JP2005093269A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connection which is sure, while simplifying component configuration, regarding connector used for a flat harness. <P>SOLUTION: This connector 1 is provided with a plug connector 10 formed at one end of a flat harness 20 and a receptacle connector 30, and its structure is such that the plug connector 10 is inserted in the connector housing 51 of the receptacle housing 30 mounted on the panel 60 of an auxiliary machinery. The plug connector 10 is equipped with a plurality of conductors 22 exposed to the outside, and a support and reinforcement member 11 formed by outsert molding or overmold molding to support and reinforce these conductors 22. A first tapered part 12a is formed on the back side of the support part 12 of the support and reinforcement member 11, and a second taper part 53 is formed on the corresponding inner surface of the connector housing 51. When the plug connector 10 is fully inserted in the connector housing 51, a connection terminal 40 is brought into pressure contact with and is connected to the conductors 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector used in a flat harness formed by arranging a plurality of conductors in a plane.

  Conventionally, in order to electrically connect a flat harness formed by arranging a plurality of conductors in a plane and a wire harness composed of a normal electric wire, for example, a connection terminal connected to the wire harness is male. A flat harness with a conductor exposed is placed in the connector housing (receptacle connector) where a part of the connector (plug connector) is exposed and the male connector is fitted, and the male connector is accommodated in the connector. An electrical connection is performed by inserting and fitting into a portion and bringing a conductor and a connection terminal into contact with each other (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-288769 (page 4-6, FIG. 1-7)

  In such a connection method, the conductor of the flat harness is exposed and arranged as it is in the connector housing, and is brought into contact with the connection terminal of the male connector. There is no need to make contact with the connection terminals.

  However, in the connector described in Patent Document 1, for example, a spring member as a contact assist means is separately attached to the male connector in order to ensure contact between the conductor of the flat harness in the connector housing and the connection terminal of the male connector. Therefore, there is a problem that the component configuration becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can be reliably connected while simplifying the component configuration.

  A connector according to the present invention includes a plug connector formed at one end of a flat harness in which a plurality of conductors are arranged side by side and covered with an insulating coating, and a receptacle connector fitted to the plug connector. In the connector, the plug connector includes a plurality of conductors exposed to the outside by removing an insulating coating on at least one surface side of one end of the flat harness, and a back side of the plurality of conductors exposed to the outside And a support / reinforcing member made of a resin-molded member of a predetermined hardness that supports and reinforces the plurality of conductors by being outsert-molded or overmolded on the base end side, and the receptacle connector includes the plug connector inside. A connector housing to be accommodated, and an insertion of the plug connector mounted inside the connector housing In, characterized in that a plurality of connection terminals in contact with a plurality of conductors which is exposed to the outside.

  A connector manufacturing method according to the present invention includes a plug connector formed at one end of a flat harness in which a plurality of conductors are arranged side by side and covered with an insulating coating, and a receptacle connector fitted to the plug connector. And a step of removing the insulation coating on at least one surface side of one end of the flat harness to expose the plurality of conductors to the outside, and a plurality of the exposed to the outside The plug connector including a support / reinforcing member made of a resin-molded member having a predetermined hardness for supporting and reinforcing the plurality of conductors, formed on the back side and the base end side of the conductor, is outsert-molded at one end of the flat harness, or And a step of forming by overmolding.

  For example, an engagement protrusion is provided on the side surface of the supporting / reinforcing member of the plug connector, and the engagement protrusion is engaged on the side surface of the connector housing of the receptacle connector when the plug connector is completely inserted into the receptacle connector, for example. It is preferable that a hole to be formed is formed.

  Further, on the back side of the support / reinforcing member of the plug connector and the side opposite to the back side of the receptacle connector, for example, when the plug connector is inserted into the receptacle connector, the plug connector is pushed in the direction in which the connection terminal is pressed. It is preferable that a taper for movement is formed.

  Then, on the outer peripheral side of the supporting / reinforcing member formed on the base end side of the plurality of conductors exposed to the outside of the plug connector, for example, a seal portion that is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the connector housing of the receptacle connector is formed. good.

According to the present invention, the plug connector formed at one end of the flat harness has a plurality of conductors exposed to the outside by removing the insulation coating at one end of the flat harness, and the back side and the base end side of these conductors. And a support / reinforcing member made of a resin-molded member having a predetermined hardness for supporting and reinforcing a plurality of conductors which are formed by molding or overmolding. Therefore, the plurality of conductor portions exposed to the outside can be reinforced to improve the mechanical strength, and the plurality of conductors exposed to the outside of the plug connector and the receptacle connector when the receptacle connector is inserted into the connector housing. The connection with the connection terminal can be ensured.
In addition, since the plug connector includes a support / reinforcing member formed by outsert molding or overmold molding at one end of the flat harness, compared to a connector having a structure in which a separately formed plug connector is attached to one end of the flat harness. The connector component configuration can be simplified.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially sectional plan view, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are longitudinal sectional views.
The connector 1 includes, for example, a plug connector 10 formed at one end of a flat harness 20 having a structure in which a plurality of conductors 22 having a rectangular cross-sectional shape are arranged side by side, and a receptacle connector 30 fitted to the plug connector 10. It is configured with. The plug connector 10 includes a plurality of conductors 22 that are exposed to the outside by removing the insulating coating 23 on at least one surface side (here, the upper surface side) of one end of the flat harness 20, and the back surface side of the plurality of conductors 22. A support / reinforcing member 11 made of a resin molded member having a predetermined hardness for supporting and reinforcing a plurality of conductors 22 formed by, for example, outsert molding or overmolding of hot melt resin is provided on the base end side. ing. The flat harness 20 may be formed by arranging, for example, a plurality of conductors having a round cross section in a plane, and the support / reinforcing member 11 has a melting point different from that of the insulating coating 23 of the flat harness 20. It is formed of resin.

  On the other hand, the receptacle connector 30 includes a connector housing 51 having a concave cross-sectional shape that accommodates the plug connector 10 therein, and the plug connector 10 mounted in the connector housing 51 when the plug connector 10 is inserted (fitted). A plurality of connection terminals 40 that are in contact with the exposed plurality of conductors 22 are provided. For example, the receptacle connector 30 is mounted on the auxiliary panel 60, and the distal end side of the connection terminal 40 is bent into a U-shaped cross section so as to have elasticity.

  Here, in this example, the flat harness 20 includes a plurality of conductors 22 having the above rectangular cross-sectional shape arranged in a plane, and the conductors 22 are arranged in the thickness direction by a plurality of insulating coatings 23 made of, for example, an insulating resin film. It has a covered structure, and is configured such that a plurality of conductors 22 are exposed to the outside by removing the insulating coating 23 on the upper surface side at one end. The plurality of insulating coatings 23 are formed so as to cover the plurality of conductors 22 by, for example, laminating.

  The support / reinforcing member 11 of the plug connector 10 is formed on the back side of the plurality of conductors 22 exposed to the outside so that the plurality of conductors 22 do not bend or bend when contacting the connection terminals 40 of the receptacle connector 30. And a reinforcing portion 14 formed over the entire circumference on the base end side of the plurality of conductors 22 exposed to the outside and reinforcing the plurality of conductors 22.

  In addition, the engagement formed on both side walls 51a and 51b of the connector housing 51 on both side walls in the short direction of the flat harness 20 of the reinforcing portion 14 when the receptacle connector 30 of the plug connector 10 is completely inserted into the connector housing 51. Engagement protrusions 13 are formed for engaging with the holes 52 to prevent the plug connector 10 from coming off the connector housing 51.

  Further, a first taper portion 12a is formed on the back surface side of the support portion 12 of the support / reinforcement member 11 of the plug connector 10, and the connector housing 51 of the receptacle connector 30 that faces the first taper portion 12a when fully inserted. A second tapered portion 53 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) is formed on the inner surface side, and the plug connector 10 inserted into the connector housing 51 is pressed against the connection terminal 40 by the first and second tapered portions 12a and 53. The taper for making it move to the direction to make is comprised.

  In the connector 1 configured as described above, when the plug connector 10 is inserted into the connector housing 51 of the receptacle connector 30, the connector housing 51 and the plurality of conductors 22 exposed on the upper surface side of the support portion 12 of the support / reinforcement member 11. Are connected to the connection terminals 40 provided therein, and further inserted into the fully inserted state, the first tapered portion 12a on the back side of the support portion 12 and the second tapered portion 53 of the connector housing 51 are configured. The contact pressure between the plurality of conductors 22 and the connection terminals 40 is increased by the taper, and the two are reliably connected. According to this connector 1, the plurality of conductors 22 exposed to the outside can be supported and reinforced by the support / reinforcement member 11 to improve the mechanical strength, and when the receptacle connector 30 is inserted into the connector housing 51. The plurality of conductors 22 exposed to the outside of the plug connector 10 and the connection terminals 40 of the receptacle connector 30 can be reliably connected. The plug connector 10 includes a support / reinforcing member 11 formed by, for example, outsert molding or overmold molding at one end of the flat harness 20, so that a separately formed plug connector is attached to one end of the flat harness 20. Compared with the connector etc., the component configuration of the connector 1 can be simplified.

Next, a part of the manufacturing process of the connector 1 will be briefly described.
First, so-called lead processing of the flat harness 20 is performed so that the insulation coating 23 on one surface side is removed at least at one end so that the plurality of conductors 22 are exposed to the outside (step S1). Next, a state in which the plurality of conductors 22 remain exposed at one end where the plurality of conductors 22 of the flat harness 20 are exposed using a resin material such as hot melt resin is performed by outsert molding or overmold molding. Thus, the support / reinforcement member 11 is formed so that the support portion 12 and the reinforcement portion 14 are formed on the back surface side and the base end side of the plurality of conductors 22 (step S2). Through such a process, the plug connector 10 including the plurality of conductors 22 exposed to the outside and the support / reinforcing member 11 can be formed at one end of the flat harness 20.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view for explaining a connector according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a partially sectional plan view, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are longitudinal sectional views. In the following, descriptions that overlap with those already described are omitted.
This connector 1 'includes a plug connector 10' and a receptacle connector 30 ', and the point that the plug connector 10' is inserted into a connector housing 51 'having a concave cross-sectional shape in which the connection terminals 40 are provided is provided first. The connector 1 is the same as the connector 1 in this example, but the shape of the connector housing 51 ′ is an arc when viewed from the insertion direction of the plug connector 10 ′, and the engagement hole 52 is not formed on the side wall thereof. The engaging projection 13 is not formed on the reinforcing portion 14 of the supporting / reinforcing member 11 of the plug connector 10 ′, and instead, the sealing portion 15 that is in close contact with the inner surface of the connector housing 51 ′ is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the reinforcing portion 14. This is different from the connector 1 of the previous example. In this connector 1 ′, when the plug connector 10 ′ is inserted, the seal portion 15 is in close contact with the inner surface of the connector housing 51 ′ and the opening of the connector housing 51 ′ is closed. The waterproof effect on the contact portion between the plurality of conductors 22 and the connection terminal 40 can be enhanced.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used in various industries that use a flat harness connected to other members.

It is a perspective view for demonstrating the connector which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an identical part sectional top view. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the connector which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is an identical part sectional top view. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1 '... Connector, 10, 10' ... Plug connector, 11 ... Supporting / reinforcing member, 12 ... Supporting part, 13 ... Engaging protrusion, 14 ... Reinforcing part, 15 ... Sealing part, 20 ... Flat harness, 22 ... Conductor, 23 ... insulation coating, 40 ... connection terminal, 30 ... receptacle connector, 40 ... connection terminal, 51, 51 '... connector housing, 60 ... panel.

Claims (5)

A plug connector formed at one end of a flat harness in which a plurality of conductors are arranged side by side and covered with an insulating coating;
In a connector having a receptacle connector that fits with this plug connector,
The plug connector is
The plurality of conductors exposed to the outside by removing the insulation coating on at least one surface side of one end of the flat harness,
A support / reinforcing member made of a resin-molded member of a predetermined hardness that is outsert-molded or overmolded on the back side and the base end side of the plurality of conductors exposed to the outside and supports and reinforces the plurality of conductors; ,
The receptacle connector is
A connector housing for accommodating the plug connector therein;
A connector comprising: a plurality of connection terminals which are mounted inside the connector housing and come into contact with the plurality of conductors exposed to the outside when the plug connector is inserted. An engagement protrusion is provided on a side surface of the support / reinforcement member,
2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a hole is formed in a side surface of the connector housing to engage the engaging protrusion when the plug connector is completely inserted into the receptacle connector. On the back side of the support / reinforcement member and the side of the receptacle connector facing the back side, the plug connector is inserted in the receptacle connector in the direction of pressing the connection terminal as the plug connector is inserted into the receptacle connector. The taper for moving is formed. The connector of Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. The seal portion that adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the connector housing of the receptacle connector is formed on the outer peripheral side of the support / reinforcing member formed on the base end side of the plurality of conductors exposed to the outside. Item 4. The connector according to any one of Items 1 to 3. A plug connector formed at one end of a flat harness in which a plurality of conductors are arranged side by side and covered with an insulating coating;
A method of manufacturing a connector comprising a receptacle connector that fits with the plug connector,
Removing the insulation coating on at least one surface of one end of the flat harness to expose the plurality of conductors to the outside;
The plug connector including a support / reinforcing member made of a resin molded member having a predetermined hardness and supporting and reinforcing the plurality of conductors formed on the back side and the base end side of the plurality of conductors exposed to the outside. And a step of forming at one end of the harness by outsert molding or overmolding.

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