EP3407432A1

EP3407432A1 - Assembly and harness component

Info

Publication number: EP3407432A1
Application number: EP18163375.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yusuke Obata; Masakazu Kuroiwa; Naoyuki SUGAI
Original assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Ltd
Current assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Ltd
Priority date: 2017-05-23
Filing date: 2018-03-22
Publication date: 2018-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 2038-03-22
Also published as: EP3407432B1; JP6840620B2; JP2018198129A

Abstract

An assembly comprises a housing and a cover. The housing is configured to hold a contact. The cover is configured to cover a part of a cable which is connected with the contact. The cover is configured to align a direction of the cable. The housing has a maintaining portion. The cover is attached to an upper part of the housing in an up-down direction. The cover has a maintained portion, an edge portion and a breakable portion. The edge portion forms an outlet for the cable. The maintaining portion is positioned above the maintained portion in the up-down direction to maintain a state where the cover is attached to the housing. The breakable portion is configured to be more breakable than the maintaining portion when a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion acts on a part of the edge portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

This invention relates to an assembly having a structure which is easy to be repaired upon its breakage, and to a harness component comprising the assembly.
Referring to Fig. 25, JP-A 2002-280110 (Patent Document 1) discloses an assembly 800 comprising a connector main (housing) 810, a cover 830 and a slider 840. The housing 810 is configured to hold contacts (not shown). The cover 830 is configured to cover parts of cables 820 which are connected with the contacts, respectively. The cover 830 is configured to align directions of the cables 820. The slider 840 is attached to the housing 810 so as to be movable in a front-rear direction, or in an X-direction. The assembly 800 is mateable with and removable from a mating connector (not shown) by a movement of the slider 840 in the front-rear direction. The cover 830 is positioned upward, or in a positive Z-direction, of the connector main 810 in an up-down direction, or in a Z-direction. The cover 830 is attached to the connector main 810 by being slid in the front-rear direction, or in the X-direction.
Referring to Fig. 26, JPA 2015-115255 (Patent Document 2) discloses an assembly 900 comprising a housing 910, a wire cover (cover) 930, a lever 940 and sliders (not shown). The housing 910 is configured to hold contacts (not shown). The wire cover 930 is configured to cover parts of cables 920 which are connected with the contacts, respectively. The wire cover 930 is configured to align directions of the cables 920. The wire cover 930 is attached to an upper part, or a positive Z-side part, of the housing 910 in an up-down direction, or in a Z-direction. The lever 940 is attached to the wire cover 930 so as to be rotatable. Each of the sliders is configured to be movable in a front-rear direction, or in an X-direction together with a rotation of the lever 940. More specifically, when the lever 940 is rotated, each of the sliders is moved in the front-rear direction, or in the X-direction, so that the assembly 900 is mateable with and removable from a mating connector (not shown).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

It is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly having a structure which is easy to be repaired upon its breakage. In addition, it is another object of the present invention to provide a harness component comprising the assembly, a contact and a cable.
In actual use of the assembly 800, 900 of Patent Document 1, 2, the assembly may be broken in a situation where the cables are pulled to be moved so that an excess force is applied to the cover. When the housing of the assembly is broken in the aforementioned situation, the whole of the assembly may be required to be replaced, or the whole of the harness component may be disposed in a worst case scenario. In other words, the assembly 800, 900 has a problem that the whole of the assembly 800, 900 may be required to be replaced, or the whole of the harness component may be disposed in the worst case scenario, even when only the housing of the assembly 800, 900 is broken in the aforementioned situation. On the other hand, in a case where only the cover of the assembly is broken in the aforementioned situation, the assembly can be repaired by replacing only the cover. In other words, the inventors of the present invention has found that, in a case where a part of an assembly is broken in the aforementioned situation, the assembly can be easily repaired when a cover is broken rather than when a housing is broken.
The present invention is based on the aforementioned finding. Specifically, the present invention is to provide an assembly and a harness component as described below in order to solve the aforementioned problem.
One aspect of the present invention provides an assembly comprising a housing and a cover. The housing is configured to hold a contact. The cover is configured to cover a part of a cable which is connected with the contact. The cover is configured to align a direction of the cable. The housing has a maintaining portion. The cover is attached to an upper part of the housing in an up-down direction. The cover has a maintained portion, an edge portion and a breakable portion. The edge portion forms an outlet for the cable. The maintaining portion is positioned above the maintained portion in the up-down direction to maintain a state where the cover is attached to the housing. The breakable portion is configured to be more breakable than the maintaining portion when a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion acts on a part of the edge portion.
The cover of the assembly of the present invention is provided with the breakable portion which is configured to be more breakable than the maintaining portion when a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion of the housing acts on a part of the edge portion of the cover. Accordingly, even if the cable is pulled to be moved so that an excess force is applied to the cover, the breakable portion of the cover is broken before the housing is broken. Thus, even if the assembly is broken, the assembly can be easily repaired by replacing only the cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a harness component comprising an assembly, contacts and cables according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a side view showing the harness component of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a rear view showing the harness component of Fig. 1, wherein a part of the harness component is illustrated enlarged.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a housing included in an assembly of the harness component of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is another perspective view showing the housing of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a side view showing the housing of Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a bottom view showing the housing of Fig. 4.
Fig. 8 is a rear view showing the housing of Fig. 4, wherein a part of the housing is illustrated enlarged.
Fig. 9 is a top view showing the housing of Fig. 4.
Fig. 10 is a side view showing a cover included in the assembly of the harness component of Fig. 1.
Fig. 11 is a bottom view showing the cover of Fig. 10.
Fig. 12 is a rear view showing the cover of Fig. 10, wherein a part of the cover is illustrated enlarged.
Fig. 13 is a lower perspective view showing the cover of Fig. 10.
Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing a harness component comprising an assembly, contacts and cables according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 15 is a side view showing the harness component of Fig. 14.
Fig. 16 is a rear view showing the harness component of Fig. 14, wherein a part of the harness component is illustrated enlarged.
Fig. 17 is a side view showing a cover included in an assembly of the harness component of Fig. 14.
Fig. 18 is a bottom view showing the cover of Fig. 17.
Fig. 19 is a rear view showing the cover of Fig. 17.
Fig. 20 is a lower perspective view showing the cover of Fig. 17.
Fig. 21 is a side view showing a modification of the cover of Fig. 17.
Fig. 22 is a bottom view showing the cover of Fig. 21.
Fig. 23 is a rear view showing the cover of Fig. 21.
Fig. 24 is a lower perspective view showing the cover of Fig. 21.
Fig. 25 is a perspective view showing an assembly of Patent Document 1.
Fig. 26 is a perspective view showing an assembly of Patent Document 2.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

[First embodiment]

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, a harness component 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is mateable with and removable from a mating connector (not shown) along an up-down direction. In the present embodiment, the up-down direction is a Z-direction. In addition, it is assumed that upward is a positive Z-direction while downward is a negative Z-direction.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and 9, the harness component 10 of the present embodiment comprises an assembly 100, a plurality of contacts 500, a plurality of cables 600 and a clamping band 650. In the present application, the harness component 10 is also referred to as a connector. In addition, the contact 500 is also referred to as a terminal while the cable 600 is also referred to as an electrical wire.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 13, the assembly 100 of the present embodiment comprises a housing 200, a lever 400, two sliders 450 and a cover 300. The housing 200 is configured to hold the contacts 500. The cover 300 is configured to cover parts of the cables 600 which are connected with the contacts 500, respectively. The cover 300 is configured to align directions of the cables 600. In the harness component 10, the contacts 500 are held by the housing 200 while each of the cables 600 is connected with the contacts 500 corresponding thereto. The cover 300 is attached to an upper part of the housing 200 in the up-down direction. Specifically, the connector of the present embodiment comprises the terminals, the electrical wires, a connector main and the cover 300. The terminals are connected with the electrical wires, respectively. The terminals are attached to the connector main. The cover 300 is attached to an upper part of the connector main and covers, at least in part, each of the electrical wires.
As shown in Figs. 4 to 9, the housing 200 of the present embodiment is made of insulator. The housing 200 has a symmetrical shape with respect to a plane which is perpendicular to a lateral direction while passing through a middle of the housing 200 in the lateral direction. In the present embodiment, the lateral direction is a Y-direction. The housing 200 has a contact holding portion 260, an interposing portion 284, a contact holding portion surrounding portion 282 and two slider accommodating portions 280.
As shown in Figs. 4 to 9, the contact holding portion 260 of the present embodiment has a substantially cuboid shape extending in the up-down direction. The contact holding portion 260 is substantially surrounded by the interposing portion 284 in a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. In the present embodiment, the plane perpendicular to the up-down direction is an XY-plane. An upper end of the contact holding portion 260 is positioned above an upper end of the interposing portion 284 in the up-down direction. The contact holding portion 260 is formed with a plurality of contact holding holes 261 and a plurality of mating contact receiving portions 262. The contact holding holes 261 correspond to the mating contact receiving portions 262, respectively. Each of the contact holding holes 261 communicates with the mating contact receiving portion 262 corresponding thereto in the up-down direction. Specifically, a hole, which consists of the contact holding hole 261 and the mating contact receiving portion 262 corresponding thereto, pierces the contact holding portion 260 in the up-down direction. The contact holding portion 260 is provided with six upper guide portions 210, or maintaining portions 210, at its opposite ends in the lateral direction. In detail, three of the upper guide portions 210, or the maintaining portions 210, are provided on a positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 which is positioned at its upper end, or a positive Z-side end thereof, while remaining three of the upper guide portions 210, or the maintaining portions 210, are provided on a negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 which is positioned at its upper end. Each of the upper guide portions 210, or the maintaining portions 210, protrudes outward in the lateral direction. The contact holding portion 260 has inner regulating portions 230. Specifically, the inner regulating portions 230 are side portions, respectively, of the contact holding portion 260 in the lateral direction which are positioned below the upper guide portions 210, or the maintaining portions 210.
As shown in Figs. 4 to 9, the interposing portion 284 of the present embodiment is surrounded by the contact holding portion surrounding portion 282 in the plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The interposing portion 284 has lower guide portions 212. Specifically, the lower guide portions 212 are upper portions of the interposing portion 284 which are positioned in the vicinities of its opposite ends, respectively, in the lateral direction.
As shown in Figs. 4 to 9, the contact holding portion surrounding portion 282 of the present embodiment has a substantially rectangular tube shape extending in the up-down direction. The contact holding portion surrounding portion 282 surrounds the interposing portion 284 in the plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The contact holding portion surrounding portion 282 is provided with six outer regulating portions 220, or regulating portions 220, at its opposite ends in the lateral direction. In detail, three of the outer regulating portions 220 are provided on a positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion surrounding portion 282 which is positioned at its upper end, while remaining three of the outer regulating portions 220 are provided on a negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion surrounding portion 282 which is positioned at its upper end. Each of the outer regulating portions 220 protrudes upward in the up-down direction. The maintaining portions 210 correspond to the outer regulating portions 220, respectively. The maintaining portion 210 and the outer regulating portion 220 corresponding thereto are positioned at positions same as each other in a front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the front-rear direction is an X-direction. It is assumed that forward is a positive X-direction while rearward is a negative X-direction. Each of the maintaining portions 210 is positioned away from the outer regulating portion 220 corresponding thereto in the lateral direction. Specifically, in the lateral direction, an outer surface of each of the maintaining portions 210 is positioned inward and away from an inner surface 221 of the outer regulating portion 220 corresponding thereto. Front surfaces of two of the outer regulating portions 220, which are positioned forwardmost in the front-rear direction, function as receiving portions 270, respectively.
Referring to Figs. 4 to 9, the housing 200 of the present embodiment is provided with the maintaining portions 210, the lower guide portions 212, the outer regulating portions 220 and the inner regulating portions 230. Lower surfaces 211 of the maintaining portions 210, an upper surface 213 of the lower guide portion 212, the inner surfaces 221 of the outer regulating portions 220 and an outer surface 231 of the inner regulating portion 230 define a maintained portion accommodating space 240 extending in the front-rear direction. Specifically, the housing 200 is provided with the two maintained portion accommodating spaces 240.
As shown in Figs. 4 to 9, the slider accommodating portions 280 of the present embodiment are positioned at opposite outsides, respectively, of the contact holding portion surrounding portion 282 in the lateral direction. The slider accommodating portions 280 substantially surround the sliders 450, respectively, in the plane perpendicular to the up-down direction.
As shown in Figs. 4 to 7 and 9, the lever 400 has a substantially U-shape when viewed along the up-down direction. The lever 400 has pinion portions 410 at its ends. The lever 400 of the present embodiment is positioned outside the contact holding portion surrounding portion 282 of the housing 200 in the plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The lever 400 is attached to the contact holding portion surrounding portion 282 so as to be rotatable about the lateral direction.
As shown in Fig. 9, each of the sliders 450 has a rack 452 at its upper end. Each of the slider accommodating portions 280 of the housing 200 accommodates the slider 450 corresponding thereto. Referring to Figs. 4 and 9, the racks 452 of the sliders 450 are configured to be meshed with the pinion portions 410, respectively, of the lever 400. As described above, the lever 400 is rotatable about the lateral direction. Accordingly, each of the sliders 450 is moved forward when the lever 400 is rotated rearward, while each of the sliders 450 is moved rearward when the lever 400 is rotated forward.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the cover 300 of the present embodiment is attached to the upper part of the housing 200 in the up-down direction. A specific method of attaching the cover 300 to the housing 200 will be described later.
Referring to Figs. 10 to 13, the cover 300 of the present embodiment is made of insulator. The cover 300 has a symmetric shape with respect to a plane which is perpendicular to the lateral direction while passing through a middle of the cover 300 in the lateral direction. Specifically, the cover 300 of the present embodiment has a ceiling portion 304 and two side walls 302.
As shown in Figs. 10 to 13, the ceiling portion 304 of the present embodiment has a wide U-shape when viewed from its rear. Lower ends of the ceiling portion 304 are connected with upper ends of the side walls 302, respectively. Rear ends of the side walls 302 and a rear end of the ceiling portion 304 form an edge portion 320.
As shown in Figs. 10 to 13, the edge portion 320 of the present embodiment forms an outlet 320 of the cables 600. The outlet 320 is opened rearward in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the up-down direction.
As shown in Figs. 10 to 13, each of the side walls 302 of the present embodiment has a plate-like shape perpendicular to the lateral direction. Each of the side walls 302 is provided with a maintained portion 310 and an abutting portion 360 at its lower end. Each of the side walls 302 is provided with a breakable portion 350 and a ditch 352 in the vicinity of its rear end. The ditch 352 is recessed outward in the lateral direction. In other words, the cover 300 of the present embodiment has the two maintained portions 310, the edge portion 320, the two breakable portions 350, the two ditches 352 and the two abutting portions 360. The maintained portion 310 is positioned below the breakable portion 350 in the up-down direction. In the present application, the breakable portion 350 is also referred to as a weakest portion.
As shown in Figs. 10 to 13, the maintained portion 310 of the present embodiment is a guide rail 310 extending in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. Referring to Figs. 4 to 9, the upper guide portion 210, or the maintaining portion 210, of the present embodiment is a guide portion which guides a movement of the guide rail 310 in the front-rear direction. The maintained portion 310, which is positioned at a positive Y-side of the cover 300, corresponds to the three maintaining portions 210 which are positioned at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260. The maintained portion 310, which is positioned at a negative Y-side of the cover 300, corresponds to the remaining three maintaining portions 210 which are positioned at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260.
As shown in Figs. 10 to 13, the maintained portion 310 of the present embodiment has a substantially rectangular bar shape extending in the front-rear direction. The maintained portion 310 has an upper surface 312 and a lower surface 314 each facing in the up-down direction. Each of the upper surface 312 and the lower surface 314 is a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The upper surface 312 is positioned above the lower surface 314 in the up-down direction. In addition, the maintained portion 310 has an outer side surface 316 and an inner side surface 318 each facing in the lateral direction. Each of the outer side surface 316 and the inner side surface 318 is a plane perpendicular to the lateral direction. The outer side surface 316 is positioned outward beyond the inner side surface 318 in the lateral direction. Furthermore, the maintained portion 310 has a rear end 311 facing in the front-rear direction.
Referring to Fig. 3, since each of the maintaining portions 210 of the housing 200 is positioned above each of the maintained portions 310 of the cover 300 in the up-down direction, the maintaining portions 210 of the housing 200 maintain a state where the cover 300 is attached to the housing 200. More specifically, referring to Figs. 3 to 5, 8 and 12, in the up-down direction, the lower surface 211 of each of the three maintaining portions 210, which are positioned at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260, is positioned above the upper surface 312 of the maintained portion 310, which is positioned at the positive Y-side of the cover 300, while facing the upper surface 312 of the maintained portion 310 positioned at the positive Y-side thereof. Similarly, in the up-down direction, the lower surface 211 of each of the remaining three maintaining portions 210, which are positioned at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260, is positioned above the upper surface 312 of the maintained portion 310, which is positioned at the negative Y-side of the cover 300, while facing the upper surface 312 of the maintained portion 310 positioned at the negative Y-side thereof.
Referring to Figs. 3 to 5, 8 and 12, in the up-down direction, the upper surface 213 of the lower guide portion 212, which is positioned in the vicinity of a positive Y-side end of the interposing portion 284, is positioned below the lower surface 314 of the maintained portion 310, which is positioned at the positive Y-side of the cover 300, while facing the lower surface 314 of the maintained portion 310 positioned at the positive Y-side thereof. Similarly, in the up-down direction, the upper surface 213 of the lower guide portion 212, which is positioned in the vicinity of a negative Y-side end of the interposing portion 284, is positioned below the lower surface 314 of the maintained portion 310, which is positioned at the negative Y-side of the cover 300, while facing the lower surface 314 of the maintained portion 310 positioned at the negative Y-side thereof.
Referring to Figs. 3 to 5, 8 and 12, each of the outer regulating portions 220 of the housing 200 is positioned outside each of the guide rails 310 in the lateral direction and regulates an outward movement of each of the guide rails 310. More specifically, referring to Figs. 3 to 5 and 13, in the lateral direction, the inner surface 221 of each of the three outer regulating portions 220, which are positioned at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion surrounding portion 282, is positioned outside the outer side surface 316 of the maintained portion 310, which is positioned at the positive Y-side of the cover 300, while facing the outer side surface 316 of the maintained portion 310 positioned at the positive Y-side thereof. Similarly, in the lateral direction, the inner surface 221 of each of the remaining three outer regulating portions 220, which are positioned at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion surrounding portion 282, is positioned outside the outer side surface 316 of the maintained portion 310, which is positioned at the negative Y-side of the cover 300, while facing the outer side surface 316 of the maintained portion 310 positioned at the negative Y-side thereof.
Referring to Figs. 3 to 5, 8 and 12, in the lateral direction, the outer surface 231 of the inner regulating portion 230, which is positioned at a positive Y-side of the contact holding portion 260, is positioned inside the inner side surface 318 of the maintained portion 310, which is positioned at the positive Y-side of the cover 300, while facing the inner side surface 318 of the maintained portion 310 positioned at the positive Y-side thereof. Similarly, in the lateral direction, the outer surface 231 of the inner regulating portion 230, which is positioned at a negative Y-side of the contact holding portion 260, is positioned inside the inner side surface 318 of the maintained portion 310, which is positioned at the negative Y-side of the cover 300, while facing the inner side surface 318 of the maintained portion 310 positioned at the negative Y-side thereof.
Referring to Figs. 3, 8 and 12, the maintained portions 310 correspond to the maintained portion accommodating spaces 240, respectively, of the housing 200. Each of the maintained portions 310 is accommodated in the maintained portion accommodating space 240 corresponding thereto.
Referring to Figs. 10, 11 and 13, each of the abutting portions 360 of the present embodiment is a plane facing rearward in the front-rear direction. The abutting portions 360 correspond to the receiving portions 270, respectively, of the housing 200. Each of the abutting portions 360 is brought into abutment with the receiving portion 270 corresponding thereto in the front-rear direction.
As shown in Figs. 10, 12 and 13, the breakable portion 350 of the present embodiment is positioned above the guide rail 310 in the up-down direction. The breakable portion 350 extends in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and reaches the edge portion 320. A thickness dimension D1 of the breakable portion 350 is smaller than a thickness dimension D2 of a surrounding portion of the breakable portion 350. Accordingly, a breaking load of the breakable portion 350 is adjustable by adjusting the thickness dimension D1 of the breakable portion 350. The breakable portion 350 is positioned outward of the ditch 352 in the lateral direction. The ditch 352 extends in the front-rear direction and reaches the edge portion 320. Specifically, the ditch 352 is opened rearward while being closed forward.
Referring to Figs. 8 and 12, in the harness component 10 of the present embodiment, the thickness dimension D1 of the breakable portion 350 is smaller than a dimension S1 of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 in the up-down direction. More specifically, the breakable portion 350 has the thickness dimension D1 in the lateral direction which is smaller than the dimension S1 of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 in the up-down direction. In addition, the thickness dimension D1 of the breakable portion 350 is smaller than a dimension S2 of the outer regulating portion 220 of the housing 200 in the lateral direction.
Referring to Fig. 3, the breakable portion 350 of the present embodiment is configured to be more breakable than the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 when a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 acts on a part of the edge portion 320 of the cover 300. In other words, the connector 10, or the harness component 10, of the present embodiment comprises the cover 300 formed with the weakest portions 350, or the breakable portions 350, each of which is configured to be broken when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied to the cover 300.
As understood from Figs. 10, 12 and 13, the breakable portion 350 of the cover 300 of the present embodiment does not pierce the side wall 302 of the cover 300 in the lateral direction. Accordingly, electrical wires, which are positioned around the harness component 10, are not hooked to the breakable portion 350 in actual use of the harness component 10. Thus, the harness component 10 is easy to handle.
Referring to Fig. 9, each of the contacts 500 of the present embodiment is made of metal. The contacts 500 are held by the housing 200 by being inserted into the contact holding holes 261, respectively, of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200. A lower end of the contact 500 is positioned in the mating contact receiving portion 262 of the housing 200. The vicinity of the lower end of the contact 500 is configured to be connected with a mating contact (not shown) of the mating connector when the harness component 10 and the mating connector are mated with each other.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 9, the cables 600 of the present embodiment are connected with the contacts 500, respectively. Each of the cables 600 extends rearward from the outlet 320 of the cover 300. The cables 600 are fixed to the housing 200 by the clamping band 650 at a position which is positioned rearward of the outlet 320 and positioned in the vicinity thereof.
A method of attaching the cover 300 to the housing 200 is described below.
Referring to Figs 3, 4, 5, 8 and 12, first, the cover 300 is positioned with respect to the housing 200 so that the abutting portions 360 of the cover 300 face the receiving portions 270, respectively, of the housing 200 in the front-rear direction while each of the maintained portions 310 of the cover 300 and the corresponding maintained portion accommodating space 240 of the housing 200 are arranged on the same axis parallel to the front-rear direction. Meanwhile, the outer side surface 316 of the maintained portion 310 is positioned inside the inner surface 221 of the outer regulating portion 220 in the lateral direction while the inner side surface 318 of the maintained portion 310 is positioned outside the outer surface 231 of the inner regulating portion 230 in the lateral direction. Also meanwhile, the upper surface 312 of the maintained portion 310 is positioned below the lower surface 211 of the maintaining portion 210 in the up-down direction while the lower surface 314 of the maintained portion 310 is positioned above the upper surface 213 of the lower guide portion 212 in the up-down direction. When the cover 300 is moved rearward relative to the housing 200 along the front-rear direction under this state, each of the maintained portions 310 of the cover 300 is accommodated in the corresponding maintained portion accommodating space 240 of the housing 200 while each of the abutting portions 360 of the cover 300 is brought into abutment with the corresponding receiving portion 270 of the housing 200 in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, the cover 300 is attached to the housing 200.
A later section describes a force, which is applied to each part of the assembly 100 of the harness component 10 when the cables 600 are pulled to be moved, and responding to the force.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, when the cables 600 of the harness component 10 are pulled to be moved upward in the up-down direction, a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 is generated, and the moment of force acts on a part of the edge portion 320, or the outlet 320, of the cover 300. In other words, when the cables 600 of the harness component 10 are pulled to be moved upward in the up-down direction, the moment of force about the part of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 acts on the part of the edge portion 320, or the outlet 320, of the cover 300.
Meanwhile, a substantial upward force is applied to each of the breakable portion 350 and the maintained portion 310 of the cover 300, but the maintained portion 310 is prevented from being moved upward by the corresponding three maintaining portions 210 of the housing 200. As a result, each of the corresponding three maintaining portions 210 receives a substantial upward force while the breakable portion 350 receives a force which expands itself substantially in the up-down direction.
In a scenario where the upward movements of the cables 600 are increased so that the moment of force acting on the edge portion 320 of the cover 300 is increased, the force applied to the maintaining portion 210 is increased while the force applied to the breakable portion 350 is increased. Since the breakable portion 350 is configured to be more breakable than the maintaining portion 210 as described above, the breakable portion 350 of the cover 300 is broken before the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 is broken. More specifically, when the upward movements of the cables 600 are increased so that the moment of force acting on the edge portion 320 of the cover 300 is increased, the breakable portion 350 is cracked by the ditch 352 of the cover 300 being cleaved before the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 is broken.
Accordingly, even if the cables 600 are pulled to be moved upward so that the breakable portion 350 of the cover 300 is broken, the housing 200 is prevented from being broken. Thus, the assembly 100 can be easily repaired by replacing only the cover 300.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, when the cables 600 of the harness component 10 are pulled to be moved along the Y-direction, a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 is generated, and the moment of force acts on a part of the edge portion 320, or the outlet 320, of the cover 300. In other words, when the cables 600 of the harness component 10 are pulled to be moved along the Y-direction, the moment of force about the part of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 acts on the part of the edge portion 320, or the outlet 320, of the cover 300.
Specifically, referring to Figs. 1 to 3, when the cables 600 of the harness component 10 are pulled to be moved along a positive Y-direction, a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200, is generated, and the moment of force acts on a part of the edge portion 320 of the cover 300. In other words, when the cables 600 of the harness component 10 are pulled to be moved along the positive Y-direction, the moment of force about the part of the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200, acts on the part of the edge portion 320 of the cover 300.
Meanwhile, a substantial upward force is applied to each of the breakable portion 350 and the maintained portion 310 which are positioned at the negative Y-side of the cover 300, but the maintained portion 310 at the negative Y-side thereof is prevented from being moved upward by the remaining three maintaining portions 210 which are positioned at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200. As a result, each of the remaining three maintaining portions 210 at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 receives a substantial upward force while the breakable portion 350 at the negative Y-side of the cover 300 receives a force which expands itself substantially in the up-down direction.
When the positive Y-directional movements of the cables 600 are increased so that the moment of force acting on the edge portion 320 of the cover 300 is increased, the force applied to the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260, is increased while the force applied to the breakable portion 350, which is positioned at the negative Y-side of the cover 300, is increased. Similar to the aforementioned scenario, the breakable portion 350 at the negative Y-side of the cover 300 is broken before the maintaining portion 210 at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200 is broken.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, when the cables 600 of the harness component 10 are pulled to be moved along a negative Y-direction, a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200, is generated, and the moment of force acts on a part of the edge portion 320 of the cover 300. In other words, when the cables 600 of the harness component 10 are pulled to be moved along the negative Y-direction, the moment of force about the part of the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200, acts on the part of the edge portion 320 of the cover 300.
Meanwhile, a substantial upward force is applied to each of the breakable portion 350 and the maintained portion 310 which are positioned at the positive Y-side of the cover 300, but the maintained portion 310 at the positive Y-side thereof is prevented from being moved upward by the three maintaining portions 210 which are positioned at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200. As a result, each of the three maintaining portions 210 at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 receives a substantial upward force while the breakable portion 350 at the positive Y-side of the cover 300 receives a force which expands itself substantially in the up-down direction.
When the negative Y-directional movements of the cables 600 are increased so that the moment of force acting on the edge portion 320 of the cover 300 is increased, the force applied to the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260, is increased while the force applied to the breakable portion 350, which is positioned at the positive Y-side of the cover 300, is increased. Similar to the aforementioned scenario, the breakable portion 350 at the positive Y-side of the cover 300 is broken before the maintaining portion 210 at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200 is broken.
Accordingly, even if the cables 600 are pulled to be moved along the Y-direction so that the breakable portion 350 of the cover 300 is broken, the housing 200 is prevented from being broken. Thus, the assembly 100 can be easily repaired by replacing only the cover 300.
In addition, the thickness dimension D1 of the breakable portion 350 of the cover 300 is smaller than the thickness dimension D2 of the surrounding portion of the breakable portion 350. Accordingly, a user of the harness component 10 can sense a breakage of the breakable portion 350 before the cover 300 is wholly broken. Thus, the cover 300 can be prevented from being wholly broken.
A later section describes the mating of the harness component 10 of the present embodiment with the mating connector, and a release of the mating.
First, the assembly 100 and the mating connector are positioned with each other so that the contact holding portion 260 of the assembly 100 of the harness component 10 is accommodated in a mating opening (not shown) of the mating connector. Next, the lever 400 of the assembly 100 is rotated forward to be moved to a position shown in each of Figs. 1 and 2, each of the sliders 450 is moved rearward. Accordingly, the harness component 10 and the mating connector are mated with each other. On the other hand, when the lever 400 of the assembly 100 is rotated rearward from the position shown in each of Figs. 1 and 2, each of the sliders 450 is moved forward. Accordingly, the mating of the harness component 10 with the mating connector is released.

[Second embodiment]

Referring to Figs. 14 to 16, a harness component 10A according to a second embodiment of the present invention is mateable with and removable from a mating connector (not shown) along the up-down direction. As for directions and orientations in the present embodiment, expressions same as those of the first embodiment will be used hereinbelow.
Referring to Figs. 9 and 14 to 20, the harness component 10A of the present embodiment comprises an assembly 100A, the plurality of contacts 500 and the plurality of cables 600. In the present application, the harness component 10A is also referred to as a connector. The harness component 10A of the present embodiment has a structure similar to the structure of the harness component 10 of the first embodiment except for the assembly 100A. Accordingly, components similar to those of the first embodiment among components of the second embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and detail explanation thereabout will be omitted.
As shown in Figs. 9 and 14 to 20, the assembly 100A of the present embodiment comprises the housing 200, the lever 400, the two sliders 450 and a cover 300A. The housing 200 is configured to hold the contacts 500. The cover 300A is configured to cover parts of the cables 600 which are connected with the contacts 500, respectively. The cover 300A is configured to align directions of the cables 600. In the harness component 10A, the contacts 500 are held by the housing 200 while each of the cables 600 is connected with the contacts 500 corresponding thereto. The cover 300A is attached to an upper part of the housing 200 in the up-down direction. Specifically, the connector of the present embodiment comprises the terminals, the electrical wires, the connector main and the cover 300A. The terminals are connected with the electrical wires, respectively. The terminals are attached with the connector main. The cover 300A is attached to an upper part of the connector main and covers, at least in part, each of the electrical wires. The assembly 100A of the present embodiment has a structure similar to the structure of the assembly 100 of the first embodiment except for the cover 300A. Accordingly, components similar to those of the first embodiment among components of the second embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and detail explanation thereabout will be omitted.
As shown in Figs. 17 to 20, the cover 300A of the present embodiment is attached to the upper part of the housing 200 in the up-down direction. A specific method of attaching the cover 300A to the housing 200 is similar to the first embodiment. Therefore, detailed explanation thereabout is omitted.
Referring to in Figs. 17 to 20, the cover 300A of the present embodiment is made of insulator. The cover 300A has a symmetric shape with respect to a plane which is perpendicular to the lateral direction while passing through a middle of the cover 300A in the lateral direction. Specifically, the cover 300A of the present embodiment has the ceiling portion 304 and two side walls 302A.
As shown in Figs. 17 to 20, the ceiling portion 304 of the present embodiment has the wide U-shape when viewed from its rear. The lower ends of the ceiling portion 304 are connected with upper ends of the side walls 302A, respectively. Rear ends of the side walls 302A and the rear end of the ceiling portion 304 form an edge portion 320.
As shown in Figs. 17 to 20, each of the side walls 302A of the present embodiment has a plate-like shape perpendicular to the lateral direction. Each of the side walls 302A is provided with the maintained portion 310 and the abutting portion 360 at its lower end. Each of the side walls 302A is provided with a breakable portion 350A in the vicinity of its rear end. The maintained portion 310 is positioned below the breakable portion 350A in the up-down direction. In the present application, the breakable portion 350A is also referred to as a weakest portion.
In other words, the cover 300A of the present embodiment has the two maintained portions 310, the edge portion 320, the two breakable portions 350A and the two abutting portions 360. The maintained portion 310, the edge portion 320 and the abutting portion 360 of the present embodiment have structures similar to the structures of the first embodiment. Accordingly, detail explanation thereabout will be omitted.
As shown in Figs. 17, 19 and 20, the breakable portion 350A of the present embodiment is positioned above the guide rail 310 in the up-down direction. The breakable portion 350A extends in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and reaches the edge portion 320. The breakable portion 350A of the present embodiment is a hole or slit that pierces the cover 300A. In other words, the breakable portion 350A may be a hole piercing the cover 300A, or may be a slit piercing the cover 300A. More specifically, the breakable portion 350A of the present embodiment pierces the side wall 302A in the lateral direction. The breakable portion 350A of the present embodiment is opened rearward in the front-rear direction. More specifically, the breakable portion 350A of the present embodiment is a slit which is formed by an upper edge 354, a lower edge 356 and a front edge 358. The front edge 358 connects a front end of the upper edge 354 with a front end of the lower edge 356.
Referring to Fig. 16, the breakable portion 350A is configured to be more breakable than the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 when a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 acts on a part of the edge portion 320 of the cover 300A. In other words, the connector 10A, or the harness component 10A, of the present embodiment comprises the cover 300A formed with the weakest portions 350A, or the breakable portions 350A, each of which is configured to be broken when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied to the cover 300A.
A later section describes a force, which is applied to each part of the assembly 100A of the harness component 10A when the cables 600 are pulled to be moved, and responding to the force.
Referring to Figs. 14 to 16, when the cables 600 of the harness component 10A are pulled to be moved upward in the up-down direction, a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 is generated, and the moment of force acts on a part of the edge portion 320, or the outlet 320, of the cover 300A. In other words, when the cables 600 of the harness component 10A are pulled to be moved upward in the up-down direction, the moment of force about the part of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 acts on the part of the edge portion 320, or the outlet 320, of the cover 300A.
Meanwhile, a substantial upward force is applied to each of the breakable portion 350A and the maintained portion 310 of the cover 300A, but the maintained portion 310 is prevented from being moved upward by the corresponding three maintaining portions 210 of the housing 200. As a result, each of the corresponding three maintaining portions 210 receives a substantial upward force while the breakable portion 350A receives a force which expands itself substantially in the up-down direction. In detail, meanwhile, the upper edge 354 of the breakable portion 350A receives an upward force, the lower edge 356 of the breakable portion 350A receives a downward force, and the front edge 358 of the breakable portion 350A receives a force which expands itself in the up-down direction.
In a scenario where the upward movements of the cables 600 are increased so that the moment of force acting on the edge portion 320 of the cover 300A is increased, the force applied to the maintaining portion 210 is increased while the force applied to the breakable portion 350A is increased. Since the breakable portion 350A is configured to be more breakable than the maintaining portion 210 as described above, the breakable portion 350A of the cover 300A is broken before the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 is broken. More specifically, when the upward movements of the cables 600 are increased so that the moment of force acting on the edge portion 320 of the cover 300A is increased, the front edge 358 of the breakable portion 350A of the cover 300A is cleaved to be cracked before the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 is broken.
Accordingly, even if the cables 600 are pulled to be moved upward so that the breakable portion 350A of the cover 300A is broken, the housing 200 is prevented from being broken. Thus, the assembly 100A can be easily repaired by replacing only the cover 300A.
Referring to Figs. 14 to 16, when the cables 600 of the harness component 10A are pulled to be moved along the Y-direction, a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 is generated, and the moment of force acts on a part of the edge portion 320, or the outlet 320, of the cover 300A. In other words, when the cables 600 of the harness component 10A are pulled to be moved along the Y-direction, the moment of force about the part of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 acts on the part of the edge portion 320, or the outlet 320, of the cover 300A.
Specifically, referring to Figs. 14 to 16, when the cables 600 of the harness component 10A are pulled to be moved along the positive Y-direction, a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200, is generated, and the moment of force acts on a part of the edge portion 320 of the cover 300A. In other words, when the cables 600 of the harness component 10A are pulled to be moved along the positive Y-direction, the moment of force about the part of the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200, acts on the part of the edge portion 320 of the cover 300A.
Meanwhile, a substantial upward force is applied to each of the breakable portion 350A and the maintained portion 310 which are positioned at the negative Y-side of the cover 300A, but the maintained portion 310 at the negative Y-side end thereof is prevented from being moved upward by the remaining three maintaining portions 210 which are positioned at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200. As a result, each of the remaining three maintaining portions 210 at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 receives a substantial upward force while the breakable portion 350A at the negative Y-side of the cover 300 receives a force which expands itself substantially in the up-down direction.
When the positive Y-directional movements of the cables 600 are increased so that the moment of force acting on the edge portion 320 of the cover 300A is increased, the force applied to the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260, is increased while the force applied to the breakable portion 350A, which is positioned at the negative Y-side of the cover 300A, is increased. Similar to the aforementioned scenario, the breakable portion 350A at the negative Y-side of the cover 300A is broken before the maintaining portion 210 at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200 is broken.
Referring to Figs. 14 to 16, when the cables 600 of the harness component 10A are pulled to be moved along the negative Y-direction, a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200, is generated, and the moment of force acts on a part of the edge portion 320 of the cover 300A. In other words, when the cables 600 of the harness component 10A are pulled to be moved along the negative Y-direction, the moment of force about the part of the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200, acts on the part of the edge portion 320 of the cover 300A.
Meanwhile, a substantial upward force is applied to each of the breakable portion 350A and the maintained portion 310 which are positioned at the positive Y-side of the cover 300A, but the maintained portion 310 at the positive Y-side thereof is prevented from being moved upward by the three maintaining portions 210 which are positioned at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200. As a result, each of the three maintaining portions 210 at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 receives a substantial upward force while the breakable portion 350A at the positive Y-side of the cover 300A receives a force which expands itself substantially in the up-down direction.
When the negative Y-directional movements of the cables 600 are increased so that the moment of force acting on the edge portion 320 of the cover 300A is increased, the force applied to the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260, is increased while the force applied to the breakable portion 350A, which is positioned at the positive Y-side of the cover 300A, is increased. Similar to the aforementioned scenario, the breakable portion 350A at the positive Y-side of the cover 300A is broken before the maintaining portion 210 at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200 is broken.
Accordingly, even if the cables 600 are pulled to be moved along the Y-direction so that the breakable portion 350Aof the cover 300A is broken, the housing 200 is prevented from being broken. Thus, the assembly 100A can be easily repaired by replacing only the cover 300A.
The mating of the harness component 10A of the present embodiment with the mating connector, and a release of the mating are similar to the first embodiment. Accordingly, detailed explanation thereabout is omitted.
The structure of the cover 300, 300A of the harness component 10, 10A is not limited thereto. For example, the cover 300, 300A can be modified as described below.
Referring to Figs. 21 to 24, a cover 300B according to a modification of the present invention is made of insulator. The cover 300B has a symmetric shape with respect to a plane which is perpendicular to the lateral direction while passing through a middle of the cover 300B in the lateral direction. Specifically, the cover 300B of the present embodiment has the ceiling portion 304 and two side walls 302B.
As shown in Figs. 21 to 24, the ceiling portion 304 of the present embodiment has the wide U-shape when viewed from its rear. The lower ends of the ceiling portion 304A are connected with upper ends of the side walls 302B, respectively. Rear ends of the side walls 302B and the rear end of the ceiling portion 304 form an edge portion 320.
As shown in Figs. 21 to 24, each of the side walls 302B of the present embodiment has a plate-like shape perpendicular to the lateral direction. Each of the side walls 302B is provided with the maintained portion 310 and the abutting portion 360 at its lower end. Each of the side walls 302B is provided with two breakable portions 350B each of which is positioned above the maintained portion 310. In the present application, the breakable portion 350B is referred to as a weakest portion.
In other words, the cover 300B of the present embodiment has the two maintained portions 310, the edge portion 320, the four breakable portions 350B and the two abutting portions 360. The maintained portion 310, the edge portion 320 and the abutting portion 360 of the present embodiment have structures similar to the structures of the first embodiment. Accordingly, detail explanation thereabout will be omitted.
As shown in Figs. 21 to 24, each of the breakable portions 350B of the present embodiment is positioned above the guide rail 310 in the up-down direction. Each of the breakable portions 350B extends in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. Each of the breakable portions 350B is a hole piercing the side wall 302B in the up-down direction. Each of the breakable portions 350B has a peripheral edge 353 in a plane intersecting with the up-down direction.
Referring to Figs. 16 and 21 to 24, the breakable portion 350B of the present embodiment is configured to be more breakable than the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 when a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 acts on a part of the edge portion 320 of the cover 300B. In other words, a connector, or a harness component, of the present embodiment comprises the cover 300B formed with the weakest portions 350B, or the breakable portions 350B, each of which is configured to be broken when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied to the cover 300B.
A specific method of attaching the cover 300B to the housing 200 is similar to the first embodiment. Accordingly, detailed explanation thereabout is omitted.
A later section describes a force, which is applied to each part of the harness component (not shown) when the cables 600 are pulled to be moved, and responding to the force, wherein the harness component comprises an assembly (not shown) having the cover 300B.
Referring to Figs. 16 and 21 to 24, when the cables 600 of the harness component are pulled to be moved upward in the up-down direction, a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 is generated, and the moment of force acts on a part of the edge portion 320, or the outlet 320, of the cover 300B. In other words, when the cables 600 of the harness component are pulled to be moved upward in the up-down direction, the moment of force about the part of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 acts on the part of the edge portion 320, or the outlet 320, of the cover 300B.
Meanwhile, a substantial upward force is applied to each of the breakable portion 350B and the maintained portion 310 of the cover 300B, but the maintained portion 310 is prevented from being moved upward by the corresponding three maintaining portions 210 of the housing 200. As a result, each of the corresponding three maintaining portions 210 receives a substantial upward force while the breakable portion 350B receives a force which expands itself substantially in the up-down direction.
In a scenario where the upward movements of the cables 600 are increased so that the moment of force acting on the edge portion 320 of the cover 300B is increased, the force applied to the maintaining portion 210 is increased while the force applied to the breakable portion 350B is increased. Since the breakable portion 350B is configured to be more breakable than the maintaining portion 210 as described above, the breakable portion 350B of the cover 300B is broken before the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 is broken. More specifically, when the upward movements of the cables 600 are increased so that the moment of force acting on the edge portion 320 of the cover 300B is increased, the peripheral edge 353 of the breakable portion 350B of the cover 300B is cleaved to be cracked before the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 is broken.
Accordingly, even if the cables 600 are pulled to be moved upward so that the breakable portion 350B of the cover 300B is broken, the housing 200 is prevented from being broken. Thus, the assembly of the present embodiment can be easily repaired by replacing only the cover 300B.
Referring to Figs. 16 and 21 to 24, when the cables 600 of the harness component are pulled to be moved along the Y-direction, a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 is generated, and the moment of force acts on a part of the edge portion 320, or the outlet 320, of the cover 300B. In other words, when the cables 600 of the harness component are pulled to be moved along the Y-direction, the moment of force about the part of the maintaining portion 210 of the housing 200 acts on the part of the edge portion 320, or the outlet 320, of the cover 300B.
Specifically, referring to Figs. 16 and 21 to 24, when the cables 600 of the harness component are pulled to be moved along the positive Y-direction, a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200, is generated, and the moment of force acts on a part of the edge portion 320 of the cover 300B. In other words, when the cables 600 of the harness component are pulled to be moved along the positive Y-direction, the moment of force about the part of the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200, acts on the part of the edge portion 320 of the cover 300B.
Meanwhile, a substantial upward force is applied to each of the breakable portion 350B and the maintained portion 310 which are positioned at the negative Y-side of the cover 300B, but the maintained portion 310 at the negative Y-side thereof is prevented from being moved upward by the remaining three maintaining portions 210 which are positioned at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200. As a result, each of the remaining three maintaining portions 210 at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 receives a substantial upward force while the breakable portion 350B at the negative Y-side of the cover 300B receives a force which expands itself substantially in the up-down direction.
When the positive Y-directional movements of the cables 600 are increased so that the moment of force acting on the edge portion 320 of the cover 300B is increased, the force applied to the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260, is increased while the force applied to the breakable portion 350B, which is positioned at the negative Y-side of the cover 300B, is increased. Similar to the aforementioned scenario, the breakable portion 350B at the negative Y-side of the cover 300B is broken before the maintaining portion 210 at the negative Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200 is broken.
Referring to Figs. 16 and 21 to 24, when the cables 600 of the harness component are pulled to be moved along the negative Y-direction, a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200, is generated, the moment of force acts on a part of the edge portion 320 of the cover 300B. In other words, when the cables 600 of the harness component are pulled to be moved along the negative Y-direction, the moment of force about the part of the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200, acts on the part of the edge portion 320 of the cover 300B. Meanwhile, a substantial upward force is applied to each of the breakable portion 350B and the maintained portion 310 which are positioned at the positive Y-side of the cover 300B, but the maintained portion 310 at the positive Y-side thereof is prevented from being moved upward by the three maintaining portions 210 which are positioned at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200. As a result, each of the three maintaining portions 210 at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 receives a substantial upward force while the breakable portion 350B at the positive Y-side of the cover 300B receives a force which expands itself substantially in the up-down direction.
When the negative Y-directional movements of the cables 600 are increased so that the moment of force acting on the edge portion 320 of the cover 300B is increased, the force applied to the maintaining portion 210, which is positioned at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200, is increased while the force applied to the breakable portion 350B, which is positioned at the positive Y-side of the cover 300B, is increased. Similar to the aforementioned scenario, the breakable portion 350B at the positive Y-side of the cover 300B is broken before the maintaining portion 210 at the positive Y-side end of the contact holding portion 260 of the housing 200 is broken.
Accordingly, even if the cables 600 are pulled to be moved along the Y-direction so that the breakable portion 350B of the cover 300B is broken, the housing 200 is prevented from being broken. Thus, the assembly of the present embodiment can be easily repaired by replacing only the cover 300B.
Although the specific explanation about the present invention is made above referring to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto and is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms.
Although the assembly 100, 100A of the present embodiments is provided with the lever 400 and the sliders 450 which function as means assisting the mating of the harness component with the mating connector, the present invention is not limited thereto. The assembly may not have any of the lever and the sliders. In addition, the assembly may have another means, which assist the mating of the harness component with the mating connector, instead of the lever and the sliders.
While there has been described what is believed to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such embodiments that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

An assembly comprising a housing and a cover, the housing being configured to hold a contact, the cover being configured to cover a part of a cable which is connected with the contact, the cover being configured to align a direction of the cable, wherein:
the housing has a maintaining portion;

the cover is attached to an upper part of the housing in an up-down direction;

the cover has a maintained portion, an edge portion and a breakable portion;

the edge portion forms an outlet for the cable;

the maintaining portion is positioned above the maintained portion in the up-down direction to maintain a state where the cover is attached to the housing; and

the breakable portion is configured to be more breakable than the maintaining portion when a moment of force about a part of the maintaining portion acts on a part of the edge portion.
The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein a thickness dimension of the breakable portion is smaller than a thickness dimension of a surrounding portion of the breakable portion.
The assembly as recited in claim 1 or 2, wherein a thickness dimension of the breakable portion is smaller than a dimension of the maintaining portion in the up-down direction.
The assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein:
the edge portion is opened in a front-rear direction perpendicular to the up-down direction; and

the breakable portion has a thickness dimension in a lateral direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the front-rear direction, the thickness dimension of the breakable portion being smaller than the dimension of the maintaining portion in the up-down direction.
The assembly as recited in one of claims 2 to 4, wherein:
the maintained portion is a guide rail which extends in a front-rear direction perpendicular to the up-down direction;

the maintaining portion is a guide portion which guides a movement of the guide rail in the front-rear direction; and

the breakable portion is positioned above the guide rail in the up-down direction.
The assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein:
the housing is provided with a regulating portion;

in a lateral direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the front-rear direction, the regulating portion is positioned outside the guide rail to regulate outward movement of the guide rail; and

the thickness dimension of the breakable portion is smaller than a dimension of the regulating portion in the lateral direction.
The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein:
the breakable portion is a hole or slit that pierces the cover.
The assembly as recited in one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the breakable portion reaches the edge portion.
The assembly as recited in one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the breakable portion extends in a front-rear direction perpendicular to the up-down direction.
A harness component comprising the assembly as recited in one of claims 1 to 9, the contact and the cable, wherein:
the contact is held by the housing; and

the cable is connected with the contact.
A connector mateable with and removable from a mating connector along an up-down direction, wherein:
the connector comprising a terminal, an electrical wire, a connector main and a cover;

the terminal is connected with the electrical wire;

the terminal is attached to the connector main;

the cover is attached to an upper part of the connector main and covers, at least in part, the electrical wire; and

the cover is formed with a weakest portion which is configured to be broken when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied to the cover.