JP2001189177A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrical connector which is capable of preventing damage to connection terminals in exchange or withdrawal of the connection terminals after inserting into a connector housing, and of preventing incomplete insertion of the connection terminals inserted into the connector housing. SOLUTION: This electrical connector comprises a connector housing having mated terminal inserting opening, a retainer engagement part, and an engagement lance releasing control part, and a retainer having a connection terminal receiving part, an engagement lance, and a mated terminal inserting hole partition part. A free end of the engagement lance 23 is disposed within a jig- inserting opening formed at the connector housing in preset state of the retainer 18, and the free end of the engagement lance 23 is abutted on the engagement lance releasing control part 17 to maintain an engagement of the engagement lance 23 and the connection terminal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric connector used for connecting an electric path, and more particularly to a case where a connecting terminal is damaged when the terminal is replaced or removed after being inserted into a connector housing. The present invention relates to a configuration of an electrical connector for preventing the incomplete insertion of a connection terminal inserted in a connector housing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electric connector used for connecting an electric path connected to an electric device or the like, particularly, a connecting terminal inserted into a connector housing is provided for each connecting terminal accommodating chamber in the connector housing. As a conventional electrical connector having a structure that can be prevented from being removed by a locking lance provided and a locking member (retainer) fitted from behind a connector housing, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-11 / 1990
There is one disclosed in US Pat. This conventional example,
The housing 1 of the electrical connector has a terminal insertion chamber 3 for inserting the female connection terminal 2 in the direction of arrow A, and a female inserted in the terminal insertion chamber 3 as shown in FIG. The free end of the locking lance 4 for retaining the mold connection terminal 2 is formed facing the insertion opening 8 of the male connection terminal 7. The retainer 5 is fitted into the housing 1 from the direction of the arrow A.
When the retainer 5 is completely fitted into the housing 1, the retainer 5 is locked to the shoulder 2 </ b> A of the female connection terminal 2 already inserted in the housing 1, and A locking arm 6 for preventing the slipping out of the arm 2 is formed.

To insert the female connection terminal 2 into the housing 1, a retainer 5 is held in a preset state with respect to the housing 1, and in this state, the retainer 5 is inserted into the terminal insertion chamber 3 of the housing 1. Then, the female connection terminal 2 is inserted from the arrow direction A. When the insertion of the female connection terminal 2 is completed, the locking lance 4 is locked to the female connection terminal 2. Next, when the retainer 5 preset to the housing 1 is completely fitted to the housing 1, the tip of the locking arm 6 provided on the retainer 5 is located near the shoulder 24 of the female connection terminal 2. To prevent the female connection terminal 2 from coming off.

[0004]

However, the housing 1 has a housing 1 on the mating connection terminal insertion surface.
The male connection terminal insertion opening 8 and the engagement of the locking lance 4 and the female connection terminal 2 enable the male connection terminal 7 to be inserted into the female connection terminal 2 inserted in the arrow direction B. A jig insertion opening 10 is formed to allow a terminal removal jig 9 used for releasing the stopping force to be inserted, and the terminal insertion opening 8 and the jig insertion opening 10 have the same opening surface. And the male connection terminal 7 is inserted into the jig insertion opening 10 side-by-side when the male connection terminal 7 is inserted into the housing 1 due to a positional shift. At this time, there is a possibility that the tip of the male connection terminal 7 may deform or damage the female connection terminal 2, particularly the opening edge.

When the female connection terminal 2 inserted into the housing 1 is locked by the locking lance 4, the locking force between the female connection terminal 2 and the locking lance 4 is released. When the terminal removal jig 9 is to be inserted into the jig insertion opening 10 and the jig 9 is displaced toward the terminal insertion opening 8, the opening of the female connection terminal 2 is opened at the tip of the jig 9. The edge may be deformed or damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional facts. For example, the present invention relates to a female connector provided with a female connection terminal and a male connector provided with a male connection terminal. The deformation and damage of the female connection terminal during the work of detaching the female connection terminal already inserted by the locking lance in the housing of the female connector from the locking lance using a terminal removal jig. It is a first object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector capable of preventing the occurrence of a problem.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent incomplete insertion of a connection terminal in a connector housing which can detect complete or incomplete insertion of a connection terminal inserted in the connector housing. Second to provide connectors
The purpose of.

[0008]

In order to achieve the first and second objects, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a mating terminal insertion opening is formed parallel to the axis of the mating terminal insertion opening, and A retainer fitting portion for allowing a retainer to be inserted from a surface opposite to the mating terminal insertion opening forming surface, a jig insertion opening formed on a side wall between the mating terminal insertion opening forming surface and the opposite surface, and A connector housing having a locking lance release restricting portion formed at an edge of a tool insertion opening, a connection terminal storage portion, and a connection terminal inserted into the connection terminal storage portion, and an insertion opening portion of the connection terminal. A mating terminal extending along the insertion direction of the connection terminal, and a cantilevered locking lance fixed at the insertion opening and a mating terminal insertion opening of the connector housing divided into a plurality of mating terminal insertion holes. Insertion hole division formation In the preset state of the retainer in the connector housing, the free end of the locking lance is located in a jig insertion opening formed in the connector housing, and the retainer is inserted into the connector housing. In the set state, the free end of the locking lance is brought into contact with the locking lance release restricting portion to maintain the locking of the locking lance and the connection terminal. Further, the mating terminal insertion opening of the connector housing and the retainer The electrical connector is formed so as to be divided into the shape of the mating terminal insertion hole with the mating terminal insertion hole division forming portion.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. In the present embodiment, a female connector will be described as an electrical connector.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a female connector housing formed of resin. A female connector housing 11 is fitted with a retainer penetrating from its mating terminal insertion opening forming surface 12 toward its opposite surface 13. A mating portion 14 is formed, and a mating terminal insertion opening 15 communicating with the retainer fitting portion 14 is formed in the mating terminal insertion opening forming surface 12.

In the female connector housing 11, a jig insertion opening 16 is formed in a side wall between the mating terminal insertion opening forming surface 12 and the opposite surface 13. Further, a locking lance release restricting portion 17 that protrudes in a wedge shape toward the opposite surface 13 is integrally formed at the edge of the jig insertion opening 16 on the side of the mating terminal insertion opening forming surface 12.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 18 denotes a retainer fitted from the side opposite to the retainer fitting portion 14 formed on the female connector housing 11 to the mating terminal insertion opening forming surface 12. The retainer 18 is formed with a plurality of connection terminal storage sections 20 partitioned by partition walls 19 that are parallel to the direction in which the retainer 18 is inserted into the female connector housing 11.

A connection terminal insertion port 21 is formed in each connection terminal storage section 20, and the female connector is provided at an end of the partition wall 19 opposite to the end of the connection terminal insertion port 21 side. A mating terminal insertion hole section forming section 22 for forming a mating terminal insertion opening 15 provided in the housing 11 into a plurality of mating terminal insertion holes 22 corresponding to the connection terminal storage section 20 is formed. ing. In addition, corresponding to each of the connection terminal storage sections 20, the connection terminal insertion port 2 is provided.
One part is fixed, and the other terminal insertion hole section forming part 22
Are formed at the free ends of the locking lances 23. The locking claws 24 are formed at the free ends of the locking lances 23 and project toward the connection terminal housing 20.
Reference numeral 25 denotes a temporary fixing projection protruding from the retainer.

Next, the operation when the female connection terminal 26 is inserted into the female connector housing 11 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Referring to FIG. First, the retainer 18 is inserted to the middle of the retainer fitting portion 14 in the female connector housing 11, and the temporary fixing projection 25 is locked on the opposite surface 13 of the female connector housing 11, and the retainer 18 is set in the preset state. (See FIG. 3).

Therefore, the female connection terminal 26 already connected to the electric wire 27 is inserted from the connection terminal insertion opening 21 side of the retainer 18 into the connection terminal housing 20. At this time, the locking claw 24 of the locking lance 23 is provided on the back of the female connection terminal 26.
Is pushed up (pressed down) and inserted.
6 is completely inserted into the retainer 18, the locking lance 2
With the elastic restoring force of 3, the locking claw 24 is locked with the locking hole 28 provided on the back surface of the female connection terminal 26, and the female connection terminal 26 is prevented from coming off.

Next, with respect to the female connector housing 11,
The retainer 18 that has been preset is further pushed into the female connector housing 11, and the temporary fixing protrusion 25 formed on the retainer 18 is locked to a locking step 29 formed inside the female connector housing 11. As a result, the female connector housing 11 and the retainer 18 to which the female connection terminal 26 is fixed are fitted and held together, and the intended female connector is completed (see FIG. 4).

At this time, the back surface of the free end of the locking lance 23 provided on the retainer 18 is brought into contact with the locking lance release regulating portion 17 formed on the female connector housing 11 so that the locking lance 23 Since the displacement of the lock 23 is regulated, the lock of the lock lance 23 with the female connection terminal 26 by the locking claw 24 is secure, and the female connection terminal 26 is prevented from falling off.

When it is desired to remove the female connection terminal 26 locked in the retainer 18 from the retainer 18, as shown in FIG. And open a part of the jig insertion opening 16 provided in the female connector housing 11, insert the jig 30 from the opening toward the inside of the retainer, and hold the locking lance 23
When the locking between the locking claw 24 and the female connection terminal 26 is released, the female connection terminal 26 can be removed from the inside of the retainer 18.

As described above, in the electrical connector according to the present embodiment, the jig 30 for removing the female connection terminal 26 from the retainer 18 is inserted from the mating terminal insertion opening 15 of the electrical connector. Since the jig 30 does not deform the distal end of the opening of the female connection terminal 26,
No damage. The mating terminal insertion hole 22A formed in the mating terminal insertion opening 15 of the female connector housing 11 is
1 and the mating terminal insertion hole section forming portion 22 formed in the retainer 18 to form a rectangular shape into which only the mating terminal (not shown) can be inserted, and to be positioned corresponding to the open end of each female connector housing. When the mating terminal (male connection terminal) is inserted into the female connector housing 11, the female connection terminal 26 is not deformed or damaged at the tip of the mating terminal. Insertion is made smoothly.

In the electrical connector according to the present embodiment, when the female connection terminal 26 inserted into the retainer 18 is in an incompletely inserted state as shown in FIG. Locking lance 23 provided on
The locking lance 2 is in a position in which the locking claw 24 is still riding on the back surface of the female connection terminal 26.
In the position 3, when the retainer 18 is inserted into the female connector housing 11, the tip of the locking lance 23 collides with the locking lance release restricting portion 17 and the retainer 18.
The female connector terminal 26 cannot be completely inserted into the female connector housing 11 and knowing that the retainer cannot be completely inserted, it is detected that the female connection terminal 26 is in an incompletely inserted state in the retainer 18. Therefore, the incompletely inserted state of the female connection terminal 26 can be prevented.

In the above embodiment, the connector housing is described as a female connector housing, and the connection terminals inserted into the female connector housing are described as female connection terminals. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the connector housing can be applied as a male connector housing and the connection terminal can be applied as a male connection terminal.

[0022]

As described above, according to the electrical connector according to the present invention, when the connection terminal already inserted into the connector housing is connected to the mating terminal or when the connection terminal is removed by the jig, the connection terminal is removed. Can be prevented from being deformed or damaged. Further, when the connection terminal inserted into the connector housing is incompletely inserted, the retainer cannot be fitted, whereby the incomplete state of the connection terminal can be easily detected, and the reliability of connection terminal insertion is improved. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a connector housing used for an electric connector according to the present invention, wherein FIG.
(B) is a plan view, and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show an embodiment of a retainer used for the electrical connector according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a front view, FIG. 2B is a plan view, and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a process of inserting a retainer into the connector housing.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state where the retainer is completely inserted into the connector housing.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state in which a connection terminal is half-inserted into a retainer to be inserted into a connector housing.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state in which a connection terminal inserted into a retainer is removed.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory sectional view showing a conventional electric connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Female connector housing 12 ... Opposite terminal insertion opening formation surface 13 ... Opposite surface 14 ... Retainer fitting part 15 ... Opposite terminal insertion opening 16 ... Jig insertion opening 17 ... Locking lance release restriction part 18 ... Retainer 19 ... Partition Wall 20: Connection terminal storage section 21: Connection terminal insertion port 22: Mating terminal insertion hole section forming section 22A: Mating terminal insertion hole 23: Locking lance 24: Locking claw 25: Temporary fixing protrusion 26: Female connection terminal 27 ... Electric wire 28 ... Lock hole 29 ... Lock step 30 ... Jig

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A mating terminal insertion opening (15), a retainer fitting formed to be parallel to a mouth axis of the mating terminal insertion opening (15), and capable of inserting a retainer from a surface opposite to a mating terminal insertion opening forming surface. Part (14), a jig insertion opening (16) formed on a side wall between the mating terminal insertion opening forming surface and the opposite surface, and a locking lance formed on an edge of the jig insertion opening. A connector housing having a release restricting portion (17), a connection terminal storage portion (20), and a connection terminal inserted into the connection terminal storage portion (20) are locked, and the connection terminal is inserted through an insertion opening of the connection terminal. And a cantilevered locking lance (23) extending along the insertion direction and fixed at the insertion opening, and a mating terminal insertion opening formed in the connector housing into a plurality of mating terminal insertion holes. Hole division forming part (22) In the preset state of the retainer (18) into the connector housing, the free end of the locking lance (23) is located in a jig insertion opening formed in the connector housing. When the retainer (18) is set in the connector housing, the free end of the locking lance (23) comes into contact with the locking lance release restricting portion (17) and is connected to the locking lance (23). The retaining with the terminal is maintained, and the mating terminal insertion opening and the retainer (1
8) An electrical connector characterized in that the mating terminal insertion hole section forming section (22) and the mating terminal insertion hole section forming section (22) are formed in the shape of the mating terminal insertion hole.