JP3551725B2 - Connector with retainer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector with a retainer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, a connector with a retainer includes a side retainer type (see Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 6-58570) and a front retainer type (see Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 5-23455 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-250215).
In the side retainer type, as shown in FIG. 9, a retainer 3 is mounted in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the terminal fitting 2 is inserted into the connector housing 1, so that a retainer insertion hole 4 is provided on a side surface of the connector housing 1. It is open. In this type, as shown in FIG. 10, a resin lance 8 provided on the connector housing 1 prevents the terminal fitting 2 from coming off, and a retainer is provided at a portion of the terminal fitting 2 which is different from a portion engaged with the resin lance 8. Since the terminal 3 is locked to the terminal fitting 2, there is an advantage that the holding position of the terminal fitting 2 is increased with a total of two locking points. On the other hand, in the front retainer type, as shown in FIG. 11, the retainer 5 is inserted into the connector housing 6 along the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 2, and the retainer insertion hole 7 therefor is opened to the mating surface with the mating connector. ing. The resin lance 9 provided in the connector housing 6 is locked to the terminal fitting 2, and the deformation of the resin lance 9 is restricted by the retainer 5. This type has only one locking portion for the terminal fitting 2 and has a lower holding force than the side retainer type, but has an advantage that the retainer insertion hole 7 is covered by the mating connector and is not exposed to the outside.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, heretofore, there has been no connector with a retainer that combines the advantages of both types described above.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector with a retainer which can prevent exposure of a retainer insertion hole and has a high holding force for terminal fittings.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 inserts a terminal fitting from a rear surface of the connector housing into a cavity formed inside the connector housing, and inserts the terminal fitting into a retainer insertion hole formed to open to the front surface of the connector housing. In a connector with a retainer that holds the terminal fitting in a retained state by the inserted retainer, a resin lance that protrudes into the cavity and prevents the terminal fitting from being provided is provided, and a bending area of the resin lance is secured in a deep portion of the retainer insertion hole. The middle part of the retainer insertion hole is communicated with the side surface of the cavity, and the retainer is provided with a restricting portion that is inserted into the bending region of the resin lance in the retainer insertion hole to restrict the bending deformation of the resin lance, and that the retainer is inserted from the retainer. The terminal fitting is provided so as to protrude from a communication portion between the hole and the cavity. The present invention is characterized in that a metal lance formed by cutting and raising a metal lance is provided with a metal lance receiving projection which locks in a direction in which the terminal fitting is prevented from coming off.
[0006]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a lance insertion groove through which a metal lance can be inserted along a terminal fitting insertion direction is formed in a locking projection of the resin lance which is locked to the terminal fitting. It has characteristics in the place where it is formed.
[0007]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, when the terminal fitting is partially inserted into the cavity, the resin lance is deformed toward the bending region, and the restricting portion of the retainer is inserted into the bending region. It has features where it becomes impossible.
[0008]
Function and effect of the present invention
According to the configuration of the first aspect, when the terminal fitting is inserted into the connector housing, the resin lance is once bent to the bending area side and then restored, and is locked to the terminal fitting in the retaining direction. In this state, when the retainer is inserted to the depth of the retainer insertion hole, the restricting portion provided on the retainer is accommodated in the bending region of the resin lance to restrict the bending deformation of the resin lance, and to improve the locking force thereof, The metal lance of the terminal fitting is locked in the retaining direction in the metal lance receiving portion provided on the retainer. As described above, in this connector, not only the locking force of the resin lance is improved by the retainer, but also the terminal metal is prevented from being detached by the two lances of the resin lance and the metal lance, so that the terminal metal can be held with a strong holding force. . In addition, since the open portion of the retainer insertion hole is on the front surface of the connector housing, it is covered with the mating connector and is not exposed to the outside. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector having both advantages of the conventional side retainer type and front retainer type.
[0009]
According to the configuration of claim 2, since the metal lance and the locking projection do not interfere with each other in the terminal fitting insertion direction due to the lance insertion groove, the insertion resistance does not increase when the terminal fitting is inserted into the connector housing. When removing the terminal fitting from the connector housing, the removal operation is facilitated.
[0010]
According to the configuration of claim 3, when the terminal fitting is in the half-inserted state, the restricting portion interferes with the resin lance, and the retainer cannot be pushed deep into the retainer insertion hole, so that the terminal fitting is noticed to be half-inserted. it can.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a connector housing (hereinafter, referred to as "housing 10"), the left end surface of which is a front surface fitted with a mating connector (not shown), and protrudes forward from the front surface. The mating hood portion provided in the mating connector is fitted and inserted into the space 13 between the hood portion 11 and the main body portion 12 inside the hood portion 11 to connect the two connectors. A waterproof ring 14 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 12, and the waterproof ring 14 is crushed between the inner peripheral surface of the counterpart hood and the outer peripheral surface of the main body 12, and adheres to both. I do.
[0012]
Inside the housing 10, a pair of cavities 15, 15 (only one is shown in the figure; see FIG. 2) is formed to penetrate in the direction of fitting with the mating connector. A male tab (a mating connector) of the mating connector inserted from the tab insertion port 15B opened to the front side into the terminal fitting 20 inserted from the terminal insertion port 15A opened to the rear side (the right side in FIG. 1) of the housing 10 in the cavity 15. (Not shown) are electrically connected. As shown in FIG. 2, a tool insertion hole 16 is provided between the two cavities 15, 15 of the main body 12 so as to be open to the front surface of the main body 12 and communicate with a side surface of a resin lance 30 described later. The locking of the resin lance 30 to the terminal fitting 20 can be released by inserting a predetermined tool there.
[0013]
The terminal fitting 20 is formed as shown in FIG. 1 by sequentially cutting and bending a conductive metal plate, and a front end face 21 </ b> A of a terminal base 21 formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape has an abutment formed in the cavity 15. It is abutted against a wall (not shown in the figure) to determine a position to the front side (left side in FIG. 1) in the cavity 15. In addition, a pair of opposing pieces 22, 22 are extended forward so as to approach each other on the front end face 21A of the terminal base 21, and the male tab is sandwiched between the opposing pieces 22, 22 for electrical connection. Is done. Further, metal lances 23 extend obliquely rearward from a pair of side walls of the terminal base 21. The rear end surface 21B of the terminal base 21 has a rising portion 24 extending rearward from a central portion thereof, and a barrel portion 26 for crimping the electric wire 25 is provided at the tip thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, a waterproof rubber plug 27 is crimped to the barrel portion 26 together with the end of the electric wire 25, and the waterproof rubber plug 27 adheres to the outer sheath of the electric wire 25 and the inner peripheral surface of the cavity 15. are doing.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 1, a resin lance 30 extends in a cantilever shape in the longitudinal direction of each cavity 15 along the ceiling surface 15 </ b> C of the cavity 15 in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 20. In FIG. 1, a retainer insertion hole 40 described later is arranged above the resin lance 30, and the resin lance 30 can be bent and deformed toward the retainer insertion hole 40.
[0015]
At the tip of the resin lance 30, a locking projection 31 is projected toward the terminal fitting 20, and the surface of the locking projection 31 facing the terminal insertion opening 15 </ b> A has the terminal base 21 in the cavity 15. When the terminal fitting 20 is pulled, the rear end face 21B of the terminal base 21 when the terminal fitting 20 is pulled. And a locking surface 33 that can be locked to the surface. As shown in FIG. 3, a lance insertion groove 35 is formed at the center of the locking projection 31 in the width direction along the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 20, and the metal lance 23 and the locking projection 31 are Is designed not to interfere. Further, as shown in the figure, operation protrusions 36, 36 are provided on opposing surfaces of the resin lances 30, 30, respectively. The resin lance 30 can be flexed and deformed by pushing up the lance 36.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 2, a retainer insertion hole 40 is formed in the housing 10 so as to open to the front of the main body 12. The retainer insertion hole 40 has a rectangular cross section that is wide in the left-right direction in the figure, is disposed above the cavities 15, 15 and communicates with the upper surfaces of the cavities 15, 15, and extends to the middle of the housing 10 (FIG. 1). reference). The inner part of the retainer insertion hole 40 is a bending area 40A of the resin lance 30 (see FIG. 1).
[0017]
Now, the retainer 50 is shown in FIG. 4 and has a flat base 52 at the rear end of the insertion piece 51 into the retainer insertion hole 40. The insertion piece 51 has the same width dimension as the retainer insertion hole 40 and has a length that can be inserted into the depth of the retainer insertion hole 40, and the tip of the insertion piece 51 is housed in the bending area 40A and the lance is bent. The restricting portion 53 restricts deformation.
4, a pair of receiving projections 54, 54 (only one is shown in FIG. 4; see FIG. 5) corresponding to the metal lance 23 of each terminal fitting 20 is provided on the downward surface of the insertion piece 51 in FIG. The metal lance 23 is locked on the vertical surface 54A of the receiving portion 54 facing the left side in FIG. The right end surface of the receiving portion 54 is a tapered surface 54B inclined in the lower left direction in FIG. 4, and when the terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the cavity 15, the metal lance 23 is smoothly pushed down by the tapered surface 54B. It is supposed to be. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a reinforcing rib 55 extends to the base 52 at a position closer to the inside of the vertical surface 54A of each receiving portion 54 so as not to interfere with the metal lance 23.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of small protrusions 56 project from both side surfaces 51A of the insertion piece 51. When the retainer 50 is inserted to a position before the restricting portion 53 at the tip of the insertion piece 51 is inserted into the bending region 40A (see FIG. 1), the small projections 56 are formed on both inner side surfaces of the retainer insertion hole 40. The retainer 50 is engaged with the provided temporary engagement recess 44 (this is referred to as a temporary engagement of the retainer 50). When the restricting portion 53 reaches the position where the restricting portion 53 is accommodated in the bending region 40A (see FIG. 7), the small protrusions 56 are locked in the permanent locking recesses 45 provided on both inner side surfaces of the retainer insertion hole 40 (this is shown in FIG. 7). This is called final locking of the retainer 50). As a result, the retainer 50 is prevented from inadvertently moving from each locking position.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 6, the base 52 of the retainer 50 has a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners corresponding to the front shape of the main body 12, and a pair of tabs corresponding to the tab insertion ports 15 </ b> B. Tool through holes 57, 57 and a tool through hole 58 corresponding to the tool insertion hole 16. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the base 52 slightly protrudes from the main body 12 to face the waterproof ring 14 and serves to prevent the waterproof ring 14 from coming off (see FIG. 7).
[0020]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
Generally, a connector production factory and a harness factory for crimping terminal fittings to ends of electric wires and assembling the connectors are located at locations separated from each other.
In a connector production plant, the insertion piece 51 of the retainer 50 is inserted halfway into the retainer insertion hole 40 of the housing 10 in order to temporarily lock the retainer 50 to the housing 10. Then, the small protrusion 56 of the insertion piece 51 is locked in the temporary locking recess 44 of the retainer insertion hole 40, and the retainer 50 is held in the temporarily locked state. This connector is transported to the harness factory in this state.
[0021]
At the harness factory, the terminal fitting 20 is assembled to the connector. To do so, the terminal fitting 20 may be pushed into the cavity 15 while the retainer 50 is in the temporarily locked state. Then, the terminal base 21 abuts on the inclined surface 32 of the resin lance 30 at an angle, and the resin lance 30 is pushed toward the bending region 40A. Here, when the retainer 50 is in the temporarily locked state, the restricting portion 53 is not accommodated in the bending region 40A (see FIG. 1), so that the resin lance 30 can be bent and deformed toward the bending region 40A, and the terminal fitting 20 is moved into the cavity 15. Is inserted all the way to the back. At this time, since the metal lance 23 does not interfere with the locking projection 31 through the lance insertion groove 35 of the locking projection 31, the insertion resistance of the terminal fitting 20 does not need to be large. When the terminal fitting 20 reaches the inside of the cavity 15, as shown in FIG. 1, the resin lance 30 gets over the terminal base 21 and is restored, and the locking surface 33 of the resin lance 30 is moved to the rear end surface of the terminal base 21. 21B. At this time, the terminal base 21 abuts against an abutting wall (not shown) of the cavity 15, and the position of the terminal fitting 20 in front is determined.
[0022]
In this state, the retainer 50 is pushed in. Then, the temporary locking between the small protrusion 56 and the temporary locking recess 44 is released, the retainer 50 moves to the back, and when the receiving projection 54 of the retainer 50 pushes down the metal lance 23 of the terminal fitting 20 and passes, the metal The lance 23 is restored and locked on the vertical surface 54A of the receiving portion 54. At the same time, the restricting portion 53 of the retainer 50 is accommodated in the bending region 40A of the resin lance 30 to restrict the bending deformation of the resin lance 30 and improve the locking force. When the retainer 50 is pushed so far, as shown in FIG. 7, the base 52 of the retainer 50 abuts against the front surface of the housing 10 and cannot be pushed any further. 50 is in the final locking state.
[0023]
Finally, when the retainer 50 is fully engaged with the mating connector, the tab of the mating connector is inserted into the cavity 15 to be electrically connected to the mating connector. The waterproof rubber plug 27 in the cavity 15 makes the inside of the cavity 15 waterproof.
[0024]
Further, in this connector, when the retainer 50 is pushed in with the terminal fitting 20 in a half-inserted state, as shown in FIG. 8, the resin lance 30 protrudes into the bending area 40A and interferes with the restricting portion 53, so that the retainer 50 is retained. Since the terminal fitting 20 cannot be pushed all the way into the insertion hole 40, it can be noticed that the terminal fitting 20 is in a half-inserted state.
[0025]
Further, in order to remove the terminal fitting 20 from the main connector in the fully locked state, first, a predetermined tool is inserted into the tab insertion opening 15B (see FIG. 7) to pull out the retainer 50 while bending the metal lance 23 downward. . Subsequently, a predetermined tool may be inserted into the tool insertion hole 16 (see FIG. 2), and the terminal fitting 20 may be pulled out while raising the operation protrusion 36 of the retainer 50 upward in FIG. At this time, since the metal lance 23 and the locking projection 31 are prevented from interfering with each other in the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 20 by the lance insertion groove 35, the work of extracting the terminal fitting 20 becomes easy.
[0026]
As described above, according to the connector of the present embodiment, not only the locking force of the resin lance 30 is improved by the retainer 50, but also the terminal fitting 20 is prevented from coming off by the two lances of the resin lance 30 and the metal lance 23. The terminal fitting 20 can be held with a strong holding force. Moreover, since the open portion of the retainer insertion hole 40 is on the front surface of the housing 10, it is covered with the mating connector and is not exposed to the outside. That is, according to the present invention, a connector having both advantages of the conventional side retainer type and front retainer type can be provided, and the terminal fitting 20 can be held with a large holding force despite being a waterproof connector.
[0027]
<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, various embodiments other than those described below may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It can be changed and implemented.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to the waterproof connector is described, but the present invention may be applied to a non-waterproof type connector.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a connector with a retainer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the housing. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a resin lance. FIG. 4 is a side view of the retainer. FIG. 6 is a front view of the retainer. FIG. 7 is a front view of the connector with the retainer fully locked. FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector with the terminal fittings partially inserted. FIG. 9 is a conventional side retainer. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a connector of a type. FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the connector. FIG.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Connector housing 20 ... Terminal fitting 30 ... Resin lance 35 ... Lance insertion groove 40 ... Retainer insertion hole 40A ... Deflection area 50 ... Retainer 53 ... Regulator 54 ... Receiving part (metal lance receiving part)

Claims (3)

A terminal fitting is inserted from the rear surface of the connector housing into a cavity formed inside the connector housing, and the terminal fitting is held in a retaining state by a retainer inserted into a retainer insertion hole formed to open to the front surface of the connector housing. Connector with retainer
A resin lance that protrudes into the cavity to prevent the terminal fitting from being provided is provided, and a bending area of the resin lance is secured in a deep portion of the retainer insertion hole, and a middle portion of the retainer insertion hole is provided on a side surface of the cavity. Communicate
The retainer is provided with a restricting portion that is inserted into the flexure region of the resin lance in the retainer insertion hole and regulates flexure deformation of the resin lance,
A metal lance projection is provided so as to protrude from the retainer to a communicating portion between the retainer insertion hole and the cavity, and a metal lance cut and raised in the terminal fitting is locked in a direction in which the terminal fitting is prevented from coming off. A connector with a retainer, characterized by comprising a part. 2. A lance insertion groove through which the metal lance can be inserted along a direction in which the terminal metal fitting is inserted is formed in a locking projection of the resin lance that locks with the terminal metal fitting. Connector with retainer. The said terminal metal fitting is half-inserted in the said cavity, The said resin lance deform | transforms to the said bending area side, The restriction part of the said retainer cannot be inserted in the said bending area, The Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. 3. The connector with a retainer according to 2.

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