward to form a locking piece 28 that locks with the locking claw 27 of the mounting groove 24. Also,
A step portion 16a for preventing slippage is provided on the upper surface of the pressing portion 16, and a recess portion 16b for accommodating the free end 18 of the metal spring 17 is provided on the lower surface of the pressing portion 16.

With such a structure, when the metal spring 17 is attached to the locking arm 13, the fixed end 25 and the locking piece 28 are obliquely inserted from the opening of the attachment groove 24, and then the metal spring 17 is attached to the arm. Part 14,
The free end 18 is located in the recess 16 b in the lower portion of the pressing portion 16 so as to be parallel to 14.

When the housing main body 11 is pushed into the mating housing 19 in such a state, the lock claw 21 fits into the lock hole 24 and the reinforcing spring 26 elastically contacts the back wall 19a of the mating housing 19. . At this time, the reinforcement spring 26 receives a reaction from the back wall 19a and receives the reinforcement spring 2
6, the urging force of the lock claw 21 and the free end 18 is strengthened, and at the same time, the housing body 11 and the mating housing 19
Are urged in opposite directions to strengthen the contact pressure between the lock hole 20 and the lock claw 21.

In the embodiment, the mating housing 1
Since the lock hole 20 of 9 is opened to the outside, the fitting state with the lock claw 21 can be easily confirmed through this lock hole 20.

[0016]

As described above, in the connector locking mechanism according to the present invention, the locking arm provided in the first housing is provided with the elastic member, and the elastic member is elastically contacted with the second housing to be free. Since the reinforcing portion that strengthens the urging force between the end and the lock claw and the contact force between the lock hole and the lock claw is formed, when the first housing and the second housing are coupled, the lock claw of the elastic member is connected to the second housing. While being fitted in the lock hole, the reinforcing portion elastically contacts the second housing to strengthen the urging force between the free end and the lock claw, and at the same time, the contact force between the lock hole and the lock claw is strengthened. Therefore, rocking between the housings is prevented, and since the rocking arm is always biased by the elastic member, the rocking arm is prevented from sagging when pressed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a locking arm.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a locking arm.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Housing Main Body 13 Locking Arm 16 Pressing Part 17 Metal Spring 18 Free End 19 Mating Housing 20 Lock Hole 21 Lock Claw 22 Curved Part 26 Reinforcement Spring

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Hirohisa Watanabe 1-8-1, Kotakemachi, Nerima-ku, Tokyo Within Ryosei Denso Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshikazu Sato 33 Uni, 3371 Tana, Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture On Machinery Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A locking mechanism of a connector for holding a coupling with a second housing by a locking arm integrally formed with a first housing made of synthetic resin, wherein an elasticity formed by bending a metal plate on the locking arm. A member is additionally provided, and the elastic member biases the free end that elastically contacts the pressing portion of the locking arm, the lock claw that fits into the lock hole of the second housing, and the free end and the lock claw. A curved portion, a fixed end attached to the first housing, and a reinforcement portion that elastically contacts the second housing to strengthen the urging force of the free end and the lock pawl and the contact force of the lock hole and the lock pawl. A locking mechanism for a connector, comprising: