JP3085691B2 - Joint connector - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a joint connector used to connect complicated and diverse electric wires such as a harness circuit of an automobile.

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a large number of male / female connectors are used for connecting a variety of complicated electric wires such as a harness circuit of an automobile. In addition, a so-called busbar formed by connecting and molding a plurality of parallel tongue-shaped metal terminals by punching a conductive metal plate or the like from the front surface of the terminal box in which a large number of receiving terminals attached to the ends of the electric wires are separately arranged. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a joint box in which a receiving terminal is inserted into a connection portion of a terminal to short-circuit the receiving terminals to perform connection. Such a joint box can be branched and connected to a large number of wiring paths at once and can be arranged neatly, so that it is widely used in a harness circuit of an automobile.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-described joint box, a special terminal box must be provided, which causes an increase in manufacturing cost. In addition, the receiving terminal with the busbar inserted is sealed by the metal end inserted into the connection part, so it can no longer be directly connected to other connectors etc., so the use of the joint box is limited Will be done.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a joint connector having a low manufacturing cost and a wide range of applications by adding a joint box function to a male / female type connector.

Means for Solving the Problems To achieve the above object, in a joint connector according to the present invention, a plurality of connection terminals are housed in a connector housing, and the connection is made from the front or rear of the housing. In the connection connector for fixing the connection terminal in the housing by inserting a locking holder made of an insulator for pressing and locking the terminal, a plurality of tongue-shaped free ends each made of a conductive metal plate are optional. A joint terminal for contacting a part of the connection terminal and short-circuiting the plurality of connection terminals is attached to the locking holder.

[Operation] In the joint connector having the above-described configuration, the joint terminal attached to the locking holder contacts a part of the connection terminal inside the housing and short-circuits the connection terminals.

[Example] The present invention will be described in detail based on an illustrated example.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a connector accommodating a female connection terminal. A housing 1 made of an insulating member such as a synthetic resin material has a female connection terminal 2 having a rectangular cylindrical connection portion in two vertical rows. The upper and lower sets are accommodated from the rear and are arranged to face each other. These connection terminals 2 are formed with a stepped portion 2a at an inner portion opposed thereto, and can be pushed and opened in the housing 1 near the stepped portion 2a by inserting a tapered front holder 5 from the front. A known back-off prevention structure provided with a flexible locking claw 1a is employed.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, two joint terminals 6 formed by processing a single metal conductor are integrally assembled and molded at the tip of the front holder 5 made of an insulator.
A plurality of tongue-shaped free ends 6a of the joint terminal 6 extend rearward in the insertion direction and are spring-biased outward. The front holder 5 is provided with a lock portion 5a for preventing it from coming off, and when inserted to a predetermined position,
The front holder 5 is prevented from slipping forward by engaging with the locking portion 1 b inside the housing 1.

In the above-described joint connector, when the connection terminal 2 is housed in the housing 1 and the front holder 5 is inserted from the front, the locking claw 1a is pushed open to prevent the connection terminal 2 from slipping off and to urge outward. Free end of joint terminal 6
6a is in contact with a part of the connection terminal 2 inside the housing 1 and both are brought into conduction. Therefore, if the joint terminals 6 are formed in a shape that matches the purpose and predetermined connection terminals 2 are short-circuited, a short circuit between any connection terminals 2 can be configured. At this time, since the connection portion of the connection terminal 2 is not yet used, the other connection terminal can be received as it is in a normal connection as it is, and can be used as a connector, thereby expanding the usage.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a connector accommodating a male connection terminal. A plurality of male connection terminals 2 'having flat blade-shaped connection portions are accommodated from the rear in a housing 1' made of an insulating member. Are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, and an electric wire 4 'is connected to a rear portion of the connection terminal 2'. The connection terminal 2 'is provided with an upwardly protruding portion 2a' at the rear end, and the protruding portion 2a 'abuts on a narrow opening locking portion 1a' provided inside the housing 1 '. The notch 2b 'of the connection terminal 2' is engaged with a flexible locking lever 2b 'protruding forward to prevent front and rear slippage.

Further, a rear holder 7 which is in contact with the rear end of the protruding portion 2a 'to ensure that the connection terminal 2' does not come off is mounted from the rear of the housing 1 '. And a joint terminal 6 'having the same function as the above. The joint terminal 6 'is formed by processing a single conductive metal plate and has a tongue-shaped free end 6'.
Are extended rearward in the insertion direction, and are urged outward in a spring-like manner. And a plurality of free ends 6a '
Are formed in a chain at an arbitrary position in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface.

Each free end 6a 'comes into contact with a part of the connection terminal 2' in the housing 1 ', so that any connection terminal 2' can be electrically short-circuited like the previous embodiment.

Also in the second embodiment, the connection portion at the tip of the connection terminal 2 'can be used in the same manner as a normal connector when connecting to a mating connector.

In any of the above-described embodiments, if the joint terminals 6 and 6 'are not provided, the structure is exactly the same as that of a normal connection connector, and since parts can be manufactured in common, the manufacturing cost is relatively low.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the joint connector according to the present invention can share parts with a normal connection connector, and a joint-connected connection terminal can be further connected to a connection terminal of a mating connector. Although the cost is low, the application range is wide.

[Brief description of the drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the joint connector according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a front holder, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another embodiment. Reference numerals 1, 1 'indicate a housing, 2 indicates a female connection terminal, 2' indicates a male connection terminal, 5 indicates a front holder, 6, 6 'indicate joint terminals, and 7 indicates a rear holder.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of connection terminals are accommodated in a connector housing, and a locking holder made of an insulator for pressing and locking the connection terminals is inserted from the front or rear of the housing. In the connection connector for fixing in the housing, a plurality of tongue-shaped free ends made of a conductive metal plate each contact a part of any of the connection terminals to short-circuit the plurality of connection terminals. ,
A joint connector attached to the locking holder.