Patent Publication Number: US-7588459-B2

Title: Connecting device having a locking mechanism

Description:
This application claims priority to prior Japanese patent application JP 2006-206583, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a connecting device having a locking mechanism. 
   As a related art 1, there is a structure for mounting an antenna device with a pigtail harness to a roof panel of a vehicle. 
   In the operation of mounting the antenna device to the roof panel, a cable is, at first, passed through an antenna mounting hole, formed in the roof panel, from the outside of the roof panel and, then, the cable is gropingly pulled into the inside of the vehicle. Then, the cable is passed through a mounting nut and the nut is tightened using a fastening tool while the nut is supported by hand. 
   Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. H09-283230 (Patent Document 1) as a related art 2 discloses a connector holding structure wherein a connector on the side of a component and a connector on the side of a panel are fitted together so that the component is detachably mounted. 
   In this connector holding structure, a first connecting body having the connector fixed to the component and a second connecting body having the connector disposed on the side of the panel are fitted together by bolts and nuts. 
   A temporary engaging portion is provided on the side of the first connecting body and a temporary locking portion is provided on the side of the second connecting body. The temporary engaging portion and the temporary locking portion are employed for increasing an engaging force to the panel. 
   Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. H05-335056(Patent Document 2) as a related art 3 discloses a body fixing connector to be fitted with a mating connector. This body fixing connector is fixed to a vehicle body by locking it to the vehicle body. A movable locking portion of the body fixing connector has a locking pawl that is locked to a connector mounting hole of the vehicle body upon passing through a flange portion. 
   In the related art 1, the cable is gropingly pulled into the inside of the vehicle and the nut is tightened using the fastening tool while the nut is supported by hand. 
   Therefore, since the operation extends over the inside and outside of the vehicle when mounting the antenna device to the roof panel, there is a problem that the operation is complicated and difficult. 
   Further, in the connector holding structure of Patent Document 1, there is a problem that if an engaging force between the temporary engaging portion and the temporary locking portion is strengthened for increasing the engaging force to the panel, a large force is required at the time of mounting. 
   Further, in the body fixing connector of Patent Document 2, there is a problem that if an elastic force of the movable locking portion is strengthened for increasing a holding force of the movable locking portion, a large force is required at the time of mounting. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an exemplary object of this invention to provide a connecting device having a locking mechanism that allows insertion with a low insertion force at the time of mounting and still exerts a high holding force. 
   It is another exemplary object of this invention to provide a connecting device having a locking mechanism that can simplify the mounting operation. 
   Other objects of the present invention will become clear as the description proceeds. 
   According to an exemplary aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connecting device having a locking mechanism for locking fitting between a first connecting member and a mating side, wherein the first connecting member comprises a first housing, the first housing has the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism comprises a first elastic body and a second elastic body, the first elastic body has a first contact portion adapted to contact the mating side, the second elastic body has a second contact portion adapted to contact the mating side, at least one of the first elastic body and the second elastic body has a locking portion adapted to lock fitting to the mating side. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a first connecting member of a connecting device having a locking mechanism according to a first embodiment of this invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a second connecting member for connection to the first connecting member shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view enlargedly showing part of the first connecting member shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a state where the first connecting member shown in  FIG. 1  is applied to an antenna device and attached to a roof panel; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view for explaining a mounting state of the antenna device shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a state where the antenna device shown in  FIG. 5  is detached from the roof panel and a pad is removed; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a fixing device, the second connecting member, and a cover body shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the fixing device and a base member shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 9  is an explanatory diagram showing a state before the first connecting member and the second connecting member shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are fitted together; 
       FIG. 10  is an explanatory diagram showing a temporary assembly state of the first connecting member and the second connecting member shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the first connecting member and the second connecting member shown in  FIG. 10  are fitted together; 
       FIG. 12  is a sectional view showing a connecting device having a locking mechanism, in a state before fitting, according to a second embodiment of this invention; and 
       FIG. 13  is a sectional view showing a fitting state of the connecting device having the locking mechanism shown in  FIG. 12 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  shows a first connecting member of a connecting device having a locking mechanism according to a first embodiment of this invention.  FIG. 2  shows a second connecting member of the connecting device for connection to the first connecting member.  FIG. 3  enlargedly shows part of the first connecting member. 
   The connecting device of the first embodiment is applied to an antenna device that is mounted to a roof panel of a vehicle serving as a mating side. A first connecting member  1  shown in  FIG. 1  is attached to a non-illustrated mounting hole formed in the roof panel. A second connecting member  30  shown in  FIG. 2  is connected to the first connecting member  1 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the first connecting member  1  has a first housing  11  of an insulating material. The first housing  11  has a plate-shaped first base portion  13 , a pair of first block portions  14  respectively standing upright on the first base portion  13 , and a locking mechanism formed at an outer surface of a sidewall portion  15  on one side of each of the first block portions  14 . 
   The first block portions  14  are provided upright on the first base portion  13  on both left and right sides in  FIG. 1 , respectively. 
   At each of the first block portions  14 , the locking mechanism comprises a first elastic body  17  connected to the sidewall portion  15  on the side of the first base portion  13  and a second elastic body  19  connected to the sidewall portion  15  on the side of the first base portion  13 . 
   The locking mechanism serves to lock the first connecting member  1 , being attached to the roof panel, so as to prevent it from coming off the roof panel. 
   The first elastic body  17  has an elongated plate-shaped first elastic plate portion  17   a . One end of the first elastic plate portion  17   a  on the side of the first base portion  13  is connected to the corresponding one of the sidewall portions  15  opposed in parallel to each other. The first elastic body  17  has a free end portion formed with a first contact portion  17   b  projecting from the first elastic plate portion  17   a.    
   The second elastic body  19  has an elongated plate-shaped second elastic plate portion  19   a . One end of the second elastic plate portion  19   a  on the side of the first base portion  13  is connected to the corresponding one of the sidewall portions  15  opposed in parallel to each other. The second elastic body  19  has a free end portion formed with a second contact portion  19   b  projecting from the second elastic plate portion  19   a.    
   When inserting the first connecting member  1  through the mounting hole of the roof panel, the first contact portions  17   b  are each pressed by contact with the inner edge of the mounting hole. When inserting the first connecting member  1  through the mounting hole of the roof panel, the second contact portions  19   b  are each pressed by contact with the inner edge of the mounting hole. 
   The first elastic bodies  17  serve to guide the first connecting member  1  when attaching the first connecting member  1  to the mounting hole. Further, after the first elastic bodies  17  are elastically deformed, the second contact portions  19   b  contact the inner edge of the mounting hole so that the second elastic bodies  19  are elastically displaced. 
   The first elastic bodies  17  absorb a clearance of the locking mechanism and accordingly serves as assist springs for controlling a posture of the first connecting member  1 . The second elastic bodies  19  serve as a friction locking mechanism for locking engagement with the roof panel. Therefore, the locking mechanism allows insertion with a low insertion force and still exerts a high holding force. 
   The first contact portion  17   b  has a first locking portion  17   c  for holding the fitting to the roof panel in a locked state. The first locking portion  17   c  is a surface of a stepped portion projecting in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the first elastic plate portion  17   a.    
   The second contact portion  19   b  has a second locking portion  19   c  for locking the fitting to the roof panel. The second locking portion  19   c  is a surface of a stepped portion projecting in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the second elastic plate portion  19   a.    
   A tip  17   d  on the free end side of the first contact portion  17   b  of the first elastic body  17  extends more than a tip  19   d  on the free end side of the second contact portion  19   b  of the second elastic body  19 . 
   Further, the first contact portion  17   b  has a first inclined surface  17   f  formed so as to be inclined from the side of the first locking portion  17   c  to the tip  17   d  on the free end side of the first contact portion  17   b.    
   The second contact portion  19   b  has a flat surface  19   e  formed extending from the side of the second locking portion  19   c  so as to be parallel to the second elastic plate portion  19   a  and a second inclined surface  19   f  inclined from the flat surface  19   e  to the tip  19   d  on the free end side of the second contact portion  19   b.    
   The first inclined surfaces  17   f  of the first contact portions  17   b  contact the inner edge of the mounting hole of the roof panel when attaching the first connecting member  1  to the roof panel. In this event, the first elastic bodies  17  are elastically deformed due to contact of the first contact portions  17   b  with the inner edge of the mounting hole. After the first elastic bodies  17  are elastically deformed, the second contact portions  19   b  contact the inner edge of the mounting hole of the roof panel. In this event, the second elastic bodies  19  are elastically deformed due to contact of the second inclined surfaces  19   f  of the second contact portions  19   b  with the inner edge of the mounting hole. 
   While the flat surfaces  19   e  of the second contact portions  19   b  are in contact with the inner edge of the mounting hole of the roof panel, the elastic deformation of the second elastic bodies  19  is in a saturated state. In this event, since the first inclined surfaces  17   f  of the first contact portions  17   b  are in contact with the inner edge of the mounting hole, the first elastic bodies  17  are in a state to be further elastically deformed. 
   The first block portions  14  are each formed with a first fitting hole  14   a  extending from the first base portion  13  through a tip surface of the first block portion  14 . A first contact (not shown) is provided in the first fitting hole  14   a . The first connecting member  1  provided with the first contacts serves as one of connectors. 
   The first connecting member  1  is connected to the second connecting member  30  shown in  FIG. 2 . The second connecting member  30  has a second housing  31  of an insulating material. 
   The second housing  31  has a second base portion  31   a  and a pair of second block portions  32  provided for fitting into the first fitting holes  14   a  of the first housing  11 , respectively. 
   When the first connecting member  1  and the second connecting member  30  are fitted and connected together, the first block portions  14  and the second block portions  32  are fitted together. In this event, the second block portions  32  are fitted into the first fitting holes  14   a  of the first housing  11 , respectively. 
   A rib-shaped first limiting portion  33  for limiting elastic deformation of the corresponding first elastic body  17  is formed on an outer surface of a sidewall portion  32   f  of each of the second block portions  32 . Further, a plate-shaped second limiting portion  35  is formed on the outer surface of the sidewall portion  32   f  of each block portion  32 . The second limiting portion  35  serves to limit elastic deformation of the corresponding second elastic body  19  when the first connecting member  1  and the second connecting member  30  are connected together. 
   The second block portions  32  are each formed with a second fitting hole  32   a . A second contact (not shown) for connection to the first contact at the time of fitting is provided in each of the second fitting holes  32   a . The second connecting member  30  provided with the second contacts serves as the other of the connectors. 
   A first through hole  13   a  (see  FIG. 1 ) is formed at a substantially central portion of the first base portion  13  of the first connecting member  1 . A second through hole  31   d  is formed at a substantially central portion of the second connecting member  30 . 
     FIG. 4  shows a state where the first connecting member  1  is attached to a roof panel  51 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , a tubular portion  62   a  standing upright on a base member  62  is inserted through the first through hole  13   a . Further, when the first connecting member  1  and the second connecting member  30  are fitted together, the tubular portion  62   a  is inserted through the second through hole  31   d.    
   As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 8 , an antenna device using the first connecting member  1  and the second connecting member  30  comprises an antenna body  61  disposed on one side of the roof panel  51  and a fixing device  63  (see  FIG. 6 ) located on the other side of the roof panel  51 . The fixing device  63  serves to completely fix the antenna body  61  to the roof panel  51 . 
   The antenna body  61  comprises an antenna cover  65  and a pad  67  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) interposed between the antenna cover  65  and the roof panel  51 . The antenna cover  65  is attached with an antenna element  69  for radio or television. The base member  62  is mounted in the antenna cover  65 . A patch antenna (not shown), a board (not shown) provided with a circuit, and the first connecting member  1  are mounted on the base member  62 . 
   The fixing device  63  comprises a bottomed cylindrical cover body  71  made of a conductive material such as, for example, stainless steel or nickel-plated iron, and a nut  72 . The cover body  71  urges the first connecting member  1  upward. A coaxial cable  75  is connected to the second contacts provided in the second connecting member  30 . 
   Assembly of the antenna device is roughly divided into three processes. That is, the first process is a process of temporarily attaching the first connecting member  1  and the antenna body  61  to the roof panel  51 . The second process is a process of temporarily attaching the second connecting member  30  and the fixing device  63  to the first connecting member  1 . The third process is a process of clamping/fixing the antenna body  61  to the roof panel  51 . 
   In the first process, at first, the pad  67  is positioned around a mounting hole  51   a  (see  FIG. 8 ) on the roof panel  51  and the first connecting member  1  is inserted into the mounting hole  51   a . In this event, the first and second contact portions  17   b  and  19   b  of the first and second elastic bodies  17  and  19  are pressed against the inner edge of the mounting hole  51   a.    
   Therefore, the first and second elastic plate portions  17   a  and  19   a  of the first and second elastic bodies  17  and  19  pass through the mounting hole  51   a  while bending. Then, after the first contact portions  17   b  have passed through the mounting hole  51   a , they return to the original shape and project from the mounting hole  51   a.    
   In the first process, the first connecting member  1  is temporarily attached to the roof panel  51  by engagement of the first locking portions  17   c  of the first housing  11  with the back side of the roof panel  51 . In the second process, the second connecting member  30  and the fixing device  63  are temporarily attached to the first connecting member  1  by insertion into the first connecting member  1 . 
   Further, in the third process, the antenna device is assembled and fixed to the roof panel  51  by tightening the nut  72  of the fixing device  63 . In this event, the first contacts and the second contacts are electrically connected together. 
   In each of the first fitting holes  14   a  of the first connecting member  1 , there is formed an additional elastic body  14   c  (see  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) extending parallel to the axial direction of the first fitting hole  14   a  from the first base portion  13 . A stripe-shaped first additional locking portion  14   d  is formed at a free end portion of the additional elastic body  14   c . When the second connecting member  30  shown in  FIG. 2  is inserted and connected to the first connecting member  1 , the additional elastic bodies  14   c  are elastically deformed. 
     FIGS. 9 to 11  show the positional relationship between the first and second elastic bodies  17  and  19  and the first and second limiting portions  33  and  35  in the process of fitting the second connecting member  30  into the first connecting member  1 . 
     FIG. 9  shows a state before the second connecting member  30  is temporarily attached to the first connecting member  1 . In a temporary fitting state, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the additional elastic body  14   c  returns to a state before the temporary attachment. This is because the second connecting member  30  is locked by the first additional locking portion  14   d  after the additional elastic body  14   c  is deformed by the second block portion  32 . In this event, the second connecting member  30  is locked to the first connecting member  1  in the temporary fitting state. In a complete fitting state, as shown in  FIG. 11 , elastic deformation of the first and second elastic bodies  17  and  19  is limited by the first and second limiting portions  33  and  35 . 
   Incidentally, only the limiting portions  33  or  35  may be provided to limit the deformation of the corresponding first or second elastic bodies  17  or  19 . 
     FIGS. 12 and 13  show, as a second embodiment of this invention, a configuration where a first connecting member  1  and a second connecting member  30  are applied to form an antenna device. The same components as those in the first embodiment are assigned the same reference symbols. 
   The antenna device is mounted to a roof panel  51 . An antenna body  61  shown in  FIG. 5  is disposed on one side of the roof panel  51 . On the other side of the roof panel  51 , there is disposed a fixing device  63  that serves to fix the antenna body  61  to the roof panel  51 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a base member  62  is mounted in an antenna cover  65 . A patch antenna (not shown), a board  81  shown in  FIG. 12 , and the first connecting member  1  are mounted on the base member  62 . 
   An additional elastic body  14   c  is formed in a first fitting hole  14   a  of the first connecting member  1 . In the first fitting hole  14   a , the additional elastic body  14   c  extends parallel to the axial direction of the first fitting hole  14   a  from a first base portion  13 . A stripe-shaped first additional locking portion  14   d  is formed at a free end portion of the additional elastic body  14   c.    
   In the first fitting hole  14   a , a first contact  91  is provided parallel to the axial direction of the first fitting hole  14   a . The first contact  91  comprises a first contact portion  91   a  extending toward one side from its holding portion held by the first base portion  13  of the first connecting member  1  and a first terminal portion  91  b extending from the other side of the holding portion so as to be connected to a circuit formed in the board  81 . 
   The first contact  91  is held by a portion of the first connecting member  1 . A first external conductor  92  is provided on a portion of an outer surface of the first contact  91 . A first conductor terminal  92   a  of the first external conductor  92  is connected to a ground circuit of the board  81 . 
   A groove-shaped second additional locking portion  32   d  is formed in a second fitting hole  32   a  of the second connecting member  30 . The second additional locking portion  32   d  is located at an inner wall surface arranged parallel to the axial direction of the second fitting hole  32   a.    
   In the second fitting hole  32   a , a second contact  95  is provided parallel to the axial direction of the second fitting hole  32   a . The second contact  95  has a second contact portion  95   a  extending to one end from its holding portion held by the second connecting member  30 . 
   The other end of the second contact  95  is connected to a center conductor  75   a  of a cable  75 . The second contact  95  is held by a portion of the second connecting member  30 . A second external conductor  96  is provided on a portion of an outer surface of the second contact  95 . The second external conductor  96  is connected to an external conductor of the cable  75 . 
   In the middle of inserting and fitting the second connecting member  30  into the first connecting member  1 , the second connecting member  30  is temporarily attached to the first connecting member  1 . At the time of fitting after releasing the temporary attachment, the first and second contacts  91  and  95  are connected together. When the first connecting member  1  and the second connecting member  30  have been fitted together, a two-stage friction locking mechanism is provided by the first and second additional locking portions  14   d  and  32   d.    
   The first connecting member  1 , the patch antenna (not shown), for example, for a high frequency range, and the board  81  are attached to the antenna body  61 . A terminal of the board  81  is connected to an antenna element  69  through a lead line. Thereafter, the antenna cover  65  is attached to the antenna body  61 . In this event, in the fixing device  63  shown in  FIG. 6 , a bolt  101  is inserted into a through hole (not shown) formed in a cover body  71 . 
   In a first process of temporarily attaching the first connecting member  1  to the roof panel  51 , the second connecting member  30  is inserted into the first connecting member  1 . In the first process, first and second locking portions  17   c  and  19   c  of first and second elastic bodies  17  and  19  engage with the back side of the roof panel  51 . In this event, the first connecting member  1  is temporarily attached to the roof panel  51 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the first additional locking portion  14   d  of the additional elastic body  14   c  enters the second additional locking portion  32   d , thereby carrying out locking (temporary attachment) of a second process. In the temporary attaching state in the second process, the first contact portion  91   a  and the second contact portion  95   a  are not in contact with each other. 
   In a third process, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the second connecting member  30  is further inserted into the first connecting member  1 , so that the first contact portion  91   a  and the second contact portion  95   a  are brought into contact with each other. In this event, the second external conductor  96  is brought into contact with the first external conductor  92  so as to be grounded. Further, the first additional locking portion  14   d  of the additional elastic body  14   c  and the second additional locking portion  32   d  are disengaged from each other, so that the additional elastic body  14   c  returns to the original shape. 
   Further, in the third process, after the first connecting member  1  and the second connecting member  30  have been fitted together, the cover body  71  is firmly fixed by screwing the bolt  101  into a threaded portion (not shown) formed in a tubular portion  62   a.    
   At the time of the temporary attachment described in  FIG. 12 , the first and second contacts  91  and  95  are not in contact with each other. At the time of the complete fitting shown in  FIG. 13 , the first and second contacts  91  and  95  are brought into contact with each other. 
   Therefore, by checking electrical continuity, the complete fitting between the first connecting member  1  and the second connecting member  30  can be easily judged based on the presence or absence of electrical connection. 
   In the connecting device having the locking mechanism, the first elastic body  17  serves as a guide when temporarily attaching the first connecting member  1  to the roof panel  51 . 
   Therefore, when attaching the first connecting member  1  to the roof panel  51 , it is possible to reduce an insertion force. Further, when attaching the first and second connecting members  1  and  30  to the roof panel  51 , it is possible to simplify the mounting operation and thus to reduce a load of a mounting dealer. 
   Further, it is possible to ensure a mounting strength of the first connecting member  1  to the roof panel  51  so as to bear a load applied when the second connecting member  30  is fitted thereto. 
   Further, it is possible to temporarily attach the second connecting member  30  to the first connecting member  1  by one-touch operation with one hand. 
   Therefore, in the process subsequent to the temporary attachment in the mounting operation, it is possible to smoothly shift to the screwing operation using a tool for fixing the second connecting member  30 . 
   A connecting device having a locking mechanism of this invention is also applicable to a use such as a switch connector or a vehicle body connector. The switch connector is adapted to connect and disconnect a circuit by insertion and removal operations thereof. The body connector is fixed to a vehicle body on the door side or the body side at a portion where a door portion and a body portion are separated from each other, wherein another connector is connected thereto after the fixation.