JP4100271B2

JP4100271B2 - Male connector and manufacturing method thereof

Info

Publication number: JP4100271B2
Application number: JP2003182858A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 圭一中村
Original assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2003-06-26
Filing date: 2003-06-26
Publication date: 2008-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-26
Also published as: JP2005019224A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、雄コネクタ及びその製造方法に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
雄コネクタの一例として、下記の特許文献１に開示されたものがある。この雄コネクタ１は、図８に示すように、フード状に形成された雄ハウジング２を備えており、この雄ハウジング２の奥壁２Ａには複数の雄端子金具３及び左右一対の検知用雄端子金具４が貫通状態で圧入されている。雄ハウジング２の内側には、各端子金具３，４の端子部３Ａ，４Ａが突出しており、そのうち左右に並んだ一対の検知用雄端子金具４の端子部４Ａは、他の雄端子金具３の端子部３Ａよりも長く、さらに雄ハウジング２の奥壁２Ａからはこれらの端子部４Ａの上面に沿うように支持壁５が突出して形成されている。一方、相手の雌コネクタ６は、雌ハウジング７内に各雄端子金具３に対応した雌端子金具８と、一対の検知用雄端子金具４に対応した短絡端子９とを備えている。
両コネクタ１，６が正規に嵌合されると、短絡端子９の上部が下方に弾性変形しつつ一対の検知用雄端子金具４の端子部４Ａの下面に接触して、これにより両検知用雄端子金具４が短絡されて、所定の検知回路により両コネクタ１，６が正規の嵌合状態にあることが検知される。
【０００３】
【特許文献１】
特開平７−１４２１２２号公報
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上記の雄コネクタ１の製造に際しては、各端子金具３，４が母材となる金属板から展開形状に打ち抜かれた後、それらが折り曲げ加工される前の平坦な姿勢で雄ハウジング２の奥壁２Ａに対し順次圧入され、Ｌ字状に折り曲げられる。ここで、雄ハウジング２が端子金具３，４の圧入の前あるいは後に反りを生じた場合等には、検知用雄端子金具４の端子部４Ａが傾いて先端が支持壁５から下方へ浮いてしまうことがある。すると、両コネクタ１，６を嵌合させようとしたときに、その端子部４Ａの先端が雌ハウジング７に干渉して端子部４Ａを変形させてしまうおそれがあった。
【０００５】
本発明は、上記事情に鑑みてなされたもので、その目的は、雄端子金具の端子部の先端がコネクタハウジングの支持壁から浮き上がるのを防止することが可能な雄コネクタ及びその製造方法を提供するところにある。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記の目的を達成するための手段として、請求項１の発明に係る雄コネクタは、コネクタハウジングには、雄端子金具が外面側から前記コネクタハウジング内へ圧入されその端子部を相手側コネクタに対する嵌合面側に向けて突出させた状態で保持された端子保持壁が設けられるとともに、前記端子部に沿うように支持壁が設けられた雄コネクタであって、前記支持壁の先端部には、前記端子部の先端に係合して端子部が当該支持壁から浮きあがることを規制する浮き規制部が設けられるとともに、この浮き規制部は幅方向の片側が切除されることにより、前記コネクタハウジングを嵌合面側から見たときに前記端子部の先端の幅方向の片側が露出する構成となっているところに特徴を有する。
【０００７】
請求項２の発明に係る雄コネクタは、請求項１に記載のものにおいて、前記端子金具は、その端子部の少なくとも先端が弾性力によって前記支持壁に接しているところに特徴を有する。
【０００８】
請求項３の発明に係る雄コネクタの製造方法は、コネクタハウジングには、雄端子金具が外面側から前記コネクタハウジング内へ圧入されその端子部を相手側コネクタに対する嵌合面側に向けて突出させた状態で保持された端子保持壁が設けられるとともに、前記端子部に沿うように支持壁が設けられた雄コネクタであって、前記支持壁の先端部には、前記端子部の先端に係合して端子部が当該支持壁から浮きあがることを規制する浮き規制部が設けられるとともに、この浮き規制部は幅方向の片側が切除されることにより、前記コネクタハウジングを嵌合面側から見たときに前記端子部の先端の幅方向の片側が露出する構成となっている雄コネクタの製造方法であって、前記端子金具を、前記端子保持壁への圧入前に、前記端子部の先端が圧入後の姿勢よりも前記支持壁側に傾斜した姿勢となるように予め曲げ加工し、その状態で前記端子保持壁に圧入するところに特徴を有する。
【００１０】
【発明の作用及び効果】
＜請求項１の発明＞
本構成によれば、支持壁に端子部の先端に係合して端子部がこの支持壁から浮き上がることを規制する浮き規制部を設けたため、端子部がコネクタハウジングの反り等に起因して支持壁から浮き上がることを防止できる。
また、端子部の先方に張り出た浮き規制部に切欠部を設けることで端子部の一部が露出した状態となっている。したがって、導通検査や端子出代検査等を行う際には、検査用の治具を切欠部を通して雄端子金具の端子部の先端に接触させることができる。
【００１１】
＜請求項２の発明＞
本構成によれば、端子部の先端が弾性力によって支持壁に接した状態となっているため、端子部の先端が支持壁から浮きあがることを防止できる。
【００１３】
＜請求項３の発明＞
本構成によれば、雄端子金具は、端子保持壁への圧入前に、端子部の先端が圧入後の姿勢よりも支持壁側に傾斜した姿勢となるように予め曲げ加工され、その状態で端子保持壁に圧入される。従って、圧入後には端子部の先端が弾性力によって支持壁に接した状態となるから、端子部の先端が支持壁から浮きあがることを防止できる。
【００１４】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施形態を図１〜図７を参照しつつ説明する。
本実施形態の雄コネクタ３０は、回路基板Ｐに取りつけられ、相手の４つの雌コネクタと嵌合されるものである。なお、以下の説明においては、４つの雌コネクタのうち、雄ハウジング３１の嵌合部３２Ｂ（後述する）に嵌合される雌コネクタ１０について主に説明し、他の雌コネクタについての説明は省略する。また、以下の説明においては、雌コネクタ１０と雄コネクタ３０の互いの嵌合面側を前側とする。
【００１５】
雌コネクタ１０は、図１に示すように、略直方体状に形成された合成樹脂製の雌ハウジング１１を備えている。雌ハウジング１１には、前後方向に貫通した複数のキャビティ１２が左右両側では上下三段、中央では上下二段に整列して形成されており、各キャビティ１２には、雌端子金具１３を収容可能とされている。各キャビティ１２の後方は、雌端子金具１３を装着するための端子装着口１２Ｂとして大きく開放されている一方、キャビティ１２の前方は、雄端子金具４０の端子部４０Ａが挿入される端子連結孔１２Ａとして小さく開口されている。この端子連結孔１２Ａの前端はテーパ状に拡開され、前記端子部４０Ａを挿入する際にその先端がテーパ面に案内されるようになっている。
【００１６】
キャビティ１２内部の上壁面からは、雌端子金具１３に弾性的に係合してこれを抜止保持するランス１４が突設されている。また、雌ハウジング１１の下部には、各キャビティ１２と連通されたリテーナ装着口１５が下方に向けて開口されており、このリテーナ装着口１５にリテーナ１６が組み付けられることで、雌端子金具１３がランス１４及びリテーナ１６によって、キャビティ１２の内部に二重に抜け止めされる。
さらに、中段のキャビティ１２の前部下方には短絡片装着孔１７が設けられ、この短絡片装着孔１７内に短絡片１８が装着されている。この短絡片１８には、上下方向に弾性変形可能な左右一対の弾性片１８Ａ，１８Ａが備えられており、短絡片１８の直上に位置する左右一対の雌端子金具１３，１３の下面に、弾性片１８Ａ，１８Ａの各上端部分が接触することで、両端子金具１３，１３間が接続されるようになっている。なお、雌雄両ハウジング１１，３１が正規位置まで嵌合すると、雄ハウジング３１の解離片３７が雌端子金具１３と短絡片１８との間に入り込んで雌端子金具１３と短絡片１８との接触が解離される。
【００１７】
雌ハウジング１１の上部中央には、幅広で前後に貫通した端子装着孔２０が形成され、ここには後述する雄ハウジング３１の支持壁５０が嵌合可能とされるとともに、この端子装着孔２０内には金属製の薄板からなる短絡端子２１が収容されている。短絡端子２１は、その略平板状の基部２１Ａが端子装着孔２０の下部に固定されるとともに、その基部２１Ａの前端から左右一対のバネ片２１Ｂが斜め上後方に向けて片持ち状に延出している。両バネ片２１Ｂの後端部は上方に向けて折り曲げられるとともに、その上端がロックアーム２２の下面とほぼ接する位置で下方に折り返されることで押下部２１Ｃが形成されている。さらに、バネ片２１Ｂの上面の略中央にはやや盛り上げて成形された接点部２１Ｄが形成されている。
【００１８】
また、雌ハウジング１１の上面中央、即ち端子装着孔２０の上側には、ロックアーム２２が設けられている。このロックアーム２２は、全体として板状をなすとともに、前端側が雌ハウジング１１に固定され、後端側が自由端とされた片持ち状となっている。そして、このロックアーム２２の後端側が下方に向けて弾性変形されることにより、両バネ片２１Ｂの押下部２１Ｃが共に押し下げられて、バネ片２１Ｂ全体が下方に向けて弾性変形するようになっている。
【００１９】
さらに、ロックアーム２２の上面には、後面が切り立って前面がテーパ状となった係合突部２３が突出し、この係合突部２３の切り立った面に後述する雄ハウジング３１の係合受部３８が係止されることによって両ハウジング１１，３１が嵌合状態に保持されるようになっている。また、ロックアーム２２の後端には、押圧操作部２２Ａが設けられており、両ハウジング１１，３１を嵌合状態から解離するときには、この押圧操作部２２Ａを押圧することにより、ロックアーム２２を下方に撓み変形させ、係合突部２３と係合受部３８との係合を解除させることができる。
【００２０】
一方、雄コネクタ３０は、回路基板Ｐに固定される雄ハウジング３１（本発明の「コネクタハウジング」に相当）と、この雄ハウジング３１に組み付けられた複数の雄端子金具４０と、同じく雄ハウジング３１に組み付けられて、嵌合検知に用いられる複数の検知用雄端子金具４１とから構成されている。
【００２１】
雄ハウジング３１は、合成樹脂製であり、図１及び図２に示すように、その前面には、角枠状の４つの嵌合部３２Ａ〜３２Ｄが左右に並んで形成され、その後面（嵌合部の奥面）が雄端子金具４０と検知用雄端子金具４１とが保持される端子保持壁３３となっている。
【００２２】
端子保持壁３３には、雄端子金具４０が圧入される雄端子取付孔３４と、検知用雄端子金具４１が圧入される検知用端子取付孔３５とが前後に貫通して形成されている。雄端子取付孔３４は、嵌合部３２Ａ，３２Ｃ，３２Ｄに上下２段、嵌合部３２Ｂに上下３段が、横方向に所定間隔で並んで形成されている。検知用端子取付孔３５は、嵌合部３２Ａ〜３２Ｃの上部中央に左右一対ずつ並んで形成されている。また、各端子取付孔３４，３５の後面側の開口縁には上下一対のテーパ面３４Ａ，３５Ａが形成され、これらにより各端子金具４０，４１を圧入する際に、その先端が端子取付孔３４，３５の内側へ案内されるようになっている。
【００２３】
雄端子金具４０及び検知用雄端子金具４１は、共にプレスフィット端子とも称され、図３に示すような導電性の細長い金属板をＬ字状に折り曲げて形成されており、前述の各端子取付孔３４，３５に貫通状態で組み付けられている。各端子金具４０，４１の一端部は端子部４０Ａ，４１Ａとされ、嵌合部３２Ａ〜３２Ｄ内において嵌合方向の前方へ向けて突出している。各端子部４０Ａ，４１Ａは、平板状でかつ先細り形状をなしており、検知用雄端子金具４１の端子部４１Ａは、雄端子金具４０の端子部４０Ａよりも長くやや幅広に形成されている。雄端子金具４０の端子部４０Ａは、雌端子金具１３に接続可能とされ、検知用雄端子金具４１の端子部４１Ａは、短絡端子２１のバネ片２１Ｂに接続可能とされている。
【００２４】
また、各雄端子金具４０，４１における端子部４０Ａ，４１Ａの基端側には、幅方向に張り出した圧入部４２が設けられ、その後側に圧入部４２よりもさらに張り出した一対の位置決め突起４３が設けられている。圧入部４２は、その端子部４０Ａ，４１Ａ側の縁がテーパ状をなし、両端子金具４０，４１が端子保持壁３３の各端子取付孔３４，３５内に圧入されると、この圧入部４２が各端子取付孔３４，３５の内壁にくい込んで係止される。一方、後方の位置決め突起４３は、前後に切り立った形状とされ、所定の位置まで圧入されると、その位置決め突起４３が端子保持壁３３の開口縁に突き当たり、各端子金具４０，４１の位置決めがされる。
【００２５】
各雄端子金具４０，４１は、雌ハウジング３１の後面側にて下向きに折り曲げられており、その下端部に幅方向に並んで一対の弾性当接部４４が設けられている。両弾性当接部４４は、厚肉の帯状をなし、弾性変形可能な薄肉部４５を間に挟んで外側へ略円弧状に膨出形成されるとともに、幅方向に撓み変形可能とされている。また、弾性当接部４４のやや上部には、幅方向に突出した一対の治具当て部４６が形成されている。この治具当て部４６の上縁に治具（図示しない）を当てつつ下方へ押圧することで、弾性当接部４４を回路基板Ｐのスルーホール（図示しない）に挿入することが可能となっている。
【００２６】
嵌合部３２Ａ〜３２Ｃにおける下から二段目の雄端子取付孔３４の下側には、雌ハウジング１１の短絡片１８に対応した断面Ｔ字状の解離片３７が突出して形成されており、両ハウジング１１，３１の正規嵌合時には、この解離片３７が雌端子金具１３と短絡片１８との間に入り込んで両者１３，１８の接触を解離するようになっている。
さらに、雄ハウジング３１における各嵌合部３２Ａ〜３２Ｃの上壁前端には、係合受部３８が下方に向けて突出して設けられている。この係合受部３８の前面下部にはテーパ面が形成され、両ハウジング１１，３１の嵌合操作時には、このテーパ面が係合突部２３のテーパ面に摺接して、ロックアーム２２が下方に押し下げられるようになっている。
【００２７】
雄ハウジング３１の端子保持壁３３には、各嵌合部３２Ａ〜３２Ｃにおける一対の検知用端子取付孔３５の上側から前方に向けて支持壁５０が突設されている。この支持壁５０は全体として水平な長方形の板状をなし、その上面には両側端及び中央に計３本のリブ５１が前後方向に沿って突出して形成され、これらのリブ５１によって支持壁５０が支えられている。また、支持壁５０の下面には、その両側端及び中央に計３本のガイドリブ５２が前後方向に沿って突出して形成され、隣り合うガイドリブ５２間に一対の溝部５３が形成されている。各溝部５３の奥側には前記検知用端子取付孔３５が位置するとともに、各溝部５３内にはそれぞれ検知用雄端子金具４１の端子部４１Ａが収容されており、即ち支持壁５０が端子部４１Ａの上面に沿うような形態となっている。
【００２８】
支持壁５０の突出寸法は、端子部４１Ａの突出寸法よりも少し大きくされており、図４（ａ）（ｂ）に示すように、その先端部からは浮き規制部５４が端子部４１Ａの先方位置に張り出して形成されている。この浮き規制部５４は、下端面が水平な平坦面とされるとともに、その下方への張り出し寸法は端子部４１Ａの厚さ寸法より僅かに小さく、即ち端子部４１Ａの下端面より下方に張り出さないような形態となっている。浮き規制部５４の後面下端には、先細り状の爪部５４Ａが延出して形成され、その爪部５４Ａの上面が斜め上向きの傾斜面５４Ｂとなっている。一方、端子部４１Ａの先端部は、全体として先細り状をなすとともに、その下面側に比較的大きくテーパ状に切り欠かれた傾斜面４１Ｂが形成されている。そして、この端子部４１Ａの先端が爪部５４Ａの傾斜面５４Ｂと溝部５３の底面との間に挟み込まれることで、浮き規制部５４の爪部５４Ａが端子部４１Ａの先端に下方から係合した状態となっており、これにより、端子部４１Ａの支持壁５０からの浮き変形（下方への変位）が規制されている。また、浮き規制部５４は、図４（ｂ）に示すように、その幅方向の中央からほぼ半分が切除されることで切欠部５５が形成されており、雄ハウジング３１の前方向から視ると、この切欠部５５を通して端子部４１Ａの先端部における幅方向のほぼ半分が露出した状態となっている。
【００２９】
さて、検知用雄端子金具４１は、外力の加わらない自然状態においては、図５に示すように、端子部４１Ａ全体が圧入部４２に対して鈍角をなすような傾斜が付けられている。一方でこの検知用雄端子金具４１が雄ハウジング３１に組み付けられた状態では、端子部４１Ａが支持壁５０によって下方に押し下げられて水平姿勢となっており、即ち、端子部４１Ａの上面が支持壁５０（詳しくは溝部５３の底面）に対して弾性力によって接触した状態となっている。
【００３０】
次に、雄コネクタ３０の製造手順について説明する。
まず雄端子金具４０及び検知用雄端子金具４１を母材となる金属板材から図３に示す展開形状に打ち抜く。続いて、検知用雄端子金具４１における端子部４１Ａと圧入部４２との境目となる曲げ部４７を下向きに凸となるような鈍角に折り曲げる（図５参照）。言い換えれば、端子部４１Ａが、圧入部４２を基準としたときに、圧入後の姿勢よりも支持壁５０側（上側）に傾斜した姿勢となるように、予め曲げ加工を施す。
【００３１】
次に、雄端子金具４０の端子部４０Ａを雄ハウジング３１の後面側から下段の雄端子取付孔３４に挿通させつつ押し込み、圧入部４２をその雄端子取付孔３４の内壁に食い込ませる。雄端子金具４０を正規の深さ位置まで押し込んだら、端子保持壁３３の後方に延出した弾性当接部４４側の端部を下方へ向けてＬ字状に折り曲げる。同様にして、中段、上段の雄端子取付孔３４についても順に雄端子金具４０を圧入し、Ｌ字状に折り曲げる。
【００３２】
続いて、図５に示すように、検知用雄端子金具４１の端子部４１Ａを雄ハウジング３１の後面側から端子保持壁３３の検知用端子取付孔３５に挿通させつつ押し込み、圧入部４２をその検知用端子取付孔３５の内壁に食い込ませる。このとき、端子部４１Ａと圧入部４２とが互いに平行姿勢となるように曲げ部４７が開き変形されつつ、端子部４１Ａが溝部５３に沿って前方へ差し込まれる。検知用雄端子金具４１が正規の深さ位置まで押し込まれると、端子部４１Ａの先端部における傾斜面５４Ｂの下方に浮き規制部５４の爪部５４Ａが係合した状態となる。そして、各検知用雄端子金具４１について端子保持壁３３の後方に延出した弾性当接部４４側の端部を下方へ向けてＬ字状に折り曲げることで、雄コネクタ３０が完成する。
【００３３】
ここで、検知用雄端子金具４１においては、端子部４１Ａが予め支持壁５０側に傾斜した姿勢に曲げ加工されているため、組み付け後では、弾性力の作用によって支持壁５０に接した状態となる。従って、例えば、検知用雄端子金具４１を端子保持壁３３に圧入する前あるいは圧入した後に、樹脂材の温度変化等により雄ハウジング３１（特に検知用端子取付孔３５回りや支持壁５０）に反りが生じたような場合でも、端子部４１Ａの先端が弾性力によって支持壁５０に接した状態を保つため、端子部４１Ａが浮きを生じることを防止できる。
また、端子部４１Ａの先方位置に浮き規制部５４が張り出して設けられていることで、端子部４１Ａが運搬中等に異物に当接することを防止できる。また、浮き規制部５４が端子部４１Ａの先端に下方から係合しているため、例えば、雄ハウジング３１に反りが生じた場合でも、端子部４１Ａの先端が支持壁５０から浮くことを防止できる。
【００３４】
次に、雄コネクタ３０を回路基板Ｐの上方に保持して、圧入治具（図示しない）を用いて雄端子金具４０及び検知用雄端子金具４１の各弾性当接部４４をそれぞれ対応する回路基板Ｐのスルーホール（図示しない）に挿入させる。すると、弾性当接部４４が薄肉部４５とともに径方向に押し縮められつつ、スルーホールの内周に設けられた接点部に接触し、これにより各端子金具４０，４１が回路基板Ｐ状の回路に電気的に接続されるとともに、雄コネクタ３０が回路基板Ｐに固定される。
【００３５】
各端子金具４０，４１について導通検査あるいは端子出代検査を行う場合には、検査用の丸棒状の治具Ｊの先端を雄ハウジング３１の前方より検査対象となる各端子金具４０，４１の端子部４０Ａ，４１Ａの先端に突き当てて行う。ここで、検知用雄端子金具４１については、図４（ｂ）に示すように、治具Ｊの先端を浮き規制部５４に設けられた切欠部５５より紙面奥側へ差し込んで、端子部４１Ａの先端に突き当てるようにする。
【００３６】
次に、雌雄両コネクタ１０，３０を嵌合させるには、図１に示すように、雌雄両ハウジング１１，３１を正対させ、雌ハウジング１１を雄ハウジング３１の嵌合部３２Ｂ内に押し込む。すると、支持壁５０が端子装着孔２０内に差し込まれるとともに、各雄端子金具４０の端子部４０Ａが端子連結孔１２Ａに差し込まれ、キャビティ１２内の雌端子金具１３に接続される。そして、両コネクタ１０，３０が所定の深さまで嵌合されると、ロックアーム２２の係合突部２３と雄ハウジング３１の係合受部３８とのテーパ面同士が摺接して、図６に示すように、ロックアーム２２が下方に撓み変形される。このとき、短絡端子２１においては、押下部２１Ｃがロックアーム２２によって下方に押し下げられることにより、各バネ片２１Ｂがその前端部を支点として下方に撓み変形する。このとき、各バネ片２１Ｂの接点部２１Ｄは検知用雄端子金具４１の端子部４１Ａに下方に離間した位置にあり、端子部４１Ａ同士は短絡されていない。一方で、解離片３７の先端が短絡片１８の各弾性片１８Ａを下方に押し下げ、短絡片１８と雌端子金具１３との接触状態が解除される。
【００３７】
そして、雌雄両コネクタ１０，３０が正規の嵌合位置まで押し込まれると、図７に示すように、係合突部２３が係合受部３８を乗り越えて、ロックアーム２２が上方に復帰変形するとともに、両ハウジング１１，３１がロックアーム２２と係合受部３８との係合によって離脱不能にロックされる。一方で、ロックアーム２２の復帰変形に伴って、短絡端子２１の一対のバネ片２１Ｂが上方に復帰変形して、各接点部２１Ｄが検知用雄端子金具４１の端子部４１Ａの下面に接触する。これにより、左右一対の検知用雄端子金具４１が短絡端子２１を介して互いに導通し、これらの検知用雄端子金具４１と接続された検知回路（図示しない）により、両コネクタ１０，３０が正規の嵌合状態にあることが検知される。以上により、両コネクタ１０，３０の組み付けが完了する。
【００３８】
以上のように本実施形態によれば、支持壁５０に端子部４１Ａの先端に係合して端子部４１Ａがこの支持壁５０から浮き上がることを規制する浮き規制部５４を設けたため、端子部４１Ａが雄ハウジング３１の反り等に起因して支持壁５０から浮き上がることを防止できる。
【００３９】
また、検知用雄端子金具４１は、端子保持壁３３への圧入前に、前記端子部４１Ａの先端が圧入後の姿勢よりも支持壁５０側に傾斜した姿勢となるように予め曲げ加工され、その状態で端子保持壁３３に圧入される。従って、圧入後には端子部４１Ａの先端が弾性力によって支持壁５０に接した状態となるから、端子部４１Ａの先端が支持壁５０から浮きあがることを防止できる。
【００４０】
さらに、端子部４１Ａの先方に張り出た浮き規制部５４に切欠部５５を設けることで端子部４１Ａの一部が露出した状態となっている。したがって、導通検査や端子出代検査等を行う際には、検査用の治具Ｊを切欠部５５を通して検知用雄端子金具４１の端子部４１Ａの先端に接触させることができる。
【００４１】
＜他の実施形態＞
本発明は上記記述及び図面によって説明した実施形態に限定されるものではなく、例えば次のような実施形態も本発明の技術的範囲に含まれ、さらに、下記以外にも要旨を逸脱しない範囲内で種々変更して実施することができる。
（１）上記実施形態では本発明を嵌合検知機能を備えた基板用コネクタに適用したものを示したが、これに限らず、本発明は、嵌合検知機能を備えていないコネクタや、基板以外のものに用いられるような他の種類のコネクタに適用してもよい。即ち、嵌合検知用以外の雄端子金具について支持壁からの浮きを規制するような構成としても良い。
【００４２】
（２）上記実施形態では、浮き規制部５４を端子部４１Ａの先方位置に設けて先方側から係合する構成としたが、これに限らず、本発明によれば、例えば浮き規制部を端子部に対し側方位置に設けて、側方から係合するような構成としても良い。
【００４３】
（３）上記実施形態では、雄端子金具４１がプレスフィットタイプのものを示したが、これに限らず、例えば、半田付けにより回路基板に接続されるタイプの端子金具を用いても良い。また、本実施形態では、プレスフィットタイプの雄端子金具４１を用いたために雄ハウジング３１の後面から圧入するようにしているが、雄端子金具はハウジングの前面から圧入するようにしてもよい。
【００４４】
（４）上記実施形態では、雄端子金具４１に対する曲げ加工は金属板からの打ち抜き加工後に行ったが、本発明によれば、プレスにより打ち抜き加工と同時に雄端子金具に対する曲げ加工が施されるようにしてもよい。
（５）上記実施形態では、雄端子金具４１における端子部４１Ａ全体を圧入部４２に対して傾斜させるようにしたが、本発明によれば、端子部の先端を含んだ一部分のみを支持壁側へ傾斜させるようにしても良い。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の第１実施形態に係る雌雄コネクタの嵌合前の断面図
【図２】雄コネクタの正面図
【図３】雄端子金具及び検知用雄端子金具の展開状態を示す平面図
【図４】（ａ）端子部の先端と浮き規制部を示す部分拡大断面図
（ｂ）端子部と支持壁の一部を示す部分拡大正面図
【図５】検知用雄端子金具を圧入する前の雄ハウジングの断面図
【図６】雌雄コネクタの嵌合途中を示す断面図
【図７】雌雄コネクタの正規嵌合状態を示す断面図
【図８】従来のコネクタの嵌合前の状態を示す断面図
【符号の説明】
１０…雌コネクタ（相手側コネクタ）
１１…雌ハウジング
３０…雄コネクタ
３１…雄ハウジング（コネクタハウジング）
３３…端子保持壁
４１…検知用雄端子金具（雄端子金具）
４１Ａ…端子部
４２…圧入部
５０…支持壁
５４…浮き規制部
５５…切欠部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a male connector and a method for manufacturing the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
One example of the male connector is disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. As shown in FIG. 8, the male connector 1 includes a male housing 2 formed in a hood shape. A plurality of male terminal fittings 3 and a pair of left and right detection males are provided on a rear wall 2A of the male housing 2. The terminal fitting 4 is press-fitted in a penetrating state. The terminal portions 3A and 4A of the terminal fittings 3 and 4 protrude inside the male housing 2, and the terminal portions 4A of the pair of detection male terminal fittings 4 arranged on the left and right of the terminal fittings 3A and 4A are the other male terminal fittings 3. The support wall 5 is formed so as to protrude from the rear wall 2A of the male housing 2 along the upper surface of the terminal portion 4A. On the other hand, the mating female connector 6 is provided with a female terminal fitting 8 corresponding to each male terminal fitting 3 and a short-circuiting terminal 9 corresponding to the pair of detection male terminal fittings 4 in the female housing 7.
When both the connectors 1 and 6 are properly fitted, the upper part of the short-circuiting terminal 9 comes into contact with the lower surfaces of the terminal portions 4A of the pair of detection male terminal fittings 4 while being elastically deformed downward. The male terminal fitting 4 is short-circuited, and it is detected by a predetermined detection circuit that the connectors 1 and 6 are in a properly fitted state.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-7-142122
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When manufacturing the male connector 1 described above, after the terminal fittings 3 and 4 are punched out of the base metal plate into a developed shape, the back wall of the male housing 2 is in a flat posture before being bent. 2A is sequentially press-fitted and bent into an L shape. Here, when the male housing 2 warps before or after the press fitting of the terminal fittings 3 and 4, the terminal portion 4 A of the detection male terminal fitting 4 is inclined and the tip is lifted downward from the support wall 5. It may end up. Then, when trying to fit both the connectors 1 and 6, there is a possibility that the tip of the terminal portion 4A interferes with the female housing 7 and deforms the terminal portion 4A.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a male connector capable of preventing the tip of the terminal portion of the male terminal fitting from floating from the support wall of the connector housing, and a method for manufacturing the same. There is a place to do.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
 As means for achieving the above object, in the male connector according to the invention of claim 1, a male terminal fitting is press-fitted into the connector housing from the outer surface side into the connector housing, and the terminal portion is fitted to the mating connector. A terminal holding wall that is held in a state of projecting toward the mating surface is provided, and a male connector provided with a support wall along the terminal portion, and at the tip of the support wall, A floating restricting portion that is engaged with the tip of the terminal portion and restricts the terminal portion from floating from the support wall is provided.One side in the width directionWhen the connector housing is viewed from the mating surface side, the tip of the terminal portion is removed.One side in the width directionIt is characterized in that the structure is exposed.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the male connector according to the first aspect is characterized in that the terminal fitting is characterized in that at least the tip of the terminal portion is in contact with the support wall by an elastic force.
[0008]
 According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a male connector manufacturing method, wherein a male terminal fitting is press-fitted into the connector housing from the outer surface side into the connector housing, and the terminal portion is projected toward the mating surface side with respect to the mating connector. The male connector is provided with a terminal holding wall that is held in a state of being held and provided with a support wall along the terminal portion, and the tip of the support wall is engaged with the tip of the terminal portion. In addition, a floating restricting portion that restricts the terminal portion from floating from the support wall is provided.One side in the width directionWhen the connector housing is viewed from the mating surface side, the terminal portion of the terminal portion is cut off.Tip widthA method of manufacturing a male connector in which one side of a direction is exposed, wherein the terminal fitting is inserted into the terminal holding wall before the end of the terminal portion is pressed into the support wall before being pressed into the support wall. It is characterized in that it is bent in advance so as to be inclined to the side and press-fitted into the terminal holding wall in that state.
[0010]
[Action and effect of the invention]
 <Invention of Claim 1>
According to this configuration, since the floating restriction portion is provided on the support wall to engage the tip of the terminal portion and restrict the terminal portion from being lifted from the support wall, the terminal portion is supported due to the warp of the connector housing or the like. It can be prevented from floating from the wall.
 In addition, a part of the terminal portion is exposed by providing a notch portion in the floating regulating portion that protrudes beyond the terminal portion. Therefore, when conducting a continuity test, a terminal protrusion inspection, or the like, the inspection jig can be brought into contact with the tip of the terminal portion of the male terminal fitting through the cutout portion.
[0011]
<Invention of Claim 2>
According to this structure, since the front-end | tip of a terminal part is in the state which contacted the support wall with the elastic force, it can prevent that the front-end | tip of a terminal part lifts from a support wall.
[0013]
 <Claim 3Invention>
 According to this configuration, the male terminal fitting is bent in advance so that the tip of the terminal portion is inclined to the support wall side from the posture after press-fitting before press-fitting into the terminal holding wall. Press-fitted into the terminal holding wall. Therefore, after the press-fitting, the tip of the terminal portion comes into contact with the support wall by the elastic force, so that the tip of the terminal portion can be prevented from floating from the support wall.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The male connector 30 according to the present embodiment is attached to the circuit board P and is fitted with four mating female connectors. In the following description, among the four female connectors, the female connector 10 that is fitted into the fitting portion 32B (described later) of the male housing 31 will be mainly described, and description of the other female connectors will be omitted. To do. In the following description, the mating surface side of the female connector 10 and the male connector 30 is the front side.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 1, the female connector 10 includes a female housing 11 made of a synthetic resin and formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A plurality of cavities 12 penetrating in the front-rear direction are formed in the female housing 11 so as to be arranged in three upper and lower tiers on the left and right sides and two upper and lower tiers in the center. It is said that. The rear of each cavity 12 is widely opened as a terminal mounting port 12B for mounting the female terminal fitting 13, while the front of the cavity 12 is a terminal connecting hole 12A into which the terminal portion 40A of the male terminal fitting 40 is inserted. As a small opening. The front end of the terminal connecting hole 12A is expanded in a tapered shape, and the tip of the terminal connecting hole 12A is guided by the tapered surface when the terminal portion 40A is inserted.
[0016]
From the upper wall surface inside the cavity 12, a lance 14 that protrudes elastically engages with the female terminal fitting 13 and holds it out is provided. In addition, a retainer mounting port 15 communicating with each cavity 12 is opened downward at the lower portion of the female housing 11, and the retainer 16 is assembled to the retainer mounting port 15, so that the female terminal fitting 13 is attached. The lance 14 and the retainer 16 are doubly retained inside the cavity 12.
Furthermore, a short-circuit piece mounting hole 17 is provided below the front portion of the middle cavity 12, and a short-circuit piece 18 is mounted in the short-circuit piece mounting hole 17. The short-circuit piece 18 is provided with a pair of left and right elastic pieces 18A, 18A that can be elastically deformed in the vertical direction. The short-circuit piece 18 is elastically attached to the lower surfaces of the pair of left and right female terminal fittings 13, 13 located immediately above the short-circuit piece 18. When the upper end portions of the pieces 18A and 18A are in contact with each other, the terminal fittings 13 and 13 are connected to each other. When the male and female housings 11 and 31 are fitted to the proper position, the dissociating piece 37 of the male housing 31 enters between the female terminal fitting 13 and the short-circuit piece 18 so that the contact between the female terminal fitting 13 and the short-circuit piece 18 occurs. Dissociated.
[0017]
A terminal mounting hole 20 that is wide and penetrates forward and backward is formed in the upper center of the female housing 11, and a support wall 50 of a male housing 31 to be described later can be fitted into the terminal mounting hole 20. Accommodates a short-circuit terminal 21 made of a thin metal plate. The short-circuited terminal 21 has a substantially flat base portion 21A fixed to the lower portion of the terminal mounting hole 20, and a pair of left and right spring pieces 21B extending in a cantilever manner obliquely upward and rearward from the front end of the base portion 21A. ing. The rear end portions of both spring pieces 21B are bent upward, and the upper end of the spring pieces 21B is bent downward at a position where the upper end of the spring pieces 21B is substantially in contact with the lower surface of the lock arm 22 to form a pressing portion 21C. Furthermore, a contact portion 21D formed to be slightly raised is formed at the approximate center of the upper surface of the spring piece 21B.
[0018]
A lock arm 22 is provided at the center of the upper surface of the female housing 11, that is, at the upper side of the terminal mounting hole 20. The lock arm 22 has a plate shape as a whole, and has a cantilever shape in which a front end side is fixed to the female housing 11 and a rear end side is a free end. When the rear end side of the lock arm 22 is elastically deformed downward, the pressing portions 21C of the spring pieces 21B are both pushed down, and the entire spring piece 21B is elastically deformed downward. ing.
[0019]
Further, on the upper surface of the lock arm 22, an engaging protrusion 23 whose rear surface is sharp and whose front surface is tapered protrudes, and an engagement receiving portion of a male housing 31 to be described later is projected on the surface of the engaging protrusion 23. Both housings 11 and 31 are held in a fitted state by locking 38. A pressing operation portion 22A is provided at the rear end of the lock arm 22. When the housings 11 and 31 are disengaged from the fitted state, the locking arm 22 is pressed by pressing the pressing operation portion 22A. The engagement between the engaging projection 23 and the engagement receiving portion 38 can be released by bending downward and deforming.
[0020]
On the other hand, the male connector 30 includes a male housing 31 (corresponding to the “connector housing” of the present invention) fixed to the circuit board P, a plurality of male terminal fittings 40 assembled to the male housing 31, and the male housing 31. And a plurality of detection male terminal fittings 41 used for fitting detection.
[0021]
The male housing 31 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, four rectangular frame-shaped fitting portions 32 A to 32 D are formed side by side on the front surface, and the rear surface (fitted) The rear surface of the joint portion is a terminal holding wall 33 for holding the male terminal fitting 40 and the detection male terminal fitting 41.
[0022]
The terminal holding wall 33 is formed with a male terminal mounting hole 34 into which the male terminal fitting 40 is press-fitted and a detection terminal mounting hole 35 into which the detection male terminal fitting 41 is press-fitted in the front-rear direction. The male terminal mounting hole 34 is formed with two upper and lower stages on the fitting portions 32A, 32C, and 32D and three upper and lower stages on the fitting portion 32B, which are arranged at predetermined intervals in the horizontal direction. The detection terminal mounting holes 35 are formed side by side in the upper center of the fitting portions 32A to 32C. In addition, a pair of upper and lower tapered surfaces 34A, 35A are formed on the opening edge of the rear surface side of each terminal mounting hole 34, 35, and when the terminal fittings 40, 41 are press-fitted by these, the tip ends of the terminal mounting holes 34 are provided. , 35 is guided inside.
[0023]
Both the male terminal fitting 40 and the detection male terminal fitting 41 are also referred to as press-fit terminals, and are formed by bending a conductive elongated metal plate as shown in FIG. 3 into an L shape. The holes 34 and 35 are assembled in a penetrating state. One end portions of the terminal fittings 40 and 41 are terminal portions 40A and 41A, respectively, and protrude toward the front in the fitting direction in the fitting portions 32A to 32D. Each of the terminal portions 40A and 41A is flat and tapered, and the terminal portion 41A of the detection male terminal fitting 41 is formed to be slightly longer and wider than the terminal portion 40A of the male terminal fitting 40. The terminal portion 40A of the male terminal fitting 40 can be connected to the female terminal fitting 13, and the terminal portion 41A of the detecting male terminal fitting 41 can be connected to the spring piece 21B of the short-circuit terminal 21.
[0024]
Further, a press-fit portion 42 protruding in the width direction is provided on the base end side of the terminal portions 40A, 41A in each male terminal fitting 40, 41, and a pair of positioning projections 43 protruding further than the press-fit portion 42 on the rear side. Is provided. The press-fit portion 42 has tapered edges on the terminal portions 40A and 41A side. When both the terminal fittings 40 and 41 are press-fitted into the terminal mounting holes 34 and 35 of the terminal holding wall 33, the press-fit portion 42 is provided. However, the inner wall of each of the terminal mounting holes 34 and 35 is inserted and locked. On the other hand, the rear positioning protrusion 43 has a shape that stands up and down, and when it is press-fitted to a predetermined position, the positioning protrusion 43 hits the opening edge of the terminal holding wall 33, and the positioning of each terminal fitting 40, 41 is Is done.
[0025]
Each of the male terminal fittings 40 and 41 is bent downward on the rear surface side of the female housing 31, and a pair of elastic contact portions 44 are provided at the lower end portion thereof side by side in the width direction. Both elastic contact portions 44 have a thick band shape, are formed to bulge outward in a generally arcuate shape with an elastically deformable thin portion 45 in between, and can be bent and deformed in the width direction. . In addition, a pair of jig abutting portions 46 protruding in the width direction is formed slightly above the elastic contact portion 44. The elastic contact portion 44 can be inserted into a through hole (not shown) of the circuit board P by pressing downward while applying a jig (not shown) to the upper edge of the jig abutting portion 46. ing.
[0026]
A dissociation piece 37 having a T-shaped cross section corresponding to the short-circuiting piece 18 of the female housing 11 protrudes and is formed below the male terminal mounting hole 34 in the second stage from the bottom in the fitting portions 32A to 32C. When the housings 11 and 31 are properly fitted, the dissociating piece 37 enters between the female terminal fitting 13 and the short-circuiting piece 18 to dissociate the contact between the housings 13 and 18.
Further, an engagement receiving portion 38 is provided at the front end of the upper wall of each of the fitting portions 32A to 32C in the male housing 31 so as to protrude downward. A taper surface is formed in the lower front portion of the engagement receiving portion 38, and when the housings 11 and 31 are engaged, the taper surface comes into sliding contact with the taper surface of the engagement protrusion 23 so that the lock arm 22 is lowered. Can be pushed down.
[0027]
On the terminal holding wall 33 of the male housing 31, a support wall 50 is projected from the upper side of the pair of detection terminal mounting holes 35 in the fitting portions 32A to 32C from the front side. The support wall 50 has a horizontal rectangular plate shape as a whole, and a total of three ribs 51 project from the upper and lower sides along the front-rear direction at both side ends and the center. Is supported. Further, on the lower surface of the support wall 50, a total of three guide ribs 52 are formed to project along the front-rear direction at both side ends and the center, and a pair of groove portions 53 are formed between the adjacent guide ribs 52. The detection terminal mounting hole 35 is located at the back of each groove portion 53, and the terminal portion 41A of the detection male terminal fitting 41 is accommodated in each groove portion 53, that is, the support wall 50 is a terminal portion. It has a form along the upper surface of 41A.
[0028]
The protruding dimension of the support wall 50 is slightly larger than the protruding dimension of the terminal portion 41A. As shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the floating restricting portion 54 extends from the tip of the terminal portion 41A. It overhangs the position. The floating restricting portion 54 has a flat bottom surface at the lower end surface, and the projecting dimension downward is slightly smaller than the thickness dimension of the terminal portion 41A, that is, projects below the lower end surface of the terminal portion 41A. There is no form. At the lower end of the rear surface of the floating restricting portion 54, a tapered claw portion 54A is formed to extend, and the upper surface of the claw portion 54A is an obliquely upward inclined surface 54B. On the other hand, the tip end portion of the terminal portion 41A has a tapered shape as a whole, and an inclined surface 41B cut out in a relatively large taper shape is formed on the lower surface side thereof. Then, the tip of the terminal portion 41A is sandwiched between the inclined surface 54B of the claw portion 54A and the bottom surface of the groove portion 53, so that the claw portion 54A of the floating restriction portion 54 is engaged with the tip of the terminal portion 41A from below. Thus, the floating deformation (displacement downward) of the terminal portion 41A from the support wall 50 is restricted. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the floating restricting portion 54 has a cutout portion 55 formed by cutting almost half from the center in the width direction, and is viewed from the front of the male housing 31. In this state, almost half in the width direction at the tip of the terminal portion 41A is exposed through the notch 55.
[0029]
In the natural state where no external force is applied, the detection male terminal fitting 41 is inclined so that the entire terminal portion 41A forms an obtuse angle with respect to the press-fit portion 42, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, in the state in which the male terminal fitting for detection 41 is assembled to the male housing 31, the terminal portion 41A is pushed downward by the support wall 50 to be in a horizontal posture, that is, the upper surface of the terminal portion 41A is the support wall. 50 (specifically, the bottom surface of the groove 53) is in contact with the elastic force.
[0030]
Next, the manufacturing procedure of the male connector 30 will be described.
First, the male terminal fitting 40 and the detection male terminal fitting 41 are punched out of a metal plate material as a base material into a developed shape shown in FIG. Subsequently, the bent portion 47 that is the boundary between the terminal portion 41A and the press-fit portion 42 in the male terminal fitting for detection 41 is bent at an obtuse angle that protrudes downward (see FIG. 5). In other words, when the terminal portion 41A is based on the press-fit portion 42, bending is performed in advance so that the terminal portion 41A is inclined to the support wall 50 side (upper side) from the post-press-fit posture.
[0031]
Next, the terminal portion 40 A of the male terminal fitting 40 is pushed from the rear surface side of the male housing 31 while being inserted into the lower male terminal mounting hole 34, and the press-fit portion 42 is bitten into the inner wall of the male terminal mounting hole 34. When the male terminal fitting 40 is pushed down to the proper depth position, the end on the elastic contact portion 44 side extending rearward of the terminal holding wall 33 is bent downward in an L shape. Similarly, the male terminal fittings 40 are sequentially press-fitted into the middle and upper male terminal mounting holes 34 and bent into an L shape.
[0032]
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5, the terminal portion 41A of the detection male terminal fitting 41 is pushed from the rear surface side of the male housing 31 while being inserted into the detection terminal mounting hole 35 of the terminal holding wall 33, and the press-fit portion 42 is It bites into the inner wall of the detection terminal mounting hole 35. At this time, the terminal portion 41 A is inserted forward along the groove portion 53 while the bent portion 47 is opened and deformed so that the terminal portion 41 A and the press-fit portion 42 are in a parallel posture. When the detection male terminal fitting 41 is pushed to a normal depth position, the claw portion 54A of the floating regulating portion 54 is engaged below the inclined surface 54B at the tip portion of the terminal portion 41A. And the male connector 30 is completed by bending the edge part by the side of the elastic contact part 44 extended to the back of the terminal holding wall 33 about each detection male terminal metal fitting 41 in the L-shape.
[0033]
Here, in the detection male terminal fitting 41, since the terminal portion 41A is bent in advance in a posture inclined to the support wall 50 side, after assembly, the terminal portion 41A is in contact with the support wall 50 by the action of elastic force. Become. Therefore, for example, before or after the detection male terminal fitting 41 is press-fitted into the terminal holding wall 33, the male housing 31 (particularly around the detection terminal attachment hole 35 or the support wall 50) is warped due to a temperature change of the resin material. Even if such occurs, the tip of the terminal portion 41A is kept in contact with the support wall 50 by the elastic force, so that it is possible to prevent the terminal portion 41A from floating.
In addition, since the floating restricting portion 54 is provided so as to protrude from the tip of the terminal portion 41A, the terminal portion 41A can be prevented from coming into contact with a foreign object during transportation. Further, since the floating restricting portion 54 is engaged with the tip of the terminal portion 41A from below, for example, even when the male housing 31 is warped, the tip of the terminal portion 41A can be prevented from floating from the support wall 50. .
[0034]
Next, the male connector 30 is held above the circuit board P, and the elastic contact portions 44 of the male terminal fitting 40 and the detection male terminal fitting 41 are respectively connected to the corresponding circuit using a press-fitting jig (not shown). It is inserted into a through hole (not shown) of the substrate P. Then, while the elastic contact portion 44 is compressed in the radial direction together with the thin portion 45, it comes into contact with the contact portion provided on the inner periphery of the through hole, whereby the terminal fittings 40 and 41 are connected to the circuit board P-shaped circuit. And the male connector 30 is fixed to the circuit board P.
[0035]
When conducting a continuity test or a terminal allowance test for each terminal fitting 40, 41, the tip of the inspection round bar-shaped jig J is a terminal of each terminal fitting 40, 41 to be inspected from the front of the male housing 31. This is done by abutting against the tips of the portions 40A and 41A. Here, with respect to the detection male terminal fitting 41, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the tip of the jig J is inserted into the back side of the paper from the notch 55 provided in the floating regulating portion 54, and the terminal portion 41A. Try to hit the tip of the.
[0036]
Next, in order to fit both the male and female connectors 10 and 30, as shown in FIG. 1, the male and female housings 11 and 31 are opposed to each other, and the female housing 11 is pushed into the fitting portion 32 B of the male housing 31. Then, the support wall 50 is inserted into the terminal mounting hole 20, and the terminal portion 40 A of each male terminal fitting 40 is inserted into the terminal connecting hole 12 A and connected to the female terminal fitting 13 in the cavity 12. When the connectors 10 and 30 are fitted to a predetermined depth, the tapered surfaces of the engagement protrusion 23 of the lock arm 22 and the engagement receiving portion 38 of the male housing 31 are in sliding contact with each other, as shown in FIG. As shown, the lock arm 22 is bent downward and deformed. At this time, in the short-circuit terminal 21, the pressing portion 21 C is pushed downward by the lock arm 22, whereby each spring piece 21 B is bent and deformed downward with the front end portion as a fulcrum. At this time, the contact part 21D of each spring piece 21B is in a position spaced downward from the terminal part 41A of the male terminal fitting 41 for detection, and the terminal parts 41A are not short-circuited. On the other hand, the tip of the dissociation piece 37 pushes down each elastic piece 18A of the short-circuit piece 18 downward, and the contact state between the short-circuit piece 18 and the female terminal fitting 13 is released.
[0037]
When the male and female connectors 10 and 30 are pushed to the proper mating position, as shown in FIG. 7, the engaging projection 23 gets over the engagement receiving portion 38, and the lock arm 22 is returned and deformed upward. At the same time, the housings 11 and 31 are locked so as not to be detached by the engagement between the lock arm 22 and the engagement receiving portion 38. On the other hand, with the return deformation of the lock arm 22, the pair of spring pieces 21 B of the short-circuit terminal 21 is returned and deformed upward, and each contact portion 21 D contacts the lower surface of the terminal portion 41 A of the detection male terminal fitting 41. . As a result, the pair of left and right detection male terminal fittings 41 are electrically connected to each other via the short-circuited terminal 21, and the connectors 10, 30 are properly connected by a detection circuit (not shown) connected to these detection male terminal fittings 41. It is detected that they are in the fitted state. Thus, the assembly of both connectors 10 and 30 is completed.
[0038]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the support wall 50 is provided with the floating restricting portion 54 that engages the tip of the terminal portion 41A and restricts the terminal portion 41A from being lifted from the support wall 50. Can be prevented from floating from the support wall 50 due to warpage of the male housing 31 or the like.
[0039]
The detection male terminal fitting 41 is bent in advance so that the tip of the terminal portion 41A is inclined toward the support wall 50 from the posture after press-fitting before press-fitting into the terminal holding wall 33, In this state, it is press-fitted into the terminal holding wall 33. Therefore, after the press-fitting, the tip of the terminal portion 41A comes into contact with the support wall 50 by the elastic force, so that the tip of the terminal portion 41A can be prevented from floating from the support wall 50.
[0040]
Furthermore, a part of the terminal portion 41A is exposed by providing the notch portion 55 in the floating restriction portion 54 that protrudes beyond the terminal portion 41A. Therefore, when conducting a continuity inspection, a terminal protrusion inspection, or the like, the inspection jig J can be brought into contact with the tip of the terminal portion 41A of the detection male terminal fitting 41 through the cutout portion 55.
[0041]
<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 embodiment, the present invention is applied to a board connector having a fitting detection function. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to a connector or board that does not have a fitting detection function. The present invention may be applied to other types of connectors such as those used for other devices. That is, it is good also as a structure which controls the floating from a support wall about male terminal metal fittings other than for a fitting detection.
[0042]
(2) In the above embodiment, the floating restricting portion 54 is provided at the front position of the terminal portion 41A and engaged from the front side. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and according to the present invention, for example, the floating restricting portion is connected to the terminal. It is good also as a structure which is provided in a side position with respect to a part and engages from a side.
[0043]
(3) In the said embodiment, although the male terminal metal fitting 41 showed the thing of the press fit type, it is not restricted to this, For example, you may use the terminal metal fitting of the type connected to a circuit board by soldering. Further, in this embodiment, since the press-fit type male terminal fitting 41 is used, the male terminal fitting is press-fitted from the rear surface of the male housing 31, but the male terminal fitting may be press-fitted from the front surface of the housing.
[0044]
(4) In the above embodiment, the bending process for the male terminal fitting 41 is performed after the punching process from the metal plate. However, according to the present invention, the bending process for the male terminal fitting is performed simultaneously with the punching process by the press. It may be.
(5) In the above embodiment, the entire terminal portion 41A of the male terminal fitting 41 is inclined with respect to the press-fit portion 42. However, according to the present invention, only a part including the tip of the terminal portion is supported on the support wall side. You may make it incline to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a male and female connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention before fitting.
Fig. 2 Front view of male connector
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a developed state of the male terminal fitting and the detecting male terminal fitting.
FIG. 4A is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a tip of a terminal portion and a floating restricting portion.
(B) Partial enlarged front view showing a part of the terminal portion and the support wall
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the male housing before press-fitting the male terminal fitting for detection.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the middle of a male / female connector mating
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a normal fitting state of male and female connectors
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before fitting a conventional connector
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Female connector (mating connector)
11 ... Female housing
30 ... Male connector
31 ... Male housing (connector housing)
33 ... Terminal holding wall
41 ... Male terminal fitting for detection (male terminal fitting)
41A ... Terminal part
42 ... Press-fit part
50 ... Support wall
54 ... Floating restriction section
55 ... Notch

Claims

The connector housing is provided with a terminal holding wall in which a male terminal fitting is press-fitted into the connector housing from the outer surface side and held in a state where the terminal portion protrudes toward the mating surface side with respect to the mating connector, A male connector provided with a support wall along the terminal portion,
The front end portion of the support wall is provided with a floating restriction portion that engages with the front end of the terminal portion and restricts the terminal portion from floating from the support wall.
The floating restricting portion is configured such that one side in the width direction at the tip of the terminal portion is exposed when the connector housing is viewed from the fitting surface side by cutting off one side in the width direction. And male connector.

The male connector according to claim 1, wherein at least a tip of a terminal portion of the terminal fitting is in contact with the support wall by an elastic force.

The connector housing is provided with a terminal holding wall in which a male terminal fitting is press-fitted into the connector housing from the outer surface side and held in a state where the terminal portion protrudes toward the mating surface side with respect to the mating connector, A male connector provided with a support wall along the terminal part, wherein the tip of the support wall is engaged with the tip of the terminal part to prevent the terminal part from floating from the support wall. The floating restriction portion is provided, and the floating restriction portion is cut off on one side in the width direction, so that one side in the width direction at the tip of the terminal portion is exposed when the connector housing is viewed from the fitting surface side. A method for manufacturing a male connector configured as follows:
Before pressing into the terminal holding wall, the terminal fitting is bent in advance so that the tip of the terminal portion is inclined toward the support wall from the post-pressing posture, and the terminal holding is performed in that state. A method of manufacturing a male connector, characterized by being press-fitted into a wall.