Connector assembly

A connector assembly includes a first connector and a second connector. The second connector has a receptacle portion configured to receive a mating portion of the first connector, a lock key, and a biasing member. The lock key has a pushed portion and is received in the receptacle portion so as to be movable between a locking position and an unlocking position. The biasing member is configured to bias the lock key toward the locking position. The mating portion of the first connector has a positioning key having a pusher and a locking portion. When the first connector is inserted along the insertion direction, the pushed portion is pushed by the pusher, so that the lock key is temporarily moved to the unlocking position and then moved to the locking position. Thus, a mating state of the first connector and the second connector is locked.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connector assembly including two connectors mated with each other, and more particularly to the connector assembly further having a mechanism for locking a mating state of the connectors.

For example, JP-A 8-220380 discloses a connector assembly including two connectors mated with each other by a ball plunger mechanism. However, the connector assembly of JP-A 8-220380 has no mechanism for locking a mating state of the connectors. Therefore, unintentional force may separate the mated connectors from each other.

In contrast, JP-A 2000-223209 discloses a connector assembly having a mechanism for locking a mating state of two connectors with operation of a lever.

However, the connector assembly of JP-A 2000-223209 requires specific lever operations for locking the mating state. Therefore, there is a need to a connector assembly capable of locking a mating state of connectors with simple operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention provides a connector assembly which comprises a first connector and a second connector, wherein the first connector has a mating portion, and the mating portion of the first connector is inserted into the second connector along an insertion direction so that the first connector is mated with the second connector. The second connector comprises a receptacle portion, a lock key, and a biasing member. The receptacle portion is configured to receive the mating portion of the first connector. The receptacle portion includes a positioning key receiver extending along the insertion direction. The lock key is held by the receptacle portion so as to be movable between a locking position and an unlocking position along an entry direction crossing the insertion direction and along a withdrawal direction opposite to the entry direction. The lock key has a pushed portion. The pushed portion is positioned at an end of the lock key in the entry direction. The biasing member is configured to bias the lock key toward the locking position. The mating portion of the first connector has a positioning key extending along the insertion direction. The positioning key is received into the positioning key receiver upon the insertion of the mating portion into the second connector. The positioning key includes a pusher and a locking portion. The pusher is configured to, upon the insertion of the mating portion into the second connector, push the pushed portion of the lock key to temporarily move the lock key along the withdrawal direction to the unlocking position against the biasing member. The locking portion is configured to lock a mating state of the first connector and the second connector in cooperation with the lock key when the lock key is moved back to the locking position by the biasing member after the pusher pushes the pushed portion.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown inFIG. 1, a connector assembly10according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plug connector (first connector)100and a receptacle connector (second connector)200. The plug connector100is inserted into the receptacle connector200along the Y-direction (insertion direction).

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the plug connector100has a mating portion102, which has a circular cross-section on the XZ-plane. The mating portion102includes a positioning key110and an auxiliary key150. The positioning key110is located at an upper portion of the mating portion102in the Z-direction, and the auxiliary key150is located at a lower portion of the mating portion102in the Z-direction. The positioning key110and the auxiliary key150extend along the insertion direction.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, the positioning key110includes a locking groove (locking portion)120, a pusher130, and a force receiver140. The locking groove120extends along the X-direction. The locking groove120has a side surface122perpendicular to the insertion direction. The pusher130has a contact cam surface132having a curved surface crossing both of the insertion direction and a withdrawal direction (the positive X-direction). The force receiver140has a force-receiving cam surface142crossing both of the withdrawal direction and an ejection direction (the negative Y-direction), wherein the ejection direction is opposite to the insertion direction.

As shown inFIGS. 1,2, and4, the auxiliary key150has a force receiver141. As with the force receiver140, the force receiver141has a force-receiving cam surface143crossing both of the ejection direction and an entry direction (the negative X-direction) crossing the Y-direction (insertion direction).

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 5to8, the receptacle connector200of this embodiment is formed by a combination of two members including a shell member202and a locking member206. The receptacle connector200includes a receptacle portion210, a lock key220, a spring (biasing member)230, a ring (ejection member)240, an auxiliary ring242, and a lever250. In this embodiment, the shell member202is formed with the receptacle portion210. The locking member (unlocking member)206is formed with the lock key220and the lever250. The spring230is held between the shell member202and the locking member206as described later. The locking member206and the shell member202are combined with each other by holding the receptacle portion210between two members208aand208bof the locking member206.

As shown inFIGS. 5,7, and8, the locking member206has a circular inner circumferential surface207on the XZ-plane. The locking member206includes the lever250extending along the X-direction from an outer circumferential surface thereof. The lock key220is formed on the inner circumferential surface207. The lock key220projects toward the entry direction. In this embodiment, the insertion direction is perpendicular to the entry direction. As shown inFIGS. 5 and 8, the lock key220has a pushed portion222on an end thereof. The pushed portion222of this embodiment has a contact cam surface223crossing both of the withdrawal direction, which is opposite to the entry direction, and the insertion direction. Furthermore, the lock key220has a spring abutment surface226formed on an opposite side to the pushed portion222in the Y-direction. The ring240and the auxiliary ring242are provided on the inner circumferential surface207of the locking member206. Each of the ring240and the auxiliary ring242of this embodiment has an outer surface having a circular shape. Each of the ring240and the auxiliary ring242is supported on the locking member206so as to be rotatable about the center of the circular shape.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 6, the receptacle portion210is provided so as to receive the mating portion102of the plug connector100. The receptacle portion210has a roughly cylindrical shape having an inner circumferential surface210aand an outer circumferential surface210b. The receptacle portion210has a recessed portion210crecessed in the outer circumferential surface210b. The receptacle portion210includes a positioning key receiver212, a lock key receiver214, a spring receiver215, a ring receiver (ejection member receiver)216, an auxiliary key receiver218, and an auxiliary ring receiver219. The positioning key receiver212extends along the insertion direction. The positioning key receiver212is formed by a slit penetrating the receptacle portion210between the outer circumferential surface210band the inner circumferential surface210aof the receptacle portion210. The lock key receiver214is formed by a groove defined in a portion210cof the outer circumferential surface210b. The lock key receiver214extends along the withdrawal direction continuously from the positioning key receiver212. The spring receiver215extends along the withdrawal direction continuously from the lock key receiver214. The ring receiver216is formed by a groove defined in the portion210cof the outer circumferential surface210b. The ring receiver216extends along the entry direction continuously from an end of the positioning key receiver212in the insertion direction. The auxiliary key receiver218extends along the insertion direction. The auxiliary key receiver218is formed by a slit penetrating the receptacle portion210between the outer circumferential surface210band the inner circumferential surface210aof the receptacle portion210. As with the ring receiver216, the auxiliary ring receiver219is formed by a groove defined in the portion210cof the outer circumferential surface210b. The auxiliary ring receiver219extends along the entry direction continuously from an end of the auxiliary key receiver218in the insertion direction. In the present embodiment, each of the lock key receiver214, the spring receiver215, the ring receiver216, and the auxiliary ring receiver219is formed by a groove having such a depth that the groove does not reach the inner circumferential surface210a. Thus, abrasion wastes produced by friction between parts during an unlocking operation, which will be described later, is prevented from entering the receptacle portion210.

The spring230is received in the spring receiver215and held between the shell member202and the locking member206.

As shown inFIGS. 8,9,17, and18, in a state where the shell member202and the locking member206are combined with each other, the lock key220is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position within the lock key receiver214along the entry direction and the withdrawal direction. When the lock key220is located at the locking position, the pushed portion222projects into the positioning key receiver212. When the lock key220is located at the unlocking position, the pushed portion222is located within the lock key receiver214. The ring240is movable between an ejection position located within the positioning key receiver212and a non-ejection position located within the ring receiver216along the entry direction and the withdrawal direction. Similarly, the auxiliary ring242is movable between an ejection position located within the auxiliary key receiver218and a non-ejection position located within the auxiliary ring receiver219along the entry direction and the withdrawal direction. The lever250is used to move the lock key220from the locking position to the unlocking position along the withdrawal direction. In this embodiment, the lock key220, the ring240, and the auxiliary ring242are moved in cooperation with the locking member206. Thus, when the lock key220is located at the locking position, the ring240and the auxiliary ring242are located at the non-ejection positions, respectively (seeFIGS. 8 and 9). When the lever250is moved downward (rotated clockwise) in the Z-direction as shown inFIG. 16, the lock key220is moved to the unlocking position as shown inFIG. 14. When the lever250is further moved downward in the Z-direction as shown inFIG. 19, the ring240is moved to the ejection position as shown inFIG. 17, and the auxiliary ring242is moved to the ejection position as shown inFIG. 18. The spring230of this embodiment is located within the spring receiver215and is held in contact with the spring abutment surface226of the lock key220so as to bias the lock key220toward the locking position.

Next, operation of the plug connector100and the receptacle connector200according to this embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 8 to 19. As shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, when the plug connector100is inserted into the receptacle portion210so that the positioning key110and the auxiliary key150are respectively received into the positioning key receiver212and the auxiliary key receiver218, the cam surface of the pusher130of the positioning key110is brought into contact with the cam surface of the pushed portion222of the lock key220. When the plug connector100is further moved along the insertion direction from that state, the pushed portion222is pressed by the pusher130as shown inFIG. 10. Specifically, the movement of the positioning key110along the insertion direction is transmitted as a force directed toward the withdrawal direction to the lock key220by the contact cam surface132of the pusher130. Thus, the lock key220is temporarily moved to the unlocking position and received in the lock key receiver214. At that time, as shown inFIG. 11, the locking member206is rotated clockwise by the movement of the lock key220. When the plug connector100is further moved along the insertion direction, the pusher130is moved to a position beyond the lock key220in the insertion direction as shown inFIG. 12. At the same time, the lock key220is returned to the locking position by a restoring force of the spring230and thus located within the locking groove120. At that time, as shown inFIG. 13, the lever250is returned to the original position. If the plug connector100is to be moved along the ejection direction in this state, the locking surface224of the lock key220is brought into contact with the side surface122of the locking groove120. Therefore, the mating state of the plug connector100and the receptacle connector200is locked. Thus, the locking groove120serves as a locking portion operable to lock a mating state of the plug connector100and the receptacle connector200in cooperation with the lock key220.

In the mating state shown inFIG. 12, when the lever250is rotated clockwise to the state ofFIG. 16, the lock key220is moved from the locking position to the unlocking position as shown inFIG. 14. Thus, the locking by the locking groove120and the lock key220is released (unlocking operation). At the same time, the ring240is moved from the non-ejection position toward the ejection position and brought into contact with the force-receiving cam surface142of the positioning key110. Similarly, as shown inFIG. 15, the auxiliary ring242is moved from the non-ejection position toward the ejection position and brought into contact with the force-receiving cam surface143of the auxiliary key150. When the lever250is further rotated clockwise to the state ofFIG. 19, as shown inFIGS. 17 and 18, the lock key220is moved beyond the unlocking position while the ring240and the auxiliary ring242are moved to the ejection positions, respectively. When the ring240is moved to the ejection position, the ring240applies an ejection force to the force receiver140of the positioning key110, while the rig240rotates. When the auxiliary ring242is moved to the ejection position, the auxiliary ring242applies another ejection force to the force receiver141of the auxiliary key150, while the auxiliary ring242rotates. With this operation, the plug connector100is moved along the ejection direction. Specifically, the movement of the ring240along the withdrawal direction and the movement of the auxiliary ring242along the withdrawal direction are transmitted as the ejection forces, which are directed toward the ejection direction, to the force-receiving cam surfaces142and143, respectively. Therefore, the plug connector100is moved along the ejection direction. Thus, each of the ring240and the auxiliary ring242of this embodiment serves as an ejection portion operable to move the plug connector100along the ejection direction. In the present embodiment, the ring240and the auxiliary ring242are configured to move along a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction (i.e., the entry direction and the withdrawal direction). Therefore, no margin is required for movement of the ring240and the auxiliary ring242in the ejection direction. Accordingly, the size of the receptacle connector can be reduced in a direction of a mating axis (i.e., the insertion direction). Even if the lever250is returned to the original position, the plug connector100is pushed back in the ejection direction to such a position that the lock key220cannot enter the locking groove120(auxiliary separation operation). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the plug connector100from being re-locked by the lock key220after the plug connector100is unlocked. Thus, according to the present embodiment, both of the release operation of the mating state and the auxiliary separation operation can be performed by one operation of the lever250. As described above, the spring230of this embodiment biases the lock key220toward the locking position. Accordingly, when the lever250is released from a user's hand, it is returned to the original position as shown inFIG. 13.

As described above, according to the connector assembly of this embodiment, the mating state of the plug connector100and the receptacle connector200can be locked merely by inserting the plug connector100into the receptacle connector200. Mere operation of the lever can unlock the mating state and slightly moves the plug connector100along the ejection direction. This configuration facilitates the locking process and the unlocking process.

In the present embodiment, the pusher130and the pushed portion222respectively have the contact cam surfaces132and223, which cross both of the insertion direction and the withdrawal direction. Therefore, as compared to a case where a cam surface is provided only on one of the pusher130and the pushed portion222(i.e., no curved surface or inclination is provided on the other), it is possible to minimize abrasion wastes produced by friction of the pusher130and the pushed portion222when the pusher130and the pushed portion222are brought into sliding contact with each other. Additionally, a force directed toward the insertion direction from the pusher130can smoothly transmitted as a force directed toward the withdrawal direction to the lock key220. If some abrasion wastes do not arise any problem, a contact cam surface may be formed only on one of the pusher130and the pushed portion222. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the positioning key110and the auxiliary key150are used to position the plug connector and ensure the separation of the plug connector. However, the auxiliary key150may be eliminated if the positioning key110has a function of the auxiliary key150. The positioning key110and the auxiliary key150of this embodiment are respectively provided on the upper and lower portions of the mating portion102of the plug connector100in the Z-direction. However, the positioning key110and the auxiliary key150may be provided at other locations of the mating portion102.

Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 3, the locking groove120extends through the positioning key in the X-direction. However, as shown inFIG. 20, a structure that partially receives the lock key220may be provided to maintain the locked state. The positioning key110shown inFIG. 20has a recess120ainto which the lock key220is received. Unlike the locking groove120(seeFIG. 3), the recess120adoes not fully penetrate the positioning key110along the X-direction. The recess120ahas a side surface122aperpendicular to the insertion direction, and the locking surface of the lock key is brought into contact with the side surface122aof the recess120a.

Furthermore, as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, the ring240and the auxiliary ring242of this embodiment has a circular shape. However, the ring240and the auxiliary ring242may be spherical or cubic. The shapes of the ring240and the auxiliary ring242are not limited to the above examples as long as the ring240and the auxiliary ring242are brought into contact with the force receivers140and141of the positioning key110and the auxiliary key150so as to separate the plug connector100from the receptacle connector200.

According to the present embodiment, the lever is rotated clockwise to release the locked state and to perform the auxiliary separation operation of the plug connector100. However, the similar operations may be performed by counterclockwise rotation of the lever. In such a case, the shell member202and the locking member206are made symmetric with respect to the Z-direction. In order to cope with a plug connector having a roughly rectangular cross-section on the XZ-plane, the receptacle portion210and the locking member206may be configured to have a roughly rectangular cross-section on the XZ-plane. In this case, for example, a clearance may be formed between the receptacle portion210and the locking member206in the X-direction or the Z-direction. The locking member206may be moved within the clearance to move the lock key220from the locking position to the unlocking position.

According to the present invention, when the positioning key is received into the positioning key receiver, the lock key located at the locking position is temporarily moved to the unlocking position. When the pusher is moved beyond the lock key in the insertion direction, the lock key is moved to the locking position. Thus, the mating state of a first connector and a second connector is locked.

According to the present invention, the mating state is locked merely by an operation of inserting the plug connector into the receptacle connector. Furthermore, mere operation of the unlocking member can simultaneously release the locked state and perform the auxiliary separation operation of the plug connector.

A connector assembly according to the present invention is applicable to a connector dedicated to an optical fiber, a photoelectric composite connector having an optical fiber and an electric wire, and an electric connector dedicated to an electric wire.

The present application is based on a Japanese patent application of JP2009-171197 filed before the Japan Patent Office on Jul. 22, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.