JP2001102121A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent fine sliding between terminals caused by motion of the terminals within a housing. SOLUTION: A female terminal 20 has an elastic contact piece 20 (elastically bending portion) formed at its inserting end. Tapered face 19 is disposed at a corner of a cavity 11. The female terminal 20 is pressed against the tapered face 19, so that it is prevented from moving. Also, a lance 17 is in contact with a lance port 27 (stopper) by an elastic repulsive force of the elastic contact piece, so that the female terminal 20 is further prevented from moving. Moreover, a slope of the tapered face prevents the terminal 20 from moving in a perpendicular direction to the inserting direction of the terminal 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a terminal fitting 102 is inserted into a cavity 101 formed in a housing 100, and
The lance 103 on the inner wall of the
The terminal fitting 102 is prevented from being pulled out by being locked to the edge of the hole 4. The lance 103 extends in a cantilever manner along the terminal insertion direction.
In the process of inserting the terminal fitting 2, the lance 103 is elastically tilted and displaced upward in the figure intersecting the terminal insertion direction, and
When 02 reaches the regular insertion position, the lance 103 is elastically restored and is locked in the lance hole 104.
As this type of connector, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-55
No. 674.

[0003]

In the above-described structure in which the lance 103 is tilted and displaced to prevent the lance 103 from slipping off, in order to facilitate the elastic return operation of the lance 103, the edges of the lance 103 and the lance hole 104 are closed. Needs to secure a clearance 105 in the terminal insertion direction. However,
Providing such a clearance 105 allows the terminal fitting 102 to move freely with respect to the housing 100, so that slight sliding occurs at a contact portion between the terminal fitting 102 and a mating terminal fitting (not shown). However, as a result, the contact portion is worn and causes problems such as a decrease in contact pressure.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 10-149855 discloses a means for preventing fine sliding between terminal fittings. Is disclosed as a separate component, so that the connection member and the mating terminal fitting are not relatively displaced even when the locking member moves with respect to the housing. But,
In this case, since the electric wire connecting portion is integrally formed with the connecting member to the mating terminal fitting, there is still a possibility that when an external force is applied to the electric wire, the connecting member may loosen with respect to the housing due to the external force. ing. In addition, there is no solution to movement in a direction intersecting with the terminal insertion direction.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to prevent fine sliding between terminal fittings caused by the terminal fittings floating in the housing.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a cavity for inserting a terminal fitting is formed in a housing, and one of an inner wall surface of the cavity and an outer surface of the terminal fitting is formed on the cavity. , A cantilever-shaped flexible locking piece is formed along the insertion direction of the terminal fitting,
On the other hand, a locking portion capable of locking with the bending locking piece is formed, and in the process of inserting the terminal fitting, the bending locking piece is tilted and displaced so as to retreat from an insertion path of the terminal fitting, When the terminal fitting reaches the regular insertion position, the bending fitting piece moves back and locks with the locking portion so that the terminal fitting is prevented from being pulled out, wherein the terminal fitting in the cavity is provided. At the back end in the insertion direction
A tapered surface that is inclined with respect to the insertion direction and abuts so as to bite the insertion end of the terminal fitting in a normal insertion state in which the flexible locking piece and the locking portion are prevented from being removed. The configuration was provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a cavity for inserting a terminal fitting is formed in a housing, and the terminal fitting is inserted into one of an inner wall surface of the cavity and an outer surface of the terminal fitting. A cantilever-shaped flexible locking piece along the direction is formed, and on the other side, a locking portion capable of locking with the flexible locking piece is formed, and in the process of inserting the terminal fitting, the bending is performed. The locking piece is tilted and displaced so as to retreat from the insertion path of the terminal fitting, and when the terminal fitting reaches the regular insertion position, the flexible locking piece moves back and locks on the locking portion. In the connector in which the terminal fitting is prevented from being pulled out, an elastic bending portion is formed at the insertion end of the terminal fitting, and the insertion direction deep end of the terminal fitting in the cavity is provided in the insertion direction. Leaning against Rutotomoni was configured to taper surface for resilient contact with the resilient deforming portion in the properly inserted state retaining by said locking portion and said resilient locking pieces are made is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the terminal fitting is formed with an elastic contact piece capable of making contact with a mating terminal fitting, and the elastic contact piece is provided with the elastic bending portion. And the elastic contact with the tapered surface.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the elastic contact piece has a folded portion folded from an insertion edge of a side wall portion of the terminal fitting, and the outer curved surface of the folded portion is bent. Are elastically contacted with the tapered surface.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the insertion end of the terminal fitting in the retaining state is pressed into the deep end of the cavity while biting into the tapered surface like a wedge. The movement of the terminal fitting in the insertion direction with respect to the housing is regulated. Further, due to the inclination of the tapered surface, play in a direction intersecting with the insertion direction of the terminal fitting is also restricted. [Invention of claim 2] Due to the elastic repulsive force of the elastic bending portion with respect to the tapered surface, the bending locking piece and the locking portion come into direct contact with each other, thereby restricting the movement of the terminal fitting in the housing in the insertion direction. You. Further, due to the inclination of the tapered surface, play in a direction intersecting with the insertion direction of the terminal fitting is also restricted.

[0010] The elastic contact piece, which is a contact means with the counterpart terminal fitting, is also used as the elastic flexure, so that the elastic flexure is provided separately from the elastic contact piece. In addition, the shape of the terminal fitting can be simplified and downsized. [Invention of claim 4] Since the arc-shaped surface of the folded portion is elastically in contact with the tapered surface, there is no possibility that the tapered surface is damaged as in the case where the angular portion contacts.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In the housing 10 made of synthetic resin, a cavity 11 is formed which is open in both front and rear directions for inserting the female terminal fitting 20 therein. The opening on the front side (left side in FIGS. 1 to 3) of the cavity 11 is a terminal receiving port 13 in which a part of the front wall 12 of the cavity 11 is cut out.
A tab of a mating male terminal fitting (not shown) is inserted into the cavity 11 from the terminal receiving port 13. On the other hand, the opening on the rear surface side of the cavity 11 is a terminal insertion port 14 which is largely opened over the entire rear surface of the cavity 11.
Is to be inserted.

A pair of left and right slits 16 extending rearward from the front end is formed in the lower end wall 15 in the front end region of the lower surface wall 15 of the cavity 11.
7 (flexible locking piece which is a constituent element of the present invention). The lance 17 is located at the center in the width direction of the cavity 11 and extends cantileverly forward (in the insertion direction of the female terminal fitting 20), and is capable of elastically bending downward. I have. A locking projection 17A is formed on the upper surface of the front end of the lance 17, and when the lance 1 is not elastically displaced, the locking projection 17A advances into the insertion path of the female terminal fitting 20 in the cavity 11, but the lance 17 Is elastically displaced downward, the locking projection 17A is retracted downward from the insertion path of the female terminal fitting 20.

Female terminal fitting 20 in cavity 11
At the back end (front end) in the insertion direction, a raised portion 18 is formed from the front end of the lower wall 15 to the lower end of the front wall 12 and has a substantially right triangle shape when viewed from the side. The raised portions 18 are provided as a pair so as to be located on the left and right sides of the lance 17 in the lower surface wall 15. The inclined surfaces of the two raised portions 18 are tapered surfaces 19 that are inclined downward toward the rear. The elastic contact piece 25 of the female terminal fitting 20 (elastic bending portion, which is a constituent feature of the present invention) can contact the tapered surface 19.

The female terminal fitting 20 has a rectangular tube-shaped box-shaped fitting portion 21 in the first half and a barrel-shaped wire crimping portion 22 in the second half, and the wire 23 is connected thereto by crimping. . An elastic contact piece 25 is formed in the box-shaped fitting portion 21 so as to extend in a folded manner from a front edge (insertion edge) of a bottom wall 24 (a side wall which is a constituent element of the present invention).
The elastic contact piece 25 has a folded portion 25A having a substantially semicircular shape connected to the bottom wall 24, and a contact portion 25B slightly inclined obliquely upward and rearward is connected to the folded portion 25A. The tab of the male terminal fitting (not shown) is elastically bent between the folded part 25A and the contact part 25B and is elastically pressed between the contact part 25B and the upper surface wall 26 of the female terminal fitting 20, so that the connection state is established. Become.

The bottom wall 24 of the female terminal fitting 20 is formed with a lance hole 27 (an engaging part, which is a component of the present invention). When the female terminal fitting 20 is inserted deeply into the regular position in the cavity 11, the locking projection 17A of the lance 17 is formed.
Of the female terminal fitting 20 is held in a state in which the female terminal fitting 20 is prevented from falling out of the cavity 11. Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. When the female terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the cavity 11, in the insertion process, the folded portion 25A and the bottom wall 24 of the female terminal fitting 20 abut against the locking projection 17A, and the lance 17 is retracted from the insertion path of the female terminal fitting 20. Is elastically displaced downward. Then, when the female terminal fitting 20 reaches the regular insertion position, the bottom wall 24 is locked by the locking projection 17A.
As a result, the lance 17 elastically returns upward, and the locking projection 17A enters the lance hole 27.

At this time, the lower surface of the folded portion 25A (an arc-shaped surface outside the bent portion of the folded portion 25A) elastically abuts against the tapered surface 19, and the female terminal is brought into contact with the tapered surface 19. The front end of the bracket 20 rises,
The upper surface (outer surface) of the upper surface wall 26 of the box-shaped fitting portion 21 contacts the ceiling surface 11A of the cavity 11. Also, the folded part 2
Since the female terminal fitting 20 is urged rearward by the elastic restoring force of 5A, the front edge of the lance hole 27 directly abuts on the front surface of the locking projection 17A of the lance 17 to be in a return regulated state.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the insertion end of the female terminal fitting 20 that has been properly inserted is pressed into the deep end of the cavity 11 while biting into the tapered surface 19 like a wedge. The floating movement of the female terminal fitting 20 in the insertion / removal direction with respect to the housing 10 is regulated by the friction caused by the press-fitting. In addition, the lance 17 and the lance hole 27 are formed by the elastic repulsion of the folded portion 25A against the tapered surface 19.
Are in direct contact with each other, so that the movement of the female terminal fitting 20 in the insertion / removal direction with respect to the housing 10 is also restricted.

Therefore, fine sliding between the female terminal fitting 20 and the mating male terminal fitting caused by the female terminal fitting 20 floating in the front-rear direction (the insertion / removal direction of the female terminal fitting 20) in the cavity 11 is reliably prevented. be able to. Further, the tapered surface 19
Of the female terminal fitting 20 upward (the female terminal fitting 2
(The direction intersecting the insertion direction of 0) is also restricted. In addition, since the elastic contact piece 25, which is a contact means with the male terminal fitting on the other side, is also used as a floating control means utilizing elastic contact with the tapered surface 19, the floating control means which comes into contact with the tapered surface 19 is elastic. Compared with the case where the contact piece 25 is provided separately, the shape and the size of the female terminal fitting 20 can be simplified and downsized.

The elastic contact piece 25 has a tapered surface 19.
Since the resilient contact is made with the arc-shaped surface of the folded portion 25A, unlike the case where the angular portion abuts, there is no possibility that the tapered surface 19 is damaged by the female terminal fitting 20. Further, when the mating male terminal fitting is connected to the female terminal fitting 20, the elastic restoring force of the elastic contact piece 25 is increased as compared with the unconnected state, and the pressing force of the folded portion 25A against the tapered surface 19 is increased. Will increase. As a result, the contact pressure between the lance 17 and the lance hole 27 increases, the effect of restricting the play of the female terminal fitting 20 in the front-rear direction increases, and the function of restricting fine sliding further improves. Further, the function of restricting the free movement of the female terminal fitting 20 in the vertical direction is further improved.

[Other Embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above with reference to the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) In the above embodiment, the tapered surface is formed on the bottom wall of the cavity. However, according to the present invention, the tapered surface may be formed on the top wall or the side wall of the cavity. (2) In the above embodiment, the tapered surface is formed only on the bottom wall of the cavity. However, according to the present invention, the tapered surface is formed on any two, three, or all of the bottom wall, the upper wall, and the left and right side walls. May be.

(3) In the above embodiment, the folded portion of the elastic contact piece is elastically brought into contact with the tapered surface. However, according to the present invention, the upper edge of the front end of the box-shaped fitting portion or The side edges may be inelastically contacted. In this case, not only the contact but also the bite may be made into the tapered surface. (4) In the above embodiment, the case where the terminal fitting is a female terminal fitting having a rectangular cylindrical box-shaped fitting portion has been described. However, the present invention is also applicable to a case where the terminal fitting is a male terminal fitting. Can be.

(5) In the above embodiment, the lance formed in the cavity is engaged with the lance hole of the terminal as a retaining means for the terminal, but the present invention is not limited to the metal lance formed in the terminal. The present invention can also be applied to a case in which the stopper is locked to the step-shaped retaining portion to prevent the removal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a state where a female terminal fitting is properly inserted.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the housing with a female terminal fitting removed.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the housing showing the arrangement of the tapered surfaces in the left-right direction.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Housing 11 ... Cavity 17 ... Lance (flexing locking piece) 19 ... Tapered surface 20 ... Female terminal fitting 25 ... Elastic contact piece (elastic bending part) 25A ... Folding part 27 ... Lance hole (locking part)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cavity for inserting a terminal fitting is formed in a housing, and one of an inner wall surface of the cavity and an outer surface of the terminal fitting is provided with a piece along a direction in which the terminal fitting is inserted. In addition to the holding-shaped flexible locking piece being formed, the other is formed with a locking portion capable of locking with the flexible locking piece, and in the process of inserting the terminal fitting, the flexible locking piece is The terminal fitting is tilted and displaced so as to retreat from the insertion path of the terminal fitting, and when the terminal fitting reaches the regular insertion position, the flexible locking piece is moved back and locked to the locking portion, so that the terminal fitting is prevented from being removed. In the connector, the back end of the terminal fitting in the cavity in the insertion direction is inclined with respect to the insertion direction, and is prevented from being removed by the bending locking piece and the locking portion. Being made positive A connector provided with a tapered surface that abuts the insertion end of the terminal fitting so as to bite in the insertion state of the terminal fitting. 2. A cavity for inserting a terminal fitting is formed in the housing, and one of an inner wall surface of the cavity and an outer surface of the terminal fitting is provided with a piece along a direction in which the terminal fitting is inserted. A holding-shaped flexible locking piece is formed, and on the other side, a locking portion capable of locking with the flexible locking piece is formed. In the process of inserting the terminal fitting, the flexible locking piece is The terminal fitting is tilted and displaced so as to retreat from the insertion path of the terminal fitting, and when the terminal fitting reaches the regular insertion position, the flexible locking piece is moved back and locked to the locking portion, so that the terminal fitting is prevented from being removed. An elastic bending portion is formed at an insertion end of the terminal fitting, and a rear end of the terminal fitting in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting is inclined with respect to the insertion direction. Along with Connector, wherein a tapered surface for resilient contact with the resilient deforming portion in the properly inserted state retaining by said locking portion and the serial resilient locking pieces have been made is provided. 3. An elastic contact piece capable of making contact with a counterpart terminal metal fitting is formed on said terminal fitting, and said elastic contact piece is elastically contacted with said tapered surface as said elastic bending portion. 3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The elastic contact piece has a folded portion that is folded from an insertion edge of a side wall portion of the terminal fitting, and an arcuate surface outside the bent portion of the folded portion is elastically contacted with the tapered surface. 4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein said connector is configured.