JP2012028084A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector that allows smooth insertion of connection terminals so that they connect to each other without causing a failure in the connection terminals and electric wires.SOLUTION: A connector 11 comprises: a plurality of connection terminals 21 to which electric wires 20 are connected; and a housing 12 provided with an array of multiple terminal insertion holes 13 into which the connection terminals 21 can be inserted. The connector 11 is configured so that inserting the connection terminals 21 into the terminal insertion holes 13 brings the adjacent connection terminals 21 into contact with each other. Consequently, the connection terminals 21 are electrically connected with each other. The connection terminals 21 each have an elastic tab 26 which is deformable in an alignment direction of the terminal insertion holes 13. The housing 12 has a window part 14 into which engagement protrusions 33 each having a tapered face 34 can be inserted from a direction perpendicular to an insertion direction of the connection terminals 21. Inserting the engagement protrusions 33 into the window part 14 with the connection terminals 21 inserted in the terminal insertion holes 13 deforms the elastic tabs 26 of the connection terminals 21 with the tapered faces 34 of the engagement protrusions 33 so that the elastic tabs 26 are brought into contact with the adjacent connection terminals 21 which have already been inserted.

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector for electrically connecting electric wires to each other.

  For example, in order to simplify a wiring form by shortening a wire harness wired to a vehicle such as an automobile as much as possible, a connector that connects electric wires of the same polarity is used (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). ).

  As shown in FIG. 9, the connector 1 has a V-shaped connection terminal 5 in which a V-shaped elastic portion 2 is formed on one side and a flat portion 4 connected to the electric wire 3 is formed on the other side. , Which are inserted in accordance with the positioning rectangular grooves 7 formed in the housing 6. When a plurality of connection terminals 5 are inserted adjacent to each other, the adjacent connection terminals 5 are pressed against each other and come into contact with each other. Are electrically connected to each other.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-61984 JP 2010-73514 A

  By the way, since the connection terminal 5 needs to always press and contact the adjacent connection terminal 5, the elastic part 2 is in an expanded state. Therefore, the connection terminal 5 is inserted into the square groove 7 while being in contact with the wall surface of the square groove 7 and the adjacent connection terminal 5 that has already been inserted. For this reason, the insertion force of the connection terminal 5 into the square groove 7 increases, and as a result, the connection terminal 5 may be deformed when inserted into the square groove 7, or the electric wire 3 may buckle during insertion. was there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and the object thereof is to smoothly insert a connection terminal and connect adjacent connection terminals without causing a failure in the connection terminal or the electric wire. The object is to provide a connector that can be used.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following configuration.
(1) A plurality of connection terminals and a housing formed by arranging a plurality of terminal insertion holes into which the connection terminals can be inserted are arranged in a line, and the connection terminals are inserted into the terminal insertion holes of the housing. The adjacent connection terminals are in contact with each other, and the connection terminals have elastic tabs that can be deformed in the arrangement direction of the terminal insertion holes, and the housing is inserted in the insertion direction of the connection terminals. A window portion into which an engagement protrusion having a taper portion can be inserted from a direction orthogonal to the terminal portion, and the engagement protrusion is inserted into the window portion in a state where the connection terminal is inserted into the terminal insertion hole. Thereby, the elastic tab of the connection terminal is deformed by the taper portion of the engagement protrusion, and contacts the connection terminal already inserted into the adjacent terminal insertion hole.

  According to this connector, with the connection terminal inserted into the terminal insertion hole, the engagement protrusion is inserted into the window portion, so that the elastic tab is deformed by the taper portion of the engagement protrusion and the adjacent inserted connection Since the contact is made in contact with the terminal, there is no need to expand the elastic tab in advance. Therefore, contact with the wall surface of the terminal insertion hole or the inserted connection terminal during insertion can be minimized. This greatly reduces the insertion resistance of the connection terminal into the terminal insertion hole, eliminates deformation of the connection terminal and buckling of the wire during insertion into the terminal insertion hole, and smoothly inserts the connection terminal. Can be connected to each other.

  (2) The connector according to (1), wherein the elastic tab is formed in a U shape or a V shape in which an insertion direction side to the terminal insertion hole is connected, and is inserted into the terminal insertion hole. The connector is characterized in that the elastic tab is deformed when the engaging protrusion enters the elastic tab of the connection terminal from the side thereof.

  According to this connector, when the engagement protrusion is inserted into the window portion with the connection terminal inserted into the terminal insertion hole, the engagement protrusion enters the elastic tab of the connection terminal from the side. As a result, the elastic tab is deformed and brought into contact with the connection terminal inserted in the adjacent terminal insertion hole. Further, the engagement protrusion enters and engages with the U-shaped or V-shaped elastic tab to which the tip side is connected, thereby preventing the connection terminal from coming off from the housing.

  (3) The connector according to (1) or (2), wherein the plurality of engaging protrusions are integrally formed with a lid plate that is fitted into the window portion of the housing, and the lid plate is fitted into the window portion. The connector is characterized in that the elastic tabs of the connection terminals are collectively deformed by the plurality of engaging protrusions.

  According to this connector, by fitting the cover plate into the window portion, the elastic tabs of the plurality of connection terminals can be collectively deformed by the plurality of engagement protrusions, and the connection terminals can be conducted to each other.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the connector which can insert a connection terminal smoothly and can connect adjacent connection terminals can be provided, without producing a malfunction in a connection terminal or an electric wire.

1 is a perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the connector of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the connector of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the housing which comprises a connector. It is a front view of the engagement lid with which a housing is mounted | worn. It is a side view of the connection terminal inserted in the terminal insertion hole of a housing. It is sectional drawing of the connector which shows the insertion state of the connection terminal to a terminal insertion hole. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the connector which shows the engagement state of the connection terminal by an engagement lid. It is sectional drawing of the connector which shows the prior art example of a connector.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a perspective view of a connector according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the connector of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a housing constituting the connector, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view of the connection terminal inserted into the terminal insertion hole of the housing, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the connector showing the insertion state of the connection terminal into the terminal insertion hole, FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the connector showing the engagement state of the connection terminals by the engagement lid.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the connector 11 of this embodiment has a housing 12 molded from a synthetic resin. The housing 12 has a plurality of terminal insertion holes (four holes in this example) 13 that are open on the front side. These terminal insertion holes 13 are arranged in a line, and the connection terminals 21 connected to the ends of the electric wires 20 are inserted from the openings 13a.

The housing 12 has a window portion 14 formed on the upper surface thereof, and an engagement lid 31 is attached to the window portion 14.
As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 12 has a tab accommodating space 15 on the front side in the insertion direction of the connection terminal 21, and a window portion 14 is formed above the tab accommodating space 15.
Further, the housing 12 is provided with a locking portion (not shown) that locks the inserted connection terminal 21 in each terminal insertion hole 13 to prevent the connection terminal 21 from coming off from the housing 12.

  The engagement lid 31 attached to the window portion 14 is formed from a synthetic resin. As shown in FIG. 5, a lid plate 32 that can be fitted to the window portion 14 and a lower surface side of the lid plate 32. And a plurality of integrally formed engaging projections 33. The engagement lid 31 is fitted into the window portion 14 with the engagement protrusion 33 facing the housing 12. As a result, the engagement protrusion 33 of the engagement lid 31 is inserted into the tab accommodating space 15 of the housing 12.

  These engagement protrusions 33 are formed in a plate shape, and are arranged in a plane orthogonal to the insertion direction of the connection terminal 21 into the terminal insertion hole 13. Each of the engaging protrusions 33 is formed with a tapered surface (tapered portion) 34 on the same side portion, whereby the engaging protrusions 33 are directed toward the rear side in the mounting direction on the housing 12. It is gradually becoming wider.

The connection terminal 21 is formed by pressing a metal plate made of copper or a copper alloy, and tin plating for improving electrical connection performance is preferably applied to the surface thereof.
As shown in FIG. 6, the connection terminal 21 has a plate-like terminal main body 22, and the terminal main body 22 is provided with an electrical connection portion 23 at the front end and a crimping portion 25 at the rear end. It has been.

  The electrical connection portion 23 has an elastic tab 26 that is folded back in a U shape on the distal end side. The elastic tab 26 has a contact piece 27 extending obliquely toward the rear end side with respect to the terminal body 22. The contact piece 27 is bent toward the terminal main body 22 in the vicinity of the end portion, and a contact protrusion 28 protruding to the outer surface side is formed at the curved portion. The elastic tab 26 may be formed in a V shape when viewed from the side.

  The crimping part 25 has a conductor crimping part 25a and a covering crimping part 25b. The conductor 20b exposed from the sheath 20a at the end of the electric wire 20 is crimped to the conductor crimping portion 25a, and the sheath 20a of the electric wire 20 is crimped to the sheath crimping portion 25b.

In the connector 11, in order to connect the connection terminal 21 to the housing 12, first, as shown in FIG. 7, the connection terminal 21 is inserted into each terminal insertion hole 13 of the housing 12.
If it does in this way, each connection terminal 21 will be arrange | positioned, without the elastic tab 26 of the electrical-connection part 23 contacting the tab storage space 15 of the housing 12 mutually.

  Further, the connection terminal 21 is locked by a locking portion provided in the terminal insertion hole 13, and is prevented from coming off from the housing 12.

In this state, the engagement lid 31 is fitted into the window 14 on the upper surface of the housing 12 with the engagement protrusion 33 facing the housing 12.
If it does in this way, each engagement protrusion 33 of this engagement lid | cover 31 will be inserted between the terminal main body 22 and the contact piece 27 in the elastic tab 26 of each connection terminal 21 arrange | positioned in the tab accommodating space 15. FIG. It is.

  In the connection terminal 21, the contact piece 27 of the elastic tab 26 contacts the tapered surface 34 of the engagement protrusion 33. Further, when the engagement lid 31 is fitted into the window portion 14, as shown in FIG. 8, the contact piece 27 is pushed out in a direction away from the terminal body 22 along the tapered surface 34 while being in contact with the tapered surface 34. Transforms into Thereby, the contact piece 27 of the connection terminal 21 excluding the connection terminal 21 on the one end A side of the housing 12 is pressed against the terminal main body 22 of the adjacent connection terminal 21 (see FIG. 2). As a result, each connection terminal 21 comes into contact with the adjacent connection terminal 21 to conduct.

  As described above, the engagement protrusion 33 of the engagement lid 31 is inserted between the terminal body 22 and the contact piece 27 in the elastic tab 26 of each connection terminal 21. The engagement protrusion 33 of the mating lid 31 is engaged with the elastic tab 26, and is prevented from coming off from the housing 12.

  As described above, according to the connector according to the embodiment, the elastic tab 26 is formed by inserting the engaging protrusion 33 into the window portion 14 with the connection terminal 21 inserted into the terminal insertion hole 13. Is deformed by the tapered surface 34 of the engaging protrusion 33 and is brought into conductive contact with the adjacent inserted connection terminal 21, so that it is not necessary to previously expand the elastic tab 26 as in the prior art. Therefore, contact with the wall surface of the terminal insertion hole 13 and the inserted connection terminal 21 during insertion can be minimized. As a result, the insertion resistance of the connection terminal 21 into the terminal insertion hole 13 can be greatly reduced, and problems such as deformation of the connection terminal 21 and buckling of the electric wire 20 during insertion can be eliminated, and the connection terminal 21 can be made smooth. And can be connected to each other.

  Further, when the engagement protrusion 33 is inserted into the window portion 14 with the connection terminal 21 being inserted into the terminal insertion hole 13, the engagement protrusion 33 is located on the U-shaped elastic tab 26 to which the distal end side is connected. Therefore, the connection terminal 21 can be reliably prevented from coming off from the housing 12.

  Moreover, by fitting the cover plate 32 of the engagement lid 31 into the window 14, the elastic tabs 26 of the plurality of connection terminals 21 are collectively deformed by the plurality of engagement projections 33 so that the connection terminals 21 are electrically connected to each other. Can be made.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Connector 12 Housing 13 Terminal insertion hole 14 Window part 20 Electric wire 21 Connection terminal 26 Elastic tab 32 Cover plate 33 Engagement protrusion 34 Tapered surface (taper part)

Claims (3)

A plurality of connection terminals, and a housing formed by arranging a plurality of terminal insertion holes into which the connection terminals can be inserted in a line, and the connection terminals are inserted into the terminal insertion holes of the housing, thereby being adjacent to each other. A connector for bringing the connecting terminals into conductive contact with each other,
The connection terminal has an elastic tab that is deformable in the arrangement direction of the terminal insertion holes,
The housing has a window portion into which an engaging projection having a tapered portion can be inserted from a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the connection terminal,
In a state where the connection terminal is inserted into the terminal insertion hole, the engagement protrusion is inserted into the window portion, so that the elastic tab of the connection terminal is deformed by the taper portion of the engagement protrusion and adjacent to the window. The connector contacts the connection terminal that has been inserted into the terminal insertion hole.   The elastic tab is formed in a U-shape or a V-shape in which the insertion direction side to the terminal insertion hole is connected, and the elastic tab of the connection terminal inserted into the terminal insertion hole from the side The connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic tab is deformed when the engaging protrusion enters.   The plurality of engagement protrusions are integrally formed with a cover plate that is fitted into the window portion of the housing, and the cover plate is fitted into the window portion, whereby the elasticity of the connection terminal is caused by the plurality of engagement protrusions. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tab is deformed collectively.

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