JP2009289599A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the waste by effectively utilizing a portion which is not finally made into a product. <P>SOLUTION: A connector 10 includes: a housing 11 molded by a mold cavity; tab-shaped terminals 20 insert-molded into the housing 11; and a protection part 13 provided integrally with the housing 11 and molded by a runner communicating with a cavity. The protection part 13 is provided at such a position as to surround almost the tab-shaped terminals 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector.

  Generally, a connector mold formed by injection molding is provided with a runner for feeding molten resin into a cavity for molding a housing. The runner communicates with the inside of the cavity and serves as a passage for guiding the molten resin injected from the nozzle of the injection device to the inside of the cavity. When the mold is cooled after injection, the resin remaining inside the runner is cooled and hardened, so that the resin portion corresponding to the runner is molded simultaneously with the housing. For this reason, after removing the housing from the mold, the resin portion corresponding to the runner is removed.

As a connector that effectively uses a resin portion corresponding to such a runner, for example, a connector described in Patent Document 1 is known. In this connector, components such as a connector housing, a rear holder, and a lock spacer constituting the connector are connected by a main runner. Although the main runner is a portion that does not eventually become a product, it is left without being removed until it is conveyed to the assembly process after molding. Then, each part is separated from the main runner in the assembly process, and each part is assembled. This eliminates the need for individual component management and enables handling as a set of components.
JP 2002-83657 A

  However, if any one of the above components has a defective product, the connector is a defective product as a whole, and therefore, a lot of material is wasted. If only defective products are removed and only non-defective products are left, the management of parts becomes complicated, and as a result, they must be discarded as a set of parts.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to effectively utilize a portion that does not eventually become a product, thereby eliminating waste.

  The present invention includes a main housing formed by a cavity of a mold, a tab-like terminal insert-molded in the main housing, and a sub-housing formed integrally with the main housing and formed by a runner communicating with the cavity. The sub-housing is characterized in that the sub-housing is provided at a position substantially surrounding the tab-like terminal.

  According to such a configuration, the tab-like terminal can be protected by the sub-housing that is not finally a product. That is, after the connector is molded, the sub-housing is left until it is conveyed to the assembling process, and the sub-housing is removed in the assembling process so that the normal use state can be obtained. Therefore, by effectively utilizing the sub-housing, a dedicated case for protecting the tab-like terminals is not necessary, and waste can be eliminated.

The following configuration is preferable as an embodiment of the present invention.
The sub-housing includes a plurality of legs extending in the protruding direction of the tab-shaped terminals protruding from the outer surface of the main housing, and the extending ends of the plurality of legs protrude beyond the protruding ends of the tab-shaped terminals. It is good also as a structure.
According to such a configuration, since the extended end of the leg protrudes beyond the protruding end of the tab-shaped terminal, the tab-shaped terminal is protected by the leg against an obstacle approaching from the front in the protruding direction of the tab-shaped terminal. can do.

The sub-housing includes a plurality of beam portions installed between the plurality of leg portions, and the region formed in an annular shape by the plurality of beam portions is arranged to surround the region where the tab-like terminals are disposed. It is good.
According to such a configuration, since the tab-like terminal is disposed inside the region formed in an annular shape by the plurality of beam portions, the tab-like terminals are formed by the leg portions or the beam portions against obstacles approaching from the side. The terminal can be protected.

The joint portion between the main housing and the sub-housing may be configured to be set on a surface different from the outer surface of the main housing on which the tab-like terminals are disposed.
According to such a configuration, when the sub-housing is removed, it is possible to prevent the portion from which the sub-housing has been removed from remaining on the surface on which the tab-like terminals are disposed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively utilize a portion that does not eventually become a product, thereby eliminating waste.

<Embodiment 1>
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the connector 10 in this embodiment includes a housing 11 made of synthetic resin and having a substantially square block shape. The housing 11 is formed by a cavity (not shown) of a mold (not shown). The mold includes a sprue (not shown) for transferring the molten resin injected from the nozzle of the injection device into the mold and a runner (not shown) for guiding the molten resin from the sprue to the cavity. In addition, a plurality of gates (not shown) for filling the inside of the cavity with molten resin are set at the end of the runner.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a mounting portion 12 for mounting and fixing the housing 11 to the device side (not shown) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 11. Two attachment portions 12 are arranged on each of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing 11. Each mounting portion 12 has a form that projects from the upper and lower surfaces of the housing 11 in the vertical direction. Each attachment portion 12 is insert-molded with a cylindrical metal collar 30. The housing 11 is fixed to the equipment side by inserting a bolt (not shown) through the collar 30 and tightening a nut (not shown) disposed on the equipment side.

  On the front surface of the housing 11 (the front surface in FIG. 1), a plurality of tab-like terminals 20 are provided so as to protrude forward. These tab-like terminals 20 are insert-molded in the housing 11. The tab-like terminals 20 are arranged in two upper and lower stages. On the upper stage side, three tab-like terminals 20 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. On the lower stage side, five tab-like terminals 20 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The tab-like terminal 20 on the upper stage side coincides with the tab-like terminals 20 arranged in the second to fourth positions from the left on the lower stage side in the vertical direction.

  A protective portion (an example of the “sub housing” in the present invention) 13 is provided on the front surface of the housing 11 so as to substantially surround the plurality of tab-like terminals 20. The protection part 13 is a part molded corresponding to the sprue, runner, and gate of the mold. For this reason, the protection part 13 is a part which is normally removed after a shaping | molding and discarded. However, in this embodiment, it aims at using the protection part 13 effectively, and the tab-shaped terminal 20 is protected by this protection part 13.

  The protection unit 13 includes a plurality of leg portions 14 projecting forward from the front surface of the housing 11, and a plurality of beam portions 15 connected to the front end portions of the plurality of leg portions 14 and arranged parallel to the front surface of the housing 11. I have. The front end of each leg portion 14 is located in front of the front end of the tab-like terminal 20. Therefore, even if an obstacle approaches the tab-shaped terminal 20 from the front, the obstacle abuts against the beam portion 15, so that the tab-shaped terminal 20 can be protected.

  Specifically, two leg portions 14 are arranged in the left-right direction above the upper tab-like terminal 20, and three leg portions 14 are provided between the upper tab-like terminal 20 and the lower tab-like terminal 20. Are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and three are arranged below the tab-like terminal 20 on the lower stage side by side in the left-right direction.

  The two upper leg portions 14 and the three middle leg portions 14 are arranged so as to surround the upper tab-like terminal 20. For this reason, the upper end annular region T1 is formed by connecting the front end portions of these leg portions 14 in a ring shape by the beam portions 15. The upper annular region T1 is arranged so as to surround the upper terminal region S1 in which the upper tab-like terminals 20 are disposed. Therefore, even if an obstacle approaches the upper tab-shaped terminal 20 from the side, the obstacle abuts against the leg portion 14 or the beam portion 15, so that the upper tab-shaped terminal 20 can be protected. .

  On the other hand, the middle three leg portions 14 and the lower three leg portions 14 are arranged so as to surround the tab-like terminal 20 on the lower side. For this reason, the lower annular region T <b> 2 is formed by connecting the front end portions of the leg portions 14 in a ring shape by the beam portions 15. The lower annular region T2 is arranged to surround the lower terminal region S2 in which the lower tab-like terminals 20 are arranged. Therefore, even if an obstacle approaches the lower tab-shaped terminal 20 from the side, the obstacle abuts against the leg portion 14 or the beam portion 15, so that the lower tab-shaped terminal 20 can be protected. .

  A joint portion 14A corresponding to the gate of the mold is formed at the end portion of each leg portion 14 on the housing 11 side. The joining portion 14 </ b> A has a tapered shape that decreases in diameter as it approaches the housing 11. For this reason, when removing the protection part 13, it is easy to be destroyed in the base part (boundary part with the housing 11) where rigidity is the weakest among the joining parts 14A, and the gate mark 16 (see FIG. 4) becomes difficult to remain. Yes.

  According to such a connector 10, the tab-like terminal 20 can be protected by the protection part 13 that is not finally a product. That is, after the connector 10 is molded, it is left in a state where the protective part 13 is left until it is conveyed to the assembly process, and by removing the protective part 13 in the assembly process, as shown in FIGS. The original use state can be obtained. Therefore, by effectively utilizing the protection unit 13, a dedicated case for protecting the tab-like terminal 20 or the like becomes unnecessary, and waste can be eliminated.

  Further, since the front end portion of the leg portion 14 protrudes forward from the front end of the tab-like terminal 20 and the beam portion 15 is provided at the front end portion of the leg portion 14, the beam is against the obstacle approaching from the front. The tab-like terminal 20 can be protected by the portion 15. Further, since the tab-like terminals 20 are disposed inside the annular regions T1 and T2 configured in an annular shape by the plurality of beam portions 15, the leg portions 14 or the beam portions 15 against an obstacle approaching from the side. Thus, the tab-like terminal 20 can be protected.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of FIGS. The connector 40 of the present embodiment is a modification of the form of the protection unit 13 of the first embodiment, and description of other overlapping structures and effects is omitted. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the protection portion 17 according to the present embodiment is connected to a plurality of leg portions 18 disposed on both the left and right sides of the housing 11 and the front end portions of the plurality of leg portions 18. And a plurality of beam portions 19 arranged in parallel with the front surface of the housing 11. The beam portion 19 has three rows in the vertical direction and four rows in the left-right direction, and as shown in FIG. 7, both terminal regions S1, S2 are surrounded by both annular regions T1, T2. Is the same as in the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, three leg portions 18 are arranged on the left side of the left side surface of the housing 11, and three leg portions 18 are arranged on the right side of the right side surface of the housing 11. The joint 18A of the left leg 18 is connected to the left side of the housing 11, and the joint 18A of the right leg 18 is connected to the right side of the housing 11. For this reason, when the protection part 17 is removed, the gate mark 16 is not left on the front surface of the housing 11 as shown in FIG. Therefore, there is no possibility of causing trouble in the fitting state with the mating connector (not shown) due to the gate mark 16.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) Although the protection part is removed in the assembly process in this embodiment, according to the present invention, the protection part is not limited to the assembly process, and the protection part may be removed in any process. Moreover, the protection part does not necessarily need to be removed, and can be used with the protection part remaining.

  (2) In the present embodiment, the protection portion provided with the leg portion and the beam portion is illustrated. However, according to the present invention, the protection portion does not necessarily have to be divided into the leg portion and the beam portion. And the beam portion may be integrally formed to form the protective portion in an arch shape.

  (3) Although the protection part is formed in a frame shape in this embodiment, according to the present invention, the protection part may be formed in a planar shape.

The front view of the connector of Embodiment 1 Bottom view of the connector Left side view of the connector Front view showing a state where the protective part is removed from the connector Bottom view showing the protection part removed from the connector Left side view of the connector with the protective part removed Front view of the connector of Embodiment 2 Bottom view of the connector Left side view of the connector Front view showing a state where the protective part is removed from the connector

Explanation of symbols

10 ... Connector 11 ... Housing (Main housing)
13 ... Protection part (sub housing)
14 ... Leg part 14A ... Joint part 15 ... Beam part 17 ... Protection part (sub-housing)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 18 ... Leg part 19 ... Beam part 20 ... Tab-shaped terminal 30 ... Collar 40 ... Connector S1 ... Upper terminal area S2 ... Lower terminal area T1 ... Upper annular area T2 ... Lower annular area

Claims (4)

A main housing molded by a mold cavity;
A tab-like terminal insert-molded in the main housing;
A sub-housing formed integrally with the main housing and formed by a runner communicating with the cavity;
The sub-housing is provided at a position substantially surrounding the tab-like terminal. The sub-housing includes a plurality of legs extending from the outer surface of the main housing in the protruding direction of the tab-shaped terminals, and the extending ends of the plurality of legs are more than the protruding ends of the tab-shaped terminals. The connector according to claim 1, which protrudes. The sub-housing includes a plurality of beam portions provided between the plurality of leg portions, and an area formed in an annular shape by the plurality of beam sections surrounds an area where the tab-shaped terminals are disposed. The connector according to claim 2. The joint part of the said main housing and the said subhousing is set to the surface different from the outer surface of the said main housing in which the said tab-shaped terminal is arrange | positioned. Connector.

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