GB2435555A

GB2435555A - Connector with hinged rear holder

Info

Publication number: GB2435555A
Application number: GB0702443A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yasumichi Kuwayama
Original assignee: Yazaki Corp
Current assignee: Yazaki Corp
Priority date: 2006-02-24
Filing date: 2007-02-09
Publication date: 2007-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2027-02-09
Also published as: JP2007227249A; GB0702443D0; GB2435555B; JP4874671B2

Abstract

A connector has a connector housing 60 and a rear holder 50, connected by a hinge 70. The housing includes a connector body 63 and a pair of connection walls 61 projecting from the connector body. The rear holder can be connected to the connector housing in line with the connector body. When the connector housing and the rear holder are connected together, the rear holder is mounted between the connection walls, and each of the connection walls is engaged with the rear holder at a plurality of engaged portions - for example, engagement projections 51 may fit in engagement holes 62 and abutment projections 52 may abut peripheral edges of the connection walls 61. Alternatively there may be a plurality of engagement portions and holes (51a, 51b, 62a, 62b, Fig 6). When the connector housing 60 and the rear holder 50 are connected together, stresses are prevented from acting on the engaged portions of the two in a concentrated manner, and by operating the rear holder 50, a connector fitting operation can be carried out easily and stably in a narrow space.

Description

CONNECTOR

This invention relates to a connector used for electrical connection of a wire harness for a vehicle or the like, and more particularly to a connector which facilitates a male-female connector connecting operation in a narrow space.

There are occasions when a connector used for an automotive wire harness must achieve a male-female fitting operation and a removal operation at a recessed place (to which the hand is not easily accessible) or other places. In order to improve the efficiency of such operation of the connector, there has been proposed a connector (disclosed in Jp-IJM-A-7-22481 Publication) in which a wire-protecting rear holder for connection to a rear portion of a connector housing is used as a grasp portion.

Figs. 1OA and lOB show this connector. The connector comprises the connector housing 2, and the rear holder 4. Fig. iDA shows a condition before the rear holder 4 is connected to the connector housing 2, and Fig. lOB shows a condition in which the rear holder 4 is connected to the connector housing 2. The rear holder 4 has a wire protecting/receiving portion 6 for receiving wires 31, and in the condition of Fig. lOB in which the rear holder 4 is connected to the connector housing 2, the wire protecting/receiving portion 6 projects rearwardly from the connector housing 2. Therefore, when the connector is to be connected to a recessed place, this operation can be carried out while grasping the wire protecting/receiving portion 6.

JP-A-7-22108 Publication discloses connectors in which rear holders to be connected to rear portions of the connectors are integrally connected to connector housings by hinges.

Fig. 11 shows the connector housings 2 and 3 and the rear holders 6 to 9. The rear holders 6 and 7, 8 and 9 are pivotally connected to the connector housing 2, 3 by the thin hinges 4.

Fig. 11 shows a condition in which the rear holders 6 to 9 are opened. After terminals are inserted into terminal holes in the cormector housing 2, 3, the rear holders 6 and 7, and 9 are turned in a direction to close an end surface of the connector housing 2, 3, and retaining holes 16 in the rear holders 6 and 7, 8 and 9 are fitted on respective retaining projections 23 of the connector housing 2, 3, thereby fixing the rear holders to the connector housing These rear holders - 6 to 9 are pressed on rear end portions of the terminals to retain these terminals, thereby preventing rearward withdrawal of the terminals.

The technique of facilitating the connector connecting operation by using the rear holder as a grasp portion as disclosed in JP-UM-A-7-22481 Publication is effective.

}{owever, in the construction of iP-TJM-A-7-22481 Publication, the connector housing and the rear holder are separate from each other, and therefore the assembling process can not be simplified, and also the efficiency thereof can not be enhanced.

It is possible to form the connector housing and the rear holder integrally with each other, using the technique of JP-A-7-22108 Publication. In this case, however, when the connecting operation is effected while grasping the rear holder, excessive stresses act on engaged portions of the connector housing and the rear holder, and there is a fear that the engaged portions may be damaged or broken. And besides, when a large load acts on the wires, excessive stresses act on the above engaged portions through the rear holder contacting the wires over a relatively long distance, and there is a fear that the engaged portions may be broken.

This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the invention is to provide a nnector which -enables a male-female fitting operation to b carried out easily in a stable manner everrin a narrow space.

The above object has been achieved by a connector of the present invention having features recited in the following Paragraphs (I) to (6) (1) A connector comprises: a connector housing including a connector body for receiving a terminal, and a pair of connection wails projecting from the connector both,; a rear holder which can be connected to the connector housang in such a mariner that the rear holder is disposed on a line of extension of the connector body; and a hinge interconnecting the connector housing and the rear holder; wherein when the connector housing and the rear holder are connected together, the rear holder is mounted between the pair of connection walls, and each of the connection walls is engaged with the rear holder at a plurality of engaged portions.

(2) In the connector of the above Paragraph (1), each of the connection walls has an engagement hole, and the rear holder includes engagement projections for fitting respectively in the engagement holes, and at least two abutment projections for abutting against a peripheral edge of the connection wall.

(3) In the connector of the above Paragraph (2), the distance betwEen the abutment prjections and the corresponding engagement projection is at least larger than the distance between the abutment projections.

(4) In the connector of the above Paragraph (1), each of the connection walls has a plurality of engagement holes, and the rear holder has a plurality of engagement projections for fitting respectively in the plurality of engagement holes.

(5) In the connector of any one of the above Paragraphs (1) to (4), the rear holder has a finger contact portion formed a: a rear end portion thereof remote from a front end portion thereof for connection to the connector housing.

(6) In the connector of any one of the above Paragraphs (1) to (5), the rear holder has an abutment wall projecting from its end portion, and when the rear holder is connected to the connector housing, the abutment wall abuts against an inner surface of the connector body.

In the construction of the above Paragraph (1), stresses, acting on those portions of the rear holder engaged with the connector housing when the rear holder is operated, are applied in a divided manner to the plurality of engaged portions, and therefore excessive stresses are prevented from acting on any localized portions.

In the construction of the above Paragraph (2), stresses, acting on the portions of the rear holder engaged with the connector housing when the rear holder is operated, are applied in a divided manner to the engagement projectiDns and -the abutment projections. ---In the construction of the above Paragraph (3), the abutment projections serving as a fulcrum of the lever (rear holder) are disposed farther from the engagement projection, and also are disposed closer to an operating portion of the rear holder, and therefore stresses acting on the engagement projection when the rear holder is operated are reduced.

In the construction of the above Paragraph (4, stresses, acting on the portions of the rear holder engaged with the connector housing when the rear holder is operated, are applied in a divided manner to the plurality of engagement projections.

In the construction of the above Paragraph (5), the rear holder can be easily operated by contacting the finger with the finger contact portion of the rear holder.

In the construction of the above Paragraph (6), when the connector housing and the rear holder are connected together, the abutment wall of the rear holder abuts against the inner surface of the connector body of the connector housing, and therefore the connected condition of the two is more stab ii i z e d.

In the connector of the present invention, when the connector housing and the rear holder are connected together, stresses are prevented from acting on the engaged portions of the two in a concentrated manner, and therefore by operating or manipulating the rear holder connected to -the connector housing, an operation for fitting the connecto-r-toa mating connector in anarrow space or at a recessed place can be carried out easily in a stable manner. And besides, the connector housing and the rear holder are interconnected by the hinge, and therefore the assembling operation can be simplified, and the efficiency of this assembling operation can be enhanced.

The present invention has been briefly described above.

Details of the invention will become more manifest upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a connector of the present invention in a non-connected condition (a view as seen obliquely from the upper side) Fig. 2 is a view of the connector of the first embodiment in the non-connected condition (a view as seen obliquely from the lower side) Fig. 3 is a view of the connector of the first embodiment in a connected condition (a view as seen obliquely from the upper side.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a connector of the invention in a non-connected condition.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the connector of the second embodiment in a connected condition.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a connectoi -of the invention in a non-connected condition (a view as seen obliquely from the upper side).

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the connector of the third embodiment in the non-connected condition (a view as seen obliquely from the lower side) Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the connector of the third embodiment housing in a connected condition (a view as seen from the connector housing-side) Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the connector of the third embodiment in the connected condition (a view as seen from the rear holder-side) Fig. 10 is a view showing a conventional connector.

Fig. 11 is a view showing another conventional connector.

plurality of preferred embodiments of the present invention will nowbe described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views showing a first embodiment of a connector of the invention. Fig. 1 is a view of a connector housing and a rear holder of the connector in a non-connected condition as seen obliquely from the upper side, Fig. 2 is a view of the connector housing and the rear holder in the non-connected condition as seen obliquely from the lower side, and Fig. 3 is a view of the connector housing and the -rear holder in-a cannected condition as seen obliquely from the upper side-. --The connector comprises the connector housing 60, the rear holder 50, and hinges 70 interconnecting the connector housing and the rear holder. The connector housing 60, the rear holder 50 and the hinges 70 are molded into an integral construction, using a synthetic resin, and each of the hinges made of the synthetic resin is thin and flexible.

The connector housing 60 includes a connector body 63 for receiving terminals, and a pair of connection walls 61 to which the rear holder 50 can be connected..

The hinges 70 are integrally connected to one end portion of the connector body 63, and the other end portion of the connector body 63 is adapted to be fitted to a mating connector housing (which is not shown, and is of the female type when the connector housing 60 is of the male type, and is the male type when the connector housing 60 is of the female type), the two connector housings forming a pair.

The connection walls 61 are formed respectively on those portions of side walls of the connector body 63 disposed near to the end portion thereof to which the hinges 70 are integrally connected, and project or extend in a longitudinal direction of the connector body 63. The distance between the pair of connection walls 61 is equal to a width of the connector body 63 and also to a width of the rear holder 50.

Each of the connection walls 61 has an engagement thule - 62 formed therethrough, and also has a guide groove 64 (see Fig. 2) formed in an inner surface thereof and extending from an end edge (outer peripheral edge) thereof to the engagement hole 62.

The rear holder 50 comprises a trough-like member having a bottom surface 56 and two side surface 57, and the rear holder has a recessed groove 54 of a U-shaped cross-section for receiving wires connected to the terminals. A length of the rear holder 50 is generally equal to a length of the connector body 63, and the width of the rear holder 50 is equal to the width of the connector body 63. The bottom surface 56 of the rear holder 50 is integrally connected to the hinges 70 at one end thereof.

Pn engagement projection 51 is formed on each of the side surfaces 57 of the rear holder 50 at the one end thereof connected to the hinges 70, and two abutment projections 52 are formed on the side surface 57 in spaced relation to the engagement projection 51. Finger contact portions 53 are formed on each side surface 57 at the other end portion of the rear holder 50.

The engagement projection 51 is formed at an outer side surface of an elastic piece portion extending from the side surface 57 in the longitudinal direction of this side surface 57, and the projection is directed outwardly of the rear holder 50. -The two abutment projections 52 are aligned with each other in a direction (transverse direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the side surface 57, and the position of the engagement projection 51 in the transverse direction is midway between the two abutment projections 52.

The distance from the engagement projection 51 to the abutment projections 52 in the longitudinal direction corresponds to the distance from the engagement hole 62 (in the connection wall 61 of the connector housing 60) to the end edge of the connection wall 61. Each of the finger contact portions 53 is rugged so as to increase the friction between the finger contact portion 53 and the finger.

Abutment walls 58 for abutting against the inner surface of the connector body 63 project from an end surface of the rear holder 50 disposed at the one end thereof connected to The hinges 70 (Fig. 2) For connecting the connector housing 60 and the rear holder 50 together, the rear holder 50 is inserted between the pair of the connection walls 61 of the connector housing 60, and the engagement projections 51 of the rear holder 50 are fitted respectively into the engagement holes 62 formed respectively in the connection walls 61, thereby achieving this connecting operation.

At this time, the rear holder 50 is pushed to be inserted between the connection walls 61 so that the engagement projections 51 can move along the respective guide grooves 4 -formed respectively in the inner surfaces of the connection walls 61. Each guide groove 64 is formed along a path of movement of the corresponding engagement projection 51 formed on the rear holder 50 connected to the connector housing 60 by the hinges 70. The engagement projection 51 advances in the guide groove 64, with its elastic piece portion elastically deformed, and when the engagement projection 51 reaches the engagement hole 62, the engagement projection 51 is fitted into the engagement hole 62, so that the elastic piece portion is restored into its original condition.

When the engagement projections 51 are thus fitted respectively in the engagement holes 62, the connector body 63 and the rear holder 50 are arranged linearly (that is, arranged on a straight line), and a U-shaped end edge of the rear holder 50 is closely held against an end edge of the connector body 63, and Lhe abutment walls 58 are held against the inner surface of the connector body 63. Also, the pair of abutment projections 52 on each side surface 57 of the rear holder 50 abut against the end edge of the corresponding connection wall 6? such that the engagement projection 51 and the pair of abutment projections 52 hold part of the connection wall 61 therebetween.

As a result, the connected condition of the connector housing 60 and the rear holder 50 is posItively and firmly maintained by the abutting contact of the connectorbody63----with the rear holder 50 at their end edges and the abutment walls 58, the engagement of the engagement projections 51 with the engagement holes 62, and the abutting contact (interference) between the end edges of the connection walls 61 and the abutment projections 52.

And besides, stresses, acting on the engaged portions of the rear holder 50 and the connector housing 60 when the rear holder 50 is operated or manipulated, are applied in a divided manner to the engagement projections 51 and the abutment projections 52, and therefore excessive stresses are prevented from acting on any localized portions. This prevents an accident in which the engagement between the connector housing 60 and the rear holder 50 is canceled during the operation of the rear holder 50, so that the rear holder drops from the connector housing 60.

In order to examine a stress-withstanding strength of this connector, there was prepared, as a comparative example, a connector in which the engagement projections 51 were formed on a rear holder, and the abutment projections 52 were not formed thereon, and comparative tests were conducted in which a force was applied to the rear end of the rear holder so as to determine the magnitude of the force which broke those portions of the rear holder engaged with the connector housing.

As a result, the connector of the comparative examp1e wabroken at 33.3N, while the connector of this embodiment could withstand the force 2.5 times larger than the force which the comparative example could withstand.

When the connector body 63 of this connector is to be fitted to the other (mating) connector housing (not shown), the long rear holder 50 is grasped, and by doing so, the operation efficiency is enhanced, and the fitting operation can be easily carried out in a narrow space. Particularly, the finger contact portions 53 are provided at the rear holder 50, and therefore the fingertips will not slip, and the fitting operation can be carried out in a stable mariner.

And besides, the connector body 63 and the rear holder are interconnected by the hinges 70 such that the connector has the integral construction, and therefore the assembling operation can be simplified, and the efficiency of this assembling operation can be enhanced.

(Second Embodiment) Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views showing a second embodiment of a connector of the invention. Fig. 4 shows a connector housing and a rear holder in a non-connected condition, and Fig. 5 shows the connector housing and the rear holder in a connected condition.

In this connector, the distance from each engagement projection 51 of the rear holder 150 to the corresponding abutment projectimis 52 is longer as compared-with-the-first embodiment, and accordingly the distance from an end edge of each connection wall 61 of the connector housing 160 to a corresponding engagement hole 62 is longer as compared with the first embodiment. The other construction is similar to that of the first embodiment.

The distance from the engagement projection 51 of the rear holder 150 to the abutment projections 52 in a longitudinal direction of a side surface 57 is at least larger than the distance between the two abutment projections 52.

The distance between the engagement projection 51 and the abutment projections 52 of the rear holder 150 is thus increased, and therefore in the condition of Fig. 5 (in which the rear holder 150 is connected to the connector housing 160), a force, acting on the engaged portions of each engagement projection 51 and the engagement hole 62 when a force is applied to finger contact portions 53 of the rear holder 150, is made small by leverage (the action of a lever) A fulcrum of this lever (the rear holder 150) is disposed at the abutment projections 52 abutting against the end edges of the connection walls 61 of the connector housing 160.

Therefore, to increases the distance from the engagement projection 51 to the abutment projections 52 means that the engagement projection 51 is spaced farther from the fulcrum of the lever and that the fulcrum of the lever is disposed closer to the finger contact portions 53 serving as a force applytng point. Therefore, when aforce is applied to the finger contact portions 53, only a small force is caused to act on the engaged portions of the engagement projection 51 and the engagement hole 62.

ifl order to examine a stress-withstanding strength of this connector, similar comparative tests as in the first embodiment were conducted, and as a result the connector of this embodiment could withstand a force 5 times larger than a force which a comparative example could withstand.

Therefore, in this connector, stresses, acting on the engaged portions of each engagement proJection 51 and the corresponding engagement hole 62 when a connector body 63 is connected to a mating connector housing not shown), are reduced, and the fitting operation can be carried out in a

stable manner.

(Third Embodiment) Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are perspective views showing a third embodiment of a connector of the invention. Fig. 6 is a view of a connector housing and a rear holder in a non-connected condition as seen obliquely from the upper side, Fig. 7 is a view of the connector housing and the rear holder in the non-connected condition as seen obliquely from the lower side, Fig. 8 is a view of the connector housing and the rear holder in a connected condition as seen from the connector -housingside, and-Fiq. 9 is a view of the connector housing and the rear holder n the connected condition as seen from -the rear holder-side.

The rear holder 250 of this connector has two engagement projections 51a and Sib formed on each of two side surfaces 57 thereof at one end portion thereof connected to hinges 70.

An extension portion 55 is formed at each side surface 57 at the one end portion of the rear holder 250 connected to the hinges 70 such that the two engagement projections 51a and 51b are disposed in spaced relation to each other, unlike the rear holder 50 of the first embodiment, the rear holder 250 is not provided with the abutment projections 52. The other construction of the rear holder 250 is similar to that of the rear holder of the first embodiment.

The connector housing 260 has two engagement holes 62a and 62b formed through each of two connection walls 61. Each of the connection walls 61 has two guide grooves 64a and 64b for guiding the engagement projections 51a and 51b respectively to the engagement holes 62a and 62b. The other construction of the connector housing 260 is similar to that of the connector housing of the first embodiment.

For connecting the connector housing 260 and the rear holder 250 together, the rear holder 250 is inserted between the pair of the connection walls 61 of the connector housing 260, and the engagement projections 5la and 5th of the rear holder 250 are fittEd respectively into the engagement holes 62a and 62b formed in the connection walls 61, thereby achieving this connecting operation.

At this time, the rear holder 250 is pushed to be inserted between the connection walls 61 so that the engagement projections 51a and 51b can move along the respective guide grooves 64a and 64b formed respecLively in inner surfaces of the connection walls 61. Each of the guide groove 64a and 64b is formed along a path of movement of the corresponding engagement projection 51a, 51b formed on the rear holder 250 connected to the connector housing 260 by the hinges 70. Each engagement projection 51a, Sib advances in the corresponding guide groove 64a, 64b, and when the engagement projection 51a, 51b reaches the corresponding engagement hole 62a, 62b, the engagement projection 51a, 51b is fitted into the engagement hole 62a, 62b.

When the engagement projections 5la and 51b are thus fitted respectively in the engagement holes 62a and 62b, the connector body 63 and the rear holder 250 are arranged linearly (that is, arranged on a straight line) as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and a U-shaped end edge of the rear holder 250 is closely held against an end edge of the connector body 63, and abutment walls 58 of the connector body 63 are held against an inner surface of the connector body 63.

The connected condition of the connector housing 260 and the rear holder 250 is po5itively and firmLy maintained by the -abutttng contact of the connector body 61 with the rear holder at their end edges and the abutment walls 58 and the engagement of the engagement projections 51a and Sib with the engagement hcles 62a and 62b.

And besides, stresses, acting on those portions of the rear holder 250 engaged with the connector housing 260 when the rear holder 250 is operated, are applied in a divided manner to the two pairs of engagement projections 51a and SIb, and therefore excessive stresses are prevented from acting on any

I

localized portions.

Furthermore, the extension portion 55 is formed at each side surface 57 of the rear holder 250, and the two engagement projections 51a and 51b on each side surface 57 are spaced from each other, and therefore this construction can also withstand a twisting force applied to the rear holder 250. Therefore, there can be avoided an accident in which the engagement between the connector housing 260 and the rear holder 250 is canceled during the operation of the rear holder 250, so that the rear holder 250 drops from the connector housing 260.

In order to examine a stress-withstanding strength of this connector, similar comparative tests as in the first embodiment were conducted, and as a result the connector of this embodiment could withstand a force 4. 5 times larger than a force which a comparative example could withstand.

-When the connector body 63 of this coflnector is to be fitted to a mating connector housing (not howni, the long rear holder 250 is grasped, andby doing sc, the operation efficiency is enhanced, and the fitting operation can be easily carried out in a narrow space. Particularly, finger contact portions 53 are provided at the rear holder 250, and therefore the fingertips will not slip, and the fitting operation can be carried out in a stable manner.

And besides, the connector body 63 and the rear holder 250 are interconnected by the hinges 70 such that the connector has the integral construction, and therefore the assembling operation can be simplified, and the efficiency of this assembling operation can be enhanced.

Furthermore, the construction of the third embodiment and the construction of the first embodiment can be combined, or the construction of the third embodiment and the construction of the second embodiment can be combined, and by doing so, the stress withstanding strength at the engaged portions of the rear holder and the connector housing is further enhanced.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A connector comprising: a connector housing including a connector body for receiving a terminal, and a pair of connection walls projecting from said connector body; a rear holder which can be connected to said connector housing in such a manner that said rear holder is disposed on a line of extension of said connector body; and a hinge interconnecting said connector housing and said rear holder; wherein when said connector housing and said rear holder are connected together, said rear holder is mounted between saidpairof connectionwalls, and each of said connection walls is engaged with said rear holder at a plurality of engaged portions.

2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein each of said connection walls has an engagement hole, and said rear holder includes engagement projections for fitting respectively in said engagement holes, and at least two abutment projections for abutting against a peripheral edge of said connection wall.

3. A connector according to claim 2, wherein the distance between said abutment projections and the corresponding engagement projection is at least larger than the distance between said abutment projections.

4. A connector according to claim 1, wherein each of said connection walls has a plurality of engagement holes, and said rear holder has a plurality of engagement projections for fitting respectively in said plurality of engagement holes.

5. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said rear holder has a finger contact portion formed at a rear end portion thereof remote from a front end portion thereof for connection to said connector housing.

6. A connector according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said rear holder has an abutment wall projecting from its end portion, and when said rear holder is connected to said connector housing, said abutment wall abuts against an inner surface of said connector body.