JP2006100167A - Housing for electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To move a retainer from a final locking position to a temporary locking position without using a dedicated fixture or a precision driver or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The connector housing 10 has a terminal housing chamber 26 provided inside and an opening 20 which communicates from the outer periphery wall to the terminal housing chamber 26 is provided. A retainer 30 is inserted into nearly orthogonal direction to the terminal housing chamber 26 into the opening 20 of the connector housing 10. When the retainer 30 is at the position of temporary locking, insertion and extraction of a terminal fitting into the terminal housing chamber 26 become possible. When the retainer 30 is at the final locking position, insertion and extraction of the terminal fitting into the terminal housing chamber 26 become impossible. The opening 20 is provided from the retainer insertion face 22 throughout to the side face 16a of the connector housing 10. Then, in the state that the retainer 30 is at the final locking position, the front end part 38 of the retainer 30 is exposed to the side face 16a of the connector housing 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector housing used for connecting a wire harness or the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electrical connector housing in which a terminal metal fitting inserted into a terminal accommodating chamber is removed by a retainer separate from the connector housing.

2. Description of the Related Art An electrical connector housing in which a terminal fitting inserted into a terminal accommodating chamber is removed with a retainer is known (for example, Patent Document 1). FIG. 18 shows a conventional housing for an electrical connector. As shown in FIG. 18, the electrical connector housing includes a connector housing 300 and a retainer 310 that is separate from the connector housing 300. A plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 302 are provided inside the connector housing 300. The terminal accommodating chamber 302 is provided from the upper end surface of the connector housing 300 toward the lower end surface. On the front surface 304 of the connector housing 300, an opening 306 communicating with each terminal accommodating chamber 302 is formed.
The retainer 310 is inserted into the connector housing 300 from the opening 306 of the connector housing 300 in a direction perpendicular to the terminal accommodating chambers 302. The retainer 310 is formed with an insertion hole 312 corresponding to each terminal accommodating chamber 302 of the connector housing 300. A locking portion (not shown) is provided on the inner wall surface of each insertion hole 312.

The retainer 310 is switched between the first position and the second position. When the retainer 310 is in the first position, the terminal fitting can be inserted from the upper end surface of the connector housing 300 to the bottom surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 302 through the insertion hole 312 of the retainer 314. On the other hand, when the retainer 310 is in the second position, the terminal fitting inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 302 engages with the retaining portion of the retainer, and the terminal fitting cannot be removed from the terminal accommodating chamber 302. . Therefore, by moving the retainer to the second position, it is possible to prevent the terminal fitting from coming off.
Japanese Patent No. 2920171

By the way, during the operation of inserting the terminal fitting into the terminal accommodating chamber 302 in a manufacturing factory or the like, the terminal fitting may be inserted into the wrong terminal accommodating chamber 302 in some cases. In particular, when a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 302 are formed in the connector housing 300, an error in inserting the terminal fitting is likely to occur. If an incorrect insertion of the terminal fitting is found during the inspection after the work, the terminal fitting inserted into the wrong terminal accommodating chamber 302 must be removed. Further, after shipment from the factory, it is necessary to remove the terminal fitting from the terminal accommodating chamber 302 when the terminal fitting is replaced or repaired or recycled. Since the terminal metal is restricted from being removed backward by the retainer 310, in order to remove the terminal metal from the terminal accommodating chamber 302, the retainer 310 must be moved from the second position to the first position.
However, in the conventional electrical connector housing, when the retainer 310 is in the second position, the front surface 304 of the connector housing 300 and the front surface 314 of the retainer 310 are flush. Therefore, in order to move the retainer 310 from the second position to the first position, the tip of a dedicated jig or precision screwdriver is inserted into the groove 316 provided on the front surface 314 of the retainer 310, and the jig or precision screwdriver is operated. Then, the retainer 310 had to be moved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is for an electrical connector capable of moving a retainer from a position 2 to a first position without using a dedicated jig or a precision screwdriver. Providing a housing.

The electrical connector housing of the present invention includes a connector housing and a retainer. The connector housing is provided with a terminal accommodating chamber therein, and is provided with an opening that communicates from the outer peripheral wall to the terminal accommodating chamber. The retainer is inserted in a direction substantially orthogonal to the terminal accommodating chamber from the opening of the connector housing. The retainer is switched between a first position where the terminal fitting can be inserted into and removed from the terminal receiving chamber and a second position where the terminal fitting cannot be inserted into and removed from the terminal receiving chamber. The opening provided in the connector housing is provided to wrap around from the retainer insertion surface of the connector housing to both side surfaces thereof. Even when the retainer is switched to the second position, the front end of the retainer is exposed on both side surfaces of the connector housing.
In this electrical connector housing, the opening of the connector housing is provided so as to extend from the retainer insertion surface to both side surfaces thereof. For this reason, a part of the retainer is always exposed from both side surfaces of the connector housing, and the front end portion of the retainer is exposed on both side surfaces of the connector housing even when the retainer is switched to the second position. Therefore, the operator can move the retainer from the second position to the first position by grasping the front end portion of the retainer exposed on both side surfaces of the connector housing with a finger from the side.

  In the electrical connector housing, it is preferable that the dimension of the retainer in the direction in which the terminal fitting is inserted is larger at the front end exposed at the surface of the connector housing than at the insertion end accommodated in the connector housing. According to such a structure, since the front end part of the retainer grasped with an operator's finger is formed large, workability | operativity and operability when moving a retainer can be improved.

  In the electrical connector housing, it is preferable that there is substantially no gap between the opening end surface of the connector housing and the front end portion of the retainer when the retainer is switched to the second position. According to such a configuration, entry of dust or the like into the connector housing can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical connector housing 50 (hereinafter referred to as a housing 50) according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the housing 50, and FIG. 3 shows the housing 50 and the male housing 60 together. FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the housing 50 is a female housing, Comprising: It inserts in the male housing 60 shown in FIG.

  The housing 50 is constituted by the connector housing 10 and the retainer 30. The connector housing 10 is integrally formed of synthetic resin. Inside the connector housing 10, a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 26, 27 are arranged in parallel in the front-rear direction (the direction from the front surface 22 toward the rear surface) and the left-right direction (the direction from the side wall 16 a toward the other side wall 16 b). A terminal housing chamber 26 having a small cross-sectional area is disposed on the front surface 22 side of the connector housing 10, and a terminal housing chamber 27 having a large cross-sectional area is disposed on the rear surface side. A terminal fitting of a wire harness having a small wire diameter is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 26, and a terminal fitting of a wire harness having a large wire diameter is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 27.

The terminal accommodating chamber 26 extends from the upper end surface (terminal fitting insertion surface) of the connector housing 10 toward the lower end surface. The upper end of the terminal accommodating chamber 26 is opened, and a stopper 13b is provided at the lower end (see FIG. 8). The stopper 13b restricts the terminal fitting 70 from coming off to the front. A male terminal projecting from the male housing 60 is inserted into an opening 13 a formed between the stopper 13 b and the wall surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 26.
As shown in FIG. 8, a flexible locking arm 15 is provided on the inner wall surface near the lower end of the terminal accommodating chamber 26. The flexible locking arm 15 engages with a first locking piece 80 of a terminal fitting 70 described later.
The terminal accommodating chamber 27 is configured in the same manner as the terminal accommodating chamber 26.

An opening 20 is provided in the front surface 22 of the connector housing 10. The opening 20 is provided substantially in the middle between the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the connector housing 10. The opening 20 is provided in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rear surface side from the front surface 22 side so as to cross the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 26 and 27. Through the opening 20, the terminal accommodating chambers 26 and 27 communicate with the outside of the connector housing 10. This communication space is a storage space for storing the retainer 30.
The opening 20 is provided so as to go around from the front surface 22 to the both side walls 16a and 16b. In other words, the side walls 16a and 16b of the connector housing 10 are partially cut away at the portion corresponding to the opening 20 (on the front face 22 side). Therefore, the left and right end surfaces 20 a and 20 b of the opening 20 are located on both side surfaces of the connector housing 10.
In addition, locking projections 19a and 19b for locking the retainer 30 are provided on the inner wall surfaces 17a and 17b of the side walls 16a and 16b at the portion corresponding to the opening 20 (see FIGS. 4 to 7). The locking projection 19 a is provided on the front surface 22 side of the connector housing 10, and the locking projection 19 b is provided on the rear surface side of the connector housing 10.
As well shown in FIG. 8, the front surface 22 side of the opening 20 is formed larger in the vertical direction of the connector housing 10 than the rear surface side.

  Further, a groove 24 for preventing erroneous insertion into the male housing 60 is formed on the front surface 22 of the connector housing 10. A locking arm 14 that locks the housing 50 with respect to the male housing 60 is provided on the rear surface of the connector housing 10.

  The retainer 30 is integrally formed of synthetic resin and is inserted into the opening 20 of the connector housing 10. The retainer 30 has a shape corresponding to the opening 20. That is, the front end portion 38 of the retainer 30 is formed larger in the vertical direction than the insertion end portion 40 side of the retainer 30. Further, the front end portion 38 of the retainer 30 is formed larger in the left-right direction than the insertion end portion 40 side of the retainer 30 by the side walls 16 a and 16 b of the connector housing 10. Furthermore, since the retainer 30 has a shape corresponding to the opening 20, when the retainer 30 is inserted into the opening 20, the side surfaces 34 a and 34 b of the retainer 30 are connected to the inner wall surfaces 17 a and 16 b of the side walls 16 a and 16 b of the connector housing 10. Slidably contacts 17b.

  The retainer 30 includes an insertion hole 42 corresponding to the terminal accommodating chamber 26 of the connector housing 10 by partitioning a frame body that forms the outer shell thereof with a partition wall 41. A locking portion 31 is provided on the inner wall surface of each insertion hole 42 (see FIG. 8). The locking part 31 engages with a second locking piece 78 of the terminal fitting 70 described later.

Locking portions 32a and 32b that engage with locking protrusions 19a and 19b provided on the inner wall surfaces 17a and 17b of the connector housing 10 are provided on both side surfaces 34a and 34b of the retainer 30 (FIG. 4 to FIG. 4). (See FIG. 7). The locking portion 32 a is provided on the front end portion 38 side of the retainer 30, and the locking portion 32 b is provided on the insertion end portion 40 side of the retainer 30.
A groove 36 for preventing erroneous insertion into the male housing 60 is also formed on the front surface of the front end portion 38 of the retainer 30.

As shown in FIG. 3, the male housing 60 is formed in a rectangular container shape with the upper end opened. A protruding wall 62 corresponding to the groove 24 of the connector housing 50 and the groove 36 of the retainer 30 is provided on the front inner wall surface of the male housing 60. A locking projection 66 that engages with the locking arm 14 of the housing 50 is provided on the rear inner wall surface of the male housing 60. Protruding walls 64 a and 64 b for guiding the housing 50 are provided on both sides of the locking projection 66. A male terminal (not shown) is erected on the bottom surface of the male housing 60.
When the housing 50 is inserted into the male housing 60, the locking arm 14 of the housing 50 engages with the locking projection 66, and the housing 50 is held in the male housing 60. In this state, the male terminal erected on the male housing 60 is inserted into the housing 50 from below the housing 50 and is electrically connected to the terminal fitting 70 accommodated in the housing 50.

  FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the terminal fitting 70 inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 26. As shown in FIG. 9, a wire harness 72 is fixed to one end 74 of the terminal fitting 70. An insertion hole 82 is formed in the other end 84 of the terminal fitting 70. The male terminal of the male housing 60 is inserted into the insertion hole 82. A first locking piece 80 and a second locking piece 78 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the other end 84 of the terminal fitting 70. The terminal fitting inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 27 is configured in the same manner as the terminal fitting 70.

  Next, the usage method and operation of the retainer 30 will be described. In order to insert the terminal fitting 70 into the connector housing 10, the retainer 30 is inserted into the opening 20 of the connector housing 10 and the retainer 30 is locked at the temporary lock position. Next, the terminal fitting 70 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 26 from above the connector housing 10, and then the retainer 30 is moved to the full lock position.

FIG. 4 shows a state of the connector housing 10 and the retainer 30 when the retainer 30 is locked at the temporary lock position. As shown in FIG. 4, in a state where the retainer 30 is locked at the temporary lock position, the locking protrusion 19a on the front surface 22 side of the connector housing 10 is engaged with the recess 35b of the retainer 30 (see FIG. 7). ). Thereby, the movement of the retainer 30 in the front-rear direction is restricted.
FIG. 10 schematically shows the relationship between the terminal accommodating chamber 26 and the retainer 30 when the retainer 30 is locked at the temporary lock position. As shown in FIG. 10, when the retainer 30 is locked at the temporary lock position, the locking portion 31 of the retainer 30 is in a position retracted from the insertion path of the terminal fitting 70. For this reason, the terminal fitting 70 can be inserted from the upper end of the terminal accommodating chamber 26 to the lower end of the terminal accommodating chamber 26 through the insertion hole 42 of the retainer 30. When the terminal fitting 70 is inserted to the lower end of the terminal accommodating chamber 26, the rear end of the first locking piece 80 of the terminal fitting 70 is engaged with the flexible locking arm 15. As a result, the rear removal of the terminal fitting 70 is restricted (so-called primary locking).

FIG. 5 shows a state of the connector housing 10 and the retainer 30 when the retainer 30 is locked at the main lock position. 6 and 7 show the relationship between the locking projections 19a and 19b and the locking portions 32a and 32b when the retainer 30 is locked at the main locking position.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the retainer 30 is locked in the full lock position, the locking protrusion 19a of the connector housing 10 engages with the locking portion 32a of the retainer 30 (state of FIG. 7), and the connector housing Ten locking projections 19b engage with a recess 33b formed at the rear end of the retainer 30 (state of FIG. 6). Accordingly, the forward movement of the retainer 30 is restricted by the engagement of the locking protrusion 19a and the locking part 32a, and the backward movement of the retainer 30 is restricted by the engagement of the locking protrusion 19b and the recess 33b. Has been.
FIG. 11 schematically shows the relationship between the terminal accommodating chamber 26 and the retainer 30 when the retainer 30 is locked in the lock position. As shown in FIG. 11, when the retainer 30 is locked at the main lock position, the locking portion 31 of the retainer 30 is positioned on the insertion path of the terminal fitting 70. Therefore, when the terminal fitting 70 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 26, the locking portion 31 of the retainer 30 engages with the rear end of the second locking piece 78 of the terminal fitting 70. This further restricts the rear removal of the terminal fitting 70 (so-called secondary locking). On the other hand, when the terminal fitting 70 is not inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 26, the locking portion 31 of the retainer 30 restricts the insertion of the terminal fitting 70 into the terminal accommodating chamber 26.

  As can be seen from FIG. 2, when the retainer 30 is locked in the full lock position, the entire opening 20 of the connector housing 10 is covered by the front end portion 38 of the retainer 30, and the end surfaces 20a to 20d of the opening 20 are covered. No gap (that is, a gap for inserting a jig, a precision screwdriver, or the like) is formed between the end faces 38a to 38d of the retainer 30. For this reason, it is possible to prevent dust from entering the housing 50 from between the connector housing 10 and the retainer 30. Further, the front surface 22 of the connector housing 10 and the front surface of the front end portion 38 of the retainer 30 are in the same plane, and both side surfaces of the connector housing 10 and both side surfaces of the front end portion 38 are also in the same plane.

As is apparent from the above description, the housing 50 of the present embodiment is such that the front end portion 38 of the retainer 30 is exposed from both side surfaces of the connector housing 10 even when the retainer 30 is locked in the main lock position. ing. For this reason, the operator can hold the front end portion 38 of the retainer 30 with the fingertip and move the retainer 30 from the full lock position to the temporary lock position. For this reason, tools, such as a dedicated jig and a precision screwdriver, can be made unnecessary.
In addition, since it is not necessary to use a precision screwdriver for moving the retainer 30, there is no problem that the retainer driver insertion portion is deformed when the retainer is moved as in the prior art. Furthermore, since the front end portion 38 of the retainer 30 is formed to be large in the vertical direction, the operator can easily grasp the front end portion 38 of the retainer 30, and the workability and operability are improved.
Further, locking projections 19a and 19b are formed at two locations on the front side and the rear side of the connector housing 10, and correspondingly locked at two locations on the front end 38 side and the insertion end 40 side of the retainer 30. Portions 32a and 32b are formed. For this reason, the retainer 30 is held by the connector housing 10 at two locations on the front end portion 38 side and the insertion end portion 40 side. Accordingly, even when a force is applied to the retainer 30 in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the retainer 30 (that is, the left-right direction or the up-down direction of the housing 10), the retainer 30 is inclined with respect to the connector housing 10. It is prevented.
Further, when the retainer 30 is in the temporary lock position, the locking projection 19a of the connector housing 10 engages with the recess 35b of the retainer 30 (see FIG. 4), and the retainer 30 moves from the temporary lock position to the final lock position. In this case, the locking projection 19a of the housing 10 moves over the locking portion 32a of the retainer 30 and moves forward (see FIGS. 5 and 7). Therefore, the operator can easily recognize that the retainer 30 has been inserted to the temporary lock position by the feeling that the locking projection 19a is engaged with the recess 35b. Further, the movement of the retainer 30 from the temporary lock position to the main lock position (or from the main lock position to the temporary lock position) can be easily recognized by the operator by the feeling that the locking protrusion 19a gets over the locking portion 32a. Can do. By these, the operativity and operation feeling of the retainer 30 can be improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the locking portions 32a and 32b of the retainer 30 are arranged apart from the front end portion 38 side and the insertion end portion 40 side of the retainer 30, and the locking protrusions 19a and 19b of the connector housing 10 are accordingly arranged. 19b was also placed apart. However, you may make it provide the latching | locking part (locking protrusion part of a connector housing) of a retainer in any one place of the front-end part side or an insertion end part side. For example, the locking portion can be disposed only on the insertion end portion side of the retainer, or the locking portion can be disposed only on the front end portion side of the retainer.
In the case where the locking portion and the locking projection are arranged only on the insertion end portion side of the retainer 130, for example, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, two locking portions 132a, 132 b is continuously provided, and two locking projections 119 a and 119 b are also continuously provided on the inner wall surface 117 b of the connector housing 110. When the retainer 130 is locked at the main lock position, the locking portion 132a of the retainer 130 is engaged between the locking protrusions 119a and 119b of the connector housing 110 (state shown in FIG. 14). When the retainer 130 is locked at the temporary lock position, the locking portion 132b of the retainer 130 is engaged between the locking protrusions 119a and 119b of the connector housing 110.
When the locking portion and the locking protrusion are disposed only on the front end portion side of the retainer 230, for example, as shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, two locking portions 235a and 235b are provided on the front end portion side of the retainer 230. To be installed. The connector housing 210 is provided with one locking projection 219 at the front end portion of the side wall thereof, and a recess 218 b is provided adjacent to the locking projection 219. When the retainer 230 is locked at the main lock position, the locking portions 235a and 235b of the retainer 230 are engaged with the recess 218b of the connector housing 210 (state shown in FIG. 17). When the retainer 230 is locked at the temporary lock position, the locking protrusion 219 of the connector housing 110 is engaged between the locking portions 235a and 235b of the retainer 230.

As mentioned above, although some embodiment of this invention was described in detail, these are only illustrations and do not limit a claim. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above.
In addition, the technical elements described in the present specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology illustrated in the present specification or the drawings achieves a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical utility by achieving one of the objects.

The disassembled perspective view of the housing for electrical connectors which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view of the housing for electrical connectors which concerns on this embodiment. The perspective view which shows together the housing for electrical connectors of this embodiment, and the female housing 60 in which the housing for electrical connectors is inserted. The cross-sectional view which shows the state of a connector housing and a retainer when a retainer is latched by the temporary lock position. The cross-sectional view which shows the state of a connector housing and a retainer when a retainer is latched by this lock position. The figure which shows the state of the latching mechanism by the side of the insertion end part of a retainer when a retainer is latched by this lock position. The figure which shows the state of the latching mechanism by the side of the front-end part of a retainer when a retainer is latched by this lock position. It is a figure which isolate | separates and shows the cross section of a connector housing when it cut | disconnects by the VIII-VIII line of FIG. The perspective view of a terminal metal fitting. The figure which shows typically the relationship between the terminal storage chamber and the insertion hole of a retainer when a retainer is latched by the temporary lock position. The figure which shows typically the relationship between the terminal storage chamber and the insertion hole of a retainer when a retainer is latched by this lock position. The electrical connector housing which concerns on the modification of this invention WHEREIN: The cross-sectional view which shows the state of a connector housing and a retainer when a retainer is latched by the temporary lock position. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the state of the connector housing and the retainer when the retainer is locked at the main lock position in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12. FIG. 13 is a view showing a state of the retainer locking mechanism when the retainer is locked at the main lock position in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12. The electrical connector housing which concerns on the other modification of this invention WHEREIN: The cross-sectional view which shows the state of a connector housing and a retainer when a retainer is latched by the temporary lock position. FIG. 16 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing a state of the connector housing and the retainer when the retainer is locked at the main lock position in the embodiment shown in FIG. 15. The figure which shows the state of the retaining mechanism of a retainer when a retainer is latched in this lock position in embodiment shown in FIG. The perspective view of the housing for electrical connectors which concerns on a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

10 .. Connector housings 16a, 16b .. Side walls 19a, 19b .. Locking projection 20. .. Opening 22 .. Front face 26, 27 .. Terminal housing chamber 30 .. Retainer 38 .. Front end 40 .. Insertion end Part 42 .. insertion hole 70 .. terminal fitting 78 .. first locking piece 80 .. second locking piece

Claims (3)

A connector housing provided with an internal terminal housing chamber and an opening communicating with the terminal housing chamber from an outer peripheral wall;
A first position that is inserted from the opening of the connector housing in a direction substantially orthogonal to the terminal accommodating chamber and allows the terminal fitting to be inserted into and removed from the terminal accommodating chamber, and the terminal fitting to the terminal accommodating chamber. A retainer that can be switched to a second position that makes insertion and removal impossible,
The opening is provided from the retainer insertion surface of the connector housing to both sides thereof,
The electrical connector housing, wherein the front end of the retainer is exposed on the both side surfaces of the connector housing when the retainer is switched to the second position.   2. The electric device according to claim 1, wherein a dimension of the retainer in a direction in which the terminal fitting is inserted is formed such that a front end portion exposed on a surface of the connector housing is larger than an insertion end portion accommodated in the connector housing. Housing for connectors.   3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein there is substantially no gap between the opening end surface of the connector housing and the front end portion of the retainer when the retainer is switched to the second position. housing.

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