JP2007266015A - Connector for flat cable and flat cable with connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector for a flat cable capable of preventing falling off of a retainer from a connector housing when bending and tensile force act on the flat cable. <P>SOLUTION: A connection terminal 7 connected to a tip of a flat cable 3 is stored in a terminal storing chamber 12 inside a connector housing 9, a retainer 16 is inserted into the terminal storing chamber 12. The retainer 16 is provided with a pressing part 16a pinching a part leaning to a tip part in contact with a face to a part leaning to the tip part of the flat cable 3 with the connector housing 9 and pressed, and an escaping step part 16b avoiding an end part of a connection part between the flat cable and the connection terminal to be contacted. An angle θ2 formed by an extention line along an outline of the cable pressing part 16a of the retainer 16 and the escaping step part 16b is set not less than 55° and not more than 90°. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a flat cable connector and a flat cable with a connector.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the electrical wiring of an electric device or an automobile is made of a strip-like conductor such as copper or aluminum arranged in parallel. For example, the thickness is 0.15 mm and the width is 1.5 mm to 3 mm. A flat cable 3 in which a plurality of flat conductors 1 of a certain degree are collectively covered with a flat insulating coating 2 made of plastic such as polyethylene terephthalate has been used.

  For example, a connection terminal 7 having a structure in which a plurality of crimp pieces 6 are erected on both sides in the width direction of the terminal plate portion 5 connected to the female terminal body 4 is connected to the end of the flat cable 3. In other words, the crimp pieces 6 of the connection terminals 7 are pierced into the flat cable 3 at the positions of the flat conductors 1 at the ends of the flat cable 3 so that the connection terminals 7 are conductively connected to the flat conductors 1 and penetrate the flat cable. In addition, the crimp piece 6 of each connection terminal is bent and crimped, whereby a connection portion (terminal connection portion) 8 between the flat cable and the connection terminal 7 is formed for each flat conductor 1. As shown in FIG. 5, a trimming slit 3a is inserted into the flat insulating coating 2 between the adjacent flat conductors 1 and 1 at the tip of the flat cable 3, and the terminal connecting portions 8 are adjacent to each other by the trimming slit 3a. It is cut off from the terminal connection part 8 to be performed.

  In this way, each connection terminal 7 connected to the flat cable 3 is housed in the connector housing 9 together with the vicinity of the tip of the flat cable 3 connected to each connection terminal. Inside the connector housing 9, terminal storage chambers 12 having front and rear opening portions 10 and rear opening portions 11 are formed in the number corresponding to the number of connection terminals 7. Each connection terminal 7 is stored in each terminal storage chamber 12. Is done. Each connection terminal 7 is inserted into the corresponding terminal storage chamber 12 from the rear opening 11 side and locked by the locking means 13. The locking means 13 has a structure in which a lance 13 a erected from the connection terminal 7 is locked by a step portion 13 b of the connector housing 9. In order for the housings to be coupled when the connector housing 9 is fitted to a mating connector housing (not shown), a folded elastic arm 14 is erected on the connector housing 9, and a locking projection is provided on the elastic arm 14. 15 is protrudingly provided.

  A cantilever retainer 16 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chambers 12, 12 of the connector housing 9 from the rear ports 11, 11. The illustrated retainer 16 is provided with a base portion 16A and a pair of insertion portions 16B which are provided in a state protruding from the base portion 16A and inserted into the terminal storage chambers 12 and 12 of the connector housing 9 from the rear opening portions 11 and 11, respectively. 16B.

  Each insertion portion 16B of the retainer 16 is brought into surface contact with a portion near the tip of the flat cable 3 connected to the connection terminal 7 in the terminal storage chamber 12 (see FIG. 6) and close to the tip of the flat cable. A cable holding portion 16a for holding the portion between the connector housing 9 and holding it, and a relief step portion 16b for avoiding hitting the terminal portion of the connection portion 8 between the connection terminal 7 and the flat cable in the terminal housing chamber. A tip end portion 16d (see FIGS. 5 and 8) extending forward (to the connection terminal 7 side) from the escape step portion 16b is provided. Further, the retainer base portion 16A has a slit 16c through which the flat cable 3 connected to the connection terminal 7 inserted into the terminal storage chamber 12 is passed, and a locking hook 17b facing the insertion portion 16B outside the connector housing. Is provided.

  A projection 17a is provided on the outside of the connector housing 9 so that the locking hook 17b is hooked when the insertion portion of the retainer 16 is inserted into the terminal storage chamber, and the locking hook 17b is hooked on the projection 17a. 16 is configured to be locked to the connector housing 9.

In addition, although the connector of the structure which accommodates the connection terminal connected to the terminal part of a round electric wire in a connector housing, and presses the edge part of the electric wire inserted in the connector housing with a retainer is disclosed by patent document 1. No literature describing the above connector applied to a flat cable could be found.
JP-A-11-329599

  However, in the flat cable connector shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the cantilever retainer 16 is inserted into the terminal storage chamber 12 in which the connection terminal 7 is stored, and the locking hook 17b is projected as shown in FIG. After being hooked on 17a and locked, when the flat cable 3 is bent and a strong external force is applied, a component force to rotate the retainer 16 acts on the escape step 16b and the retainer 16 rotates. However, as shown in FIG. 7, a problem that the retainer 16 is dropped from the connector housing 9 has occurred.

  Conventionally, the dropping phenomenon of the retainer 16 from the connector housing 9 at the wiring site has not been analyzed so much, and therefore, the design of the shape of the relief step portion 16b of the retainer 16 has not been paid much attention.

  An object of the present invention is that when a bending and pulling external force is strongly applied to a flat cable, the component force of the bending and pulling external force acts on a relief step portion of the retainer, and the retainer falls off the connector housing. An object of the present invention is to provide a flat cable connector and a flat cable with a connector that can prevent the occurrence of defects.

  The present invention includes a connector housing 9 having a terminal housing chamber 12 having a front port portion 10 and a rear port portion 11 opened in the front-rear direction, and a terminal housing chamber of the connector housing, to which the tip of the flat cable 3 is connected. Connecting terminal 7, a base portion 16A arranged outside the connector housing, and an insertion portion 16B provided in a state protruding from the base portion and inserted into the terminal housing chamber 12 in the connector housing 9 from the rear opening portion 11. The connector for flat cables provided with the retainer 16 which has these. In the flat cable connector to which the present invention is directed, the insertion portion 16B of the retainer 16 is brought into surface contact with a portion near the tip of the flat cable 3 connected to the connection terminal 7 in the terminal storage chamber. A cable holding portion 16a that holds and holds the portion near the tip portion between the connector housing 9 and a clearance for avoiding hitting the end portion of the connection portion 8 between the connection terminal 7 and the flat cable in the terminal storage chamber. A step portion 16b is provided, and a base portion 16A of the retainer is opposed to the insertion portion on the outside of the connector housing and a slit 16c through which the flat cable 3 connected to the connection terminal 7 inserted into the terminal storage chamber 12 passes. A locking hook 17b is provided. Further, on the outside of the connector housing 9, there is provided a projection 17a on which the locking hook 17b is hooked when the insertion portion of the retainer 16 is inserted into the terminal storage chamber, and the locking hook 17b is hooked on the projection 17a. The retainer 16 is configured to be locked to the connector housing 9.

  In the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the angle θ2 formed by the extension line along the outline of the cable pressing portion 16a of the retainer 16 and the relief step portion 16b is set to 55 ° or more and 90 ° or less. .

  The present invention also includes a connector housing 9 having therein a terminal storage chamber 12 having a front opening 10 and a rear opening 11 opened in the front and rear, a connection terminal 7 stored in the terminal storage chamber of the connector housing 9, The flat cable 3 in which the tip portion is connected to the connection terminal 7 and the portion near the tip portion is inserted into the terminal housing chamber of the connector housing 9 from the rear opening portion, the base portion 16A disposed outside the connector housing 9, and the base portion A flat cable with a connector provided with a retainer 16 that is provided in a protruding state and has an insertion portion 16B that is inserted from the rear opening portion 11 into a terminal housing chamber in the connector housing 9 is an object. In the flat cable with a connector to which the present invention is applied, the insertion portion 16B of the retainer 16 is in surface contact with the portion near the tip of the flat cable 3 inserted into the terminal storage chamber, and the portion near the tip of the flat cable 3 Are held between the connector housing 9 and a cable holding portion 16a, and a relief step portion 16b for avoiding the contact of the terminal portion of the connecting portion 8 between the connecting terminal 7 and the tip of the flat cable. The retainer base portion 16A is provided with a slit 16c through which the flat cable 3 connected to the connection terminal 7 inserted into the terminal storage chamber 12 is passed, and a locking hook that is opposed to the insertion portion outside the connector housing. 17b. Further, on the outside of the connector housing 9, there is provided a projection 17a on which the locking hook 17b is hooked when the insertion portion of the retainer 16 is inserted into the terminal storage chamber, and the locking hook 17b is hooked on the projection 17a. The retainer 16 is configured to be locked to the connector housing 9.

  In the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the angle θ2 formed by the extension line along the outline of the cable pressing portion 16a of the retainer 16 and the relief step portion 16b is set to 55 ° or more and 90 ° or less. .

  As a result of the experiment, the present inventor has set the angle θ2 formed by the extension line along the contour of the cable pressing portion 16a of the retainer 16 and the relief step portion 16b as described above, and bending and pulling force acts on the flat cable. It was confirmed that it was possible to prevent the problem that the retainer 16 dropped out of the connector housing.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the angle θ2 formed by the extension line along the contour of the cable holding portion of the retainer and the relief step portion is set to 55 ° or more and 90 ° or less based on the experimental result. When the bending and pulling force is applied to the flat cable, the rotation component force by the flat cable can be prevented from acting on the stepped portion and the retainer can be prevented from rotating. When the bending and pulling force is applied to the flat cable, It is possible to prevent the retainer from rotating and falling off the connector housing.

  1 to 3 show an embodiment of a flat cable connector, a flat cable with a connector, and a retainer according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of the flat cable connector and the flat cable with a connector according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flat cable connector and a flat cable with a connector according to this embodiment in a state where a tensile force is applied to the flat cable, and FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part of a retainer used in this embodiment. FIG. The parts corresponding to the parts shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 8 are given the same reference numerals.

  Similar to the examples shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the connection terminal 7 includes a female terminal body 4 and a terminal plate portion 5 connected to the female terminal body, and both sides of the terminal plate portion 5 in the width direction. A plurality of crimp pieces 6 are erected. In the illustrated example, the flat cable 3 is provided with two flat conductors 1, 1, and a plurality of crimp pieces 6 of the connection terminal 7 are pierced at the tip of the flat cable 3 at each flat conductor 1. The connection terminal 7 is conductively connected to the flat conductor 1 inside the flat cable 3. In addition, the crimp pieces 6 of the connection terminals that have penetrated the flat cable 3 are bent and crimped, whereby the connection terminals 7 are connected to the flat cable 3, and the flat cable and the connection terminal 7 are connected to each flat conductor 1. A connection part (terminal connection part) 8 is formed. As in the case shown in FIG. 5, a trimming slit 3a is inserted in the flat insulation coating 2 between the adjacent flat conductors 1 and 1 at the end of the flat cable 3, and each terminal connection portion 8 is adjacent to the terminal connection. Separated from the part 8.

  Inside the connector housing 9, terminal storage chambers 12 having a front opening portion 10 and a rear opening portion 11 opened in the front-rear direction are formed by the number of connection terminals 7 (two in this embodiment). Each connection terminal 7 is housed inside. In each terminal accommodating chamber 12, terminal locking means 13 for locking the connection terminal 7 inserted from the rear port 11 is provided. 4 to 8, the terminal locking means 13 is composed of a lance 13a erected from the connection terminal 7 and a step portion 13b provided in the connector housing 9, and the lance 13a is connected to the lance 13a. The connection terminal 7 is locked by being locked by the stepped portion 13b.

  A retainer 16 is inserted into the terminal housing chamber 12 of the connector housing from the rear port 11. As shown in FIG. 5, the retainer 16 is provided in a state of protruding from the base portion 16 </ b> A and the base portion 16 </ b> A and inserted into the terminal housing chambers 12, 12 of the connector housing 9 from the respective rear opening portions 11, 11. It consists of a pair of insertion parts 16B and 16B.

  Each insertion portion 16B of the retainer 16 is brought into surface contact with a portion near the tip of the flat cable 3 connected to the connection terminal 7 in the terminal storage chamber 12 so that the portion near the tip of the flat cable is connected to the connector housing 9. A cable pressing portion 16a that is sandwiched and pressed between the terminal portion, a relief step portion 16b for avoiding contact with a terminal side portion of the connection portion 8 between the connection terminal 7 and the flat cable in the terminal storage chamber, and a relief step portion 16b. And a tip portion 16d extending forward (to the connection terminal 7). Further, the base 16A of the retainer 16 has a slit 16c through which the flat cable 3 connected to the connection terminal 7 inserted into the terminal storage chamber 12 is passed, and a latch that is opposed to the insertion portion 16B outside the connector housing 9. A hook 17b is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a protrusion 17 a is provided on the outside of the connector housing 9 so that the locking hook 17 b is hooked when the insertion portion 16 </ b> B of the retainer 16 is inserted into the terminal storage chamber 12. The retainer 16 is locked to the connector housing 9 by the 17b being hooked on the protrusion 17a. The shape of the relief step portion 16b is a shape that can prevent the retainer 16 from coming off due to the rotational component force of the flat cable 3 acting on the relief step portion 16b when a bending tensile force acts on the flat cable 3. .

  The inventor uses a flat cable with a female terminal in which a connection terminal 7 is connected to a flat cable 3 having a width of 4.0 mm in which a flat conductor 1 having a thickness of 0.15 mm and a width of 2.5 mm is covered with a flat insulating coating 2. 7 and the vicinity of the front end portion of the flat cable 3 are inserted into the connector housing 9, and then the thickness t1 of the cable holding portion 16a shown in FIG. 8 is 2.7 mm, and the thickness t2 of the front end portion 16d of the relief step portion 16b is shown in FIG. An experiment was conducted in which a 1.5 mm retainer 16 was inserted into the terminal storage chamber, and the flat cable 3 was bent and pulled. As a result, when the inclination angle of the relief step portion 16b of the retainer 16 (the angle formed by the extension line along the outline of the cable pressing portion 16a and the relief step portion 16b) is θ1 = 45 ° as shown in FIG. As a result, about 10% of the retainer 16 dropped off depending on how the flat cable 3 was bent.

  On the other hand, when the inclination angle of the relief step portion 16b is set to θ2 = 65 ° as shown in FIG. 3, the rotational component force by the flat cable 3 acts on the inclined surface of the relief step portion 16b and the retainer 16 comes off. It was confirmed that it can be avoided.

  When the inclination angle θ2 of the relief step portion 16b was changed to 45 °, 50 °, 55 °, 60 °, 65 °, 70 °, 75 °, 80 °, 85 °, and 90 °, θ2 = 45 Retainer 16 comes off at °, 50 °, retainer 16 becomes harder than θ2 = 45 °, 50 ° at θ2 = 55 °, and retainer 16 is sufficiently prevented from coming off when θ2 = 60 ° or more. It was confirmed that

  From the above results, it is understood that the inclination angle θ2 of the relief step portion 16b is preferably 55 ° or more and 90 ° or less, and more preferably 60 ° or more and 90 ° or less. That is, if the inclination angle θ2 of the relief step portion 16b is 55 ° or more and 90 ° or less, when a bending tensile force acts on the flat cable 3, a rotational component force by the flat cable 3 acts on the relief step portion 16b. It has become clear that the retainer 16 can be prevented from coming off.

  In the above example, the pierce-type connection that pierces the crimp piece 6 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the terminal connection portion 8 includes, for example, a terminal plate portion and a flat cable, and a concave blade shape and a convex shape. Cut-off of the overlapped part with the blade mold, punch out into a convex mold, press-release type connection part that crimps at the rising base, and spot welding connection part that peels off the flat insulation coating of the flat cable and connects it to the terminal plate part by spot welding It may correspond to a fixing structure to a flat cable with a terminal in which a protruding portion exists on the flat cable surface.

  The present invention can be applied not only to a flat cable connector for a flat cable with a terminal and a flat cable with a connector provided with a plurality of flat conductors, but also to a flat cable connector for a flat cable with a single core terminal. It can also be applied to flat cables with connectors.

It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view which showed one Embodiment of the connector for flat cables which concerns on this invention, and the flat cable with a connector. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view in the state in which the tensile force acted on the flat cable with the connector for flat cables shown in FIG. 1, and the flat cable with a connector. It is a principal part side view of an example of the retainer used by this embodiment. It is a perspective view of the connection terminal connected to a flat cable. It is a perspective view of the state before the connection of the conventional flat cable with a connector. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the conventional flat cable connector and the flat cable with a connector. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view which showed the state which the tension | tensile_strength acted on the flat cable with the conventional flat cable connector and the flat cable with a connector, and the retainer removed. It is a principal part side view of the conventional retainer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flat conductor 2 Flat insulation coating 3 Flat cable 4 Terminal body 5 Terminal board part 6 Crimp piece 7 Connection terminal 8 Terminal connection part 9 Connector housing 10 Front port 11 Rear port 12 Terminal accommodation chamber 13 Locking means 13a Lance 13b Step part 14 Elastic arm 15 Locking protrusion 16 Cantilever retainer 16a Cable presser part 16b Escape step part 16c Slit 16d Tip part 17 Locking means 17a Projection 17b Locking hook

Claims (2)

A connector housing (9) having a terminal storage chamber (12) having a front opening portion (10) and a rear opening portion (11) opened in the front and rear, and a flat cable stored in the terminal storage chamber of the connector housing A connection terminal (7) to which the tip of (3) is connected; a base (16A) disposed outside the connector housing; and a connector projecting from the rear opening (11) provided in a state protruding from the base A retainer (16) having an insertion portion (16B) to be inserted into the terminal storage chamber in the housing (9),
The insertion portion (16B) of the retainer (16) is in surface contact with a portion near the tip of the flat cable (3) connected to the connection terminal (7) in the terminal storage chamber. A cable pressing portion (16a) that holds and presses a portion near the distal end between the connector housing (9) and a connection portion (8) between the connection terminal (7) and the flat cable in the terminal storage chamber. A relief step (16b) is provided to avoid hitting the end portion,
The base (16A) of the retainer has a slit (16c) through which a flat cable (3) connected to a connection terminal (7) inserted into the terminal storage chamber (12) is passed, and an outer side of the connector housing And a locking hook (17b) opposite to the insertion portion is provided,
On the outside of the connector housing (9), there is provided a protrusion (17a) on which the locking hook (17b) is hooked when the insertion portion of the retainer (16) is inserted into the terminal storage chamber, In the flat cable connector configured such that the retainer (16) is locked to the connector housing (9) when the locking hook (17b) is hooked on the protrusion (17a).
An angle θ2 formed by an extension line along the outline of the cable pressing portion (16a) of the retainer (16) and the relief step portion (16b) is set to 55 ° or more and 90 ° or less. Flat cable connector. A connector housing (9) having a terminal housing chamber (12) having a front opening portion (10) and a rear opening portion (11) opened in the front and rear, and a terminal housing chamber of the connector housing (9). And a flat cable (3) having a distal end connected to the connection terminal (7) and a portion near the distal end inserted into the terminal housing chamber of the connector housing (9) from the rear opening. ), A base portion (16A) disposed outside the connector housing (9), and a state protruding from the base portion, and from the rear opening portion (11) into a terminal housing chamber in the connector housing (9) A retainer (16) having an inserted insertion portion (16B),
The insertion portion (16B) of the retainer (16) is brought into surface contact with a portion near the tip of the flat cable (3) inserted into the terminal storage chamber, and a portion near the tip of the flat cable is placed on the insertion portion (16B). Avoid contact of the cable holding part (16a) clamped between the connector housing (9) and the terminal part of the connection part (8) between the connection terminal (7) and the tip of the flat cable. And a relief step portion (16b) for providing,
The base (16A) of the retainer has a slit (16c) through which a flat cable (3) connected to a connection terminal (7) inserted into the terminal storage chamber (12) is passed, and the connector housing And a locking hook (17b) facing the insertion portion on the outside,
On the outside of the connector housing (9), there is provided a protrusion (17a) on which the locking hook (17b) is hooked when the insertion portion of the retainer (16) is inserted into the terminal storage chamber, In the flat cable with a connector configured such that the retainer (16) is locked to the connector housing (9) when the locking hook (17b) is hooked on the protrusion (17a).
An angle θ2 formed by an extension line along the outline of the cable pressing portion (16a) of the retainer (16) and the relief step portion (16b) is set to 55 ° or more and 90 ° or less. Flat cable with connector to be used.

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