JP3643294B2 - Inertia lock connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, for example, when a male terminal used for connecting a rear defogger of an automobile is inserted into a female terminal in a connector housing, the male terminal breaks a breakable member of the connector housing to obtain an insertion inertia force. The present invention relates to an inertia lock connector that is securely connected to a female terminal without being half inserted.
[0002]
[Prior art]
5 to 6 sequentially show a state in which a male terminal used for connecting a rear defogger or the like of an automobile is connected to a female terminal in a mating connector.
[0003]
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 81 denotes a male terminal having a contact tab portion 81 a, and 82 denotes a connector that houses a female terminal 83. The male terminal 81 is formed, for example, bent in a substantially crank shape, and the other connecting portion (not shown) following the one contact tab portion 81a is connected to the terminal of the rear defogger hot wire by soldering. A locking hole 84 is formed in the center of the contact tab 81a. The male terminal 81 remains exposed to the outside and is not accommodated in the connector housing 85 like the female terminal 83.
[0004]
The connector 82 includes a connector housing 85 made of synthetic resin and a female terminal 83 made of metal. The connector housing 85 includes a front wall and upper, lower, left and right wall portions. The front wall is formed with an insertion hole 86 for the male terminal 81, and the lower wall is a flexible member having a locking projection 87a for the female terminal 83. A locking lance 87 is formed.
[0005]
The female terminal 83 has a box-shaped electrical contact portion 88 on one side and a wire connection portion (crimping portion) 89 on the other side. An elastic contact piece 90 is provided inside the electrical contact portion 88, and a locking projection 91 for the hole 84 of the male terminal 81 is formed on the elastic contact piece 90. As shown in FIG. 6, the contact tab portion 81 a of the male terminal 81 is inserted and connected between the elastic contact piece 90 of the female terminal 83 and the holding wall 92, and the locking projection 91 is engaged with the hole portion 84, so-called. Positive lock is performed. The elastic contact piece 90 is biased downward by a mechanism (not shown), and the connector 82 having the male terminal 81 or the female terminal 83 is pulled to release the mutual locking of the terminals 81 and 83.
[0006]
In FIG. 5, the electric wire connecting portion 89 is composed of a pair of conductor crimping pieces on the front side and a pair of covering crimping pieces on the rear side. The electric wire 93 is, for example, a power line for an automobile, and supplies electricity to the male terminal 81 side to heat, for example, a heat wire for a rear defogger.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above conventional structure, since there is no connector housing on the male terminal 81 side, the male and female connector housings cannot be fitted and locked with each other. It is difficult to confirm whether or not the terminal 83 is completely inserted and connected, and the male terminal 81 is likely to be half-inserted (incompletely inserted) with respect to the female terminal 83. Therefore, there is a problem that the male terminal 81 easily comes out of the female terminal 83. Further, when the terminals 81 and 83 are large or when the number of poles of the terminals 81 and 83 is large, sliding resistance between the terminals increases when the terminals are connected, and a large insertion force is required for the male terminal 81. However, there is a problem that half insertion of the male terminal 81 is likely to occur.
[0008]
Conventionally, when a male connector containing a female terminal is fitted into a female connector (not shown) containing a male terminal, for example, one connector housing is used to prevent half-fitting of both connectors. Proposed and implemented are means for fitting the two connectors by obtaining a large inertial force by abutting the locking projections of the other connector housing against the flexible lock arm. However, there is no good means for reliably connecting the male terminal 81 having no connector housing to the female terminal 83 in the mating connector 82 without causing half insertion, and such means has been desired.
[0009]
An object of the present invention is to provide an inertia lock connector that can reliably connect a male terminal to a female terminal in the connector without causing half-insertion.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a connector for inserting a male terminal into the female terminal in the connector housing, the male terminal insertion hole of the connector housing, are breakable member for abutting against said male terminal One or more columns are provided, a notch breakable portion is formed at the center of the column in the height direction, and the force required to break the column from the breakable portion is greater than the terminal insertion force. An inertia lock connector is employed, wherein the inertia lock connector is set large and the male terminal is inserted and connected to the female terminal by breaking the breakable portion (Claim 1).
It is also effective that both end portions of the column portion are connected to the edge portion of the male terminal insertion hole by a thin connecting portion (Claim 2).
In addition, it is also effective that the column portion is disposed at the back of the groove portion continuing to the male terminal insertion hole (Claim 3).
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 to 4 show an embodiment of an inertia lock connector according to the present invention.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 1, the inertia lock connector 1 has a pair of breakable column portions (breakable members) 5 and 5 in a male terminal insertion hole 4 of a connector housing 3 made of synthetic resin that accommodates a female terminal 2 (FIG. 3). By providing the tip 7 of the male terminal 6 against the pair of pillars 5 and 5, the pillars 5 and 5 are broken, thereby causing the male terminal 5 to exert a strong inertia force in the insertion direction. The male terminal 6, the female terminal 2 (FIG. 3), and the connector housing 3 constitute the inertia lock connector 1.
[0013]
The male terminal 6 is used for a rear defogger of an automobile as in the prior art, and a base portion (not shown) is soldered to, for example, a heat wire of a wind glass, and a flat contact tab portion 8 on the distal end side is a connector housing. 3 is inserted. The insertion of the tab portion 8 is similarly performed by fixing the male terminal 6 and moving the connector housing 3 toward the tab portion 8. The connector housing 3 and the female terminals 6 constitute a male connector 9.
[0014]
The tip 7 of the tab portion 8 is chamfered (10) vertically and horizontally, and the width L of the tip 7 of the tab portion 8 is at least equal to or outside the outer width of the pair of column portions 5 and 5, as shown in FIG. The interval between the column parts 5 and 5 is defined so as to be larger than the width. Accordingly, the tab portion 8 can be reliably and evenly abutted against the pair of column portions 5 and 5.
[0015]
In FIG. 1, a slit-like groove portion 12 in the horizontal direction (width direction of the tab portion 8) is formed on the front wall 11 of the connector housing 3, and a horizontally long male terminal insertion hole 4 is provided at the back of the groove portion 12. Both sides of 4 are connected to the inner surfaces of both side walls 13 of the connector housing 3, and a pair of pillars 5, 5 are provided integrally with the front wall 11 at the intermediate portion in the lateral width direction near both sides of the insertion hole 4. The column portions 5 and 5 are integrally formed when the connector housing 3 is resin-molded with a molding die. The pair of column portions 5 and 5 are in a state where the entrance of the insertion hole 4 is partially blocked. The groove portion 12 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in longitudinal section, and a tapered guide surface 14 for the tab portion 8 is formed above and below the inlet side of the groove portion 12.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 3, the column portions 5 and 5 are connected to the front wall 11 by a thin connection portion 15 on the back side of the groove portion 12, and slightly protrude in the terminal accommodating chamber 16. A thin-wall breakable portion 18 is formed by forming a substantially V-shaped groove 17 in a lateral direction in the center of the direction. The height of the column parts 5 and 5 is slightly larger than the plate thickness of the tab part 8, and is equal to the height of the insertion hole 4 (FIG. 1). The total breaking strength of the breakable portion 18 of the pair of column portions 5 and 5 needs to be larger than the force required to insert the male terminal 6 into the electrical contact portion 19 of the female terminal 2 (terminal insertion force). is there.
[0017]
When the tip 7 of the tab portion 8 of the male terminal 6 is strongly pressed against the pair of pillars 5 and 5 from the state of FIG. 3 and the pressing force exceeds the terminal insertion force, the pair of pillars 5 and 5 are as shown in FIG. It breaks from the center in the height direction and is divided into upper and lower parts and enters the inside of the connector housing 3 (inside the terminal accommodating chamber 16). The upper and lower broken pieces 5 a, 5 a do not fall into the terminal accommodating chamber 16 because the thin connecting portion 15 with the front wall 11 of the connector housing 3 acts as a hinge portion.
[0018]
The upper and lower broken pieces 5a, 5a are accommodated in the inlet 21 of the box-shaped electrical contact portion 19 without touching the elastic contact piece 20 of the female terminal 2, but when there is a concern of touching the elastic contact piece 20 3 and 4, this can be dealt with by setting the insertion position of the female terminal 2 slightly rearward. Since the column part 5 is connected to the front wall 11 of the connector housing 3 in a state where it is separated vertically, it does not interfere with the contact between the terminals 2 and 6.
[0019]
The pair of upper and lower broken pieces 5a, 5a can be brought into elastic contact with the front and back surfaces of the tab portion 8 by the elasticity of the connecting portion 15, and the tab portion 8 is supported vertically and centered. The tab portion 8 can be smoothly inserted into the electric contact portion 19 (FIG. 3), and the tab portion 8 can be prevented from rattling, and wear due to tapping between the tab portion 8 and the electric contact portion 19 due to vehicle vibration or the like. Etc. are prevented.
[0020]
The tab portion 8 is positioned and guided with respect to the column portions 5 and 5 by the groove portion 12 on the front wall 11 of the connector housing 3, whereby the tab portion 8 is accurately broken without misalignment. Then, the male terminal 6 is inserted into the connector 9 at once by the inertial force generated when the tab portion 8 breaks the column portion 5, and the connection with the female terminal 2 is reliably performed without being half-inserted. Further, the hole 22 (FIG. 1) provided in the center of the tab portion 8 engages with a locking projection (not shown) of the elastic contact piece 20 of the female terminal 2, so that the tab portion 8 can be pulled out backward. Is prevented. The same applies to the case where the male terminal 6 is fixed to the rear window or the like and the connector 9, that is, the female terminal 2 is connected to the male terminal 6.
[0021]
In addition, the number of the column parts 5 may be one, three, or more. In the case of using one column portion 5, the column portion 5 is installed at the center in the lateral width direction of the terminal insertion hole 4 of the connector housing 3. Even when there are three column parts 5, their positions are set so that each column part 5 comes into contact with the tip 7 of the tab part 8 of the male terminal 6. When the column portions 5 are formed with the same plate thickness and width, the inertial force increases in proportion to the number of the column portions 5. By appropriately setting the plate thickness and width of the column part 5, it is possible to exert an optimum inertial force according to the terminal insertion force.
[0022]
In addition, the vertical width of the breakable portion 18 notched in a substantially V shape of the column portion 5 is set to be larger than the plate thickness of the tip 7 of the tab portion 8, and the tab portion 8 is formed into a V shape of the breakable portion 18. It is also possible to position the center of the column portion 5 in the center in the height direction along the inclined surface, thereby preventing the tab portion 8 from being displaced in the plate thickness direction (vertical direction).
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the male terminal is inserted into the connector housing, the male terminal hits the pillar portion which is a breakable member in the terminal insertion hole, and the operator can Push the terminal in the insertion direction or push the female terminal toward the male terminal with a strong force, and when the pushing force becomes stronger than the terminal insertion force, that is, the force required to insert the male terminal into the female terminal, the column breaks As a result, the male terminal obtains a large inertial force and is inserted and connected to the female terminal at once. Alternatively, the female terminal obtains a large inertia and is connected to the male terminal at once. Thereby, the male terminal unit which is not covered with the connector housing can be securely connected to the female terminal in the mating connector housing without half-insertion (incomplete insertion). The same applies to the male terminals covered with the connector housing, and even when the male terminals are arranged in multiple poles, both connectors can be securely connected to each other without half-fitting.
[0024]
In addition, by appropriately setting the number of column portions according to the terminal insertion force, it is possible to obtain an optimum inertial force at the time of connection, unnecessary force is unnecessary, and the terminals are reliably connected to each other. In addition, by providing a breakable portion that is notched at the center of the column in the height direction, the tip of the male terminal is positioned at the breakable portion, so that the displacement of the male terminal is prevented and the column portion is not broken. It is done accurately with the specified force.
[0025]
Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, when the pillar portion is broken, without breaking pieces of the pillar portion falls in the connector housing, because integral with the connector housing, broken fragments in the connector housing There is no fear of adversely affecting the contact between the female terminal and the male terminal.
[0026]
According to the invention described in claim 3 , since the male terminal is guided by the groove portion of the connector housing and abuts against the pillar portion , the abutment is performed easily and accurately, and the connection work is facilitated / accurate.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of an inertia lock connector according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, showing a state in which the width dimensions of a pair of column portions of the male terminal and the connector housing are compared.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a male terminal is inserted into a connector on the female terminal side.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a male terminal is inserted into a female terminal in an inertial manner with the momentum of breaking a pillar portion.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a male terminal is inserted in a conventional connector.
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in the middle of inserting the male terminal into the female terminal.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Inertial lock connector 2 Female terminal 3 Connector housing 4 Male terminal insertion hole 5 Column (breakable member)
6 Male terminal 12 Groove part 15 Connection part 18 Breakable part

Claims (3)

In the connector for inserting the male terminal into the female terminal in the connector housing, the male terminal insertion hole of the connector housing is provided with one or more pillar portions which are breakable members for abutting against the male terminal. A notch breakable portion is formed at the center of the height direction of the portion, the force required to break the column portion from the breakable portion is set larger than the terminal insertion force , and the male terminal is the breakable portion And an inertia lock connector, wherein the connector is inserted and connected to the female terminal . 2. The inertia lock connector according to claim 1, wherein both end portions of the column portion are connected to an edge portion of the male terminal insertion hole by a thin connecting portion . The inertia lock connector according to claim 1 , wherein the column portion is disposed in a deep portion of a groove portion continuing to the male terminal insertion hole .

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