Low insertion force connector
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a LIF (Low Insertion Force) connector fixing a vehicle body panel capable of reducing the number of parts and improving workability. The LIF connector fixed to a vehicle body panel includes a frame including a first guide groove, a first connector connected to the frame so as to be rotated and including a second guide groove, a second connector having a first boss and connected to the first connector by rotating the first connector from a position where the first boss is inserted into the first and the second guide groove at the same time.
1. A low insertion force connector fixing a vehicle body panel comprising:
a frame including a first guide groove and a panel locking structure configured to be engaged with the vehicle body panel;
a first connector connected to the frame so as to be rotated and including a second guide groove; and
a second connector having a first boss which is inserted into the first and the second guide groove,
wherein the frame has an arm slit and the first connector has an arm jutting out from the arm slit so that the arm provide a rotational force to the first connector when the low insertion force connector is fitted into the vehicle body panel.
2. The low insertion force connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first and the second connector are engaged by rotating the frame from a position where the first boss is inserted into the first and the second guide groove at the same time.
3. The low insertion force connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein the frame includes a second boss and the first connector includes a boss guide groove,
wherein the frame and the first connector are rotatably connected by the engagement between the boss and the boss guide groove.
4. The low insertion force connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein the frame forms a first opening through which the first connector is inserted when the frame and the first connector are connected.
5. The low insertion force connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first connector has a second opening through which the second connector is inserted into the first connector when the first boss is inserted into the first and second guide groove.
6. The low insertion force connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein the frame has a grommet.
7. The low insertion force connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein the panel locking structure includes a flange and a lock arm so that the vehicle body panel is interposed between the flange and the lock arm.
8. The low insertion force connector according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first connector includes a second boss and the frame includes a boss guide groove,
wherein the frame and the first connector is rotatably connected by the engagement between the boss and the boss guide groove.
9. The low insertion force connector according to claim 8 ,
wherein the first guide groove is formed continuously from the first opening.
10. The low insertion force connector according to claim 9 ,
wherein the second guide groove is formed continuously from the second opening.
11. A low insertion force connector fixing a vehicle body panel comprising:
a frame including a first guide groove and a panel locking structure configured to be engaged with the vehicle body panel;
a first connector connected to the frame so as to be rotated and including a second guide groove; and
a second connector having a first boss which is inserted into the first and the second guide groove;
wherein the frame has a flexible arm and the first connector has a projection part which prevents the flexible arm from vending under incomplete engagement between the first and the second connector.
12. A low insertion force connector fixing a vehicle body panel comprising:
a frame including a first guide groove and a panel locking structure configured to be engaged with the vehicle body panel;
a first connector connected to the frame so as to be rotated and including a second guide groove; and
a second connector having a first boss which is inserted into the first and the second guide groove;
wherein the frame has an arm operating slit, the first connector has a lock part including a flexible lock release arm, and the second connector has a lock arm including lock projection,
wherein the lock part is engaged with the lock projection under the engagement between the first and the second connector, and
the flexible lock release arm vends by pushing through the arm operating slit so as to release the engagement between the lock projection and the lock part.
13. A low insertion force connector fixing a vehicle body panel comprising:
a frame including a first guide groove and a panel locking structure configured to be engaged with the vehicle body panel;
a first connector connected to the frame so as to be rotated and including a second guide groove; and
a second connector having a first boss which is inserted into the first and the second guide groove;
wherein the frame has a temporal lock projection, the first connector has a temporal lock groove, and the second connector has a temporal lock release projection,
wherein the temporal lock projection and the temporal lock groove connected when the frame and the first connector are connected, and the temporal lock release projection release the connection between the temporal lock projection and the temporal lock groove when the first boss is inserted into the first and the second guide groove.