JP2010097827A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector for closing a cover at the normal position always smoothly when closing an opening part of a connector housing with a cover. <P>SOLUTION: In the connector 10 equipped with the connector housing 11 in which a terminal housing chamber 12 to house a terminal is formed and the opening part 16 into which the terminal is inserted is formed, and a cover 21 to open and close the opening part 16 via a hinge part 20 coupled with this connector housing 11, at the cover 21, a guide protrusion 25 is installed which guides the cover 21 to an appropriate shielded position of the opening part 16 by mutually interfering with a sidewall 13c of the connector housing 11 or a guide receiving rib 19 in the case the hinge part 20 is bent and deformed in the vicinity region on a housing side or in the vicinity region on the cover side except the center region of the hinge part 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector in which an opening for inserting a terminal of a connector housing is covered with a cover.

  As this type of connector, there is one shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  17 and 18, the connector 1 forms a terminal housing chamber 2a for housing a terminal (not shown) and a connector housing 2 made of synthetic resin having an opening 2b into which the terminal is inserted. The connector housing 2 includes a cover 7 that opens and closes the opening 2b via a pair of hinge portions 6 and 6 that are integrally formed below the opening edge 2c.

  A through-hole 2d through which a mating terminal (not shown) is inserted is formed in the front wall of the connector housing 2. Further, the cover 7 is formed with a terminal (not shown) and a through hole 7a through which an electric wire connected to the terminal is inserted.

When the hinge portion 6 is bent and the cover 7 closes the opening 2 b of the connector housing 2, a pair of engagement arms 8, 8 provided on both sides of the cover 7 are provided on both sides of the connector housing 2. Guided by a pair of upper and lower guide projections 3, 3 and locked by a pair of lock projections 4, 4 provided at the center of both sides of the connector housing 2, an arm-like shape provided at the center of the upper end portion of the cover 7. The lock piece 9 is engaged with a bridge-shaped lock receiving piece 5 provided at the center of the upper surface of the connector housing 2.
JP 2002-30796 A (FIGS. 2 and 4) JP 2006-318801 A (FIGS. 4 and 5)

  However, in the conventional connector 1, when the opening 2 b of the connector housing 2 is closed with the cover 7, the opening 2 b of the connector housing 2 is covered with the cover 7 depending on the position at which the hinge 6 is deformed (bent). It was difficult to close smoothly.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a connector that can always smoothly close the cover at a normal position when closing the opening of the connector housing with the cover. Objective.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a terminal housing chamber for housing the terminal is formed, and a connector housing having an opening into which the terminal is inserted, and the opening through the hinge connected to the connector housing. In the connector provided with a cover that opens and closes, an interference portion provided in the connector housing when the hinge portion is bent and deformed in a housing-side vicinity region or a cover-side vicinity region other than the central region of the hinge portion. And guiding means for guiding the cover to an appropriate shielding position of the opening.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the connector according to claim 1, wherein the cover is provided with first guide means as the guide means when the hinge portion is bent and deformed in the vicinity of the housing side, and the interference. A first interference portion as a guide portion is provided in the connector housing, and a second guide means as the guide means is provided in the cover when the hinge portion is bent and deformed in the vicinity of the cover side, and the interference portion The second interference part is provided in the connector housing.

  A third aspect of the invention is the connector according to the first aspect, wherein the first guide means is formed by an inclined wall of a guide protrusion provided on the cover, and the first interference portion is a peripheral wall of the connector housing. And the second guide means is formed of an upright wall of the guide projection, and the second interference portion is formed of a peripheral wall of the connector housing.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the cover is provided in the connector housing when the hinge portion is bent and deformed in the housing-side vicinity region or the cover-side vicinity region other than the central region of the hinge portion. By providing guide means for interfering with the interference part and guiding the cover to an appropriate shielding position of the opening, the cover can be always closed smoothly at the normal position.

  According to the invention of claim 2, when the hinge part is bent and deformed in the vicinity of the housing side, the first guide means as the guide means is provided on the cover, and the first interference part as the interference part is provided on the connector housing, In addition, when the hinge part is bent and deformed in the vicinity of the cover side, the cover is provided with the second guide means as the guide means and the second interference part as the interference part is provided in the connector housing so that the cover is always smoothly covered. Can be securely closed at the normal position.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the first guide means is formed by the inclined wall of the guide projection provided on the cover, the first interference part is formed by the guide receiving rib provided on the peripheral wall of the connector housing, and Since the second guide means is formed by the standing wall of the guide protrusion and the second interference portion is formed by the peripheral wall of the connector housing, the cover can be always closed smoothly and securely at the normal position.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cover of the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention is opened, FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the state in which the cover of the connector is opened, and FIG. 3 is taken along line XX in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. 3, FIG. 5A is a plan view showing a state before the cover is closed, and FIG. 5B is a state in the middle of closing the cover. FIG. 5 (c) is a plan view showing a state in which the cover is closed, and FIG. 6 (a) is a state before the cover is closed by bending and deforming a hinge portion integrally formed with the cover in its central region. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing a state in which the cover is closed, and FIG. 7 is a state before the cover is closed by bending and deforming the hinge part in the vicinity of the cover side. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the state of FIG. 8, in which the hinge is bent and deformed in the vicinity of the housing to close the cover. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the state before closing the cover of the connector, FIG. 10 is another cross-sectional view showing the state before closing the cover of the connector, and FIG. FIG. 12 is a rear view showing a state in which the cover of the connector is closed. FIG. 13 (a) is a view of the cover in a state in which the cover of the connector is closed. FIG. 13B is an enlarged sectional view of the main part in the closed state, FIG. 14 is a rear view of the L-shaped terminal accommodated in the connector, and FIG. FIG. 16A is a cross-sectional view showing a state before the L-shaped terminal is accommodated in the connector, and FIG. 16B is an L-shaped terminal in another mode. It is sectional drawing which shows the state before accommodating a terminal.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the connector 10 has an electrical contact portion 32 that is electrically connected to the mating terminal 51 of the mating connector 50 and a crimping portion 33 to which the electric wire 40 is caulked and fixed. The L-shaped terminal 30 and the terminal accommodating chamber 12 that accommodates the electrical contact portion 32 and the crimping portion 33 of the terminal 30 are formed, and the opening 16 that accommodates the crimping portion 33 side of the terminal 30 is formed on the upper wall 13b. And a synthetic resin connector housing 11 formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section with the lower wall 13d and the side wall 13c, and a synthetic resin that opens and closes the opening 16 via a hinge portion 20 formed integrally with the connector housing 11. The cover 21 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 5, the connector housing 11 is formed in a box shape and a plane L shape from a synthetic resin, and a plane L-shaped terminal accommodating chamber 12 is formed inside the connector housing 11. is there. A through hole 14 through which the mating terminal 51 is inserted is formed in the front wall 13 a of the connector housing 11. 4, 9, and 10, a lance (flexible locking portion) on the inner surface of the upper wall 13b of the connector housing 11 that locks an electrical contact portion 32 of a terminal 30 to be described later. 15 is integrally formed. Further, the rear side of the connector housing 11 is an opening 16 that is opened in a substantially U-shaped cross section. That is, the opening 16 is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section by the upper wall 13b, the lower wall 13d, and the side wall 13c of the connector housing 11.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 3, when the L-shaped terminal 30 is inserted and accommodated in the flat L-shaped terminal accommodating chamber 12 from the opening 16 having a substantially U-shaped cross section of the connector housing 11, the terminal The crimping part 33 of 30 and the base part 31c of the terminal main body 31 of the terminal 30 are located on the side of the opening part 16 having a substantially U-shaped cross section. When the crimping portion 33 of the terminal 30 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 12 on the opening 16 side having a substantially U-shaped cross section, the crimping portion 33 of the terminal 30 is connected to the connector housing on the opening 16 side as shown in FIG. 11 is in contact with the upper wall 13b and the lower wall 13d.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, a lock arm 17 for integrally locking and releasing the mating connector 50 is integrally formed at the center of the upper wall 13b of the connector housing 11 in the longitudinal direction. . Further, at the position facing the lock arm 17 on the opening 16 side of the upper wall 13b of the connector housing 11, a tip end portion is formed with a hook-like locking claw (locking portion) 18a integrally protruding, A groove-like recess 18b is formed at a position opposite to the locking claw 18a on the opening 16 side of the lower wall 13d of the connector housing 11. Further, hooking pawls (locking portions) 18c, 18c having hook-shaped tips are provided at positions opposite to the crimping portion 33 of the terminal 30 on the opening 16 side of the upper wall 13b and the lower wall 13d of the connector housing 11. Each of them is integrally formed. Further, a guide receiving rib (first interference portion) 19 is integrally formed at the center of the inner surface of the upper wall 13b of the connector housing 11 on the opening 16 side (position facing the side wall 13e on the opposite side of the connector housing 11). It is. Further, a pair of upper and lower hinge portions 20, 20 are integrally formed on the rear end edge of the side wall 13 c of the connector housing 11 and the one end edge of the cover 21 so as to span the both.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5 to 12, the cover 21 has a cover body 22 having a substantially rectangular plate shape. At a position where the tip of the connector housing 11 on the upper and lower ends of the cover main body 22 faces the hook-shaped locking claws 18 a and 18 c, a substantially square frame-shaped engaging portion 23 is provided with respect to the cover main body 22. Each of them is integrally formed so as to stand vertically. A lock that locks the closed state of the upper wall 13b, the side wall 13c, the lower wall 13d, and the cover 21 that form the opening 16 having a substantially U-shaped cross section of the connector housing 11 by the engaging portion 23 and the locking claws 18a, 18c. Means are configured. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, at the position facing the recess 18b of the lower wall 13d of the connector housing 11 below the inner surface of the cover body 22, the narrow protrusion 24a fitted into the recess 18b and the recess 18b The wide protrusions 24b that contact the outside are integrally projected.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 to 8, above the narrow protrusion 24 a on the inner surface of the cover main body 22 of the cover 21, there is a region near the housing side or a region near the cover side other than the central region of each hinge portion 20. When each hinge portion 20 is bent and deformed, a guide receiving rib (first interference portion) 19 formed on the inner surface of the upper wall (peripheral wall) 13b of the connector housing 11 or a side wall (second wall) as the peripheral wall of the connector housing 11 A substantially square cylindrical guide projection (guide means) 25 having an inclined wall 25a that interferes with the interference portion) 13c and guides the cover body 22 to an appropriate shielding position of the opening portion 16 is integrally formed. . That is, as shown in FIG. 8, when each hinge part 20 is bent and deformed (bent at the base of the housing) in the vicinity of the housing, guide protrusions (guide means) integrally projectingly formed on the inner surface of the cover main body 22 of the cover 21. 25 inclined walls (first guide means) 25 a abut against guide receiving ribs 19 formed on the inner surface of the upper wall 13 b of the connector housing 11, so that the cover body 22 is guided to an appropriate shielding position of the opening 16. It has become. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, when each hinge portion 20 is bent and deformed (cover base bend) in the cover side vicinity region, the standing wall (second guide means) 25 c of the guide protrusion 25 is connected to the side wall ( The cover main body 22 is guided to an appropriate shielding position of the opening 16 by hitting the second interference part) 13c.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 13A, the upper wall 25b of the guide protrusion 25 integrally formed on the cover body 22 of the cover 21 is formed on the opening side when the opening 16 is closed by the cover 21. This is a first correction portion that corrects deformation of the connector housing 11 toward the inside of the upper wall 13b. The lower wall 25d of the guide protrusion 25 is a second correction part that holds the terminal body 31 of the terminal 30 between the lower wall 13d of the connector housing 11 on the opening side when the opening 16 is closed by the cover 21. It has become. Further, the standing wall 25c of the guide protrusion 25 serves as a support portion that transmits the reaction force from the terminal 30 and the lower wall 13d of the connector housing 11 to the upper wall 13b between the upper wall 25b and the lower wall 25d. That is, the standing wall 25c of the guide protrusion 25 as the support portion enhances a holding function for holding the terminal body 31 of the terminal 30 between the lower wall 25d of the guide protrusion 25 and the lower wall 13d of the connector housing 11. is there. Further, as shown in FIG. 13B, an inclined surface 25e is formed at the tip of the lower wall 25d of the guide protrusion 25. By this inclined surface 25e, when the opening portion 16 is closed by the cover 21, the tip of the lower wall 25d of the guide protrusion 25 does not hit the base portion 31c of the terminal body 31, and the cover 21 can be closed smoothly. Yes.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2, 10, and 11, the upper and lower edges of the cover body 22 of the cover 21 are opposite to the guide protrusions 25 (the side facing the crimping portion 33 of the terminal 30 in the opening 16). Has a pair of inclining correction pick-up ribs 26 and 27 integrally formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 13 to 16, the terminal body 31 of the terminal 30 is formed in a planar L shape. A box-shaped electrical contact portion 32 to which the counterpart terminal 51 is connected is formed at one end 31a of the L-shaped terminal body 31 by bending. Further, a crimping portion 33 to which the electric wire 40 is crimped and fixed is bent at the other end 31 b of the terminal body 31.

  A rectangular engagement hole 32 a in which the lance 15 is locked is formed in the center of the upper surface of the box-shaped electrical contact portion 32 of the terminal 30. Further, the crimping portion 33 of the terminal 30 has a pair of crimping pieces 33 a and 33 a for crimping and fixing the insulating coating portion 41 of the electric wire 40 and a pair of crimping pieces 33 b and 33 b for crimping and fixing the core wire 42 of the electric wire 40. is doing. As a wire crimping form of the pair of crimping pieces 33a, 33a, an overlap type in which the insulation covering portion 41 of the electric wire 40 is crimped so that one crimping piece 33a wraps the other crimping piece 33a, or both crimping. B clamp types that are crimped so that the pieces 33a and 33a bite into the insulating coating portion 41 of the electric wire 40 are employed. These overlap type or B clamp type crimp crimp height (height H) is a side wall 13c between the inner surface of the upper wall 13b of the connector housing 11 and the inner surface of the lower wall 13d on the side of the opening 16 having a substantially U-shaped cross section. It is set to be almost the same as the height of.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the engagement portion 23 having a substantially rectangular frame shape and the wide width of the cover 21 at the rear ends (end portions on the opening 16 side) of the upper wall 13b and the lower wall 13d of the connector housing 11 are shown. A notch 13f is formed at a position opposite to the protrusion 24b. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the electric wire 40 goes out from the side of the opening 16 ′ having a substantially U-shaped cross section formed by the other side wall 13e having the L-shaped cross section of the connector housing 11, the upper wall 13b, and the lower wall 13d. Has been derived.

  According to the connector 10 of the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the flat L-shaped terminal main body 31 of the terminal 30 is placed in the flat L-shaped terminal accommodating chamber 12 of the connector housing 11. Since the connector housing 11 is accommodated so as to be positioned on the side of the opening 16 having a U-shaped cross section, even when a thick electric wire 40 for supplying a large current is used, as in the case where a normal straight terminal is used. There is no need to bend the electric wire 40 at a substantially right angle. For example, the electric wire 40 can be easily assembled in a narrow space in the engine room, and the space in the engine room can be used effectively.

  Further, when the cover body 22 of the cover 21 is bent and deformed in the housing side vicinity region (housing base side) or the cover side vicinity region (cover base side) other than the central region of the hinge portion 20, the connector housing Guide projections (guide means) 25 for guiding the cover 21 to an appropriate shielding position of the opening 16 by interfering with the side wall (second interference portion) 13c of the eleventh side or the guide receiving rib (first interference portion) 19. As shown in FIG. 7, when the hinge portion 20 is bent and deformed in the vicinity of the cover side, the standing wall (second guide means) 25 c of the guide protrusion 25 is formed on the side wall (first guide). (2 interference part, peripheral wall) 13c, the cover main body 22 is guided to the normal locus, and the cover 21 can be smoothly closed at the normal position. That.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when the hinge portion 20 is bent and deformed in the vicinity of the housing side, the inclined wall (first guide means) 25 a of the guide protrusion 25 is formed on the upper wall (peripheral wall) 13 b of the connector housing 11. By contacting the guide receiving ribs 19 that are integrally formed, the cover main body 22 is guided to the normal locus, and the cover 21 can be always closed at the proper position.

  As described above, even if the hinge portion 20 integrally formed between the connector housing 11 and the cover 21 is bent and deformed at any position in the housing side vicinity region or the cover side vicinity region other than the central region, the connector housing 11 Since the cover 21 can be smoothly closed by the side wall 13c, the guide receiving rib 19 and the guide protrusion 25 of the cover 21, the connector 10 is packed and shipped, and the hinge portion 20 is bent and deformed at a strange position during assembly. There is no influence when the cover 21 closes the opening 16 of the connector housing 11.

  In addition, according to the said embodiment, although the case where the thick electric wire for large current supply was used was demonstrated, it is needless to say that it is applicable also when used for the thin electric wire for small current supply.

It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the cover of the connector of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a rear view which shows the state which opened the cover of the said connector. It is sectional drawing which follows the XX line in FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the YY line in FIG. (A) is a top view which shows the state before closing the said cover, (b) is a top view which shows the state in the middle of closing the cover, (c) is a top view which shows the state which closed the cover. (A) is sectional drawing of the principal part which shows the state before bending and deforming the hinge part integrally molded by the said cover in the center area | region, and closing the cover, (b) is the principal part which shows the state which closed the cover It is sectional drawing of a part. It is sectional drawing of the principal part which shows the state before making the said hinge part bend-deform in the cover side vicinity area | region, and closing the said cover. It is sectional drawing of the principal part which shows the state before making the said hinge part bend-deform in the housing side vicinity area | region, and closing the said cover. It is sectional drawing which shows the state before closing the cover of the said connector. It is another sectional view showing the state before closing the cover of the connector. It is sectional drawing of the principal part which shows the state which closed the cover of the said connector. It is a rear view which shows the state which closed the cover of the said connector. (A) is sectional drawing which shows the relationship between the said cover and terminal of the state which closed the cover of the said connector, (b) is an expanded sectional view of the principal part of the closed state. It is a rear view of the L-shaped terminal accommodated in the said connector. It is a side view of the said L-shaped terminal. (A) is sectional drawing which shows the state before accommodating the L-shaped terminal in the said connector, (b) is sectional drawing which shows the state before accommodating the L-shaped terminal of another aspect in the same connector. is there. It is sectional drawing of the conventional connector. It is a rear view of the said conventional connector.

Explanation of symbols

10 connector 11 connector housing 12 terminal accommodating chamber 13b upper wall (peripheral wall)
13c Side wall (second interference part, peripheral wall)
16 Opening 19 Guide receiving rib (first interference part)
20 Hinge part 21 Cover 25 Guide protrusion (guide means)
25a Inclined part (first guide means)
25c Standing wall (second guide means)
30 terminals

Claims (3)

A connector housing that forms a terminal housing chamber that houses a terminal, and that has an opening into which the terminal is inserted, and a cover that opens and closes the opening through a hinge connected to the connector housing. In the connector,
When the hinge portion is bent and deformed in a housing-side vicinity region or a cover-side vicinity region other than the central region of the hinge portion, the cover interferes with an interference portion provided in the connector housing to open the cover. A connector characterized in that it is provided with guide means for guiding to an appropriate shielding position of the part. The connector according to claim 1,
When the hinge portion is bent and deformed in the vicinity of the housing side, the first guide means as the guide means is provided in the cover, the first interference portion as the interference portion is provided in the connector housing, and A second guide means as the guide means is provided in the cover when the hinge part is bent and deformed in the vicinity of the cover side, and a second interference part as the interference part is provided in the connector housing. Connector. The connector according to claim 1,
The first guide means is formed by an inclined wall of a guide projection provided on the cover, the first interference portion is formed by a guide receiving rib provided on a peripheral wall of the connector housing, and the second guide The connector is formed by an upright wall of the guide projection, and the second interference portion is formed by a peripheral wall of the connector housing.

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