Patent Publication Number: US-6210184-B1

Title: Connector structure which enables the fitting of connectors associated with an instrument panel with a minimum force

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a multipolar and miniature connector structure which enables the fitting and release of, for example, connectors of an instrument panel side (a wire harness side) and connectors of a meter side (a dashboard side) of a vehicle with a small operating force. 
     The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 10-72660, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     as an example, Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei. 6-325822 discloses a connector of the above-described type shown in FIGS. 4A to  7 . The connector  1  includes levers  3  pivotably supported by an axis  2   a  extending toward opposite sides of the connector  1 , a male connector housing  2  and a female connector housing  6 . The male connector housing  2  is attached movably in a front-to-rear direction relative to the inside panel  5   a  of an instrument panel  5  of a vehicle via a bracket  4 . The female connector housing  6  has projections  6   a ,  6   b  on its sides. The projections  6   a ,  6   b  can respectively slide on a pair of arm portions  3   a ,  3   a  of levers  3  while holding the arm portions  3   a ,  3   a  therebetween. The male connector housing  2  is fitted to and released from a hood portion  6   c  by the female connector housing  6 . 
     Under the female connector housing  6 , there is provided a rail portion  9  for supporting movably back and forth a slider  8  pivoted by a screw member  7  at its distal end. The slider  8  is adapted to receive a rod-like slider attaching portions  3   b  of the lever  3  in a recess  8   a  thereof. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the lever  3  is turned in a front-to-rear direction of both male and female connector housings  2  and  6  by rotation of the screw member  7 , the fitting and releasing operations of both housings  2  and  6  are performed, via the projections  6   a ,  6   b , with a small force by action of leverage (an assistor). 
     As shown in FIG. 7, a meter (a dash board) M is attached through bolts and nuts (not shown) under the inside panel  5   a  of the instrument panel  5 . 
     In the above-described connector  1 , however, since the levers  3  are actuated by rotating the screw member  7  with a tool such as a screw driver or the like, an area is needed for operating the levers  3 , so that the connector structure is relatively large. Further, since the screw members are independent for fitting both male and female connector housings  2  and  6  and securing the meter M to the underside of the inside panel  5   a  of the instrument panel  5 , the attachment operation is troublesome. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Thus, the present invention has been made to solve the above mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector structure, in which the entire structure is miniaturized, the fitting and releasing of both male and female connectors may be performed with a single screw member, and electric equipment may be easily attached to the side of a body which is to be attached. 
     To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector structure which enables to fit together and release from each other one of male and female connectors provided on one frame side and the other one of the male and female connectors provided on the other frame side. More specifically, the connector structure preferably comprises a first frame including a first connector and a first cam follower, a second frame including a second connector fittable to the first connector, a slanting cam along which the first cam follower is moved, and a reversely slanting cam slanting in non-parallel with the slanting cam, a screw member having a body penetrating the second frame, and a slider attached onto the body of the screw member, the slider being slidable on the body of the screw member by screwing the screw member, and the slider having a second cam follower which is moved along the reversely slanting cam when the screw member is rotated, wherein, when the screw member is screwed, the second frame is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to a connector fitting direction of the first and second connectors in accordance with movement of the second cam follower along the reversely slanting cam, and is moved in the connector fitting direction in accordance with movement of the first cam follower along the slanting cam. 
     According to the above-described connector structure, both the male and female connectors may be fitted and released with a small operating force. Furthermore, the second frame is provided with the slanting cam, while the first frame is provided with the cam follower moving along the slanting cam, and since these members are not largely protruded outward, the entire body of the connector structure may be simplified and miniaturized in comparison with the related connector structure employing the lever mechanism. 
     Furthermore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, preferably, the first frame is attached to an attachment body having an engagement portion and a tightening portion, the first frame has an elastic retaining portion which is engaged with the engagement portion when the first frame is attached to an attachment body, and the screw member is penetrated through an attaching portion to which an electric equipment is connected, and is engaged with the tightening portion, and wherein the second frame is moved by screwing the screw member to the tightening portion. 
     According to the second aspect of the present invention, the electric equipment can be easily secured to the attachment body by the screw member, and therefore the number of the component parts is saved thereby, and the cost reduced. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state before fitting both male and female connectors of the connector structure of one embodiment according to the present invention, partially in cross section; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state just before accomplishing the fitting of both male and female connectors of the above mentioned connector structure, partially in cross section; 
     FIG. 3 is perspective views of a portion of an instrument panel and a meter of a vehicle to be applied with the above mentioned connector structure; 
     FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a female connector housing side of the related connector; 
     FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing a male connector housing of the related connector; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view showing a temporary fitting of both male and female connector housings of the related connector, partially in cross section; 
     FIG.6 is a side view showing the accomplished fitting of both male and female connector housings of the related connector, partially in cross section; and 
     FIG.7 is a side view showing the state of attaching the male and female connector housings to the interior of the instrument panel of a vehicle, partially in cross section. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     One preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to  3 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 to  3 , the metal instrument panel (an attachment body)  10  for a vehicle has a pair of engagement holes (engagement portions)  11 ,  11 . A step portion  10   a  is protruded toward the passenger compartment side of the vehicle, and is formed adjacent to one of the engagement holes  11 ,  11  of the instrument panel  10 . The step portion  10   a  has a round hole  12  for passing a screw. A nut  13  is fixed to a back side of the round hole  12  by welding or the like. 
     A connector frame (a first frame)  20  made of a synthetic resin is secured to the engagement holes  11 ,  11  of the instrument panel  10 . More specifically, a pair of elastic engaging pawls (engaging portions)  22 ,  22  having a hook-like shape are integrally formed on a back side of a plate shaped frame main body  21  of the connector frame  20  at the positions opposite to the engagement holes  11 ,  11  of the instrument panel  10 . The engaging pawls  22 ,  22  are respectively engaged with the engagement holes  11 ,  11 . 
     A rectangular convex portion  23  is located at the central part of the frame main body  21 , and integrally formed with the frame main body  21 . Furthermore, a pair of male connectors (first connectors) having a rectangular shape, are also integrally formed with the frame main body  21  at the both sides thereof. Column shaped projection (first cam followers)  24  for fitting and releasing both connectors are integrally formed with the convex portion  23 , and are respectively disposed on front and rear faces of the convex portion  23 . A plurality of female terminals (first terminals)  26  are inserted into and accommodated in the male connectors  25 . Each of the female terminals  26  is connected with an electric wire (not shown). The electric wires connected to the female terminals  26  are bundled to form a wire harness W (see FIG.  3 ). 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 to  3 , a box shaped connector frame (a second frame)  40  made of synthetic resin is located between the instrument panel  10  and a bracket (an attaching portion)  32  of a meter case  31  of a meter (a measuring gauge)  30  as an electric equipment. The meter case  31  of the meter  30  has a substantially box-like shape, and is made of the synthetic resin. Further, the meter case  31  is integrally provided with the plate shaped bracket  32  at both sides of the upper surface thereof. The bracket  32  has a round hole  33  for passing a screw therethrough. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector frame  40  has a four-cornered cylindrical shape opening in front and rear sides thereof, and includes upper and lower walls  40   a ,  40   a  and left and right side walls  40   b ,  40   c . A pair of female connectors (second connectors)  41 ,  41  are respectively located adjacent to a right side wall  40   c  and a substantially center portion between the upper and lower walls  40   a ,  40   a  of the connector frame  40 . A plurality of male terminals (second terminals)  42  are accommodated in box shaped portions  41   a  of the female connectors  41 . The male terminals  42  are respectively electrically connected to the female terminals  26  of the male connectors  25  when the female connector  41  and male connector  25  are fitted together. 
     Slanting grooves (slanting cams)  43  are formed in the upper and lower walls  40   a ,  40   a  of the connector frame  40 , and directed toward the right side wall  40   c . The slanting grooves (slanting cams)  43  each has an inequality sign-like shape, and the front ends thereof are in the vertical direction opened. Each of the column shaped projections  24  projecting from the vertical face of the convex portion  23  of the connector frame  20  slides along and within each of the slanting grooves  43 . Further, reversely slanting grooves (reversely slanting cams)  44  are respectively formed in the upper and lower walls  40   a ,  40   a  of the connector frame  40 , and directed toward the left side wall  40   b . The reversely slanting grooves  44  are respectively slanted in a non-parallel relationship with the slanting cams  43  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     Sliders  45  in a nut-like shape made of metal or synthetic resin, are slidably supported between insides of the upper and lower walls  40   a ,  40   a  of the connector frame  40 . In the centers of the vertical face of the sliders  45 , column-like projections (second cam followers)  46  are respectively projected integrally. Each of the projections  46  slides along and within each of the reversely slanting grooves  44  of the upper and lower walls  40   a ,  40   a  of the connector frame  40 . The sliders  45  have screw holes  45   a  into which screw members  47 , comprising bolts or the like are attachable by screwing. 
     The screw members  47  have screw portions  47   a  in which disc shaped brim portions  47   b  are integrally formed for restraining the sliding position of the sliders  45 . The screw portion  47   a  is inserted in and passed through a screw passing round hole  33  of the bracket  32  of the meter  30 , and is screwed with the nut  13  of the instrument panel  10 . When tightening the screw member  47 , the connector frame  40  is moved in a crossing direction B substantially perpendicular to the connector fitting direction A via the projection  46  of the slider  45 . The connector from  40  the reversely slanting groove  44 , and is then moved in the connector fitting direction A via the projection  24  of the convex portion  23  of the connector frame  20  and the slanting groove  43 . The connector frame  40  is held between the head portion  47   c  of the screw member  47  and the nut  13 . 
     Since the brackets  32  are integrally projected from the both sides of the upper surface of the meter case  31 , the connector frames  20  are secured respectively at the both sides of the instrument panel  10 . In addition, taper faces  41   b  and  25   b  are respectively formed on the overall circumference of the front end of the interior of the portion  41   a  of the female connector  41  and the overall circumference of the front end of the exterior of the male connector  25 . 
     In accordance with the above-described connector structure, as shown in FIG. 1, the screw portion  47   a  of the screw member  47  is passed through the round hole  33  of the bracket  32  of the meter  30 , and is screwed in the screw hole  45   a  of the slider  45  supported slidably between the upper and lower walls  40   a  and  40   a  of the connector frame  40 , so that the screw portion  47   a  of the screw member  47  is projected at its front end out of the connector frame  40  when the screw portion  47   a  of the screw member  47  is inserted into the round hole  12  of the instrument panel  10  from the state where the projection  24  of the convex portion  23  of the connector frame  20  is inserted in the vertical opening of the slanting groove  44  of the connector frame  40 , and tightened into the nut  13 , the connector frame  40  moves in the crossing direction B (perpendicular to the connector fitting direction A) by virtue of the projection  46  of the slider  45  sliding in the reversely slanting groove  44  of the connector frame  40 . 
     By the movement of the connector frame  40  in the crossing direction B with the connector fitting the connector frame  40  further moves toward the connector fitting direction A via the projection  24  of the convex portion  23  of the connector frame  20  and the sliding groove  43  of the connector frame  40 . Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the male connector  25  of the connector frame  20  and the portion  41   a  of the female connector  41  of the connector frame  40  are fitted, so that the female terminal  26  of the male connector  25  and the male terminal  42  of the female connector  41  are contacted and electrically connected. At the same time, the meter  30  is easily fixed to the side of the instrument panel  10  by the screw member  47  via the bracket  32  of the meter  30 . Further, due to leverage of the projection  24  of the convex portion  23  of the connector frame  20  and the sliding groove  43  of the connector frame  40 , until the male connector  25  is completely inserted in the food portion  41   a  of the female connector  41 , it is fitted with a very small insertion force. Similarly, when the screw member  47  is loosened, the connector frame  40  moves in the connector releasing direction, so that both male and female connectors  25 ,  41  are released with the small force. 
     Since, when rotating the screw member  47 , the connector frame,  40  having the sliding cam  43 , is movable in the fitting and releasing direction of the male and female connectors  25  and  41  due to the sliding cam  43  and the cam follower  24  of the connector frame  20 , it is possible to easily fit or release the male and female connectors  25  and  41  with small force. The projection  24  of the connector frame  20  and the sliding groove  43  and the reversely sliding groove  44  of the connector frame  40  are arranged such that the entire body of the connector structure may be simplified and miniaturized in comparison with the related connector structure employing the lever mechanism. Since the meter  30  can be easily fixed to the side of the instrument panel  10  by means of one screw member  47  for fitting both male and female connectors  25  and  41 , the number of the members can be reduced, resulting in a cost saving. 
     In the above-mentioned embodiment, the instrument panel has been referred to as the attachment body to be attached to the connectors and the meter has been referred to as the electric equipment, but of course any combinations of other panels and equipment, etc. may be alternatively used. In addition, the projections (as the first cam followers) were provided in the side of the male connectors, while the sliding grooves (as the sliding cams) were provided in the side of the frame having the female connectors. However, the structure may be also modified to provide the sliding grooves (as the sliding cams) in the side of the male connectors, and to provide the projections (as the first cam followers) in the side of the frame. Furthermore, the shapes of the sliding cams and the reversely sliding cams are not limited to the hole shaped sliding grooves. 
     As described above, according to the present invention, since, by rotating the screw member, the frame provided with the slanting cam is made movable in the direction of fitting and releasing both male and female connectors via the slanting cam and the cam follower, both connectors may be fitted and released with a small operating force. Further any either one of the frame and the other frame is provided with the slanting cam, while the other frame is provided with the cam follower moving along the slanting cam, and since these members are not largely protruded outward, the whole body of the connector structure may be simplified and miniaturized in comparison with the related connector structure employing the lever mechanism. 
     According to the present invention, the electric equipment can be easily secured to the side of the body to be attached by one screw member for fitting both male and female connectors, and the number of the component parts is saved thereby, so that the whole body of the structure may be decreased in cost.