Lock mechanism and connector set

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12597735-B2
Application number	US-202318374331-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2023
Priority date	Oct 3, 2022
Publication date	Apr 7, 2026
Grant date	Apr 7, 2026

Abstract

Provided is a lock mechanism configured to hold a fitted state between a first connector and a second connector, where the first connector and the second connector as a counterpart are fittable together. The lock mechanism includes: a lock member that includes an engagement part and is provided in the first connector; a biasing part that is connected to the lock member and holds the lock member in a reference state; a pivotal shaft that is disposed parallel to a direction orthogonal to a fitting direction and pivotably supports the lock member; and an engagement-receiving part that is provided in the second connector and is engageable with the engagement part. The lock member is attached to the first connector so as to be pivotable around the pivotal shaft.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A lock mechanism configured to hold a fitted state between a first connector and a second connector, the first connector and the second connector as a counterpart being fittable together, the lock mechanism comprising:
a lock member that includes an engagement part and is provided in the first connector; a biasing part that is connected to the lock member and holds the lock member in a reference state; a pivotal shaft that is disposed parallel to a direction orthogonal to a fitting direction and pivotably supports the lock member; an engagement-receiving part that is provided in the second connector and is engageable with the engagement part, and a removal operation member that is connected to the lock member and is pullable in a removal direction orthogonal to an extending direction of the pivotal shaft, wherein the lock member is attached to the first connector so as to be pivotable around the pivotal shaft, one of the removal operation member and the lock member includes an inclined surface formed to be inclined with respect to the removal direction, the other of the removal operation member and the lock member includes an engagement piece that engages with the inclined surface, a cam is formed by engagement between the inclined surface and the engagement piece, the cam converting a linear motion of the removal operation member into a rotational motion and transmits the rotational motion to the lock member, and a linear motion of the removal operation member in the removal direction causes a first moment to be generated, the first moment rotating the lock member around the pivotal shaft.

2 . The lock mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the first connector and the second connector include contacts arranged in the direction orthogonal to the fitting direction and are electrically connected by the contacts.

3 . The lock mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein:
the lock member includes a removal member-attaching part to which the removal operation member is connected, and a direction connecting the removal member-attaching part and the pivotal shaft intersects the removal direction.

4 . The lock mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein in a case where, in side view as viewed from the extending direction of the pivotal shaft, an angle formed by a straight line connecting the pivotal shaft and an engagement point of the engagement part and the removal direction is θ and an angle formed by an engagement surface of the engagement part and a direction orthogonal to the removal direction at the engagement point is α, a relationship between α and θ satisfies α≥θ.

5 . The lock mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein:
the lock member includes a plate part having a sheet shape, and the lock member is disposed such that a sheet thickness direction of the plate part coincides with the extending direction of the pivotal shaft.

6 . The lock mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein:
the lock member is disposed in each of two side surfaces of the first connector, the two side surfaces facing each other in the extending direction of the pivotal shaft, and the removal operation member couples the two lock members.

7 . The lock mechanism according to claim 6 , wherein the removal operation member is a rigid body that is non-deformable with respect to a pulling operation in the removal direction.

8 . The lock mechanism according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide member that guides a removal operation of the removal operation member, wherein:
the removal operation member is one of a first removal operation member and a second removal operation member, the first removal operation member being disposed on a side of a first surface of the first connector in a direction orthogonal to the removal direction and the extending direction of the pivotal shaft, the second removal operation member being disposed on a side of a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the guide member includes a first guide part and a second guide part, the first guide part guiding the first removal operation member, the second guide part guiding the second pulling operation member.

9 . The lock mechanism according to claim 8 , wherein:
the removal operation member includes a pull tab graspable and pullable by a worker, the pull tab is disposed in the first removal operation member so as to be exposed from the side of the first surface, and the pull tab is disposed in the second removal operation member so as to be exposed from the side of the second surface.

10 . The lock mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the biasing part is formed integrally with the lock member, is deformed in association with pivoting of the lock member, and generates a second moment that is opposite to a pivoting direction of the lock member.

11 . The lock mechanism according to claim 10 , wherein the biasing part includes a free end part, a fixed end part, and an arm part, the free end part abutting on a component member of the first connector, the fixed end part being connected to the lock member, the arm part coupling the free end part and the fixed end part.

12 . The lock mechanism according to claim 11 , wherein:
the lock member includes a plate part having a sheet shape, and the biasing part includes a bent part in the fixed end part, the bent part extending in a direction intersecting the removal direction and being formed to be curved, and the arm part is disposed on an outer side of the plate part via the bent part.

13 . The lock mechanism according to claim 12 , wherein the arm part is disposed such that a sheet thickness direction of the arm part coincides with the extending direction of the pivotal shaft.

14 . The lock mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein:
the engagement-receiving part includes an abutting surface that abuts on the engagement part when the first connector is moved in an insertion direction, and the abutting surface is formed to be inclined and allows the engagement part to be raised on the abutting surface such that the lock member pivots in association with movement of the first connector in the insertion direction.

15 . A connector set, comprising:
a first connector; a second connector, the first connector and the second connector as a counterpart being fittable together; and the lock mechanism according to claim 1 .

16 . The connector set according to claim 15 , wherein:
the second connector includes a first shell and a second shell, the first shell covering a second connector body, the second shell including a side surface part that is disposed on both sides of the second connector body in a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction, wherein the second shell includes a board-mounting part and a top surface part, the board-mounting part being disposed in a lower end part of the side surface part on a side of a fitting surface with the first connector, the top surface part being formed to protrude from an upper end of the side surface part and engaging with an upper surface of the first connector.

17 . The connector set according to claim 16 , wherein the first shell and the second shell are formed of separate members.

Assignees

• Aces Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kato Nobukazu
• Hashimoto Hiroaki

Classifications

• H01R13/6335

  comprising a handle · CPC title

• H01R13/6275

  Latching arms not integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01R24/00

  Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure (contact members H01R13/02; securing contact members in or to a base or case or insulating of contact members H01R13/40; bases or cases H01R13/46; means for supporting coupling part when not engaged H01R13/60; means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement H01R13/62; means for preventing, inhibiting or avoiding incorrect coupling H01R13/64) · CPC title

• H01R13/6273 Primary

  comprising two latching arms · CPC title

• H01R12/79 Primary

  connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures · CPC title