JP2011065931A - Ground joint connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ground joint connector suppressing the backlash of a joint terminal part in a connector housing. <P>SOLUTION: The ground joint connector includes: a ground joint terminal 13 integrally formed with a joint terminal part 220 integrally formed with a plurality of connection terminals 210, an arm part 230 extending from the joint terminal part 220, and a ground terminal part 240 provided at the distal end of the arm part and ground-connected, by using one metal plate; and a connector housing having a joint terminal-housing part for housing the joint part. The arm part 230 includes a first arm portion 231 extending from a side edge of the joint terminal part 220 to a side surface of the connector housing 15 and a second arm portion 232 formed at the distal end of the first arm portion 231 and bent to abut on a side surface 313 of the connector housing 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an earth joint connector used when a plurality of electric wires are collectively grounded.

  The ground joint connector 1 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is disclosed in the following Patent Document 1 and is composed of a ground joint terminal 3 and a connector housing 5.

  The earth joint terminal 3 is provided at a joint terminal portion 111 in which a plurality of connection terminals 110 are integrally formed in a comb shape, an arm portion 112 extending from the joint terminal portion 111, and a tip of the arm portion 112. The ground terminal portion 113 to be grounded is integrally formed with a single metal plate.

  As shown also in FIG. 12, the ground joint terminal 3 is equipped with a ground terminal portion 113 that protrudes behind the joint terminal portion 111 (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 12).

  The connector housing 5 is a resin molded product, and includes a joint terminal accommodating portion 121 that accommodates the joint terminal portion 111 and a connector fitting portion 122 into which the mating connector housing is fitted.

  However, in the ground joint connector 1, the ground terminal portion 113 of the ground joint terminal 3 extends behind the joint terminal portion 111. Therefore, when the earth joint terminal 3 is attached to and detached from the joint terminal accommodating part 121, the earth terminal part 113 becomes an obstacle, and there arises a problem that it is difficult to attach and detach the earth joint terminal 3 to the connector housing 5.

  As an earth joint connector capable of solving such a problem, one having a structure shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 has been proposed.

  The ground joint connector 1A and the ground joint terminal 3B shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 are disclosed in Patent Document 2 below.

  The basic structure of the ground joint connector 1A shown in FIG. 13 is the same as that of the ground joint connector 1, and the same structure is shown by adding a suffix A or B to the part number of the ground joint connector 1. The description will be omitted or simplified.

  The ground joint connector 1A in FIG. 13 is different from the ground joint connector 1 in the extending direction of the arm portion 112A in the ground joint terminal 3A and the position of the ground terminal portion 113A.

  In the case of the ground joint terminal 3 </ b> A, an arm portion 112 </ b> A extends laterally from a side end portion of the rear connecting plate portion 115 that connects the connecting terminal 110 </ b> A in two upper and lower stages. A ground terminal portion 113A is provided at the tip of the arm portion 112A.

  Accordingly, the ground terminal portion 113A is disposed so as to protrude to the side of the connector housing 5A, and the ground terminal portion 113A is unlikely to become an obstacle when the ground joint terminal 3A is attached to and detached from the joint terminal accommodating portion 121A.

  In the case of the ground joint connector 1A, the direction of the ground terminal portion 113A is substantially parallel to the rear connecting plate portion 115. Accordingly, a grounding bolt is inserted into the ground terminal portion 113A in parallel with the fitting direction of the connection terminal 110A.

  The ground joint terminal 3B in FIG. 14 is an improvement of the ground joint terminal 3A in FIG. The arm portion 112B of the ground joint terminal 3B is vertically bent downward from the first arm portion 1121 extending in an L shape from the side end portion of the rear connecting plate portion 115 and the tip of the first arm portion 1121. The second arm portion 1122 is provided. With such a configuration of the arm portion 112B, the insertion direction of the grounding bolt 117 is converted to a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction of the connection terminal 110A.

  The basic structure of the ground joint connector 1C shown in FIG. 15 is the same as that of the ground joint connector 1, and the same structure is described by adding a subscript C to the part number of the ground joint connector 1. Is omitted or simplified.

  The ground joint connector 1C of FIG. 15 differs from the ground joint connector 1 in that the joint terminal portion 111C of the ground joint terminal 3C, the extending direction of the arm portion 112C, and the position of the ground terminal portion 113A It is.

  The joint terminal portion 111 </ b> C in the ground joint terminal 3 </ b> C has two upper and lower connection terminals 110 </ b> C integrated with a side connecting plate 118. The arm portion 112C extends directly to the side from the side edge of the joint terminal portion 111C. Therefore, also in the case of the ground joint connector 1C, the ground terminal portion 113C is disposed on the side of the connector housing 5C. Therefore, when the earth joint terminal 3C is attached to and detached from the joint terminal accommodating portion 121C, the earth terminal portion 113C is unlikely to get in the way.

JP 2000-77140 A US Pat. No. 5,788,519 JP 2004-192882 A

  However, in any of the above ground joint connectors 1, 1A, 1C, the position of the ground joint terminals 3, 3A, 3C on the connector housings 5, 5A, 5C is limited to the joint terminal housing portions 121, 121A, 121C. If the number of mating terminals that are fitted and connected to the joint terminal portion is small, the position regulation force is insufficient and the joint terminal portion in the connector housing is likely to be loose. there were.

  In addition, when the connector housing and the ground joint terminal are provided with locking means in the connector housing, the locked state cannot be easily confirmed visually, and the disassembly work becomes difficult. Also occurred.

  Further, in the conventional earth joint connector, as shown in FIG. 16, only the earth terminal portion 113D protruding to the outside of the connector housing 5D is fastened to the earth member 131 with a bolt 133 or the like. Therefore, if the strength of the ground terminal portion 113D is low, when the tension T in the direction of lifting from the ground member 131 acts on the grounding wire 135 connected to the connector housing 5D, the ground terminal portion 113D is likely to be bent and deformed. There was also a problem.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an earth joint connector capable of suppressing the rattling of the joint terminal portion in the connector housing in order to solve the above problems. Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a ground joint connector that can easily confirm the locking state between the connector housing and the ground joint terminal by visual observation, and can facilitate the disassembly work. . Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide an earth joint connector capable of preventing the earth terminal portion from being bent and deformed by a tension acting through the grounding wire even when the strength of the earth terminal portion is low. There is to do.

The above-described object of the present invention is achieved by the following configuration.
(1) A joint terminal portion integrally formed with a plurality of connection terminals, an arm portion extending from the joint terminal portion, and a ground terminal portion provided at the tip of the arm portion and connected to ground. An earth joint terminal integrally molded with a metal plate;
A connector housing having a joint terminal accommodating portion for accommodating the joint terminal portion;
An earth joint connector comprising:
The arm portion extends from the side edge of the joint terminal portion to the side surface of the connector housing, and the second arm portion is bent at the tip of the first arm portion and contacts the side surface of the connector housing. An earth joint connector comprising an arm portion.

  (2) The joint terminal portion is connected to the first joint terminal portion by a first joint terminal portion in which the arm portion extends from a side edge and a folded portion on the rear end side of the first joint terminal portion. The earth joint connector according to (1), further comprising: a second joint terminal portion formed in a parallel state.

  (3) The ridge line in the folded portion on the rear end side of the first joint terminal portion is orthogonal to the ridge line in the folded portion between the first arm portion and the second arm portion of the arm portion. The earth joint connector according to (1) or (2) above.

  (4) The earth joint connector according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein a slit through which the first arm portion is inserted is provided on a side surface of the connector housing.

  (5) A locking piece for holding the second arm portion between the connector housing and a side surface of the connector housing is provided at a position exposed to the outside of the connector housing. The earth joint connector according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the earth joint connector is fixed to the connector housing.

  (6) The earth joint according to any one of the above (1) to (5), wherein a reinforcing plate for sandwiching the earth terminal portion between the connector housing and the earthing surface is integrally formed. connector.

  According to the configuration of (1) above, the second arm portion of the arm portion of the earth joint terminal contacts the side surface of the connector housing, and functions as a position restricting means for the joint terminal portion with respect to the connector housing. Therefore, even when the number of mating terminals that are fitted and connected to the joint terminal portion is small, it is possible to suppress the play of the joint terminal portion within the connector housing.

  According to the configuration of (2) above, the joint terminal portion includes the boundary portion between the first arm portion and the second arm portion of the arm portion that is continuous with the side edge of the first joint terminal portion, and the first joint terminal portion. It is bent at two sides of the rear end edge and the number of surrounding bent portions is increased, so that the rigidity is improved. In addition, since the connection between the first joint terminal portion and the second joint terminal portion is the full width of the rear end edge of the first joint terminal portion and the connection portion is large, the first joint terminal portion and the joint The connection strength between the terminals is also high. Accordingly, the rigidity of the entire joint terminal portion is increased, and the attachment to the connector housing is improved.

  According to the configuration of (3) above, the developed shape of the ground joint terminal includes the arrangement direction of the first joint terminal portion, the folded portion, and the second joint terminal portion, the first joint terminal portion, and the arm portion. It becomes a simple form in which the arrangement direction with the ground terminal portion is orthogonal, and efficient plate cutting is possible.

  According to the configuration of (4) above, the slit provided on the side surface of the connector housing is useful as a position restricting means for positioning the first arm portion, and thus it is possible to further suppress the play of the joint terminal portion.

  According to the configuration of (5) above, the locking piece provided in the connector housing sandwiches the second arm portion, so that the arm portion can be securely fixed to the side surface of the connector housing, It is possible to more reliably prevent the joint terminal portion from rattling.

  In addition, since the locking piece is exposed to the outside, the locking state between the connector housing and the ground joint terminal can be easily confirmed visually, and when unlocked, the unlocking is confirmed visually. Therefore, the disassembly work can be facilitated.

  According to the configuration of (6) above, the grounding terminal is firmly fixed to the grounding surface by being sandwiched by the reinforcing plate integrally formed with the connector housing even if the strength of the grounding terminal itself is low. It is possible to prevent the bending deformation from occurring in the ground terminal portion due to the tension acting on the ground.

  According to the ground joint connector of the present invention, the second arm portion of the arm portion of the ground joint terminal contacts the side surface of the connector housing and functions as a position restricting means for the joint terminal portion with respect to the connector housing. Therefore, even when the number of mating terminals that are fitted and connected to the joint terminal portion is small, it is possible to suppress the play of the joint terminal portion within the connector housing.

It is the perspective view seen from the front and upper direction of 1st Embodiment of the earth joint connector which concerns on this invention. It is the perspective view seen from back and the upper part of the earth joint connector of a 1st embodiment. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from the back and upper direction of the earth joint connector of 1st Embodiment. It is the perspective view seen from the side and the upper part of the ground joint terminal used for the ground joint connector of 1st Embodiment. It is an expanded view of the earth joint terminal shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the state by which the electric wire for other grounding is connected to the earth joint connector of 1st Embodiment. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from the front and upper direction of 2nd Embodiment of the earth joint connector which concerns on this invention. It is the perspective view seen from the front and upper direction of the assembly state of the earth joint connector of 2nd Embodiment. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from the front and upper direction of 3rd Embodiment of the ground joint connector which concerns on this invention. It is the perspective view seen from the front and upper direction of the assembly state of the earth joint connector of 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the conventional earth joint connector. It is a sectional side view of the earth joint connector shown in FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of another conventional earth joint connector. It is a perspective view of the modification of the earth joint terminal shown in FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of another conventional earth joint connector. It is explanatory drawing of the problem of the conventional earth joint connector.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of an earth joint connector according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
1 to 6 show a first embodiment of an earth joint connector according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the ground joint connector 11 of the first embodiment includes a ground joint terminal 13 and a connector housing 15.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the earth joint terminal 13 includes a joint terminal portion 220 in which a plurality of tongue-shaped connection terminals 210 are integrally formed in a comb-teeth shape, and an arm portion extending from the joint terminal portion 220. 230 and an earth terminal portion 240 provided at the tip of the arm portion 230 and connected to the ground are integrally formed of a single metal plate.

  The joint terminal portion 220 of the present embodiment includes a first joint terminal portion 221 in which the arm portion 230 extends from the side edge, and a folded portion 222 on the rear end side of the first joint terminal portion 221. And a second joint terminal portion 223 formed in parallel with the terminal portion 221.

  The joint terminal portion 220 has a U shape in a side view as viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG.

  The arm portion 230 of this embodiment is bent at a first arm portion 231 that extends from the side edge of the first joint terminal portion 221 to the side surface of the connector housing 15 and a bent portion 233 at the tip of the first arm portion 231. And a second arm portion 232 that contacts the side surface 313 of the connector housing 15. The bent portion 233 at the tip of the first arm portion 231 is a right angle bend.

  The ground terminal portion 240 is bent at the tip of the second arm portion 232. The bent portion 234 at the tip of the second arm portion 232 is a right angle bend. Therefore, the ground terminal portion 240 extends to the side of the joint terminal portion 220 in parallel with the first joint terminal portion 221 and the second joint terminal portion 223.

FIG. 5 is a development view of the ground joint terminal 13 described above.
As illustrated, between the ridgelines (folding lines) 225 and 226 in the folded portion 222 on the rear end side of the first joint terminal portion 221, and between the first arm portion 231 and the second arm portion 232 of the arm portion 230. Ridge lines (bending lines) 235 and 236 in the bent portions 233 and 234 are orthogonal to each other.

  The connector housing 15 of the present embodiment is a resin molded product, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a joint terminal housing portion 311 for housing the joint terminal portion 220 and a mating connector housing 31 (see FIG. 6). And a connector fitting portion 321 to be fitted.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the connector housing 15 of the present embodiment is provided with a slit 314 through which the first arm portion 231 is inserted in the side surface 313 of the joint terminal accommodating portion 311.

  FIG. 6 shows a state in which the mating connector housing 31 is fitted and connected to the ground joint connector 11 of the first embodiment, and an external ground connection terminal 33 is connected to the ground terminal portion 240. .

  In the ground joint connector 11 of the first embodiment, the ground terminal portion 240 is arranged to extend to the side of the connector housing 15. Therefore, the ground wire 35 connected to the external ground connection terminal 33 and the plurality of ground connection wires 37 connected to the mating connector housing 31 can be laid in parallel to each other, and the wire 35 and the wire 37 can be grounded. The operation of connecting to the joint connector 11 is facilitated.

  In the ground joint connector 11 of the first embodiment described above, the second arm portion 232 of the arm portion 230 of the ground joint terminal 13 abuts against the side surface of the connector housing 15 as shown in FIGS. It functions as a position restricting means for the joint terminal portion 220 with respect to the housing 15. Therefore, even when the number of mating terminals that are fitted and connected to the joint terminal portion 220 is small, it is possible to suppress the play of the joint terminal portion 220 in the connector housing 15.

  In the ground joint connector 11 of the first embodiment, the joint terminal portion 220 is a boundary portion between the first arm portion 231 and the second arm portion 232 of the arm portion 230 that is continuous with the side edge of the first joint terminal portion 221. And it is bent at the two sides of the rear end edge of the first joint terminal portion 221, and the number of surrounding bent portions is increased, so that the rigidity is improved. In addition, since the connection between the first joint terminal portion 221 and the second joint terminal portion 223 is the full width of the rear end edge of the first joint terminal portion 221 and the connecting portion is large, the first joint terminal The connection strength between the part 221 and the joint terminal part 220 is also high. Accordingly, the rigidity of the entire joint terminal portion 220 is increased, and the attachment to the connector housing 15 is improved.

  Further, in the ground joint connector 11 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the developed shape of the ground joint terminal 13 is the first joint terminal portion 221, the folded portion 222, and the second joint terminal portion 223. The arrangement direction (arrow X direction in FIG. 5) and the arrangement direction (first arrow Y direction in FIG. 5) of the first joint terminal portion 221, arm portion 230, and ground terminal portion 240 are orthogonal to each other. Efficient board removal is possible.

  Further, in the earth joint connector 11 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the slit 314 provided on the side surface 313 of the connector housing 15 serves as a position restricting means for positioning the first arm portion 231. Therefore, the play of the joint terminal portion 220 can be further suppressed.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the ground joint connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention as seen from the front and above, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the ground joint connector according to the second embodiment as seen from the front and above in the assembled state. is there.

  The ground joint connector 11 </ b> A of the second embodiment is provided with a locking piece 331 at a position exposed to the outside of the connector housing 15 </ b> A that accommodates the ground joint terminal 13. The locking piece 331 holds the second arm portion 232 of the arm portion 230 of the ground joint terminal 13 between the side surface 313 of the joint terminal housing portion 311. In the connector housing 15 </ b> A, the ground joint terminal 13 is fixed to the connector housing 15 by being held by the locking pieces 331.

  The connector housing 15 </ b> A has the same configuration as the connector housing 15 of the first embodiment except for the locking piece 331. The ground joint terminal 13 attached to the connector housing 15A is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the earth joint connector 11A of the second embodiment, the following actions / effects can be obtained in addition to the actions / effects of the first embodiment.

  That is, the locking piece 331 provided in the connector housing 15A sandwiches the second arm portion 232, so that the arm portion 230 can be securely fixed to the side surface 313 of the connector housing 15, It is possible to further reliably prevent the joint terminal portion 220 from rattling.

  Since the locking piece 331 is exposed to the outside, the locking state between the connector housing 15 and the ground joint terminal 13 can be easily confirmed visually. Since the release can be confirmed, the disassembly work can be facilitated.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the ground joint connector according to the third embodiment of the present invention as seen from the front and above, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the ground joint connector according to the third embodiment as seen from the front and from above. is there.

  In the earth joint connector 11B of the third embodiment, a reinforcing plate 341 is integrally formed on the side surface of the connector housing 15B that accommodates the earth joint terminal 13.

  The reinforcing plate 341 protrudes horizontally on the outer surface of the ground joint connector 11B so as to sandwich the ground terminal portion 240 with a ground surface (not shown) (for example, a vehicle body).

  The connector housing 15B has the same configuration as the connector housing 15 of the first embodiment except for the reinforcing plate 341. The ground joint terminal 13 mounted on the connector housing 15B is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

  Although not shown, a slit through which the first arm portion 231 is inserted is also provided on the side surface of the joint terminal accommodating portion 311 in the connector housing 15B, as in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the reinforcing plate 341 is attached to the connector housing 15 </ b> B so as to overlap the ground terminal portion 240 extending to the side of the housing from the slit on the side surface of the joint terminal accommodating portion 311. It is integrally formed.

  Further, a bolt hole 342 is formed through the reinforcing plate 341. The bolt hole 342 is a hole through which the bolt 41 is inserted, and is provided so as to be aligned with the bolt hole 241 of the ground terminal portion 240. The reinforcing plate 341 is fastened to the ground member in a state where the reinforcing plate 341 overlaps the ground terminal portion 240.

  In the earth joint connector 11B of the third embodiment, in addition to the operations and effects in the first embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained.

  That is, even if the strength of the ground terminal portion 240 is low, the ground terminal portion 240 is firmly fixed to the ground plane by being sandwiched by the reinforcing plate 341 integrally formed with the connector housing 15B. Therefore, it is possible to prevent bending deformation from occurring in the ground terminal portion 240.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified and improved. In addition, the material, shape, dimension, numerical value, form, number, arrangement location, and the like of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary and are not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.

11, 11A, 11B Ground joint connector 13 Ground joint terminal 15, 15A, 15B Connector housing 210 Connection terminal 220 Joint terminal portion 221 First joint terminal portion 222 Folded portion 223 Second joint terminal portion 225, 226 Edge line (bending line) )
230 Arm portion 231 First arm portion 232 Second arm portion 233, 234 Bending portion 235, 236 Ridge line (bending line)
240 Ground terminal portion 311 Joint terminal accommodating portion 313 Side surface 314 Slit 321 Connector fitting portion 331 Locking piece 341 Reinforcing plate

Claims (6)

A single metal plate includes a joint terminal portion integrally formed with a plurality of connection terminals, an arm portion extending from the joint terminal portion, and a ground terminal portion provided at the tip of the arm portion and connected to ground. An integrally formed earth joint terminal,
A connector housing having a joint terminal accommodating portion for accommodating the joint terminal portion;
An earth joint connector comprising:
The arm portion extends from the side edge of the joint terminal portion to the side surface of the connector housing, and the second arm portion is bent at the tip of the first arm portion and contacts the side surface of the connector housing. An earth joint connector comprising an arm portion.   The joint terminal portion is parallel to the first joint terminal portion by a first joint terminal portion in which the arm portion extends from a side edge and a folded portion on the rear end side of the first joint terminal portion. The earth joint connector according to claim 1, further comprising: a molded second joint terminal portion.   The ridge line in the folded portion on the rear end side of the first joint terminal portion and the ridge line in the bent portion between the first arm portion and the second arm portion of the arm portion are orthogonal to each other. The earth joint connector according to 1 or 2.   The earth joint connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a slit through which the first arm portion is inserted is provided on a side surface of the connector housing.   A locking piece for holding the second arm portion between the connector housing and a side surface of the connector housing is provided at a position exposed to the outside of the connector housing, and the earth joint terminal is connected to the connector housing by the holding of the locking piece. The earth joint connector according to claim 1, wherein the earth joint connector is fixed to the earth joint connector.   The earth joint connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a reinforcing plate that sandwiches the earth terminal portion between the connector housing and the earthing surface is integrally formed.

Images