JP3775269B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector provided with a lance.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as an example of a connector in which a resin lance is integrally formed on a housing, a connector described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-325814 is known. As shown in FIG. 13, the housing 3 is provided with a cavity 3 into which the terminal fitting 2 can be inserted from the rear, and is pressed from the upper surface side of the cavity 3 by the terminal fitting 2 to be inserted. A resin lance 5 is provided that is elastically deformed once into the upper bending space 4 and is restored when the terminal fitting 2 reaches the normal depth and is elastically locked to the terminal fitting 2. On the other hand, when removing the inserted terminal fitting 2, a release jig is inserted from the outside into a die-cut hole formed in front of the resin lance 5, and the resin lance 5 is forcibly bent to form the terminal fitting 2. The locked state is released. At the time of the release operation, the operation force may become excessive and the resin lance 5 may be excessively bent. Therefore, the bending restriction wall 6 is disposed above the resin lance 5 so as to face the bending space 4. It is installed. And this excessive bending control wall 6 can control the excessive bending of the resin lance 5 by engaging with the resin lance 5 in the stage before the resin lance 5 bends and deforms exceeding the elastic limit.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the above-mentioned connector, since the resin lance 5, the bending space 4, and the excessive bending restricting wall 6 are arranged so as to be stacked in the height direction, there is a problem that the connector becomes longer along the height direction. was there.
The present invention has been completed based on the above situation, and an object thereof is to reduce the size of a connector.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  As a means for achieving the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the connector housing is provided with a cavity into which the terminal fitting can be inserted, and protrudes into the cavity and is pressed by the terminal fitting during insertion. As a result, the lance can be bent and deformed in a direction crossing the insertion direction of the terminal fitting, and when the terminal fitting reaches a normal depth, the lance can be locked to the terminal fitting, and the lance is allowed to be bent and deformed. And an over-deflection restricting portion capable of restricting the lance from being excessively deflected and deformed by being engaged with the lance, the engagement of the lance with respect to the over-deflection restricting portion. The mating surface is disposed at a position retracted from the front end surface in the bending direction of the lance, and the excessive bending restricting portion allows the front end surface in the bending direction to escape in the bending space. It is disposed at a position overlapping the bending direction of the lance with respect to minuteThe lance, the bending space and the excessive bending restricting portion are formed by cutting out an outer wall of the connector housing, and the bending space is formed in communication with the outside, and the excessive bending restricting portion is formed by the lance. The lance can be protected by being arranged so as to cover the outer surface of theIt is characterized by its configuration.
[0005]
  The invention of claim 2 is the one described in claim 1, whereinExcessiveThe engaged surface with which the engaging surface of the lance is engaged is formed in a taper shape in the bending restricting portion.
[0006]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the cavities are arranged in a plurality of stages along the bending direction of the lance, and the lance, the bending space, and the excess The bending restricting portion is formed by notching a partition wall that partitions adjacent cavities, and the bending space is formed to communicate with the adjacent cavity, wherein the excessive bending restricting portion is the adjacent cavity. It is characterized by being able to regulate the movement of the terminal fitting by being engaged with the terminal fitting inserted into the terminal fitting.
[0008]
[Action and effect of the invention]
  <Invention of Claim 1>
  By disposing the excessive deflection restricting portion at a position overlapping the bending direction of the lance with respect to the portion of the bending space that escapes the leading end surface in the bending direction of the lance, Can be placed at a position approaching the lance as much as retracted. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the connector by the amount that they overlap.
In addition, in the case where the lance, the bending space, and the excessive bending restricting portion are provided by notching the outer wall of the connector housing so that the connector is miniaturized, the bending space may communicate with the outside and the lance may be exposed to the outside. is there. Even in such a case, by covering the outer surface of the lance with the excessive deflection restricting portion, it is possible to make it difficult for foreign matters to interfere with the lance from the outside, and to prevent the lance from being damaged as much as possible.
[0009]
<Invention of Claim 2>
Since the engaged surface is formed in a tapered shape, the pressing force acting on the excessive deflection restricting portion when the engaging surface engages with the engaged surface can be reduced. Therefore, special considerations for increasing the strength of the excessive deflection restricting portion are unnecessary, and the degree of freedom in designing the connector can be increased.
[0010]
<Invention of Claim 3>
In the case where the connector is miniaturized by notching the partition wall and providing the lance, the bending space, and the excessive bending restricting portion, the adjacent cavity may communicate with the bending space. Even in such a case, the excessive bending restricting portion is engaged with the terminal fitting inserted in the adjacent cavity, so that the terminal fitting can be prevented from floating and entering the bending space.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The female connector shown in this embodiment includes a connector housing 20 (hereinafter simply referred to as the housing 20), a terminal fitting 10 accommodated therein, and a retainer 50 that prevents the terminal fitting 10 from coming off. The female connector can be fitted and connected to a mating male connector (not shown). In the following, the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 10 with respect to the housing 20 is the front, and the description in the vertical direction is based on each drawing excluding FIGS. 3, 5, and 7.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 6, the terminal fitting 10 is formed into a predetermined shape by pressing a metal plate, and a body portion 11 that can be conductively connected to the tab terminal of the mating male connector, and the terminal of the electric wire W. And a barrel portion 12 that can be crimped to the front and rear. As shown in FIG. 4, the main body 11 has a box shape that is open front and rear, and includes a substrate 11 a extending forward and backward, a pair of side plates 11 b rising from both side edges of the substrate 11 a, and both side plates 11 b. And a pair of projecting plates 11c and 11d that are projected from the projecting ends and bent inward to overlap each other. As shown in FIG. 6, an elastic contact piece 13 is provided in the main body 11 so as to protrude from the rear end of the inner protruding plate 11c and to extend forward along the substrate 11a. . The elastic contact piece 13 is formed in a cantilever shape and is formed in a mountain shape with the front portion being separated from the substrate 11a, so that it is elastic with respect to the tab terminal inserted into the main body portion 11 from the front. It is possible to contact. Further, a bulging portion 14 for increasing the contact pressure with respect to the tab terminal is formed by knocking out at a portion facing the elastic contact piece 13 in the inner protruding plate 11c.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 5, a rectangular relief hole 15 having a length of about 2/3 of the total length is formed by cutting out at a substantially center of the outer protruding plate 11 d, and the relief hole 15 is formed in the relief hole 15. The lance 31 is made to escape. A protrusion 16 is formed on the front edge of the escape hole 15 in the outer protruding plate 11d by knocking outward, and a lance 31 can be locked to the protrusion 16 and its peripheral edge. The protrusion 16 is formed in a tapered shape having a width dimension that gradually decreases from the bottom surface side to the front end side, and as shown in FIG. 4, it is formed in a mountain shape having the central portion in the width direction as a vertex as viewed from the front. ing. A stabilizer 17 that protrudes downward along the side plate 11b is formed at the rear end of the outer protruding plate 11d. At the lower end of the rear end of the main body portion 11, a jaw portion 18 is provided on which the locking protrusion 52 of the retainer 50 can be locked. The rear surfaces of the jaw portion 18 and the stabilizer 17 are flush with each other.
[0015]
The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in FIG. 1, the whole is formed in a substantially block shape, and a cavity 21 into which the terminal fitting 10 can be inserted from the rear is vertically arranged in two stages in the width direction. Eight rooms are provided side by side. The cavities 21 adjacent in the vertical direction are partitioned by a partition wall 22. The partition wall 22 forms the lower wall of the upper cavity 21 and the upper wall of the lower cavity 21. The partition wall 22 and the bottom wall 23 which is the outer wall of the housing 20 forming the lower wall of the lower cavity 21 are elastically attached to the terminal fitting 10 inserted into each cavity 21 as will be described in detail later. The lance 31 that can be locked, the bending allowance space 34 that allows bending deformation of the lance 31, and the excessive bending restricting portion 39 that restricts excessive bending of the lance 31 are provided in a cutout manner. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, a stabilizer insertion groove 24 into which the stabilizer 17 of the terminal fitting 10 can be inserted is provided at the lower surface side edge of each cavity 21 so as to open rearward. In addition, a protrusion insertion groove 25 that allows the protrusion 16 of the terminal fitting 10 to be inserted is formed at the center position in the width direction on the lower surface of the cavity 21. Further, a lock arm 26 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 20 so as to project the mating male connector in a fitted state. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, tab insertion holes 28 that allow the tab terminals to enter the cavities 21 from the front and outside penetrate the front walls 27 of the cavities 21 at positions corresponding to the cavities 21, respectively. Is provided. A tapered guide surface 29 for guiding the tab terminal to the tab insertion hole 28 is formed on the entire front edge of the tab insertion hole 28 over the entire circumference.
[0016]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, a retainer mounting hole 30 to which the retainer 50 can be mounted from below is provided on the lower surface of the housing 20. The retainer mounting hole 30 is disposed at a substantially central position in the front-rear direction of the housing 20 and is formed to communicate with all the cavities 21 so as to divide the partition wall 22 and the bottom wall 23 back and forth. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the retainer 50 has a lattice-shaped main body 51 having partition walls at positions corresponding to the side walls of the cavities 21 of the housing 20. At the intermediate position, a locking projection 52 that can be locked to the jaw portion 18 of the terminal fitting 10 is provided so as to protrude upward. Stabilizer insertion recesses 53 that allow the stabilizer 17 to be inserted by communicating with the stabilizer insertion groove 24 of the housing 20 are respectively provided to the right of FIG. A protrusion insertion recess 54 that allows the protrusion 16 of the terminal fitting 10 to be inserted is formed at the center position in the width direction of the locking protrusion 52. With respect to the housing 20, the retainer 50 is configured such that the stabilizer insertion recess 53 is aligned with the stabilizer insertion groove 24, the protrusion insertion recess 54 is aligned with the protrusion insertion groove 25, and the locking protrusion 52 is retracted from the cavity 21. A temporary locking position where the insertion and removal of the terminal fitting 10 into the cavity 21 is allowed (FIG. 6), and a final locking position where the locking projection 52 enters the cavity 21 and is locked to the jaw 18 ( 10) and can be held by a predetermined holding means, and is moved up and down between the two positions.
[0017]
Next, the lance 31 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 6, the lance 31 is formed by cutting out the front portion of the partition wall 22 and the bottom wall 23 from the retainer mounting hole 30 into a predetermined shape. The lance 31 is arranged on the lower surface side of the cavity 21, and roughly includes a both-end supported arm portion 32 supported at both front and rear ends, and the upper surface of the arm portion 32 faces the protrusion 16 of the terminal fitting 10. A locking portion 33 that can be locked is provided. As shown in FIG. 7, the arm portion 32 extends along the front-rear direction, the rear end side is connected to a position immediately before the stabilizer insertion groove 24 in the partition wall 22 (bottom wall 23), and the front end side is connected to the front wall 27. High strength is obtained by being formed in the shape of the beam of the both ends connected. The arm portion 32 has a width dimension slightly smaller than the width dimension of the cavity 21. The arm portion 32 is elastically deformable along the vertical direction (direction intersecting the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 10) with the connecting portions at the front and rear ends as bending fulcrums, and retracts in a bending allowable space 34 formed below. It has come to be. As shown in FIG. 8, the arm portion 32 has a substantially arcuate shape with a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction being the lowest end, and the displacement trajectory of each part accompanying the bending deformation is substantially linear along the up-down direction. It has become a thing.
[0018]
Each bending allowance space 34 is sized so as to allow the bending deformation of the arm portion 32 until the bending allowance of the arm portion 32 is about 1/3 of the height of the partition wall 22 (bottom wall 23). Have. The allowable bending space 34 (the allowable bending space 34 provided by cutting out the partition wall 22) corresponding to the upper cavity 21 is formed in communication with the lower cavity 21 and its lower end is located on the lower side. This substantially coincides with the upper surface position of the cavity 21. The allowable bending space 34 corresponding to the lower-side cavity 21 (the allowable bending space 34 provided by cutting out the bottom wall 23) is formed to communicate with the outside, and the lower end position thereof is the lower surface position of the housing 20. It almost matches.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 6, the locking portion 33 is formed so as to protrude from the upper surface of the arm portion 32 into the cavity 21, and the height and width thereof are the edge 16 of the protrusion 16 of the terminal fitting 10 and the relief hole 15. It is set to a size that can be locked over both sides of the protrusion 16 at the front portion, and the protruding end of the protrusion 16 can be locked to the root portion of the front surface of the locking portion 33 (see FIG. 10). As shown in FIG. 7, the locking portion 33 is disposed at the center position in the width direction of the arm portion 32 and extends from the rear end position of the arm portion 32 to a position closer to the front than the center in the front-rear direction. It is formed in the size. The front surface of the locking portion 33 that is a locking surface for the terminal fitting 10 is an inclined surface that forms an acute angle with respect to the insertion direction of the terminal fitting 10, in other words, is formed in an overhang shape. The rear surface of the locking portion 33 is a tapered surface that can be guided so as to bend and deform the arm portion 32 by being pressed by the terminal fitting 10 inserted into the cavity 21.
[0020]
Note that the upper surface of the arm portion 32 (both side portions of the locking portion 33) constitutes a part of the lower surface of the cavity 21, so that the terminal fitting 10 inserted into the cavity 21 can be supported. Yes. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a pair of tapered surfaces 32 a that form an upward slope toward the front are formed on the upper surface of the arm portion 32 in front of the locking portion 33. Also on the upper surface of the cavity 21 that faces 32a, a tapered surface 21a that forms a downward gradient toward the front is formed. The front end portion of the cavity 21 is formed so as to be narrowed to a height dimension that allows the front end portion of the terminal fitting 10 to be fitted by both the tapered surfaces 21a and 32a. The cavity 21 has a height dimension that allows the terminal fitting 10 to be loosely inserted in an area excluding the front end.
[0021]
In addition, a first die punching hole 35 that opens forward from the front surface position of the locking portion 33 is provided at the center position in the width direction of the arm portion 32. The first die punching hole 35 opens the arm portion 32 and the front wall 27 forward as the die pin for forming the locking portion 33 is die forward when the housing 20 is molded. Is formed. A release jig 60 can be inserted into the first mold punching hole 35 from outside the front, and the arm portion 32 is pressed downward by the inserted release jig 60 to force the lance 31. Can be elastically deformed. An induction that forms an upward gradient in the insertion direction of the release jig 60 so that the release jig 60 to be inserted into the first die punching hole 35 can be guided to the back at the front end of the arm portion 32 in the center in the width direction. The surface 36 is formed at a position deepened by a predetermined depth. The front wall 27 and the arm part 32 are formed with a second die punching hole 37 for punching out the guide surface 36 so as to communicate with the first die punching hole 35. The front end portion of the arm portion 32 is formed by being bifurcated by the both mold punching holes 35 and 37, and both divided side portions are connected to the front wall 27. Therefore, the arm portion 32 is connected to the front wall 27 at two locations on the front side and is connected to the partition wall 22 (bottom wall 23) at one location across the entire width of the arm portion 32, so that the arm portion 32 has three support points as a whole. It is supported by.
[0022]
Now, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 12, a pair of inclined surfaces 38 that are inclined upward as they go outward in the width direction are formed on both side edges of the lower portion of the arm portion 32 over the entire length of the arm portion 32. . The inclined surface 38 is disposed at a position higher than the lower end surface 41 of the arm portion 32. In other words, the inclined surface 38 is disposed at a position retracted in the bending direction of the lance 31 with respect to the lower end surface 41 which is the leading end surface in the bending direction of the arm portion 32. In the lower position facing both the inclined surfaces 38, the inclined surface 38 has substantially the same gradient (gradient that forms an obtuse angle with respect to the bending direction of the lance 31) and is substantially parallel to the inclined surface 38. A pair of excessive deflection restricting portions 39 having a surface 40 are provided so as to protrude inward from the notch side edge of the partition wall 22 (bottom wall 23). The inclined surfaces 38 of the arm portions 32 are substantially simultaneously engaged with the inclined receiving surfaces 40 of the two excessive deflection restricting portions 39 at substantially the same time when the arm portions 32 are excessively deformed beyond the elastic limit. Further bending deformation can be restricted, and the lance 31 can be prevented from being plastically deformed. In the state where the inclined surface 38 and the inclined receiving surface 40 are engaged, the lower end surface 41 of the bent arm portion 32 is substantially aligned with the lower end position of the bending allowable space 34.
[0023]
Hereinafter, the excessive deflection restricting portion 39 will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the two excessive deflection restricting portions 39 are formed to extend forward and backward so as to cover the entire length of the arm portion 32 and are also connected to the front wall 27 of the cavity 21. Yes. As shown in FIG. 12, the two excessive deflection restricting portions 39 have symmetrical shapes with each other, and the projecting end toward the inside is a predetermined dimension inside the inner surface position of the cavity 21, and the inner end position of the inclined surface 38. It is set to reach a position slightly outside. In other words, the distance between the overhanging ends of the two excessive deflection restricting portions 39 is sufficiently smaller than the width dimension of the cavity 21, and in other words, the lower portion of the allowable bending space 34 below the extent that the two excessive deflection restricting portions 39 protrude. The opening width is small. The inclined receiving surface 40 has an inclined length that is slightly more than half the length of the inclined surface 38 in the inclined direction. The lower end position of the excessive bending restricting portion 39 is aligned with the lower end position of the bending allowable space 34. In other words, with respect to the portion of the bending allowance space 34 where the lower end surface 41 of the arm portion 32 is allowed to escape, the entire area of the two excessive bending restricting portions 39 overlaps in the height direction (the bending direction of the lance 31). It has become.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 6, the lower surface of both excessive deflection regulating portions 39 (both excessive deflection regulating portions 39 provided by cutting out the partition wall 22) corresponding to the upper-stage cavity 21 faces the lower-stage cavity 21. And constitutes the upper surface of the cavity 21. Therefore, the taper surface 21a which makes the downward gradient mentioned above is formed in the lower surface of both the excessive deflection control parts 39. As shown in FIG. And the upper surface of the terminal metal fitting 10 inserted in the cavity 21 of the lower stage side can be slidably contacted with the lower surfaces of the two excessive deflection regulating portions 39. Thereby, even when the terminal fitting 10 inserted into the lower-side cavity 21 tries to move upward for some reason, the lower surfaces of both excessive deflection restricting portions 39 are engaged with the terminal fitting 10, The upper and lower rattlings of the terminal fitting 10 can be suppressed, and the lower terminal fitting 10 can be prevented from entering the upper deflection allowable space 34.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 3, the two excessive deflection regulating portions 39 corresponding to the lower-side cavity 21 (both excessive deflection regulating portions 39 provided by cutting out the bottom wall 23) are exposed to the lower outside by the deflection allowable space 34. It arrange | positions so that both sides may be covered among the lower surfaces of the arm part 32 made. In other words, the area where the outer surface of the arm portion 32 is exposed to the lower outside can be reduced by the two excessive deflection restricting portions 39. Accordingly, it is difficult for foreign matter or the like to come into contact with the arm portion 32 from below and the lance 31 can be protected.
[0026]
The present embodiment has the above-described structure, and the operation thereof will be described subsequently. As shown in FIG. 6, the terminal fittings 10 are inserted into the cavities 21 from the rear in a state where the retainer 50 is attached to the housing 20 in the temporary locking position. Then, the stabilizer 17 is slidably contacted with the peripheral surfaces of the stabilizer insertion groove 24 and the stabilizer insertion recess 53, and the protrusion 16 is slidably contacted with the peripheral surfaces of the protrusion insertion groove 25 and the protrusion insertion recess 54, so that The insertion operation is smoothly guided (see FIG. 9).
[0027]
When the terminal fitting 10 is inserted to a predetermined depth, the lower portion of the front end of the main body 11 is engaged with the rear surface of the locking portion 33 of the lance 31, as shown in FIG. While being guided by the taper 33, the arm portion 32 is gradually bent and deformed into the lower bending allowable space. At this time, the lance 31 is deformed into a substantially arcuate shape with the connecting portions at the front and rear ends as fulcrums.
[0028]
Here, the terminal fitting 10 inserted into the lower-side cavity 21 is slidably contacted with the lower surfaces of the upper-stage excessive deflection regulating portions 39 constituting the upper surface of the cavity 21. Accordingly, even when a force that tilts the terminal fitting 10 is applied, the lower surfaces of the two excessive deflection restricting portions 39 are engaged with the terminal fitting 10, so that the terminal fitting 10 is allowed to be bent on the upper side. It can be controlled to enter the inside and rattle up and down.
[0029]
When the terminal fitting 10 is inserted to the normal depth, as shown in FIG. 9, the arm portion 32 is elastically restored while the locking portion 33 enters the escape hole 15 of the main body portion 11 and the locking portion. The front surface of 33 is locked with respect to the projection 16 and the hole edge front portion of the escape hole 15, and primary locking of the terminal fitting 10 is achieved. At this time, both narrow portions 38 of the locking portion 33 are locked to both side portions of the projection 16 at the hole edge front portion of the escape hole 15, and a portion closer to the root than the both narrow portions 38 protrudes. The rear end surface of 16 is locked over almost the entire region. In the process in which the terminal fitting 10 reaches the normal depth, the terminal fitting 10 is guided by the tapered surfaces 21a and 32a formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the cavities 21 to the front end portion of the cavity 21 having a tapered shape. On the other hand, the front end portion of the terminal fitting 10 is fitted, and the vertical positioning of the terminal fitting 10 is achieved.
[0030]
When all the terminal fittings 10 have been inserted into the cavity 21, the retainer 50 is pushed from the temporary locking position to the final locking position. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the locking projection 52 of the retainer 50 is locked to the jaw portion 18 of the main body 11, so that the terminal fitting 10 is locked secondarily. Accordingly, the terminal fitting 10 can be held from the housing 20 in a state of being prevented from coming off.
[0031]
On the other hand, the terminal fitting 10 may be removed from the housing 20 for maintenance or other reasons. In that case, as shown in FIG. 11, the retainer 50 is returned to the temporary locking position, and the release jig 60 is inserted into the first mold punching hole 35 and the second mold punching hole 37 from the front of the housing 20. While pressing the arm portion 32 downward, the arm portion 32 is forcibly elastically deformed. When the locking state of the locking portion 33 with respect to the terminal fitting 10 is released, the terminal fitting 10 is pulled out from the cavity 21.
[0032]
Here, when the lance 31 is operated by the release jig 60, an excessive operating force is applied, and the lance 31 may be bent more than necessary. In that case, as shown in FIG. 12, when the arm portion 32 is bent to a stage before the elastic limit, both inclined surfaces 38 of the arm portion 32 are inclined receiving surfaces 40 of both excessive deflection regulating portions 39. By engaging with each other almost simultaneously, further bending deformation of the arm portion 32 is restricted. Therefore, a situation where the lance 31 is plastically deformed can be avoided. At this time, since the inclined surface 38 and the inclined receiving surface 40 engaged with each other are tapered, the pressing force acting on the excessive deflection restricting portion 39 when the inclined surface 38 engages with the inclined receiving surface 40. Has been relaxed.
[0033]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the inclined surface 38 of the arm portion 32 is arranged at a position retracted above the lower end surface 41 of the arm portion 32, and the excessive bending restricting portion 39 is allowed to be bent. Since the lower end surface 41 of the arm portion 32 of the arm portion 32 is disposed at a position overlapping the height direction, the excessive deflection restricting portion 39 is moved closer to the lance 31 as the inclined surface 38 is retracted. Can be arranged. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the size of the connector by the amount that the excessive bending restricting portion 39 and the bending allowable space 34 overlap.
[0034]
In addition, since the inclined receiving surface 40 is formed in a tapered shape, the pressing force acting on the excessive deflection restricting portion 39 when the inclined surface 38 engages with the inclined receiving surface 40 can be reduced. Therefore, special considerations for increasing the strength of the excessive deflection restricting portion 39 are not required, and the degree of freedom in designing the connector can be increased.
[0035]
Furthermore, as the lance 31, the allowable bending space 34 and the excessive bending restricting portion 39 are provided by cutting out the partition wall 22 that partitions the adjacent cavities 21 in the vertical direction, the allowable bending space 34 becomes the lower-stage cavity 21. In contrast, the excessive bending restricting portion 39 is engaged with the terminal fitting 10 inserted into the lower cavity 21 to prevent the terminal fitting 10 from entering the upper bending allowance space 34. In addition, the shakiness of the terminal fitting 10 can be suppressed.
[0036]
Moreover, as the lance 31, the allowable bending space 34 and the excessive bending restricting portion 39 are provided by cutting out the bottom wall 23, which is the outer wall of the housing 20, the bending allowable space 34 communicates with the lower outside and the lance 31 is externally provided. However, since the excessive deflection restricting portion 39 partially covers the lower surface side of the lance 31, foreign matter or the like can hardly interfere with the lance 31 from outside and the lance 31 is damaged. I can prevent receiving as much as possible.
[0037]
<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the tapered surface is provided on both the lance and the engagement portion of the excessive deflection regulating portion is shown. However, for example, only the excessive deflection regulating portion side is a tapered surface, and the corner portion of the lance is engaged. What is combined is also included in the present invention. Conversely, the present invention includes a tapered surface only on the lance side. Further, the present invention also includes a case where the engaging portions of the lance and the excessive deflection regulating portion are both corner portions.
[0038]
(2) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the two excessive deflection restricting portions have a left-right symmetric shape is shown. However, the present invention includes one in which the two excessive deflection restricting portions have a left-right asymmetric shape. Further, the shape of the excessive deflection restricting portion can be arbitrarily set.
(3) In the above-described embodiment, the connector having the upper and lower two-stage cavities has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a connector having three or more cavities and a one-stage cavity. .
(4) In each of the above-described embodiments, the lance has a double-sided lance. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a cantilevered lance as shown in the conventional example.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a housing according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the housing.
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the housing.
[Fig.4] Front view of terminal fitting
[Figure 5] Bottom view of terminal fitting
FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a housing and a terminal fitting in which a retainer is assembled at a temporary locking position.
FIG. 7 is a plan sectional view of the housing.
FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing a state in the middle of inserting the terminal fitting.
FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the terminal fitting is inserted to a normal depth.
FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the retainer is moved to the full locking position.
FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the retainer is returned to the temporary locking position and the lance is bent by the release jig.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged front view for explaining a state where excessive bending of the lance is restricted
FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Terminal fitting
20 ... Housing
21 ... cavity
22 ... Partition wall
23 ... Bottom wall (outer wall)
31 ... Lance
34 ... Allowable deflection space (deflection space)
38 ... inclined surface (engagement surface)
39 ... Excessive deflection regulating part
40: Inclined receiving surface (engaged surface)
41 ... Lower end surface (tip surface in the bending direction)

Claims (3)

The connector housing
A cavity into which the terminal fitting can be inserted;
It protrudes in the cavity and can be deformed by bending in the direction intersecting the insertion direction of the terminal fitting by being pressed by the terminal fitting in the middle of insertion, and returns when the terminal fitting reaches a normal depth. A lance that can be locked to the terminal bracket,
A flexure space that allows the lance to flexibly deform;
In what is provided with an excessive deflection restricting portion capable of restricting excessive deformation of the lance by being engaged with the lance,
An engagement surface of the lance with respect to the excessive bending restricting portion is disposed at a position retracted from a bending direction distal end surface of the lance, and the excessive bending restricting portion is disposed in the bending direction distal end surface of the bending space. It is arranged at a position overlapping the bending direction of the lance with respect to the part that escapes ,
The lance, the bending space and the excessive bending restricting portion are formed by cutting out an outer wall of the connector housing, and the bending space is formed in communication with the outside.
A connector characterized in that the excessive deflection restricting portion is arranged so as to cover an outer surface of the lance so that the lance can be protected . Engaged surface engagement surface of the lance is engaged among the excessive deformation preventing portion, the connector according to claim 1, characterized in that it is formed in a tapered shape. The cavities are arranged in a plurality of stages along the bending direction of the lance, and the lance, the bending space, and the excessive bending restricting portion are formed by notching a partition wall that partitions adjacent cavities, And in the one where the bending space is formed in communication with the adjacent cavity,
2. The excessive deflection restricting portion is configured to be engaged with the terminal fitting inserted into the adjacent cavity so that the loose movement of the terminal fitting can be restricted. Or the connector of Claim 2.

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