JP2010123554A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent inclination of a terminal fitting in a housing due to external force exerted on an electric wire in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the wire is lead out of a housing. <P>SOLUTION: The terminal fitting 20 inserted into a cavity 11 is prevented from slipping off by locking a lance 13 formed on an inner wall of the cavity 11 and the electric wire 40 connected to the terminal fitting 20 is led out of the housing 10 backward. The terminal fitting 20 has elastic depression parts 31, 32 of forms projecting toward an outer surface from positions different from that of a locking part 28 to be locked to the lance 13 and being elastically depressable in the direction intersecting with the direction in which the electric wire 40 is lead out of the housing 10 against the inner wall of the cavity 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector.

Patent Document 1 discloses a connector configured by inserting a terminal fitting into a housing. The terminal fitting has an open barrel-like wire barrel portion at the rear end side portion, and the conductor exposed by removing the insulation coating from the electric wire is connected to the wire barrel portion so as to be conductive by crimping. Yes. The electric wire connected to the terminal fitting is led out of the housing.
JP-A-2005-222815

  In general electric wires, copper having a relatively low rigidity is used as a conductor, but a material having rigidity higher than copper (for example, aluminum) is used as a conductor, or a material having a lower conductivity than copper (for example, copper) Since the conductor is made thicker with the use of (aluminum), the rigidity of the conductor may increase as a result. In such a case, if the electric wire led to the rear of the housing is displaced by an external force in a direction crossing the direction from the housing, the terminal fitting may be inclined in the housing due to the rigidity of the electric wire. . When the attitude of the terminal fitting changes, the contact state with the counterpart terminal becomes unstable, and there is a concern that the contact reliability may be reduced.

  The present invention has been completed on the basis of the above situation, and the terminal fitting is inclined in the housing due to the external force in the direction intersecting the direction in which the electric wire is drawn out from the housing. The purpose is to prevent.

  As a means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that a housing having a cavity formed therein and a terminal connection portion functioning as a connection means for a mating terminal are formed in the front end side region, An open barrel-shaped wire barrel portion is formed behind the terminal connection portion, and the terminal fitting inserted into the cavity from the rear and the conductor are surrounded by an insulation coating, and the insulation coating is removed and exposed. The conductor is crimped to the wire barrel portion and provided to the rear of the housing, and the terminal fitting inserted into the cavity locks the lance formed on the inner wall of the cavity. In the connector that is prevented from being pulled out, the terminal fitting has a form protruding to the outer surface side from a position different from the locking portion with the lance, The inner wall of Yabiti to have a feature where the resiliently depressible resilient pressing portion in a direction intersecting the extending direction from the housing of the electric wire is formed.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the elastic pressing portion is supported at two places on the outer surface of the terminal fitting.

  The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1 or 2, the elastic pressing portions are arranged at a plurality of positions spaced in the front-rear direction.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the one according to any one of the first to third aspects, the elastic pressing portion protrudes from an outer surface opposite to the locking portion of the outer surface of the terminal fitting. It has the characteristic in that.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the one according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the terminal fitting is formed by bending a metal plate material that has been punched into a predetermined shape and is in an expanded state. The terminal connection portion has a rectangular tube shape composed of a plurality of plate portions that are connected in a bent state at a fold in the front-rear direction, and the terminal connection portion includes a front edge of the terminal connection portion. The elastic contact piece is folded back in a continuous manner, and the elastic pressing portion is connected to the front end edge of the terminal connecting portion. When the metal plate is in the unfolded state, the elastic contact piece is It is characterized in that at least a part of the pressing portion is disposed in a region within the range of the elastic contact piece in the length direction and within the range of the terminal connection portion in the width direction.

  The invention of claim 6 is the one according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the terminal fitting is formed by bending a metal plate material that has been punched into a predetermined shape and is in an expanded state. The terminal connecting portion has a rectangular tube shape composed of a plurality of plate portions that are connected in a state of being bent at a fold in the front-rear direction, and the wire barrel portion is connected to the rear of the terminal connecting portion, The elastic pressing portion is configured to be connected to a rear end edge of the terminal connecting portion, and when the metal plate material is in a developed state, at least a part of the elastic pressing portion is in the length direction of the wire barrel portion. It is within a range and is characterized in that it is disposed in a region within the range of the terminal connection portion in the width direction.

<Invention of Claim 1>
When an external force in a direction that intersects the direction from the housing is applied to the electric wire, the external force acts on the terminal fitting via the electric wire. However, since the terminal fitting is held so as to maintain a constant posture by elastically pressing the elastic pressing portion against the inner wall of the cavity, there is no possibility that the posture of the terminal fitting changes.

<Invention of Claim 2>
Since the elastic pressing portion is supported at two locations on the outer surface of the terminal fitting, the elastic pressing portion is supported by the terminal fitting at only one location and can be extended in a cantilever manner. The elasticity of the portion can be sufficiently exerted, and as a result, the change in the posture of the terminal fitting can be more reliably prevented.

<Invention of Claim 3>
Since the elastic pressing portions are arranged at a plurality of positions spaced in the front-rear direction, it is possible to more reliably prevent the inclination of the terminal fitting posture.

<Invention of Claim 4>
Since the elastic pressing portion protrudes from the outer surface of the terminal fitting opposite to the locking portion with the lance, the terminal fitting is pressed toward the lance by the elastic force of the elastic pressing portion. Thereby, the latching allowance of a lance and a latching | locking part is fully ensured, and a terminal metal fitting can be reliably stopped.

<Invention of Claim 5>
The region in front of the terminal connecting portion and the side of the elastic contact piece in the expanded metal plate material is a portion discarded when the metal plate material is punched into a predetermined shape. In the present invention, the elastic pressing portion is connected to the front end edge of the terminal connecting portion, and at least a part of the elastic pressing portion is within the range of the elastic contact piece in the length direction and the terminal in the width direction. It was arranged in the area within the range of the connection part. As a result, since a part of the discarded portion of the metal plate material can be effectively used as the elastic pressing portion, the waste area at the time of punching can be reduced and the yield can be improved.

<Invention of Claim 6>
The region behind the terminal connection portion and on the side of the wire barrel portion in the expanded metal plate material is a portion discarded when the metal plate material is punched into a predetermined shape. In the present invention, the elastic pressing portion is connected to the rear end edge of the terminal connecting portion, and at least a part of the elastic pressing portion is within the range of the wire barrel portion in the length direction and in the width direction. It was arranged in the area within the range of the terminal connection part. Thereby, a part of the discarded portion of the metal plate material can be effectively used as the elastic pressing portion, so that the disposal area at the time of punching can be reduced and the yield can be improved.

<Embodiment 1>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The connector of this embodiment includes a housing 10, a plurality of terminal fittings 20, and an electric wire 40. The electric wire 40 has a known form in which a conductor 41 is surrounded by an insulating coating 42. Prior to being connected to the terminal fitting 20, the insulation coating 42 is removed and the conductor 41 is exposed at the front end portion of the electric wire 40. As the material of the conductor 41, copper, a material having higher rigidity than copper (for example, aluminum), or a material having lower conductivity than copper (for example, aluminum) is used.

  The housing 10 is made of synthetic resin, and a plurality of cavities 11 elongated in the front-rear direction are formed in the housing 10. The front end (left end portion in FIG. 1) of the cavity 11 is opened as a terminal entrance for allowing a mating terminal (not shown) to enter the cavity 11 on the front end surface of the housing 10. The rear end of the cavity 11 is opened as a terminal insertion opening on the rear end surface of the housing 10. In each cavity 11, a lance 13 in a form that cantilevered forward along the lower wall 12 is elastically bent in the vertical direction (direction intersecting the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 20 with respect to the cavity 11). Shaped to get. A locking projection 14 for locking to the terminal fitting 20 is formed on the upper surface of the lance 13.

  The terminal fitting 20 is of a female shape formed by bending a metal plate material 51 that has been punched into a predetermined shape and developed. As shown in FIG. 2, the metal plate 51 is connected to a pair of carriers 52 at the front and rear ends (the front end of the elastic contact piece 27 and the rear end of the insulation barrel portion 36). A chain terminal 50 is constituted by the metal plate members 51 arranged in parallel. The metal plate material 51 is subjected to bending or the like and formed into a predetermined shape of the terminal fitting 20, and then separated from the carrier 52.

  The terminal fitting 20 is elongated in the front-rear direction as a whole, and its front end side region is a terminal connecting portion 21 having a rectangular tube shape. The terminal connection portion 21 has a well-known configuration that functions as a connection means with an elongated tab (not shown) formed on the male counterpart terminal. The terminal connection portion 21 includes a bottom plate 22, a pair of side plates 23 that rise at right angles from the left and right side edges of the bottom plate 22, a top plate 24 that extends inward from the upper end edge of one side plate 23, and the other The ceiling plate 25 extends from the upper end edge of the side plate 23 to the inside at a right angle. These five plate portions 22 to 25 are formed in a rectangular tube shape by being bent at a fold line 26 in the front-rear direction, and the upper surface plate 24 is overlaid on the upper surface (outer surface) of the ceiling plate 25.

  The bottom plate 22 is integrally formed with an elastic contact piece 27 that is folded back from the front end edge thereof. The elastic contact piece 27 is accommodated in a portion on the front end side in the internal space of the elastic contact piece 27. Further, a through hole for locking the locking protrusion 14 of the lance 13 when the terminal fitting 20 is inserted to the normal position in the cavity 11 at a position behind the elastic contact piece 27 in the lower surface plate 22. A shaped locking portion 28 is formed.

  Of the plate portions constituting the elastic contact piece 27, the upper surface plate 24 parallel to the lower surface plate 22 has a first elastic pressing portion 31 extending from the front end edge thereof and a second elastic pressing portion extending from the rear end edge thereof. The part 32 is integrally formed. The first elastic pressing portion 31 and the second elastic pressing portion 32 are formed in a shape that is symmetrical in the front-rear direction in a side view.

  The first elastic pressing portion 31 has a generally chevron shape in a side view by bending a protruding piece portion extending from the front end edge of the upper surface plate 24 to the outer surface side of the terminal connection portion 21 (upper surface plate 24) and turning back. It is shaped to make. The extended end portion (rear end portion) of the first elastic pressing portion 31 is located above the base end portion of the first elastic pressing portion 31 (the end portion on the side connected to the front end edge of the upper surface plate 24) at the rear side. It is in contact with the upper surface (outer surface) of the face plate 24.

  The second elastic pressing portion 32 is generally chevron in a side view by bending a protruding piece portion extending from the rear end edge of the upper surface plate 24 to the outer surface side of the terminal connection portion 21 (upper surface plate 24) and folding it forward. It is molded to make The extended end portion (front end portion) of the second elastic pressing portion 32 is located at a position in front of the base end portion (end portion connected to the rear end edge of the upper surface plate 24) of the second elastic pressing portion 32 at the upper position. It is in contact with the upper surface (outer surface) of the face plate 24.

  An open barrel-shaped crimping portion 34 is formed in the rear end side region of the terminal fitting 20 (behind the terminal connection portion 21). The crimping portion 34 includes a wire barrel portion 35 formed in the front end side region, and an insulation barrel portion 36 formed in the rear end side region (backward of the wire barrel portion 35). The front end of the wire barrel portion 35 is connected to the rear end of the elastic contact piece 27 through a connecting portion 37 in which the lower end plate 22 of the terminal connection portion 21 and the lower end portions of the left and right side surface plates 23 are extended rearward. Yes.

  The wire barrel portion 35 has a form in which a pair of caulking pieces 35b are raised from both left and right edges of the bottom wall 35a, and a conductor 41 of an electric wire 40 is connected to the wire barrel portion 35 so as to be conductive by crimping. . During crimping, the crimping piece 35b is deformed and wound around the conductor 41 placed on the bottom wall 35a of the wire barrel part 35, so that the conductor 41 is surrounded by the wire barrel part 35. The insulation barrel portion 36 has a form in which a pair of caulking pieces 36 b are raised from the bottom wall 36 a continuous with the bottom wall 35 a of the wire barrel portion 35. A portion of the electric wire 40 covered with the insulating coating 42 is fixed to the insulation barrel portion 36 by crimping in the same manner as the wire barrel portion 35.

  The terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the cavity 11 from the rear. In the insertion process, the lance 13 is pushed by the lower surface plate 22 of the terminal connection portion 21 and elastically bends downward. When the terminal fitting 20 is inserted deeply to the proper position, the lance 13 is elastically restored upward and the locking projection 14 is locked to the locking portion 28, and this locking action brings the terminal fitting 20 into a retaining state. Retained. In a state where the terminal fitting 20 is inserted, the electric wire 40 is led out from the rear end surface of the housing 10 to the rear.

  When the terminal fitting 20 is normally inserted into the cavity 11, the first elastic pressing portion 31 and the second elastic pressing portion 32 are elastically bent with respect to the upper surface wall 15 of the cavity 11. Press. By this pressing action, the terminal connection portion 21 of the terminal fitting 20 is elastically pressed against the lower wall 12 side of the cavity 11 by receiving a reaction force from the upper wall 15. By this pressing action, the terminal fitting 20 is held in a state in which the upward displacement and the inclination of the posture that displaces the front end side or the rear end side upward are restricted.

  Therefore, even if an external force in the vertical direction that intersects the direction of lead-out from the housing 10 acts on the electric wire 40 led to the rear of the housing 10, the terminal metal fitting is caused by the pressing force of the two elastic pressing portions 31 and 32. 20 posture changes and vertical displacements are prevented.

  In addition, each elastic pressing portion 31, 32 is supported at two locations on the outer surface of the terminal connection portion 21 in the front and rear, so that the elastic pressing portion is supported by the terminal fitting at only one location and is cantilevered. Compared to the case where the elastic pressing portions 31 and 32 are sufficiently extended, the elastic pressing portions 31 and 32 can exhibit sufficiently large elasticity compared to the case where the elastic pressing portions 31 and 32 are extended. Thereby, the change of the attitude | position of the terminal metal fitting 20 can be prevented more reliably.

  Moreover, since the 1st elastic press part 31 and the 2nd elastic press part 32 are mutually arrange | positioned at intervals in the front-back direction, the inclination of the attitude | position of the terminal metal fitting 20 can be prevented reliably.

  In addition, the elastic pressing portions 31 and 32 protrude from the outer surface of the upper surface plate 24 on the opposite side of the lower surface plate 22 on which the engaging portion 28 with the lance 13 is formed on the outer surface of the terminal connection portion 21. The terminal fitting 20 is pressed toward the lance 13 by the elasticity of the elastic pressing portions 31 and 32. Thereby, the latching margin of the lance 13 and the latching | locking part 28 is fully ensured, and the terminal metal fitting 20 can be reliably stopped.

  Further, the terminal connection portion 21 has a rectangular tube shape composed of a plurality of plate portions 22 to 25 connected in a bent state at a fold line 26 in the front-rear direction, and the terminal connection portion 21 includes a terminal The elastic contact piece 27 is accommodated in such a form that it is connected to the front end edge of the connecting portion 21 and folded back. Therefore, in the unfolded metal plate material 51, the elastic contact piece 27 is projected forward from the terminal connection portion 21, and the area in front of the terminal connection portion 21 and on the side of the elastic contact piece 27 is as follows. When the metal plate material 51 is punched into a predetermined shape, it becomes a portion to be discarded.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the first elastic pressing portion 31 is connected to the front end edge of the terminal connecting portion 21, and the entire first elastic pressing portion 31 is within the range of the elastic contact piece 27 in the length direction. And arranged in a region within the range of the terminal connection portion 21 in the width direction (that is, a portion discarded when the metal plate material 51 is punched). As a result, since a part of the discarded portion of the metal plate material 51 can be effectively used as the first elastic pressing portion 31, it is realized to reduce the waste area at the time of punching and improve the yield. Yes.

  Further, in the unfolded metal plate material 51, the wire barrel portion 35 is disposed behind the terminal connection portion 21, and the region behind the terminal connection portion 21 and on the side of the wire barrel portion 35 is as follows. When the metal plate material 51 is punched into a predetermined shape, it becomes a part to be discarded. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the second elastic pressing portion 32 is connected to the rear end edge of the terminal connecting portion 21, and the entire second elastic pressing portion 32 is within the range of the wire barrel portion 35 in the length direction. It is arranged in a region within the range of the terminal connection portion 21 in the width direction (that is, a portion discarded when the metal plate material 51 is punched). Thereby, since a part of the discarded portion of the metal plate material 51 can be effectively used as the second elastic pressing portion 32, it is realized to reduce the disposal area at the time of punching and to improve the yield. Yes.

<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) In the above-described embodiment, the terminal fitting is a female type in which the elastic contact piece is provided in the rectangular tube-shaped terminal connecting portion. However, the present invention is a male type in which the terminal fitting has an elongated tab at the tip. It can also be applied when it is a thing.

  (2) In the above embodiment, two elastic pressing portions are formed, but the number of elastic pressing portions may be one or three or more.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the two elastic pressing portions are pressed in the same direction with respect to the inner wall of the cavity. However, a plurality of elastic pressing portions may press the inner wall of the cavity from different directions. Good.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, the elastic pressing portion is arranged at the end portion in the front-rear direction of the terminal connection portion having a rectangular tube shape, but the position of the elastic pressing portion is a position closer to the center in the front-rear direction of the terminal connection portion. There may be.

  (5) In the above embodiment, the elastic pressing portion protrudes from the outer surface on the opposite side of the locking portion (locking hole) with the lance out of the outer surface of the terminal connecting portion having a rectangular tube shape. The elastic pressing portion may protrude from the outer surface on which the locking portion is formed, or may protrude from the outer surface continuous with the outer surface on which the locking portion is formed.

  (6) In the above embodiment, the elastic pressing portion is supported by the terminal connection portion at two front and rear positions. However, the elastic pressing portion is supported by the terminal connection portion at only one position and extends in a cantilever shape. Form may be sufficient.

  (7) In the above embodiment, the entire elastic pressing portion on the front side is disposed in a region within the range of the terminal connection portion in the width direction in the chain terminal state and within the range of the elastic contact piece in the length direction. However, at least a part of the elastic pressing portion on the front side is arranged outside the range of the terminal connection portion in the width direction in the state of the chain terminal or in the region outside the range of the elastic contact piece in the length direction. It may be.

  (8) In the above embodiment, the entire elastic pressing portion on the rear side is disposed in a region within the range of the terminal connection portion in the width direction in the chain terminal state and within the range of the wire barrel portion in the length direction. However, at least a part of the elastic pressing portion on the rear side is arranged in a region outside the range of the terminal connection portion in the width direction in the state of the chain terminal or outside the range of the wire barrel portion in the length direction. You may make it do.

  (9) In the above embodiment, only one elastic pressing portion is in contact with the inner wall of the cavity. However, according to the present invention, one elastic pressing portion is pressed against the inner wall of the cavity. A plurality of contact portions may be formed. In this case, the plurality of contact portions may be arranged with an interval in the front-rear direction, or may be arranged with an interval in the width direction (left-right direction).

Sectional drawing of Embodiment 1 Plan view of unfolded metal sheet

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Housing 11 ... Cavity 13 ... Lance 20 ... Terminal metal fitting 21 ... Terminal connection part 27 ... Elastic contact piece 28 ... Locking part 31 ... 1st elastic press part 32 ... 2nd elastic press part 35 ... Wire barrel part 40 ... Electric wire 41 ... Conductor 42 ... Insulation coating 51 ... Metal plate material

Claims (6)

A housing having a cavity formed therein;
A terminal fitting that functions as a means for connecting to a mating terminal is formed in the front end side region, an open barrel-shaped wire barrel portion is formed behind the terminal connecting portion, and the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity from the rear. When,
The conductor is surrounded by an insulating coating, and the conductor exposed by removing the insulating coating is crimped to the wire barrel portion, and includes an electric wire led to the rear of the housing,
In the connector in which the terminal fitting inserted into the cavity is secured by locking a lance formed on the inner wall of the cavity,
The terminal fitting protrudes outward from a position different from the locking portion with the lance, and elastically extends in a direction intersecting the direction in which the electric wire is led out from the housing with respect to the inner wall of the cavity. A connector characterized in that a pressable elastic pressing portion is formed.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic pressing portion is supported at two positions with respect to the outer surface of the terminal fitting.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic pressing portions are arranged at a plurality of positions spaced in the front-rear direction.   4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic pressing portion protrudes from an outer surface of the terminal metal fitting opposite to the locking portion. 5. . The terminal fitting is formed by bending a metal plate that has been punched into a predetermined shape and is in an expanded state,
The terminal connection part has a rectangular tube shape composed of a plurality of plate parts connected in a state of being bent at a fold in the front-rear direction,
Inside the terminal connection portion is housed an elastic contact piece in a form folded back to the front end edge of the terminal connection portion,
The elastic pressing portion is configured to be connected to a front end edge of the terminal connection portion,
When the metal plate is in an unfolded state, at least a part of the elastic pressing portion is disposed in a region within the range of the elastic contact piece in the length direction and within the range of the terminal connection portion in the width direction. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the connector is provided. The terminal fitting is formed by bending a metal plate that has been punched into a predetermined shape and is in an expanded state,
The terminal connection part has a rectangular tube shape composed of a plurality of plate parts connected in a state of being bent at a fold in the front-rear direction,
The wire barrel portion is connected to the rear of the terminal connection portion,
The elastic pressing portion is configured to be connected to a rear end edge of the terminal connection portion,
When the metal plate is in an unfolded state, at least a part of the elastic pressing portion is disposed in a region within the range of the wire barrel portion in the length direction and within the range of the terminal connection portion in the width direction. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the connector is provided.

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