JP3503738B2 - Split 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 split connector which accommodates a plurality of sub-connectors in a frame.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an example of a split connector, the one described in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2514194 is known. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, this split connector is provided with a frame a in which storage chambers b are provided in three upper and lower stages,
The sub-connectors d having the female-side terminal fittings c mounted therein are inserted and locked in the accommodation chambers b, respectively, and the frame a is fitted to the mating connector.

By the way, the structure for holding the sub-connectors d in the corresponding storage chambers b in a retaining state is, as shown in the figure, elastic locking pieces e formed on the two opposing surfaces of the storage chambers b. In general, a structure in which the sub-connector d is locked to the projections f provided on the corresponding two surfaces of the sub-connector d is adopted. on the other hand,
Since there is a clearance between the accommodation chamber b and the sub-connector d, even if the sub-connector d is locked in the retaining state, there is a possibility that the sub-connector d swings vertically or horizontally in the accommodation chamber b. . At this time, when the sub-connector d shakes its head in the vertical direction in FIG. 11, contact failure may occur between the female side terminal fitting c attached to the sub-connector d and the mating male side terminal fitting g, or conversely. It is desirable to avoid swinging the head up and down, as the risk of overloading the contact area increases. Therefore, even in the conventional one, the locking positions are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the sub-connector d to prevent the sub-connector d from swinging up and down.

[0004]

However, there are cases where the split connector is required to have a flat shape due to reasons such as installation. At that time, for example, the accommodating chambers b are arranged side by side in the lateral direction. However, when it is desired to further reduce the height, the portion for holding the sub-connector d in the retaining state is a part of the sub-connector d. It will be set on the left and right sides. Then, as described above, the sub connector d may swing its head up and down,
There was a long-awaited need for that measure. The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to effectively suppress the runout of the sub-connector in the accommodation chamber.

[0005]

As a means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is provided with a frame provided with a plurality of storage chambers, and a terminal fitting is mounted in each of the storage chambers. In a split connector in which each sub-connector is inserted so that the frame and the mating connector are fitted together, a cantilevered locking piece bends in the accommodation chamber.
It is formed so that it can be engaged with the sub connector
It can be stopped and the position of the whole locking piece is
The other side of the terminal fitting attached to the sub connector
It is installed near the position corresponding to the contact part with the terminal fitting.
It has a feature in that it exists . The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, it is set at a central portion in the width direction on the surface on which the locking portion is provided.

[0006]

<Advantages and Effects of the Invention><Invention of Claim 1> Even if the sub-connector swings its neck in the accommodating chamber about the locking position, the locking position is the contact portion of the terminal fitting mounted on the sub-connector. Since it is set near the position corresponding to
The displacement of the contact portion of the terminal fitting is minimized. Therefore, it is possible to make a good contact with the mating terminal fitting, and also to prevent an overload from acting. <Invention of Claim 2> The runout width can be uniformly reduced on both sides of the locking position, and the displacement of the contact portions of all the terminal fittings mounted on the sub-connector can be suppressed.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
Or, it demonstrates based on FIG. The split connector of the present embodiment is a waterproof female split connector 1, and roughly includes three sub-connectors 2 and a common frame 13 for housing them, as shown in FIG. There is.

The sub-connector 2 is, as shown in FIG.
The housing 3 is provided with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a plurality of cavities 5 into which the female terminal fittings 4 can be inserted from the rear are formed in a plurality of stages in the housing 3 so as to be aligned. A collective type waterproof plug 7 is applied to the rear surface of the housing 3, and is held by a holding member 8 arranged on the rear surface. The female-side terminal fitting 4 is inserted into the cavity 5 while penetrating the through hole 9 of the waterproof plug 7, is primarily locked by the lance 10, and is then double-locked by the side type retainer 11 in a retaining state. It is like this.

The frame 13 is formed in a flat rectangular tube shape as a whole, and inside thereof, three cylindrical holders 14 for accommodating the individual sub-connectors 2 are provided. These holders 14 are part of the frame 1
While being connected to the inner surface of No. 3 and the adjacent holder 14, they are provided side by side in the lateral direction with the fitting spaces secured around them. A step portion 15 is formed at the central portion of the outer peripheral surface of each holder 14 in the length direction, and the rubber ring 1 is formed on the step portion.
6 is fitted from the front side.

Each sub-connector 2 can be inserted into the corresponding holder 14 from the rear. Gate-shaped recesses 18 are formed on the left and right side edges from the upper edge of the sub-connector 2, and a corresponding hook-shaped hook 19 is formed on the inner surface of the holder 14 at the tip edge. The recess 18 of the sub-connector 2 abuts on the hook portion 19 of the holder 14 to stop the sub-connector 2 from the front. This is the normal insertion position of the sub-connector 2, and the sub-connector 2 is housed with its tip surface flush with the tip of the holder 14.

The structure for locking the sub-connector 2 in the above-mentioned regular position in a state where it does not come off is as follows. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, locking pieces 21 having locking projections 22 are formed on the left and right side surfaces of the holder 14 at the center in the height direction on the tip end side thereof. The locking piece 21 is cantilevered forward with the locking projection 22 protruding inward, and can be flexibly deformed inward and outward. The front of the locking piece 21 is cut out.

On the other hand, at the tip edges of the left and right side surfaces of the sub-connector 2, the central portion in the height direction is buried, and the locking projections of the locking pieces 21 provided on the holder 14 are behind the central edges. A locking hole 23 into which 22 is fitted is formed (see FIGS. 1 and 7). In other words, the position of the locking hole 23 is
In the height direction, the center height position of the sub-connector 2 is set, and in the front-rear direction, it is set to a position substantially right beside the contact portion 25 of the female-side terminal fitting 4 attached to the sub-connector 2. Further, locking frames 27 that are bent forward and project are provided on the four sides of the holding member 8 described above, and the locking frames 27 described above are provided on the four outer surfaces on the rear end side of the holder 14. A protrusion 28 that fits is formed.

Ring holders 30 which can be flexibly deformed are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the holder 14 immediately before the mounting positions of the rubber rings 16, respectively.
When the sub-connector 2 is inserted inside, the ring retainer 30
Deforms outward and protrudes in front of the rubber ring 16,
It serves to prevent the rubber ring 16 from coming off. Further, a lever 32 for assisting a fitting force with the mating male connector 35 is rotatably attached to the frame 13 so as to straddle both upper and lower surfaces, and each sub-portion is provided on the rear surface of the frame 13. A cover 34 that collectively houses the electric wires 33 drawn out from the connector 2 can be attached.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mating male connector 35 is a connector for a PCB (printed wiring board), and the front surface of the male connector 35 is a fitting portion 36 which can be tightly fitted to the inner surface of the frame 13. 5 is formed in the fitting portion 36.
As shown in FIG. 3, three fitting chambers 37 into which the holders 14 on the female connector 1 side can be fitted are formed side by side in the lateral direction. From the inner surface of each fitting chamber 37, tabs of the male-side terminal fittings 38 are provided so as to project in correspondence with the arrangement of the female-side terminal fittings 4.
Then, after the fitting portion 36 of the male connector 35 is inserted into the frame 13 on the female connector 1 side and the lever 32 is rotated, a cam groove 39 formed in the lever 32,
By engaging with the follower pin 40 provided on the upper surface of the male connector 35, the male and female connectors 1 and 35 are fitted together.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. A lever 32 is attached to the frame 13, and a rubber ring 16 is inserted and attached to the stepped portion 15 of each holder 14 from the front. On the other hand, the sub-connector 2 is assembled as shown in FIG. 2 and inserted from the rear into the corresponding holder 14 as shown by the arrow in the figure. During insertion, the tip of the sub-connector 2 comes into contact with the ring retainer 30 and is bent and deformed so as to project to the front of the rubber ring 16.

When the sub connector 2 is further pushed in,
When the locking pieces 21 provided on the left and right side surfaces of the holder 14 are pushed outward while flexing and deforming, and as shown in FIG. 6, the locking pieces 21 are housed in a regular position where they hit the hook portion 19 at the tip of the holder 14, As shown in FIG. 7, the locking protrusion 21 is fitted into the locking hole 23 while the locking piece 21 is restored and deformed. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 6, the locking frame 27 of the holding member 8 rides over the corresponding protrusion 28 provided at the rear end of the holder 14 and is elastically fitted therein.
Are housed in the corresponding holders 14 in a locked state. The waterproof plug 7 is tightly fitted to the rear end side of the holder 14.

All three sub-connectors 2 are holders 14.
Once housed inside, the electric wires 33 drawn out from each sub-connector 2 are put together, and as shown in FIG.
A cover 34 is attached to the rear surface of the vehicle, is housed therein, and is pulled out in a predetermined direction. In this way female connector 1
Is assembled, the female connector 1 is inserted into the mating male connector 35, and the lever 32 is rotated to fit the two connectors 1 and 35.

When there is a clearance between the holder 14 and the sub-connector 2 during the above-mentioned fitting, the sub-connector 2 is locked to the holder 14 by the left and right side surfaces. However, even if the sub-connector 2 swings up and down, the locking position is at the center height position of the sub-connector 2 and the contact portion 25 of the female terminal fitting 4 is attached. Since it is set to a side position and the head is shaken around it, the swing width can be suppressed to be small evenly on both the upper and lower sides, and especially at the position of the contact portion 25 of the female terminal fitting 4, There is no displacement, or it is suppressed to a very small displacement. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, when the fitting of both connectors 1, 35 is completed, the corresponding male and female terminal fittings 4, 38 can be brought into contact accurately.

In this embodiment, the front end side of the sub-connector 2 is elastically clamped by the ring retainers 30 from both upper and lower surfaces, and the rear end side is also locked at the four upper, lower, left and right surfaces. The vertical swing of the connector 2 is more reliably prevented.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
Even if the locking portions that prevent the sub-connector 2 from coming off are provided on the left and right side surfaces that cannot directly prevent the swinging in the up-down direction that causes the inconvenient displacement of the contact portion 25 of the female-side terminal fitting 4, even if the locking portions are provided. The stop position is the center height position of the left and right sides,
In addition, since the position is set to correspond to the side of the contact portion 25, even if the sub-connector 2 swings up and down, the swing width can be suppressed to be small evenly on both upper and lower sides. The contact portion 25 has no vertical displacement or can be suppressed to a very small displacement. Therefore, the corresponding male and female terminal fittings 4, 38 can be connected to each other in a good contact state, and it is possible to avoid an overload acting on the contact portion.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition to the above, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) The locking structure of the sub-connector is not limited to the one exemplified in the above embodiment, and it is provided in the vicinity of the contact portion of the mounted terminal fitting and in the widthwise central portion of the surface on which the locking portion is provided. Other structures may be adopted as long as the structure is applicable. (2) The present invention can be similarly applied to a male-side split connector in which a plurality of sub-connectors equipped with male-side terminal fittings are housed in corresponding housing chambers of a frame.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a split connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view before insertion of a sub connector

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view of the holder.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a male connector.

[Figure 5] Front view

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view when the sub connector is completely inserted.

FIG. 7 is a plan sectional view thereof.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the initial state of mating of male and female connectors.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view when the fitting is completed

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional example before assembly.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the assembling process.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Female connector 2 ... Sub connector 4 ... Female terminal fitting 13 ... Frame 14 ... Holder 21 ... Locking piece 22 ... Locking protrusion 23 ... Locking hole 25 ... Contact part 35 ... Male connector 38 ... Male side terminal fitting

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI H01R 24/00 H01R 13/629 // H01R 13/629 23/02 D (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) H01R 13/42 H01R 13/514 H01R 13/52 301 H01R 23/02 H01R 13/629

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A division comprising a frame provided with a plurality of accommodation chambers, into which sub-connectors with terminal fittings are inserted respectively in the respective accommodation chambers so that the sub-connectors can be fitted together with the mating connector together with the frame. In the connector, a cantilevered locking piece is formed in the accommodation chamber so as to be flexible.
The sub-connector can be locked without coming off
In addition, the position of the entire locking piece is
Of the mating terminal fitting on the connector
A split connector which is arranged in the vicinity of a position corresponding to a contact portion . 2. The split connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking position is set at a center portion in a width direction of a surface provided with the locking portion.