FR3094576A1 - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector includes a housing secured to a support. The housing includes: a pair of side portions extending from a surface of a housing main body; a connecting part which connects the area between the two side parts; a locking portion which extends forwardly from the link portion; and an insertion part which is disposed between the two side parts and between said first surface of the housing main body and the locking part. When the holder is inserted into the insertion part, the locking part resiliently locks the holder, one side being connected to the link part serving as a point of support to provide bending. The two side parts include, on an inner surface facing the insertion part, a groove part into which the two side edge parts of the holder are inserted by coupling. The length of the locking portion is less than the length of the groove portions with respect to a longitudinal direction. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Connector

In its field, the present invention relates to a connector.

In the prior art, the connector described in patent document 1 is mounted on a body of a motor vehicle by means of a support. The connector includes a housing and a resilient locking piece integrally formed on a first surface of the housing. A rear end of the elastic locking piece is bonded to the casing at both end portions, and a front end thereof forms a free end facing a front end side of the casing. An area between the elastic locking part and said first surface of the casing forms a support insertion part. The media is inserted into the media insertion part from the rear. When the holder has reached a fully inserted position, a coupling projection arranged on the elastic locking part enters a coupling hole on the holder and the casing is fixed on the holder. While the holder is inserted into the holder insertion part, the locking protrusion interferes with the holder and the elastic locking part flexes and deforms around a rear end side. Furthermore, patent document 2 also describes a technology in which a housing is fixed on a support.

Among the prior art documents, patent document 1 is JP 11-67362 A and patent document 2 is JP 2017-204399 A

The summary of the invention will be described beginning by explaining the problem to be solved by the invention.

When a vibration stress is applied to the bracket as a result of vibration from a vehicle, a high level of stress acts on the elastic locking piece through the bracket. It is therefore necessary to provide a predetermined resistance to the elastic locking piece.

Therefore, an objective is to create a connector which makes it possible to ensure good resistance to vibrations.

As a means of solving the problem, the present invention relates to a connector comprising a housing fixed to a support,

wherein the case includes: a case main body;

a pair of side portions extending from a first surface of the case main body;

a connecting part which connects the area between the pair of side parts and is disposed at a certain distance from said first surface of the casing main body;

a lock part which extends forward from the connecting part and is disposed at a distance from said first surface of the housing main body; and

an insertion part which is disposed between the pair of side parts and between said first surface of the casing main body and the lock part, and into which the holder is inserted from the rear, and

when the support is inserted, the locking part elastically locks the support, one side being connected to the connecting part serving as a point of support in order to ensure bending,

the pair of side parts includes, on an inner surface facing the insertion part, a groove part into which the two side edge parts of the holder are inserted by coupling, and

the length of the locking part is shorter than the length of the groove parts with respect to a longitudinal direction.

Advantageously and not limitingly, the length of the locking part is not more than half the length of the groove parts, and an area in which the support is exposed is formed between a front end of the part lock and a front end of the groove portions.

In an advantageous and non-limiting way, the housing main body comprises a cap in which a mating housing is inserted,

the pair of side portions extend from a first surface of the cap,

a fastener is inserted inside the cap by coupling, and

a section in which the locking part locks the bracket covers the fixing member with respect to the longitudinal direction.

As an advantage, according to the present invention, it is possible to create a connector which makes it possible to ensure good resistance to vibrations.

A brief description of the drawings will now be given below.

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of a connector according to Embodiment 1, in which a casing is fixed on a bracket.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which the casing is fixed on the bracket.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line AA of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the housing.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the housing.

Figure 6 is a front view of the housing in which a fixing element has been inserted.

Figure 7 is a rear view of the case.

The embodiment of the invention will be described starting with the presentation of the embodiments.

The connector according to the present invention:

(1) includes: a case fixed on a bracket, the case comprising: a case main body; a pair of side portions extending from a first surface of the case main body; a connecting part which connects the area between the pair of side parts and is disposed at a certain distance from said first surface of the casing main body; a locking part which extends forward from the connecting part and is disposed at a distance from said first surface of the housing main body; and an insertion part which is disposed between the pair of side parts and between said first surface of the casing main body and the lock part, and into which the holder is inserted from the rear, and when the support is inserted, the locking part elastically locks the support, one side being connected to the connecting part serving as a support point to ensure bending; the pair of side parts includes, on an inner surface facing the insertion part, a groove part into which the two side edge parts of the bracket are inserted by coupling, and the length of the locking part is less than the length of the groove portions with respect to a longitudinal direction.

The two side edge portions of the bracket are inserted by coupling into the groove portions on the two side portions, and as a result, the stresses can be dispersed to the two side portions when the bracket vibrates, and stresses are less likely to be transmitted to the locking part. In addition, on the connector according to the present invention, the lock portion extends in a support insertion direction (forward), and the length of the lock portion is shorter than the length of the groove portions. relative to the media insertion direction (longitudinal direction). Even if the alignment of the support with the housing is no longer ensured because of the vibrations, the locking part does not move over a great distance and it is possible to advantageously limit the stresses acting on the locking part by the media intermediary. As a result, the connector according to the present invention makes it possible to envisage an improved resistance with respect to vibrations.

(2) The length of the locking part is preferably not more than half the length of the groove parts, and an area in which the bracket is exposed is preferably arranged between a front end of the lock part and a front end of the groove parts. The length of the locking part is not more than half the length of the groove parts, so that it is possible to minimize the stresses acting on the locking part. Further, it is possible to ensure a large exposing area of the holder, facilitating visual confirmation that the holder has been correctly inserted into the insertion part.

(3) The housing main body may include a cap into which a mating housing is inserted, the pair of side portions may extend from a first surface of the cap, a fastener may be inserted therein of the cap by coupling, and a section in which the locking part locks the holder can cover the fixing member with respect to the longitudinal direction. If the cap deforms, there is a risk that the relative positions of the side parts and the holder will change and that unnecessary stresses will act on the locking part through the holder. However, with the configuration described above, the fixing member is inserted inside the cap by coupling so that it is possible to prevent the deformation of the cap. In particular, the section in which the locking part locks the support overlaps the fixing element with respect to the longitudinal direction, so that it is possible to advantageously limit the fact that unnecessary stresses act on the locking part. .

Details of embodiments of the present invention will next be described.

A specific example of the connector according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the example described, and that all modifications falling within the scope of the claims and having an equivalent meaning should also be considered covered.

The connector according to this embodiment is mounted by means of a bracket 60 (see Figures 1 and 2) on a body of a motor vehicle or a part of the motor vehicle, which is not described. The connector comprises a casing 10 made of synthetic resin. The case 10 includes a terminal holder 11 and a cap 12 (housing main body) extending forward (to the left in Fig. 1) from the terminal holder 11. The terminal holder 11 has a flat shape which is elongated in the lateral direction. Terminal support 11 internally receives and holds a male terminal fitting which is not described.

The cap 12 has a square cylindrical shape which is elongated in the lateral direction. A leg of the male terminal fitting is arranged protruding inside the cap 12. In addition, an associated housing 70 is inserted inside the cap 12 from the front.

Here, the associated housing 70 is made of synthetic resin and receives a female terminal fitting which is not depicted, as shown in Figure 1. A flexable and deformable locking arm 71 extends from of a lower surface of the associated housing 70.

A fastener 13 is inserted inside the cap 12 before the associated housing 70 is inserted. The fixing element 13 is formed, for example, as a retaining element in order to limit the rearward withdrawal of the male terminal fitting with respect to the terminal support 11. The fixing element 13 comprises a solid part 14 occupying a space over a predetermined range inside the cap 12, facing forward from a front surface of the terminal holder 11.

Cap 12 has a locking groove 15 on an inner surface of a bottom wall portion. The locking groove 15 extends in the longitudinal direction at the lateral center of the bottom wall portion of the cap 12 (see Fig. 4), a front end thereof being closed and a rear end thereof opening into a rear surface of the lower wall part of the cap 12 (a part forming a bearing with the terminal support 11). When the associated housing 70 is inserted inside the cap 12, a protruding part of the locking arm 71 fits elastically in the locking groove 15 and the two housings 10, 70 are held by coupling. The fixing element 13 is arranged in such a way that it is interposed between the two housings 10, 70 which have been coupled in a conventional manner.

As shown in Figures 4 and 6, cap 12 includes a pair of projections 16 on both left and right sides of locking groove 15 on the inner surface of the bottom wall portion. The two projections 16 have a rectangular cross-sectional outer shape and are in a shape extending in the longitudinal direction. The two projections 16 internally include a hole portion opening of a circular shape (specifically, an oblong shape which is elongated in a vertical direction) at a front end of the cap 12. The two projections 16 are inserted into mating ports (not shown) in the corresponding associated housing 70 when the two housings 10, 70 are coupled in the conventional manner. For example, if the two housings 10, 70 are coupled with opposite vertical orientation in the conventional manner, the two projections 16 interfere with the associated housing 70 and the positions thereof do not correspond to the mating ports. Incorrect coupling and overlapping of the two housings 10, 70 are thus prevented.

As shown in Fig. 2 and Figs. 4-7, housing 10 includes a pair of side portions 17 extending from a top surface (first surface) of a top wall portion of cap 12. The two side parts 17 are in a form extending in the longitudinal direction over the entire length of the cap 12 on both left and right sides of the upper surface of the top wall part of the cap 12. The two side parts 17 have an annex part 18 extending from a block-shaped part having a rectangular cross-section so as to face inwards (towards the lateral center of the case 10). As shown in Fig. 6, the appendix portions 18 extend a short distance from the upper surface of the top wall portion of the cap 12 with an extension dimension of no more than half. the total height of the side parts 17. The corners of the annex parts 18 are rounded.

The housing 10 has a connecting part 19 which connects the area between the upper ends of the two side parts 17 in the lateral direction. The connecting part 19 is plate-shaped and is arranged at a certain distance from the upper surface of the upper wall part of the cap 12. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, an upper surface of the connecting part 19 forms a flat surface, without any bearing, contiguous with the upper surfaces of the two side parts 17. A rear surface of the connecting part 19 corresponds to a rear end of the cap 12 with respect to the longitudinal direction, and is arranged at the same position as the rear surfaces of the two side parts 17.

As shown in Fig. 7, the connecting part 19 and the two side parts 17 include, on the inside of their respective back surfaces in the thickness direction, a guide part 20 which is inclined towards the front to the inner side (the side of an insertion part 29 which will be described later). The connecting portion 19 includes a notch-like slanted portion 21 at the lateral center of the guide portion 20. The slanted portion 21 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the back surface and is serrated toward a surface side bottom of a lock main body 26 which will be described later, as shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 1, the housing 10 includes a thick portion between a rear surface of the upper wall portion of the cap 12 (the portion forming a bearing with the terminal support 11) and an upper surface of the terminal support. 11, an oblique surface portion 23 inclined backward with a downward slope being formed on an upper surface of the thick portion. The oblique surface portion 23 is contiguous with the guide portions 20 on both the left and right sides. As shown in Fig. 7, the oblique surface portion 23 is longer than the guide portions 20 with respect to the longitudinal direction. Further, a side dimension of the oblique surface portion 23 is greater than a side dimension of the guide portions 20.

As shown in Fig. 7, the two side portions 17 include a pair of groove portions 24 on a lower portion of opposite inner surfaces thereof (surfaces facing a space portion to be described later). ). The two groove parts 24 have a rectangular cross-sectional shape and extend in the longitudinal direction on the inner surfaces of the two side parts 17, and, as shown in Fig. 5, a front end thereof is closed. by a front end part comprising the ancillary parts, and a rear end of these opens at the level of the rear surfaces of the two lateral parts 17 (the rear end of the cap 12). The rear ends of the two groove portions 24 are defined (contained) by the inner edges of the guide portions 20.

As shown in Figure 7, the cap 12 has a pair of ribs 25 at positions facing the two groove portions 24. The two ribs 25 are arcuate in cross-section and extend the longitudinal direction on the upper surface of the upper wall part of the cap 12, as shown in Fig. 5, a front end thereof being contiguous with the appurtenances 18, and a rear end thereof adjoining facing the insertion part 29 which will be described later. The rear ends of the two ribs 25 are disposed at positions covering a locking part 22 which will be described later, with respect to the longitudinal direction. As shown in Figure 5, an inner half of the two ribs 25 is exposed on the inner side of the two side portions 17 and can be visually confirmed when viewed from above.

Housing 10 includes locking portion 22 which abuts a forward end of connecting portion 19. As shown in Figures 1 and 6, locking portion 22 is disposed at a distance from the upper surface of the housing. the top wall portion of the cap 12. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the latch portion 22 is constituted by: a latch main body 26 extending forward from the lateral center at the the front end of the connecting part 19, and a lock projection 27 extending downward from a lower surface of the lock main body 26. An upper surface of the lock main body 26 forms a flat surface , without any bearing, contiguous with the upper surface of the connecting part 19. The lower surface of the main locking body 26 is also contiguous with the lower surface of the connecting part 19, without any step. st. As shown in Fig. 5, base portions on both side surfaces (surfaces facing the inner surfaces of the two side portions 17) of the lock main body 26 are curved so as to widen laterally toward the locking portion. link 19. The side surfaces of the lock main body 26, the inner surfaces of the side parts 17, and the link part 19 together have a U-shape when viewed from above.

As shown in Fig. 5, a transverse dimension (lateral dimension) of the lock main body 26 is smaller than a transverse dimension (longitudinal dimension) of the connecting part 19. An extension dimension (longitudinal dimension) of the locking body lock main body 26 is shorter than the length of the groove parts 24. Specifically, the extension dimension of the lock main body 26 is not more than half the length of the groove parts 24. Further, a value of the extension dimension of the lock main body 26 added to the transverse dimension of the connecting part 19 is not more than half the length of the side parts 17.

As shown in Fig. 1, the lock projection 27 is claw-shaped and extends from a point midway along the lower surface of the lock main body 26 in the longitudinal direction. The bottom surface of the lock main body 26 includes a flat abutment portion 28 along the longitudinal direction facing the lock projection 27. A front surface of the lock projection 27 has a slight forward inclination from from the base to a final end. A rear surface of the locking projection 27 has a large forward inclination from the base towards the final end. A longitudinal dimension of the base of the lock projection 27 is greater than or equal to half of the extension dimension of the lock main body 26.

As shown in Figure 7, housing 10 includes, above the top wall portion of cap 12, insert portion 29 which is defined by the two side portions 17, connecting portion 19 and locking part 22. The insertion part 29 is formed as a flat space part which is elongated in the lateral direction and extends through the casing 10 in the longitudinal direction.

A bracket 60 is a metal plate which is inserted into the insertion part 29 from the rear. The bracket 60 has a planar rectangular shape which is elongated in the longitudinal direction, and has a locking hole 61 of rectangular cross-section which extends therethrough in the thickness direction thereof. A thickness dimension of the holder 60 is the same as a vertical dimension of the insertion part 29 (excluding the part in which the locking projection 27 extends), or less than the vertical dimension of the insert 29 (see Figure 1). Furthermore, a transverse dimension of the support 60 is identical to a lateral dimension of the insertion part 29 having the two groove parts 24, or less than the lateral dimension of the insertion part 29.

The action of the connector according to this embodiment will next be described.

When the casing 10 is fixed on the bracket 60, a final end part of the bracket 60 is inserted into the insertion part 29 of the casing 10. At this time, both left and right side edges of the bracket 60 are inserted by coupling in both groove portions 24. As a result, the movement of the holder 60 in the vertical direction and the lateral direction relative to the housing 10 is limited. Further, the holder 60 can be freely inserted into the insertion part 29 by sliding along the guide parts 20 and the oblique surface part 23.

The lock projection 27 interferes with the bracket 60 when the bracket 60 is inserted and is lifted on the upper surface of the bracket 60. While the lock projection 27 is lifted on the upper surface of the bracket 60, the lock main body 26 flexes and deforms upwards, the connecting part side 19 serving as a point of support. The front ends of the two lateral edge parts of the support 60 being in abutment on the annexed parts 18 of the two lateral parts 17, thus limiting an additional insertion operation of the support 60. When the support 60 is thus inserted into the part of insert 29 in a conventional manner, the locking main body 26 is resiliently biased and the locking projection 27 fits compatibly into the locking hole 61 (see Figure 1). The abutment part 28 abuts the bracket 60 so as to extend on its upper surface at the same time as the locking projection 27 assembles into the locking hole 61. A coupled state of the two edge parts sides of holder 60 with the two groove portions 24 is also held when holder 60 has been inserted into insertion portion 29 in the conventional manner. Housing 10 is secured to bracket 60 by locking projection 27 so as to be retained thereby.

The bracket 60 is disposed along the upper surface of the upper wall portion of the cap 12 and the lower surface of the main latch body 26. As shown in Fig. 3, the lower surfaces of the two side edge portions of the bracket 60 abut the upper ends (pointed ends) of the ribs 25. The upper ends of the ribs 25 are pushed downward by the bracket 60. The bracket 60 is in a state of being able to be held in the direction of the thickness between the ribs 25 and the upper wall portions of the groove portions 24 on the side portions 17. The bracket 60 has an exposed area 40 wherein said bracket 60 is exposed over a wide area between the front end of the body locking main 26 and the front ends (additional parts 18) of the two groove parts 24, relative to the longitudinal direction (see Figure 2).

A locking section in which locking projection 27 fits into locking hole 61 on bracket 60 is contained within a longitudinal range of solid portion 14 of fastener 13, by relative to the longitudinal direction, and covers at least the solid part 14 (see Figure 1).

After that, the associated housing 70 is inserted into the cap 12 and the two housings 10, 70 are kept in a coupled state (see figure 1). Bracket 60 also vibrates when vehicle vibrations occur when the connector is mounted on a vehicle. Vibration stresses from bracket 60 are also transmitted to housing 10. If a high level of stress is applied to locking portion 22 at this time, then there is a risk that it may not be possible to stably hold a locked state of the locking part 22 with respect to the support 60.

However, in the case of this embodiment, the two side edge portions of the support 60 are inserted by coupling in the two groove parts 24, so that the misalignment of the support 60 with respect to the housing 10 in the presence vibration is limited. Further, the extension dimension of the lock portion 22 (lock main body 26) is less than the longitudinal length of the two groove portions 24. deteriorates, the locking part 22 does not move a great distance together with the support 60. It is, therefore, possible to advantageously limit the stresses acting on the locking part 22 through the intermediary of the support 60, and the locked state of the locking part 22 can be maintained stably.

In particular, the length of the locking part 22 is not more than half the length of the groove parts 24, so that it is possible to minimize the stresses acting on the locking part 22. Further, it is possible to ensure a large exposure area 40 of the holder 60 by making the length of the locking part 22 not more than half the length of the groove parts 24, simplifying the visual confirmation. that the support 60 has been correctly inserted into the insertion part 29.

Further, the fastener 13 is inserted inside the cap 12 by coupling, and the locking section in which the locking part 22 locks the holder 60 covers the solid part 14 of the fastening member 13 with respect to in the longitudinal direction. The cap 12 is therefore reinforced by the fixing member 13 at a position corresponding to the locking section and is not easily deformed. As a result, it is possible to avoid the variation of the relative positions of the cap 12 and the holder 60 in the presence of vibrations and it is possible to limit unnecessary stresses acting on the locking part 22.

Other embodiments are possible. All aspects of the embodiments described herein are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting.

For example, the housing 10, in the embodiment described above, is a male housing in which the cap 12 serves as the housing main body but, according to another embodiment, the housing can also be a female housing in which the cap is not present, and a section for holding a female terminal fitting serves as the housing main body.

According to the previously described embodiment, the entire locking main body 26 of the locking part 22 extends forward from the connecting part 19, but another embodiment may also include a piece in which part of the locking part extends rearwardly from the connecting part.

According to the embodiment described above, the fixing element is formed as a retaining element in order to hold the male terminal fitting on the terminal support, but according to another embodiment, the fixing element can also be formed as a front mask which has no function of retaining a female terminal fitting. Further, the fastener may also be formed as a movable plate for positioning a leg of a male terminal fitting inside the cap.

Numerical references

10… box

11… bollard support

12… cap

13… fixing element

14… full part

15… lock groove

16… protrusion

17… side part

18… appendix part

19… linking part

20… guiding part

21… inclined part

22… lock part

23… oblique surface part

24… groove part

25… rib

26… Lock main body

27… lock protrusion

28… abutment part

29… insert part

40…exposed area

60… support

61… locking hole

70… conjugate case

71… lock arms

Claims (3)

Connector comprising a housing (10) fixed on a support (60),
wherein the housing (10) comprises: a housing main body (12);
a pair of side portions (17) extending from a first surface of the housing main body (12);
a connecting part (19) which connects the area between the pair of side parts (17) and is disposed at a distance from said first surface of the housing main body (12);
a locking portion (22) which extends forward from the link portion (19) and is disposed at a distance from said first surface of the housing main body (12); and
an insertion part (29) which is disposed between the pair of side parts (17) and between said first surface of the housing main body (12) and the locking part (22), and inside which the support (60) is inserted from the rear, and
when the holder (60) is inserted, the locking part (22) resiliently locks the holder (60), one side being connected to the link part (19) serving as a point of support to ensure bending,
the pair of side parts (17) comprises, on an inner surface facing the insertion part (29), a groove part (24) into which the two side edge parts of the holder (60) are inserted by coupling , and
the length of the locking portion (22) is less than the length of the groove portions (24) with respect to a longitudinal direction. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the length of the locking portion (22) is not more than half the length of the groove portions (24) and an area in which the holder (60) is exposed is formed. between a front end of the locking part (22) and a front end of the groove parts (24). A connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing main body (12) comprises a cap in which a mating housing (70) is inserted,
the pair of side parts (17) extend from a first surface of the cap (12),
a fastener (13) is inserted inside the cap (12) by coupling, and
a section in which the locking portion (22) locks the holder (60) covers the fixing member (13) with respect to the longitudinal direction.