JP3086642B2 - Joint connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a joint connector used for a wire harness of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a wire harness of an automobile,
In order to connect the electrical components distributed in each part of the vehicle body with the shortest distance through a limited route, it is necessary to frequently use a branch connection. Conventionally, in such a branch connection, it is common practice to perform a branch connection process using a harness and an electrical component on a connector out of a connector portion and an electric wire portion of a wire harness. Was troublesome, and it was difficult to repair and check the wiring.

[0003] The applicant of the present invention has proposed a technique disclosed in Jpn.
In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8 (1994), a connector for branch connection having a branch connection function inside the connector is proposed. As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of branch terminals 2 are connected to one end of the base terminal 1.
And a housing 5 having a terminal locking portion 4 for locking the branch terminal 3, the base terminal portion 1 and the branch terminal portion protruding on both sides of the terminal locking portion 4. 2, the female connectors 6 and 7 accommodating the female terminals can be connected. According to this, it is not necessary to perform the branch connection on the electric wire portion, and only the connectors are connected straight. Therefore, there is an advantage that the wiring work is greatly streamlined and the repair and inspection become easy.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional branch connection connector, two female connectors 6, 7 are provided.
During the assembly via the housing 5, a total of 3
Since the two housings are combined, the connecting portion becomes relatively large, and there has been a demand for downsizing.

Further, the branch terminal 3 in the above publication has a structure in which it is locked in the housing 5 by the terminal locking portion 4, so that it is easy to assemble and disassemble and does not come off during normal use. However, on the other hand, there is some play (play) in supporting the branch terminal 3.
Occurs, and the female terminal of each female connector 6 and 7 and the branch terminal 3
There was a possibility that non-uniformity may be caused in the contact pressure with the contact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a joint connector which is small in size and excellent in electrical reliability of a connecting portion.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a joint connector comprising: a pair of female connectors accommodating female terminals in a terminal accommodating chamber of a connector housing; A bus bar having male tab-shaped terminal portions at both ends to be inserted into the terminals, wherein the bus bar is provided with a lock-shaped portion, the bus bar is fixed to the one connector housing, and the lock is secured to the other connector housing. It is characterized in that an engaging portion is provided in which the shape portion is engaged and locked.

In one female connector, a terminal portion of one end of the bus bar fixed to the connector housing is inserted into the female terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber, and the female terminal of the other female connector has the bus bar. The terminal at the other end is inserted.
The engagement lock of the female connectors is performed by engaging the lock-shaped portion of the bus bar with the engagement portion of the connector housing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pair of female connectors in which female terminals are respectively housed in at least two terminal receiving chambers of a connector housing, and at least two female terminals of the both female connectors are inserted into each other. A bus bar having at least two stages having a male tab-shaped terminal portion at both ends thereof, and each bus bar is provided with a lock-shaped portion, and each bus bar is separately fixed to the both connectors, and both connector housings are provided. An engagement portion is provided in which the lock-shaped portion of the bus bar fixed to the mating connector housing is engaged and locked.

The terminal portion of one end of at least two-stage bus bar fixed to each connector housing is inserted into the female terminal accommodated in at least two-stage terminal accommodating chamber of both female connectors, and the other end of each bus bar is inserted. Are inserted into the mating female terminals. The locking of the female connectors is performed by locking the locking portions of both bus bars with the engaging portions of the connector housings on both mating sides.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the joint connector according to the second aspect, the lock-shaped portion is a resiliently convex electric contact portion, and the engagement portion is formed of the electric contact portion. An opening facing the convex shape, the recess is a recess into which the electrical contact portion fits, and the bus bar has a contact piece facing the electrical contact portion of the mating bus bar facing the recess. It is characterized by the following.

The mating lock of the female connectors is
The electric contact portion having a convex shape fits into the concave portion on the other side through its own bending, and the electric contact portion comes into contact with the contact piece on the other side, so that both bus bars are electrically contacted.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the joint connector according to any one of the first to third aspects, the bus bar is fixed to the connector housing by insert molding.

Then, by insert molding of the bus bar,
The intermediate housing is omitted, and the structure can be simplified while the female connectors can be directly connected.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a joint connector according to the present invention will be described below. 1A is an exploded perspective view of a joint connector, FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a joint state of the joint connector, FIG. 2A is a left side view of one connector, FIG. (C) is a right side view, (d) is a plan view, and (e) is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in the front view.

First, one female connector 10 will be described. One female connector 10 is connected to the connector housing 1.
Female terminals 15 crimped to electric wires 16 are housed in six terminal housing chambers 11a formed in three rows in the horizontal direction and two steps in the vertical direction. On the front surface of the connector housing 11, there is provided an insertion port 14 formed so as to communicate with the lower three terminal housing chambers 11a.
Further, bus bars 17 are integrally fixed by insert molding corresponding to the three terminal housing chambers 11a on the upper stage side. A locking rod 12 is provided on one side of the connector housing 11.
And a bus bar 17 serving as a lock-shaped portion described later.
Are exposed. On the other side of the connector housing 11, a locking frame 13 is protruded. The locking frame 13 is provided with an insertion groove 13a.
A concave portion 13 of a square hole as an engaging portion on the lower surface side in 3a
b is provided.

The other connector 10 'is formed substantially in the same manner as the one connector 10. However, there is a slight difference since the other connector 10 'is fitted and locked with the one connector 10. That is, in the other connector 10 ', an insertion port similar to the insertion port 14 is formed so as to communicate with the upper terminal storage chamber of the connector housing 11', and the bus bar 17 is formed corresponding to the lower terminal storage chamber. It is fixed by insert molding. A locking rod 12 'formed on one side surface of the connector housing 11' is formed corresponding to the locking frame 13, and an electrical contact portion of the bus bar 17 is exposed on the lower surface side of the locking rod 12 '. ing. The locking frame 13 ′ formed on the other side of the connector housing 11 ′ is connected to the locking frame 1 of the one connector housing 11.
3 has the same shape as that of FIG.

The bus bar 17 is as shown in FIG. The bus bar 17 is formed by punching and bending a material having high elasticity such as a synthetic resin and having excellent conductivity. The bus bar 17 has three male tab-shaped terminal portions 17 at the front and rear ends of the connecting portion 17g via a rising portion 17m.
a, 17b, 17c and 17d, 17e, 17f. Falling portion 17 is provided at the side end of connecting portion 17g.
The electric contact portion 17h is provided via n. The electrical contact portion 17h includes an extended portion 17p provided forward from the falling portion 17n, and a slope portion 17q inclined rearward and upward at a front end of the extended portion 17p via a bent portion 17k. At the rear end of the slope portion 17q, there is a round portion 17j directed toward the extending portion 17p. The other end of the connecting portion 17g has a falling portion 17o.
A contact piece portion 17i extending rearward through the contact piece is provided. The punching and bending of the bus bar 17 is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a simplified illustration, and the size and the like are not slightly consistent. And, from one plate of (a), (b), (c),
It is stamped and bent in the order of (d), (e) and (f).

When the bus bar 17 is insert-molded in the connector housing 11 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the terminals 17a, 1
7b and 17c protrude from the front end of the connector housing 11, and the terminals 17d, 17e and 17f are inserted into the female terminals 15 respectively housed in the upper terminal housing 11a. Also, the slope 17q of the electric contact portion 17h is
And the contact piece 17i is exposed in the recess 13b of the locking frame 13. In addition, other bus bars 17
Are insert-molded into the connector housing 11 'of the other connector 10', and the terminal portions 17a, 17
b, 17c protrude from the lower side, and the terminal portions 17d,
17e and 17f are inserted into each female terminal 15 on the lower stage side.
Further, the electric contact portion 17h is exposed on the lower surface side of the locking rod 12 ', and the contact piece portion 17i is exposed in a concave portion in the locking frame 13'.

When the female connectors 10 and 10 'are connected, the terminals 17a, 17b, 1 of the female connector 10 are connected.
7c is inserted from the insertion opening of the female connector 10 ', and is inserted and coupled to the upper female terminal 15 on the female connector 10' side. Terminals 17a, 17 on female connector 10 'side
b and 17c are lower insertion holes 1 of the female connector 10 side.
4 to the lower female terminal 15. The locking rod 12 of the female connector 10 is a locking frame 13 of the female connector 10 '.
′, The slope 17 q of the electric contact portion 17 is pushed in above the groove 13 ′ a during insertion, and is bent into the locking tube 12. The locking rod 12 is the locking frame 13
Is completed, the electric contact portion 17h is restored by its own elasticity, the slope portion 17q is fitted into the recess of the locking frame 13 ', and the lock is completed. This state is shown in FIG. 5 and is completed as shown in FIGS.
Is fitted into the recess 13'b. The slope 17q of the electric contact 17 is electrically connected to the contact 17'i in the recess 13'b. This operation is similarly performed between the locking rod 12 'on the other side and the locking frame 13.

In this manner, the connectors 10, 10 'via the electrical connection between the bus bars 17 and the electrical contact portions 17h.
Mutual locking can be performed.

When disconnecting both connectors 10, 10 ', it is performed by pulling out both connectors 10, 10' with a predetermined force or more. That is, when a predetermined force or more in the pull-out direction is applied, the round portion 17j of the electric contact portion 17h abuts against the concave portions 13b, 13'b of the locking frames 13, 13 ', and the concave portion 1j is elastically bent by the electric contact portion 17h.
3b and 13'b, the lock by the electric contact portion 17h can be released. Therefore, both connectors 1
0, 10 'can be easily separated.

In the above embodiment, both connectors 10, 1
Although the lock can be released by applying a pulling force to 0 ', the electric contact portion 17h may have another shape and the lock may be released using a jig. Although the bus bars 17 make electrical contact with each other, the electrical contact portion 17h is simply a lock-shaped portion and the contact piece portion 17i is not formed so that the electrical contact is not made. It is also possible. Also, both connectors 10, 10 'can be formed in one stage without having multiple stages, and the bus bar can be formed in a single structure.
It is also possible to form two or more stages. Further, various joint connectors can be obtained by changing the shape of the bus bar.

[0024]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the structure can be simplified and the size can be reduced without the need for an intermediate housing for connecting both female connectors. In addition, since the intermediate housing is unnecessary, stable electrical connection can be performed with little error.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the female connectors formed at least in the upper and lower stages can be connected to each other without requiring an intermediate housing, the structure is simple, and the electrical connection is made. It can be performed stably.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the two female connectors can be connected and locked by using the electric contact portion, and the structure is simplified.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the bus bar is fixed by insert molding, the structure is simple.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exploded state (a) and a connected state (b) of a joint connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a left side view (a), a front view (b), a right side view (c), a plan view (d), and an EE cross-sectional view (e) showing the joint connector of FIG.

3 is a front view (a), a side view (b), and a plan view (c) showing a bus bar in the joint connector of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a procedure for manufacturing the bus bar of FIG.

5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a lock-shaped portion and an engagement portion in the joint connector of FIG. 1, showing (a) before locking and (b) after locking.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view (a), a sectional view (b), and a perspective view (c) showing an assembled state of a branch connection connector according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 10 'female connector 11, 11' connector housing 11a terminal accommodating chamber 13b, 13'b recess (engagement portion) 15 female terminal 17 bus bar 17a to 17f terminal portion 17h electrical contact portion (lock shape portion) 17i contact portion

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/639 H01R 31/08 B60R 16/02 621

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pair of female connectors each having a female terminal accommodated in a terminal accommodating chamber of a connector housing, and bus bars having male tab-shaped terminal portions at both ends to be inserted into the female terminals, respectively, and locked to the bus bar. A joint portion, wherein the bus bar is fixed to the one connector housing, and the other connector housing is provided with an engagement portion which is locked by engagement of the lock shape portion. . 2. A pair of female connectors each having female terminals accommodated in at least two stages of terminal receiving chambers of a connector housing, and male tab-shaped terminals inserted into at least two stages of female terminals of both female connectors. A bus-shaped bar having at least two ends at both ends. Each bus bar is provided with a lock-shaped portion, and each bus bar is separately fixed to each of the female connectors. A bus bar fixed to the connector housing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the engagement portion engages with and is locked. 3. The joint connector according to claim 2, wherein the lock-shaped portion is a resilient convex electric contact portion, and the engagement portion is opposed to the convex shape of the electric contact portion. A recess into which the electrical contact portion fits, and wherein the bus bar has a contact piece facing the electrical contact portion of the mating bus bar facing the recess. Joint connector. 4. The joint connector according to claim 1, wherein said bus bar is fixed to said connector housing by insert molding.