Patent Publication Number: US-7591664-B2

Title: Loc-equipped connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a lock-equipped connector. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, there has been proposed a connector provided with an insulator (housing) and a front shell (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H08-273764 (paragraphs [0012] to [0017] and FIG. 1)). 
     The insulator is comprised of a body and an insertion portion. The body holds a plurality of contacts. 
     The insertion portion is generally plate-shaped, and is inserted into a receiving portion of a mating connector. Grooves are formed at respective laterally opposite ends of the insertion portion. 
     The front shell also serves as a locking member for locking the mating connector. The front shell is comprised of a front shell body, a pair of hooks, a connecting portion, and a movable piece. The front shell body covers the insulator. The pair of hooks each have a foremost end formed with an approximately triangular engaging nail that is hooked to the mating connector. The pair of hooks are arranged in the associated grooves of the insertion portion of the insulator except for the engaging nails. The engaging nails protrude from the associated grooves. The connecting portion joins the pair of hooks to each other. A protrusion is formed on a central part of the connecting portion. The movable piece has a spring section in the form of a plate. The movable piece has the connecting portion integrally formed therewith at one end thereof, and has the front shell body connected to the other end thereof. The movable piece is capable of bending in the direction of a plate thickness thereof. By bending the movable piece, it is possible to move the pair of hooks in the respective groves in the direction of thickness of the insertion portion. 
     The front shell is combined with a back shell to cover the whole insulator. The front shell and the back shell are covered with a hood. The hood includes a pressing portion. When the pressing portion is pressed, the protrusion of the connecting portion is pressed, whereby the respective engaging nails of the pair of hooks are withdrawn into the associated grooves (toward the bottom surfaces of the associated grooves). 
     When the insertion portion of the insulator of the connector is inserted into the receiving portion of the mating connector, the respective engaging nails of the pair of hooks are pushed into the associated grooves by the mating shell that covers the receiving portion. 
     When the insertion portion of the insulator is inserted into the receiving portion of the mating connector until the engaging nails of the hooks reach locking holes formed in the mating shell, the engaging nails are inserted into the locking holes of the mating shell by the spring force of the movable piece of the front shell. As a result, the connector is locked by the mating connector. 
     On the other hand, when the connector is to be removed from the mating connector, it is only required to press the pressing portion of the hood of the connector and pull the connector in the removing direction with the pressing portion pressed. When the pressing portion is pressed, the connecting portion is pressed via the protrusion to cause the engaging nails of the hooks to be moved away from the locking holes of the mating shell, and be withdrawn into the grooves. As a consequence, the mating connector is unlocked from the connector, thereby making it possible to remove the connector from the mating connector. 
     Recently, there is an increasing demand for making connectors compact in size. When a connector is made compact in size, the spring length of a spring section (movable piece of a front shell) of the connector is accordingly reduced. 
     However, to reliably maintain the connector in a state locked to a mating connector, engaging nails of hooks cannot be made too small in size. This means that there is hardly any change in the amount of motion of the engaging nails of the hooks (the amount of motion of the engaging nails in the direction of thickness of an insertion portion) when the connector is fitted to the mating connector. 
     Therefore, although the spring length of the spring section is reduced along with the reduction of the size of the connector, there is hardly any change in the amount of motion of the engaging nails of the hooks. This causes an increase in the amount of bending of the spring section, which can cause plastic deformation of the spring section. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a connector which is capable of preventing plastic deformation of a spring section of a locking member even when the connector is made compact in size. 
     To attain the above object, the present invention provides A lock-equipped connector, comprising: 
     a housing including a fitting section that is generally plate-shaped, and is fitted to a mating connector, the housing holding a plurality of contacts; and 
     a locking member including a pair of arm portions that are arranged at laterally opposite ends of the fitting section, and extend in directions of fitting and removing the connector to and from the mating connector, a connecting portion that connects the pair of arm portions to each other, a spring section that is connected to an approximately central part of the connecting portion, for urging the pair of arm portions toward the mating connector, and an engaging portion that is formed on at least one of the pair of arm portions, for being engaged with the mating connector in a direction of height of the fitting section, the spring section including a first spring portion that extends in the directions of fitting and removing the connector to and from the mating connector, a second spring portion that extends from an end of the first spring portion opposite from a connecting portion-side end of the first spring portion in a manner folded back toward one of the pair of arm portions connected by the connecting portion, a third spring portion that extends from the end of the first spring portion opposite from the connecting portion-side end of the first spring portion in a manner folded back toward the other of the pair of arm portions connected by the connecting portion, a first fixing portion that is connected to the second spring portion, and is fixed to the housing, and a second fixing portion that is connected to the third spring portion, and is fixed to the housing. 
     With the arrangement of the connector according to the present invention, the locking member includes not only the first spring portion but also the second and third spring portions, and hence it is possible to increase the spring length of the spring section by the second and third spring portions. Therefore, it is possible to prevent plastic deformation of the spring section of the locking member even when the connector is made compact in size. 
     Preferably, the lock-equipped connector includes a shell for covering the housing, and the shell is provided with an engaging portion-receiving recess for receiving the engaging portion upward. 
     Preferably, the lock-equipped connector includes a hood for covering the shell except for a portion of the shell, the portion covering the fitting section. 
     More preferably, the connecting section has a protrusion formed on the approximately central part thereof such that the protrusion extends in the direction of height of the fitting section, and the shell is formed with a protrusion receiving recess for receiving a foremost end of the protrusion upward, the hood being formed with an operating section for pushing the protrusion into the shell. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lock-equipped connector, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the  FIG. 1  connector; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a housing and a locking member of the  FIG. 1  lock-equipped connector; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the  FIG. 1  lock-equipped connector in a state in which a hood is removed from the connector; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the housing of the  FIG. 1  connector; and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 1  connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing preferred embodiments thereof. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a lock-equipped connector according to the present invention is comprised of a housing  3 , a contact  4 , a locking member  5 , a shell  7 , and a hood  11 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the housing  3  is comprised of a fitting section  31 , and an element wire holding section  32 , and is made of insulating resin. 
     The fitting section  31  is generally plate-shaped. The fitting section  31  has a foremost end formed with a receiving portion  31   a  (see  FIG. 6 ) for receiving a fitting section of a mating connector, not shown. Further, the fitting section  31  is formed with a plurality of contact receiving grooves  31   b  communicating with the receiving portion  31   a . The contact receiving grooves  31   b  are arranged at equally-spaced intervals in the lateral direction W of the fitting section  31  (see  FIG. 3 ). Further, the contact receiving grooves  31   b  extend in the fitting/removing direction D with respect to the mating connector. 
     The fitting section  31  has opposite ends in the lateral direction W (opposite lateral ends) formed with grooves  31   c  and  31   d , respectively. The grooves  31   c  and  31   d  extend in the fitting/removing direction D. 
     The element wire holding section  32  holds a plurality of element wires  211  of a cable  21 . Parts of the element wires  211  are omitted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The element wire holding section  32  has opposite lateral ends thereof formed with press-fitting holes  32   a  and  32   b , respectively (see  FIG. 3 ). The press-fitting holes  32   a  and  32   b  extend in the height direction H of the housing  3  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     The locking member  5  is comprised of a pair of hook sections  51  and  52 , a connecting portion  53 , a spring section  54 , and a protrusion  55 . The locking member  5  is formed by blanking and bending a metal plate. 
     The hook section  51  includes an arm (arm portion)  51   a  and an engaging nail (engaging portion)  51   b . The arm  51   a  is in the form of a long plate. The engaging nail  51   b  is approximately in the form of a right triangle, and continues from the foremost end of the arm  51   a.    
     The hook section  52  includes an arm (arm portion)  52   a  and an engaging nail (engaging portion)  52   b . The arm  52   a  is in the form of a long plate. The engaging nail  52   b  is approximately in the form of a right triangle, and continues from the foremost end of the arm  52   a.    
     The connecting portion  53  is in the form of a long plate, and connects the hook sections  51  and  52  to each other. The connecting portion  53  is formed with a slit  53   a . The slit  53   a  extends in the length direction of the connecting portion  53 . Although the connecting portion  53  is made easier to be elastically deformed by the slit  53   a , the slit  53   a  may not be formed in the connecting portion  53 . It should be noted that to enhance the rigidity of the connecting portion  53 , a rib may be formed by embossing, in place of the slit  53   a.    
     The spring section  54  is comprised of a first spring portion  541 , a second spring portion  542 , a third spring portion  543 , a first fixing portion  544 , a second fixing portion  545 , a first connecting portion  546 , and a second connecting portion  547 . 
     The first spring portion  541  is generally plate-shaped, and extends in the fitting/removing direction D. The first spring portion  541  has one end connected to (continuous with) a central part of the connecting portion  53 . 
     The second spring portion  542  extends from the other end (end opposite from the connecting portion-side end) of the first spring portion  541  in a manner folded back toward one side of the connecting portion  53  (toward the one arm  51   a  connected by the connecting portion  53 ). The second spring portion  542  includes first to third portions  542   a  to  542   c . The first portion  542   a  continues from the other end of the first spring portion  541 , and extends away from the connecting portion  53  in the fitting/removing direction D. The second portion  542   b  continues from the first portion  542   a , and extends in the lateral direction W of the fitting section  31 . The third portion  542   c  continues from the second portion  542   b , and extends in the fitting/removing direction D such that it comes closer to the connecting portion  53 . 
     The third spring portion  543  extends from the other end (end opposite from the connecting portion-side end) of the first spring portion  541  in a manner folded back toward the other side of the connecting portion  53  (toward the other arm  52   a  connected by the connecting portion  53 ). The third spring portion  543  includes first to third portions  543   a  to  543   c . The first portion  543   a  continues from the other end of the first spring portion  541 , and extends away from the connecting portion  53  in the fitting/removing direction D. Although the first portion  543   a  is integrally formed with the first portion  542   a  of the second spring portion  542 , the first portion  543   a  and the first portion  542   a  may be separated in the lateral direction W of the fitting section  31 . The second portion  543   b  continues from the first portion  543   a , and extends in the lateral direction W. The third portion  543   c  continues from the second portion  543   b , and extends in the fitting/removing direction D such that it comes closer to the connecting portion  53 . 
     The first fixing portion  544  is generally plate-shaped, and extends in the height direction H of the housing  3  for being press-fitted into the press-fitting hole  32   a  of the housing  3 . 
     The second fixing portion  545  is generally plate-shaped, and extends in the height direction H of the housing  3  for being press-fitted into the press-fitting hole  32   b  of the housing  3 . 
     The first connecting portion  546  is generally plate-shaped, and extends in the lateral direction W of the fitting section  31 , for joining the second spring portion  542  and the first fixing portion  544 . The first fixing portion  544  is inclined approximately at right angles to the first connecting portion  546 . 
     The second connecting portion  547  is generally plate-shaped, and extends in the lateral direction W of the fitting section  31 , for joining the third spring portion  543  and the second fixing portion  545 . The second fixing portion  545  is inclined approximately at right angles to the second connecting portion  547 . 
     The protrusion  55  is formed integrally with the central part of the connecting portion  53 , and protrudes in the height direction H of the housing  3 . 
     When the first and second fixing portions  544  and  545  are press-fitted into the press-fitting holes  32   a  and  32   b  of the housing  3 , respectively, the locking member  5  is fixed to the housing  3 , and the pair of respective hook sections  51  and  52  are accommodated in the grooves  31   c  and  31   d  of the housing  3  except for the engaging nails  51   b  and  52   b . The engaging nails  51   b  and  52   b  protrude from the grooves  31   c  and  31   d , respectively. The pair of hook sections  51  and  52  arranged in the grooves  31   c  and  31   d  can be moved in the direction of the plate thickness of the spring section  54  (direction approximately parallel to the height direction H of the housing  3 ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the shell  7  is comprised of a front shell  8  and a rear shell  9 . 
     The front shell  8  is made of a metal, and has a generally hollow cylindrical shape. The front shell  8  covers the fitting section  31  of the housing  3  and the front end of the rear shell  9 . The front shell  8  has an upper surface formed with holes (engaging portion-receiving recesses)  8   a  and  8   b  for releasing the engaging nails  51   b  and  52   b  therein. 
     The rear shell  9  includes an upper shell  91  and a lower shell  92 , and covers the element wire holding section  32  (see  FIG. 5 ) and terminal parts of the element wires  211 . 
     The upper shell  91  is substantially in the form of a casing, and includes a body  91   a  and side walls  91   b . The upper shell  91  is formed by blanking and bending a metal plate. The body  91   a  has a front edge formed with a cutout (protrusion-passing recess)  91   c  for passing the protrusion  55  of the locking member  5 . 
     The lower shell  92  is substantially in the form of a casing, and includes a body  92   a  and side walls  92   b . The lower shell  92  is formed by blanking and bending a metal plate. The element wire holding portion  32  (see  FIG. 5 ) of the housing  3  is fixed in the lower shell  92 . Further, the side walls  91   b  of the upper shell  91  are inserted between the side walls  92   b  of the lower shell  92  and the element wire holding section  32 , and are fixed to the element wire holding section  32 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  6 , the hood  11  is comprised of an upper hood  12  and a lower hood  13 . 
     The upper hood  12  has a shape similar to that of the upper shell  91 , and covers the upper shell  91 . The upper hood  12  is formed with a button (operating section)  12   a . The button  12   a  can be moved in the height direction H. 
     The lower hood  13  has a shape similar to that of the lower shell  92 , and covers the lower shell  92 . The upper hood  12  is engaged with the lower hood  13 . Further, the lower hood  13  cooperates with the upper hood  12  to hold a boot  15  through which the cable  21  is passed. 
     To connect the connector and the mating connector, the connectors are fitted to each other. 
     When a fitting section of the mating connector is inserted into the receiving portion  31   a  of the fitting section  31  of the connector, a mating shell covering the fitting section of the mating connector presses the engaging nails  51   b  and  52   b  of the pair of hook sections  51  and  52 , whereby the engaging nails  51   b  and  52   b  are pushed into the grooves  31   c  and  31   d  of the fitting section  31 , respectively. 
     When the engaging nails  51   b  and  52   b  are pushed into the grooves  31   c  and  31   d  of the fitting section  31  by the mating shell, respectively, the spring section  54  of the locking member  51  is elastically deformed in the direction of the plate thickness thereof. At this time, since the total spring length of the spring section  54  is extended by the second and third spring portions  542  and  543 , the twisting and bending of the spring section  54  in the direction of the plate thickness thereof are suppressed, which makes it difficult for the spring section  54  to undergo plastic deformation. 
     When the fitting section of the mating connector is inserted to a predetermined position of the receiving portion  31   a  of the fitting section  31  of the connector whereby locking holes formed in the mating shell reach the engaging nails  51   b  and  52   b , the engaging nails  51   b  and  52   b  are inserted into the locking holes of the mating shell by the spring force of the spring section  54  of the connector. As a result, the mating connector is locked to the connector. 
     To remove the mating connector from the connector, the button  12   a  of the hood  11  of the connector is depressed. When the button  12   a  is depressed, the connecting portion  53  is pressed by the protrusion  55 , whereby the engaging nails  51   b  and  52   b  of the hook sections  51  and  52  are moved away from the locking holes of the mating shell, and are withdrawn into the grooves  31   c  and  31   d . As a consequence, the mating connector is unlocked from the connector. 
     If the mating connector, in an unlocked state, is pulled in the direction of removing the same, the mating connector is removed from the connector. 
     According to the present embodiment, the spring length of the spring section  54  is increased by the second and third spring portions  542  and  543 , so that if the connector is made compact in size, it is possible to prevent plastic deformation of the spring section  54 . 
     Further, since the connector is provided with the shell  7 , it is excellent in shielding performance. 
     Furthermore, since the locking member  5  includes the protrusion  55 , it is possible to easily release the locking of the mating connector by operating the button  12   a  of the hood  11 . 
     It should be noted that although in the above-described embodiment, the second and third spring portions  542  and  543  continue to the first and second fixing portions  544  and  545  via the first and second connecting portions  546  and  547 , the second and third spring portions  542  and  543  may directly continue to the first and second fixing portions  544  and  545 . 
     Further, the first and second connecting portions  546  and  547  may be configured such that they are elastically deformed as fourth portions of the second and third spring portions  542  and  543 . 
     It should be noted that although the second portions  542   b  and  543   b  of the second and third spring portions  542  and  543  linearly extend in the lateral direction W of the fitting section  31 , there is no need to linearly form the portions  542   b  and  543   b , but they may be formed into arcuate shapes. 
     Further, although in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the engaging nails  51   b  and  52   b  are provided in both of the arms  51   a  and  52   a  of the locking member  5 , respectively, this is not limitative, but only one of the arms  51   a  and  52   a  may be provided with an engaging nail. In this case as well, it is possible to obtain the same advantageous effects as provided by the above-described embodiment. 
     It is further understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing are the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and that various changes and modification may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.