JPH1012326A - Connector fitting detection structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To clearly display the fitted state of a connector even if it is fitted in a state of being shielded by a unit and invisible to a worker. SOLUTION: The detection of a fitted a attain state between a first and a second connector 1 and 2 mounted on one face of a unit 3 from the unit external portion, a housing 1a of the first connector 1 is provided with a rod 4 for fitting detection movable to a protruded state of protruding out from the unit surface through the unit 3 and to a sunk state of sinking in the unit. And, the rod 4 is kept in a sunk state when the connectors are not fitted, and with the fitting of both connectors 1 and 2, an actuation mechanism is constituted so that the rod 4 may be protruded once and sunk again.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fitting detection structure for allowing a worker to recognize when a corresponding connector is correctly fitted, and particularly to a state in which the connector is shielded by a unit. The present invention relates to a fitting detection structure that is applied when fitting is performed by using the above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a connector is used for connection between an electric device and a harness, connection between electric devices or connection between harnesses. The electrical connection by such a connector is achieved by completely fitting the corresponding connector housings. However, in the case of a connector that requires a relatively large fitting force or a connector that is connected by bolting, an operator needs to do so. It is difficult to determine complete fitting by reaction force or the like.

For this reason, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-4179, a display window is provided on one of a pair of connector housings which are fitted with each other.
By providing a fitting display portion in the connector housing such that the display piece appears in the display window when the two connector housings are fitted, the fitting of the connector can be visually confirmed by fitting. Sensing structures are known.

[0004]

In this type of conventional fitting detection structure, a fitting indication portion is provided in the connector housing. Visual confirmation is possible.

However, for example, when a connector is mounted on the inner surface of a trim of an automobile, the connector is fitted to a mating connector when the trim is mounted. When a connector is attached to the back of the instrument mounted on the panel and this connector is fitted to the mating connector on the back side of the instrument, etc., the connector works with a unit such as a trim or instrument at the time of fitting Is shielded from the person. For this reason, even if the connector housing is provided with the fitting indication portion, the worker cannot confirm this from outside, and it has been difficult to detect the fitting in such a case.

In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a connector which can clearly indicate that the connector has been fitted even if the connector is fitted in a state where the connector is shielded by a unit and cannot be seen by an operator. An object is to provide a fitting detection structure.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a structure for detecting a fitted state between a first connector mounted on one side of a unit and a second connector which can be fitted to the first connector. The housing of the first connector is movable between a protruding state in which the unit penetrates the unit and protrudes to the outside from a surface of the unit opposite to a side where the first connector is located, and a immersing state in which the unit is immersed. A movable member for fitting detection, and holding means for holding the movable member in a fixed state when the connector is not fitted are provided, and the housings of both connectors are provided with the movable member in a projecting direction with the fitting of the housing, An operation mechanism for operating in at least one of the immersion directions is provided.

According to this structure, when the connector is fitted, even if the connector is shielded by the unit and the connector cannot be seen from the operator side, the movable member protrudes and retracts from the surface of the unit with the fitting of the connector housing. When the operation of the movable member is visually observed from the outside, the fitting of the connector is confirmed.

In the present invention, a rod protruding from a housing of the first connector in a predetermined direction is provided as a movable member for detecting the engagement, and a rod insertion hole is formed in the unit, and the rod passes through the rod insertion hole. It is preferable that the rod end is extended to the unit surface side so that the rod tip can protrude and retract from the unit surface.

According to this configuration, the fitting of the connector can be confirmed by the rod protruding and retracting from the surface of the unit with the fitting of the housing of the connector.

The holding means is for holding the movable member in a retracted state when the connector is not fitted, and the operating mechanism projects the movable member up to the middle of the fitting when the housings of the two connectors are fitted. Preferably, the movable member is immersed as the fitting of the housing is completed.

More specifically, a biasing means for biasing the movable member in the immersion direction is provided as the holding means, and the operating mechanism engages with the movable member as the housings of the two connectors are fitted together. A pushing member for pushing the movable member to the projecting state, and maintaining the engaged state between the pushing member and the movable member until the housing is fitted, and moving the pushing member in the housing fitting process. An engaging and disengaging mechanism for detaching from the movable member may be provided.

With this arrangement, when the connectors are fitted, it is possible to confirm that both connectors are in the middle of fitting by first protruding the movable member from the surface of the unit.
Next, when the movable member is immersed in the unit, it is possible to confirm that the fitting of both connectors is completed. Further, the movable member temporarily protrudes during the fitting, but after the completion of the fitting, is in a immersed state and does not protrude to the outside.

As another example of the present invention, the holding means is for holding the movable member in a protruding state when the connector is not fitted, and the operating mechanism is adapted to move the movable member in accordance with fitting of the housings of both connectors. The member may be operated in a submerged state.

[0015] Even in this case, the fitting of the connector shielded by the unit can be confirmed from the outside by operating the movable member from the protruding state to the immersing state with the fitting of the connector.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 schematically show an embodiment of the present invention. In these drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a first connector, and reference numeral 2 denotes a second connector. The first connector 1
Is mounted on one side of a unit 3 such as a car trim or instrument. Hereinafter, the surface of the unit 2 to which the first connector 1 is attached is referred to as a back surface, and the opposite surface is referred to as a front surface.

The two connectors 1 are composed of corresponding housings 1a and 1b which can be fitted to each other, and terminals connected to electric wires (not shown) and assembled in the housings 1a and 2a.

Further, the housing 1a of the first connector 1 is provided with a rod 4 as a movable member for detecting a fit, and correspondingly, the unit 3 has a rod insertion hole 5 penetrating from the front to the back. Are formed. The rod 4 projects from the housing 1a toward the surface of the unit, is inserted into the rod insertion hole 5, and projects from the surface of the unit 3 to the outside.
It can be moved into and out of the immersion state. Further, the housing 1a is provided with a holding means for holding the rod 4 in the retracted state as shown in FIG. 1 when the connector is not fitted.

The housings 1a,
2a is provided with an operating mechanism for extending and retracting the rod 4 in accordance with the fitting of the two. In this embodiment, the rod 4 is projected from the surface of the unit 3 until the two housings 1a and 2a are partially fitted ( The operating mechanism is configured so that the rod 4 is again brought into the retracted state as the housings 1a and 2a are completely fitted (see FIG. 3).

A specific example of the fitting detection structure will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the front and rear sides of the first connector 1 facing the unit 3 are referred to as front and rear.
The side into which the second connector 2 is inserted is referred to as a rear side, and the side into which the second connector 2 is inserted into the first connector 1 is referred to as a front side.
The opposite side is the rear side.

The first connector 1 has a predetermined number of male terminals (not shown) inside a housing 1a having a predetermined shape having a housing fitting recess 10, and the second connector 2 has a shape corresponding to the housing fitting recess 10. Housing 2
A female terminal (not shown) is provided inside a. The two terminals are connected by fitting the housing 2a of the second connector 2 into the housing 1a of the first connector 1.

A hollow rod guide portion 11 is provided above the housing fitting concave portion 10 in the housing 1a of the first connector 1, and the rear end of the rod 4 is inserted into the rod guide portion 11 so that the shaft It is held so that it can move in the direction. A spring (biasing means) 12 for biasing the rod 4 in the retracting direction is provided inside the rod guide portion 11, and the spring 12 causes the rod 4 to enter the retracted state when the connector is not fitted. Holding means for holding is configured.

As a pushing member for pushing the rod 4 in the projecting direction, a lever 13 having a projecting piece 14 is provided on an upper portion of the housing 2a of the second connector 2, and On the other hand, the projection 1 of the lever 13
As a disengagement mechanism for disengaging and disengaging the lever 4, a lever swing guide portion 15 is provided above the housing 1a of the first connector 1, and a corresponding guided portion 16 is provided on the lever. The operation mechanism is configured.

The operating mechanism will be described in more detail. In the lever 13, the base end of the housing 2a of the second connector 2 which is continuous with the front end of the upper surface rises upward, and is bent backward from the upper end of the base end. It has an extended shape, and is capable of elastically swinging up and down around the base end. On the upper side of the housing 1a of the first connector 1, on both sides of the rear portion of the rod 4, a guide portion 15 having an upper surface 15a formed as an inclined surface rising forward is provided.
On both sides of the intermediate portion of No. 3, guided portions 16 having lower surfaces 16a formed as inclined surfaces rising upward are provided.

When the two housings 1 and 2 start to be fitted, the inclined portions 15a and 16a of the guide portion 15 and the guided portion 16 come into contact with each other. These positional relationships are set so that the guided portion 16 rides on the guide portion 15 and the guided portion 16 gets over the guide portion 15 when the fitting is completed. When the guided portion 16 rides on the guide portion 15, the lever 13
Swings upward, but when the lever swings, the protrusion 14
Are engaged with the rear end of the rod 4, and these positional relations are set so that the projecting piece 14 is separated from the rod 4 when the lever returns.

According to the structure of this embodiment as described above,
When the connectors 1 and 2 are fitted together, the rod is operated from the state of FIG. 6 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 with the fitting of the housings 1a and 2a.

That is, when the guided portions 16 ride on the guide portions 15 after the two housings 1a and 2a start to be fitted, the lever 13 swings upward as shown in FIG. Projection piece 1 provided on 13
4 engages with the rear end of the rod 4. In this state, as the housing 2a of the second connector 2 advances in the fitting direction, the protruding piece 14 pushes the rod 4 so that
As shown by an arrow in FIG.
Protruding from the surface.

When the housing 2a of the second connector 2 moves forward to a position near the fitting completion position with respect to the housing 1a of the first connector 1, the guided portion 16 gets over the guide portion 15 and the lever 13 is moved. The projection 14 returns to the original state by the restoring force, and the projection 14 is separated from the rod 4.
In this state, as shown in FIG. 8, the rod 4 returns to the state of being immersed in the unit 3 by the urging force of the spring 12.

By operating the rod 4 in this manner, even if the operator is located outside the surface side of the unit 3 and the connectors 1 and 2 are not visible, the worker can fit the connectors 1 and 2 together. Can be clearly understood. That is, if the rod 4 starts to protrude from the surface of the unit 3 at the time of assembling the unit, it is understood that the connectors 1 and 2 are being fitted. It can be seen that has been achieved. On the other hand, if the rod 4 does not move, the connectors 1 and 2 are not fitted at all, and if the rod 4 protrudes, stops and does not enter, it is incompletely fitted.

The structure of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a holding means for keeping the rod (movable member) 4 in a protruding state when the connector is not fitted is provided, and the fitting of the housings 1a and 2a of the connectors 1 and 2 is performed. Accordingly, an operating mechanism may be configured to operate the rod 4 in the immersion state.

That is, in the embodiment shown in this figure, the rear part of the rod 4 is loosely inserted into the lateral hole 21 provided at the upper part of the housing 1a of the first connector 1, and the rod 4 and the housing are inserted into the lateral hole 21. A spring 22 for urging the rod 4 in the immersion direction is interposed between the spring receivers 23 and 24 provided on the inner wall of the rod 1a. Corresponding engagement holes 25 and projections 26 are provided at predetermined locations.
Then, with the rod 4 protruding, the engagement hole 25 and the projection 2
6 is engaged so that the protruding state is maintained,
The holding means is configured. The engagement hole 25 is open to the housing fitting recess 10.

An elastically swingable lever 27 is provided on an upper portion of the housing 2a of the second connector 2, and a projection 28 for disengaging is provided at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the lever 27.
Is provided. The two housings 1a, 2
These positional relationships are set such that the protrusion 28 is fitted into the engagement hole 25 from below when a is substantially completely fitted.

According to this embodiment, when the connector is not fitted, the distal end of the rod 4 is connected to the unit 3 as shown by the solid line in FIG.
Is kept in a state protruding from the surface. In this state, when the housing 2a of the second connector 2 is fitted into the housing 1a of the first connector 1, the lever 27 is pushed into the housing fitting concave portion 10 while being slightly pushed downward. Then, the housing 2a is moved to the vicinity of the complete fitting position.
Is advanced, the protrusion 28 of the lever 27 is
And the projection 26 is pushed up to be disengaged from the engagement hole 25. Thereby, the rod 4 is connected to the spring 22
Moves to the immersion position as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.

Therefore, the operator can confirm the fitting of the connectors 1 and 2 by changing the rod 4 from the projecting state to the immersing state.

The unit 3 according to the fitting of the connectors 1 and 2
As a structure in which the rod (movable member) 4 protrudes and retracts from the surface, in addition to the above embodiments, the rod may be moved from the retracted state to the protruding state when the connector is fitted, for example, in accordance with the fitting of the housing. May be operated in at least one of the protruding direction and the immersing direction.

However, if the rod 4 is immersed in the unit 3 when the connectors 1 and 2 are completely fitted as in the illustrated embodiments, the appearance is good in appearance,
In addition, there is no inconvenience such as interference with other members located outside the unit 3.

[0039]

As described above, according to the connector fitting detection structure of the present invention, the movable member for fitting detection which can be protruded and retracted from the surface of the unit in the housing of the first connector attached to one side of the unit. And the movable member is operated in at least one of the protruding direction and the immersing direction when the housings of the two connectors are fitted, so that when the connectors are fitted, the connector is shielded by the unit and work is performed. Even when the connector is not visible from the user side, the fitting of the connector can be easily confirmed by visually observing the movement of the movable member from the unit surface.

In the present invention, the movable member is kept in the immersion state especially when the connectors are not fitted, and the movable member is protruded until the fitting of the two connectors into the housing until the fitting is completed. When the movable member is immersed in this manner, it is possible to easily confirm that both connectors are in the process of being fitted and that the fitting has been completed at the time of fitting the connectors. Further, the movable member temporarily protrudes during the fitting, but enters the immersion state after the fitting is completed, so that the movable member does not impair the appearance or obstruct the appearance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a first connector and a unit in a non-fitting state in a fitting detection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which both connectors are being fitted.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a connector fitting completed state.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of both connectors.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second connector.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of both connectors in a non-fitting state.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the two connectors in the state of being fitted.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of both connectors in a state where the fitting is completed.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st connector 2 2nd connector 1a, 2a Housing 4 Rod 5 Rod insertion hole 11 Rod guide part 12 Spring 13 Lever 14 Projection piece 15 Guide part 16 Guided part

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kensaku Takada 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Harness Research Institute, Inc.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A structure for detecting a fitting state between a first connector attached to one side of a unit and a second connector capable of being fitted to the first connector, wherein
Insert the first unit into the connector housing
A movable member for fitting detection movable between a protruding state protruding outside from the unit surface opposite to the side where the connector is located and an immersing state immersed in the unit, and the movable member when the connector is not fitted. Holding means for maintaining the connector in a fixed state, and an operating mechanism for operating the movable member in at least one of a protruding direction and a immersing direction as the housings are fitted to the housings of the two connectors. Connector detection structure. 2. A rod protruding from a housing of the first connector in a predetermined direction is provided as a movable member for detecting the engagement, and a rod insertion hole is formed in the unit, and the rod passes through the rod insertion hole and is connected to a surface of the unit. Extend to the side,
2. The connector fitting detection structure according to claim 1, wherein the rod tip is configured to be able to protrude and retract from the unit surface. 3. The holding means is for holding the movable member in a retracted state when the connector is not fitted, and the operating mechanism is provided with the movable member until the fitting of the two connectors is completed. The connector fitting detection structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movable member is immersed as the fitting of the housing is completed. 4. An urging means for urging the movable member in the immersion direction as the holding means, and as the operating mechanism, the movable member is engaged with the movable member when the housings of the two connectors are fitted together. A pushing member that pushes the member to the protruding state, the engagement state between the pushing member and the movable member is maintained until the housing is fitted, and the pushing member is moved from the movable member during the housing fitting. 4. The connector fitting detection structure according to claim 3, further comprising a disconnecting mechanism for detaching the connector. 5. The holding means for holding the movable member in a protruding state when the connector is not fitted, and the operating mechanism operates the movable member in a immersed state with the fitting of the housings of the two connectors. The connector fitting detection structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: