JP3646836B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector, and particularly to a connector having a plurality of sub-connectors.
[0002]
[Prior art]
14 and 15 show a connector 54 of a type that accommodates a plurality of sub-connectors 50 inside the frame 51. Each sub-connector 50 is provided with a male terminal fitting 52. In order to protect the front end portion of the terminal fitting 52, the front end face of the sub-connector 50 covers the terminal fitting 52 with a hood. A portion 53 is provided.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, a partition wall 55 for separating the sub-connector 50 is provided on the frame 51 side. When the sub-connector 50 is assembled to the frame 51, the partition wall 55 and the hood portion 53 overlap each other. It has become. That is, the protection of the terminal fitting 52 is doubled in this portion.
By the way, since the hood part 53 of the sub-connector 50 is a part for receiving the female housing, it is slightly larger than the part in which the terminal fitting is accommodated. However, in the case of being accommodated in the frame 51 as shown in the drawing, if the entire sub-connector is not formed in accordance with the size of the hood portion 53, rattling occurs internally. As a result, the interval between the partition walls is set in accordance with the widened size of the hood portion, which leads to an increase in the size of the frame 51 and an increase in the size of the connector 54 as a whole.
[0004]
This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, The subject exists in providing the connector which aims at size reduction of the whole, protecting a male terminal metal fitting at the time of a subconnector alone.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The connector according to the invention of claim 1 for solving the above-mentioned problem is a frame that is entirely frame-shaped and that is internally partitioned into a plurality of storage chambers by partition walls, and a terminal that accommodates a male terminal fitting therein. And a plurality of sub-connectors that can be incorporated into the respective housing chambers in a state in which the male terminal fittings are prevented from being detached by elastic locking pieces formed in the terminal housing portion so as to be bent. The sub-connector is configured such that the front end portion of the male terminal fitting is exposed from the front surface thereof, and the partition wall also serves as a protective wall for protecting the exposed front end portion of the male terminal fitting. configuration and turned and was also the movable protective member to the front side of the sub connector is assembled to be movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the housing of the sub-connector, in addition, the movable protective member, wherein Before assembling the frame, the elastic terminal piece is allowed to be bent so that the male terminal fitting can be inserted into the terminal accommodating portion. When the male terminal fitting is accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion, the male terminal fitting is provided. When the sub-connector is assembled to the frame, it is retracted from the protection position by being abutted against the partition wall, and the tip of the male terminal fitting is partway. The exposed tip is surrounded by the partition wall, and a part of the tip enters the flexure region of the elastic locking piece so that the operation of the elastic locking piece in the disengagement direction can be restricted. When mated with the mating connector while the sub-connector is held in the double latching position and held in the double locking position with respect to the frame, the mating connector contacts the mating connector. Characterized in that it is adapted to be held in the fitting position to be exposed to the normal state the leading end of the male terminal fittings while the deformation preventing of recessed from the double locking position the elastic latching pieces by It is what.
[0007]
Operation and effect of the invention
According to the first aspect of the present invention, male terminal fittings are accommodated in a plurality of sub-connectors, and the assembly of the connectors is completed by mounting these sub-connectors in the respective accommodating chambers of the frame. In that case, the tip of the male terminal fitting is exposed from the front of each sub-connector, but the partition wall also serves as a protective wall that protects the exposed tip when assembled in the frame. Hardware protection is achieved.
Conventionally, a connector that accommodates a male terminal fitting generally accepts a female housing and protects the distal end portion of the male terminal fitting, with the tip portion of the housing serving as a hood portion. The partition wall plays the role of the hood. Therefore, the size of the entire connector can be reduced by the amount that does not require the hood portion on the sub-connector side, that is, the amount corresponding to at least the thickness.
[0008]
In addition, when the sub-connector is single, the movable protective member is in the protection position and surrounds the tip of the male terminal fitting, so that the terminal fitting protection before being assembled into the frame is achieved. In addition, when the mating with the mating connector is made after being assembled into the frame, the movable protection member moves to the double locking position and makes the male terminal fitting in a double retaining state, Expose the tip of the male terminal bracket partway.
Furthermore, when the movable protective member moves to the mating position by fitting with the mating connector, the tip of the male terminal fitting is exposed in a normal state, so that the female terminal fitting in the mating connector is properly connected. .
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 11 or FIG. 12, the connector 1 of this embodiment includes a total of four sub-connectors 2 that can accommodate male terminal fittings 4 and a frame 3 that can accommodate the sub-connectors 2 collectively. Composed.
[0010]
The frame 3 is formed in a box shape from a synthetic resin, and the inside is a housing space 6 in which each sub-connector 2 can be housed (see FIG. 11). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13, each sub-connector 2 is provided with a positioning projection 7 for the frame 3. These are inserted into positioning grooves (not shown in detail) formed at corresponding positions on the inner wall surface of the frame 3 when the sub-connector 2 is inserted into the frame 3 so as to serve as a guide during insertion. It has become. Further, when each sub-connector 2 is fitted to the normal depth position, the sub-connector 2 is prevented from coming off by the lock means 8 configured between the corresponding sub-connector 2 and the corresponding position of the frame 3. Yes.
[0011]
In the above-described housing space 6, partition walls 5 are provided at equal intervals in the width direction on the front end surface (surface side to be fitted with a not-shown mating connector) side of the frame 3. The mating operation of the mating connector can be guided. The partition wall 5 also functions as a protective wall for protecting the distal end portion of the male terminal fitting 4 after the sub-connector 2 is assembled in the storage space 6.
The sub-connector 2 includes a housing 9 that can store the male terminal fitting 4 and a movable protection member 10 that is movably assembled to the housing 9.
[0012]
The housing 9 is formed of a synthetic resin in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The housing 9 accommodates the male terminal fitting 4 therein, and when the mating connector housing is fitted in the frame 3, the front surface of the mating connector housing is the front surface of the mating connector housing. In this state, the male and female terminal fittings are electrically connected. The front side of the housing 9 is a fitting portion 30 that is slightly smaller than the rear side, and is fitted into the movable protective member 10. The fitting portion 30 is configured to be substantially flush with the rear side when the movable protection member 10 is assembled. For this reason, even if the movable protection member 10 is provided, the sub-connector 2 is prevented from becoming large.
A central portion of the housing 9 is a terminal accommodating portion 11 that accommodates the male terminal fitting 4. In this embodiment, the housing 9 is formed so that it can be arranged in two rows. The rear side of the terminal accommodating portion 11 is a terminal accommodating port 11A for inserting the male terminal fitting 4 (see FIG. 4).
[0013]
A lance 12 that can be bent and deformed from upper and lower wall surfaces is provided at the center of the terminal accommodating portion 11 so as to protrude forward. A terminal engaging claw 12A is provided at the tip of the lance 12, and is engaged with the lance engaging portion 13 of the male terminal fitting 4 to be primarily locked. Further, the front end portion of the wall surface that separates the upper and lower terminal accommodating portions 11 is slightly thickened, and a stabilizer engaging portion 14 is formed in this portion in a rail shape along the length direction from the rear end surface. 4 guides the insertion of the stabilizer 21 formed in 4 and restricts the insertion in the inverted posture. Further, in the terminal accommodating portion 11, the front portion of the lance 12 is opened outward (the bending direction of the lance 12).
Since the length of the terminal accommodating portion 11 is shorter than the male terminal fitting 4 to be described later, when the male terminal fitting 4 is attached to the terminal accommodating portion 11, the tab portion 20 of the male terminal fitting 4 is removed from the housing 9. Protruding state.
[0014]
The left and right wall surfaces 15 of the housing 9 are provided with three types of locking projections 16, 17, and 18 at substantially equal pitches in the front and rear directions so that the movable protection member 10 described later can be held at three positions. Here, each pitch width is substantially the same as or slightly wider than the length of the locking edge 19 of the movable protective member 10 described later.
Of the locking protrusions, a pair of temporary locking protrusions 16 positioned in the foremost row are provided on the left and right side surfaces 15 respectively, and the front end face side is cut off in a tapered shape so that the movable protective member 10 is fitted. The rear end face is cut off at a substantially right angle. When a locking edge 19 of the movable protective member 10 to be described later gets over the temporary locking protrusion 16 and engages, the movable protective member 10 is held in the protected position.
[0015]
Next, a pair of upper and lower locking projections 17 project from the temporary locking projections 16 in a pair. A guide surface 17A is also formed on the front end side of the double locking projection 17, but its rising angle is made more obtuse than the guide surface 16A of the temporary locking projection 16. For this reason, the force when the locking edge 19 of the movable protection member 10 gets over the temporary locking protrusion 16 is smaller than that when the locking edge 19 gets over the double locking protrusion 17. When the locking edge 19 gets over and engages the double locking projection 17, the movable protective member 10 is held in the double locking position.
Further, a fitting protrusion 18 is provided behind the double locking protrusion 17. The fitting protrusion 18 protrudes substantially at the center of the left and right wall surfaces 15, and a guide surface 18A is formed at the front end portion thereof. When the locking edge 19 gets over and engages with the fitting protrusion 18, the movable protective member 10 is held in the fitting position.
[0016]
The male terminal fitting 4 is formed by bending a conductive metal plate, and a tab portion 20 to be inserted into a mating female terminal fitting (not shown) is provided at the tip portion. A pair of stabilizers 21 is formed behind the tab portion 20, and is positioned behind the stabilizer engaging portion 14 when the male terminal fitting 4 is attached to the terminal accommodating portion 11. A lance engaging portion 13 is formed on the surface opposite to the surface on which the stabilizer 21 is projected, and the terminal engaging claws 12 </ b> A of the lance 12 are engaged with each other. Further, a barrel portion 22 is provided at the rear portion of the male terminal fitting 4 for caulking the electric wire.
As shown in FIG. 2, two types of male terminal fittings 4 having different sizes are used.
[0017]
The movable protection member 10 is made of synthetic resin and is assembled to the housing 9 so as to be engageable in three different positions in the front-rear direction (the aforementioned protection position, double-locking position, and fitting position). The movable protection member 10 is formed into a bottomed rectangular tube shape, and a front surface of the movable protection member 10 is a terminal protection surface 24 in which a tab hole 23 into which the tab portion 20 of the male terminal fitting 4 can be inserted is formed. The tab hole 23 is provided in accordance with the position of the male terminal fitting 4, is opened so as to expand inward from the opening edge of the terminal protection surface 24, and inserts the tab portion 20 of the male terminal fitting 4. It can be done smoothly. Further, each side surface of the movable protection member 10 is a protection surface that can receive the fitting portion 30 of the housing 9. Each of the protective surfaces has a rear portion separated by the slit 27, so that it can be bent and deformed in the expanding direction.
[0018]
Of these protective surfaces, the one formed on the long side (the position corresponding to the surface on which the lance 12 is formed in the housing 9) is a pair of regulating surfaces 25. When the movable protective member 10 and the housing 9 are assembled, the restricting surface 25 is positioned so as to be in contact with the lance 12 from the outside, and restricts the lance 12 from being bent outwardly and deformed. An inner portion of the tip portion of the regulation surface 25 is thinned to form a relief portion 28.
Further, the remaining both protective surfaces (that is, positions corresponding to the surface side where the locking projections 16, 17, 18 are provided on the housing 9 side) are the engagement surfaces 26 that can be expanded and deformed. A central portion of the engagement surface 26 is opened, and a locking edge 19 is formed at the rear end portion. The locking edge 19 is assembled to the three locking projections 16, 17, 18 to engage the housing 9 and the movable protection member 10.
[0019]
Among these, the protection position where the locking edge 19 is locked to the temporary locking protrusion 16 is in a state before the sub-connector 2 is assembled and assembled to the frame 3. At this time, the tab portion 20 of the male terminal fitting 4 slightly penetrates the tab hole 23, and only the tip portion protrudes from the terminal protection surface 24 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 6). For this reason, even when the sub-connector 2 is single, the tab portion 20 of the male terminal fitting 4 is protected from deformation or the like. Further, in this protected position, the relief portion 28 of the restricting surface 25 is positioned at the tip portion of the lance 12. For this reason, the lance 12 can be elastically deformed at the protected position, and the male terminal fitting 4 can be inserted into and removed from the terminal accommodating portion 11.
[0020]
Next, in the double locking position where the locking edge 19 engages with the double locking protrusion 17, the tab portion 20 further protrudes from the tab hole 23. This double locking position corresponds to a state in which the sub-connector 2 is inserted into the housing space 6 of the frame 3 and the assembly of the connector 1 is completed (see FIGS. 7, 8, and 12). In the double locking position, the tip portion of the regulating surface 25 is assembled so as to cover the tip portion of the lance 12 from the outside. For this reason, since the lance 12 bends outward and becomes difficult to deform, the male terminal fitting 4 is almost double-locked.
Finally, at the fitting position where the locking edge 19 is engaged with the fitting protrusion 18, the terminal protection surface 24 of the movable protection member 10 is in contact with the front end portion of the housing 9. The mating position is such that when the mating female connector (not shown) and the connector 1 reach the mating position, the movable protective member 10 is moved by the front end surface of the female connector (the surface side where both connectors come into contact with each other). This is achieved by being pushed and retracted (see FIGS. 9 and 10). In the fitting position, the restricting surface 25 is completely covered from the outside of the lance 12, so that the lance 12 cannot be bent and deformed, and the male terminal fitting 4 is double-locked.
[0021]
Next, the effect of this embodiment comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.
First, the housing 9 and the movable protection member 10 are assembled into the protection position. That is, when the fitting portion 30 of the housing 9 is pushed in from the rear side of the movable protection member 10, the temporary locking protrusion 16 of the wall surface 15 and the locking edge 19 of the movable protection member 10 come into contact with each other. When the members 9 and 10 are pushed in here, the engaging edge 26 rides on the guide surface 16A, so that the engaging surface 26 is bent and deformed in the expanding direction. When further pressed, the locking edge 19 gets over the temporary locking protrusion 16 and the engagement surface 26 is restored and deformed and reaches the protected position. When in the protected position, the relief portion 28 of the restriction surface 25 is located outside the lance 12, so that the lance 12 can be elastically deformed.
[0022]
Next, the male terminal fitting 4 is attached to the terminal accommodating portion 11 of the housing 9. When the male terminal fitting 4 is pushed in from the terminal accommodating port 11A side, the lance 12 is pushed by the male terminal fitting 4 to bend and deform outward. When the male terminal fitting 4 reaches a predetermined position, the terminal engagement claw 12A engages with the lance engagement portion 13 while the lance 12 returns and deforms. Thus, the male terminal fitting 4 is primarily locked. At this time, the tip of the tab portion 20 of the male terminal fitting 4 slightly protrudes from the tab hole 23 of the terminal protection surface 24. During this operation, the tab hole 23 is largely opened while forming a slope on the rear surface side of the terminal protection surface 24. For this reason, even if there is a slight misalignment between the position of the tab portion 20 and the position of the tab hole 23, the tab portion 20 protrudes to the front side of the terminal protection surface 24 along this slope. Can do.
[0023]
Further, the inclination of the guide surface 16A of the temporary locking projection 16 is smaller than the inclination of the guide surface 17A of the double locking projection 17, so that when the locking edge 19 gets over the temporary locking projection 16 The force may be a smaller force than when getting over the double locking protrusion 17. For this reason, it is difficult for the locking edge 19 that has reached the protection position to move over the double locking projection 17 and move to the double locking position as it is.
[0024]
The sub-connector 2 assembled in the protected position in this way is assembled to the frame 3 as shown in FIG. When the sub-connector 2 is pushed into the housing space 6 of the frame 3, the rear end of the partition wall 5 and the terminal protection surface 24 of the movable protection member 10 come into contact with each other at a predetermined position. Therefore, when the sub-connector 2 is pushed in as it is, the terminal protection surface 24 is pressed to the rear position and the locking edge 19 rides on the guide surface 17A of the double locking projection 17, so that the engaging surface 26 is expanded and deformed. . When pushed in as it is, the locking edge 19 gets over the double locking projection 17 and engages, and the engaging surface 26 is deformed to return. In this double locking position, the distal end portion of the restricting surface 25 is located in the bending region of the lance 12, so that the male terminal fitting 4 is almost double locked with the terminal accommodating portion 11. In this position, the tab portion 20 protrudes forward of the terminal protection surface 24, but the partition wall 5 of the frame 3 protects the male terminal fitting 4.
[0025]
Thus, the assembly of the connector 1 is completed (see FIG. 12). Thereafter, the female connector (not shown) and the connector 1 are fitted. During the fitting, the terminal protection surface 24 of the movable protection member 10 is pressed by the front surface of the female connector. For this reason, the locking edge 19 gets over the guide surface 18A of the fitting protrusion 18 and engages. At this fitting position, the restriction surface 25 covers almost the entire length of the lance 12, so that the male terminal fitting 4 is double-locked. At this time, since the tab portion 20 is fitted to the mating female terminal fitting, electrical connection between the two connectors is achieved.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the male terminal fittings 4 are accommodated in the plurality of subconnectors 2, and these subconnectors 2 are mounted in the accommodating spaces 6 of the frame 3. The attachment ends. In that case, the tab portion 20 of the male terminal fitting 4 is exposed from the front surface of each sub-connector 2, but the partition wall 5 also serves as a protective wall for protecting the exposed tab portion 20 in a state of being incorporated in the frame 3. Therefore, protection of the male terminal fitting 4 is achieved.
[0026]
Conventionally, a connector that accommodates a male terminal fitting generally accepts a female housing and protects the leading end portion of the male terminal fitting while the distal end portion of the housing serves as a hood portion. The partition wall 5 plays the role of the part. Therefore, the structure of the entire connector 1 can be reduced in size by the amount that does not require the hood portion on the sub-connector 2 side, that is, the amount corresponding to at least the thickness.
Further, when the sub-connector 2 is a single unit, the movable protective member 10 is in the protected position and surrounds the tab portion 20 of the male terminal fitting 4, so that the protection of the terminal fitting 4 before being assembled into the frame 3 is achieved. Is done. Further, when the mating with the mating connector is performed after the mounting to the frame 3, the movable protection member 10 moves to the mating position to expose the male terminal fitting 4. Electrical connection with the terminal fitting is possible.
[0027]
Furthermore, when the movable protection member 10 moves to the retracted position by fitting the male terminal metal fitting 4 of the sub connector 2 with the mating connector, the restricting surface 25 moves to the bending region of the lance 12, so that the lance 12 is deformed flexibly. Be regulated. That is, since the operation in the direction in which the engagement with the male terminal fitting 4 is disengaged is restricted, the male terminal fitting 4 is secondarily locked by this, so that the double prevention is achieved.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following, for example, are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
The protective surface protruding rearward from the movable protective member does not have to be planar. For example, a prismatic shape may be projected from the apex of the terminal protection surface. In such a case, the movable protective member can be reduced in weight and size.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view before assembling a sub-connector in the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view before assembling a sub-connector. FIG. 3 is a side view when the sub-connector is in a protected position. Side cross-sectional view when the connector is in the protected position [Fig. 5] Front view when the sub-connector is in the protected position [Fig. 6] Plan view when the sub-connector is in the protected position [Fig. Side view when in the locked position [FIG. 8] Cross-sectional side view when the sub-connector is in the double-locked position [FIG. 9] Side view when the sub-connector is in the mating position [FIG. 10] FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view before assembling a plurality of sub-connectors to the frame. FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view after the connectors are assembled. FIG. Rear view [Fig. 14] Front view of Kuta Figure 15 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector in the same embodiment EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Connector 2 ... Sub connector 3 ... Frame 4 ... Male terminal metal fitting 5 ... Partition wall 6 ... Accommodating space (accommodating chamber)
10 ... movable protective member 12 ... lance (elastic locking piece)

Claims (1)

The frame is entirely formed in a frame shape, and the inside is divided into a plurality of storage chambers by partition walls, and the inside has a terminal receiving portion for receiving a male terminal fitting, and the terminal receiving portion is elastically formed to be able to bend. A connector comprising a plurality of sub-connectors that can be incorporated into the respective storage chambers in a state in which the male terminal fitting is prevented from being detached by a locking piece ,
Wherein with sub connector tip of the male terminal fittings from the front surface is adapted to expose said partition wall has a structure which also serves as a protective wall that protects the tip of the exposed male terminal fitting ,
Further, a movable protective member is assembled to the front side of the sub-connector so as to be movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the housing of the sub-connector.
Furthermore, this movable protection member is
Before being assembled to the frame, the elastic locking piece is allowed to be bent so that the male terminal fitting can be inserted into the terminal accommodating portion, and the male terminal fitting is accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion. Held in a protective position that can surround the tip of the bracket,
When the sub-connector is assembled to the frame, the sub-connector is abutted against the partition wall and retracts from the protection position to expose the tip of the male terminal fitting partway, and the exposed tip is surrounded by the partition wall. And a part of the elastic locking piece enters the bending region of the elastic locking piece and is held in a double locking position that can restrict the movement of the elastic locking piece in the disengagement direction,
In a state where the sub-connector is held in the double locking position with respect to the frame,
When mating with the mating connector, the tip of the male terminal fitting is exposed to the normal state while abutting against the mating connector and retreating from the double latching position while restricting the flexure of the elastic latching piece. A connector characterized in that the connector is held at a fitting position .

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