JP4764776B2 - Joint connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a joint connector for electrically connecting a plurality of mating connectors fitted from one side and the other side of a connector housing.

  As a conventional joint connector, one in which two bus bars each having a terminal portion are assembled in a connector housing is known (see Patent Document 1). Further, when the bus bar is used, there is a problem that the degree of freedom of circuit formation in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the terminals is limited, and therefore, the present applicant has provided the joint connector shown in FIG.

A joint connector 101 shown in FIG. 7 includes a press-fit terminal 102 that can be fitted to a female terminal of a mating connector from both ends, housings 103 and 104 that house these press-fit terminals 102, and these housings 103. , 104 and the press-fit portion 102a of each press-fit terminal 102 is press-fitted into the through hole 105a, so that any press-fit terminals 102 are electrically connected to each other. Yes. Such a joint connector 101 has been designed to improve problems in a joint connector using a bus bar by using a double-sided connector connection.
JP 2003-77600 A

  However, the joint connector 101 shown in FIG. 7 has realized a free joint structure by realizing the connector connection of both ends using the press-fit terminals 102 and electrically connecting arbitrary press-fit terminals 102 to each other with the substrate 105. However, since both ends of the press-fit terminal 102 are connected to the female terminals of the mating connector facing each other, there is a problem that the circuit configuration of the joint connector is restricted. In addition, since a large number of joint circuits are concentrated on the substrate 105, the connector housings 103 and 104 are increased in size, and it is difficult to secure an installation space in the vehicle or the like.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a joint connector that can eliminate restrictions on the circuit configuration without increasing the size.

  The joint connector according to claim 1, which has been made in accordance with the present invention to solve the above problems, includes a connector housing, and a plurality of fitting portions formed on one side and the other side of the connector housing and fitted with mating connectors. A circuit board that is accommodated between the one-side and the other-side fitting portions in the connector housing and that has a plurality of terminal insertion holes and a conduction path that conducts any terminal insertion holes, and the terminal insertion holes. A joint connector having a pressure contact portion to be pressed and a connection portion extending from the pressure contact portion and connected to the mating connector, wherein the plurality of terminals are arranged on one side of the connector housing. A plurality of one-side terminals connected to the mating connector, and a plurality of other-side terminals connected to the mating connector on the other side of the connector housing. The circuit board overlaps the one-side press-fitting part for press-fitting the one-side terminal and the other-side press-fitting part for press-fitting the other side terminal, and the connection parts of the one side terminal and the other side terminal are the one side And a bent portion that bends the circuit board so as to face each fitting portion on the other side.

  According to the joint connector of the first aspect of the present invention, the one-side terminal is press-fitted into the one-side press-fit portion of the circuit board, the other-side terminal is press-fitted into the other-side press-fit portion, and the one-side press-fit portion and the other-side press-fit portion And the one side and the other in the connector housing in a state where the circuit board is bent by the bent portion so that the connection portions of the one side terminal and the other side terminal are directed to the fitting portions on the one side and the other side, respectively. It can accommodate between the side fitting parts.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 2 is the joint connector according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board is formed such that the conduction path is foldable and the conduction path other than the bent part. It is characterized by being formed by laminating plate members on both sides.

  According to the joint connector of the present invention, the circuit board may be formed so that only the conduction path can be bent and the plate members are laminated on both surfaces other than the bent portion of the conduction path. Therefore, productivity can be improved and the strength of the circuit board can be secured.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the joint connector according to the first aspect, wherein the circuit board is a plate in which the conduction path is foldable and the bent portion is formed. The member is formed by being laminated on any surface of the conduction path.

  According to the joint connector of the present invention described in claim 3, since only the conduction path is formed to be foldable, the plate member on which the bent portion is formed may be formed on any surface of the conduction path. Productivity can be improved and the strength of the circuit board can be secured.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 4 is the joint connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the one-side press-fitting portion and the other of the circuit board bent by the bent portion It has an insulating member interposed between the side press-fit portions.

  According to the joint connector of the present invention described in claim 4, even if the one side press-fit portion and the other side press-fit portion are overlapped with each other, since the insulating member is interposed there, the one side terminal and the other side terminal Can be reliably prevented.

  As described above, according to the joint connector of the present invention described in claim 1, the circuit board can be accommodated between the fitting portions on one side and the other side in the connector housing in a state where the circuit board is bent by the bending portion. Since it is possible to eliminate restrictions on the circuit configuration even if a large number of joint circuits are concentrated, arbitrary terminals can be electrically connected with a degree of freedom in the arrangement of terminals on the circuit board. And the circuit board can be miniaturized. Therefore, even when the mating connectors are electrically connected from both sides, it is possible to eliminate restrictions on the circuit configuration and to reduce the size of the joint connector.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, only the conduction path is formed to be bendable, and the plate member is laminated on both surfaces other than the bent portion of the conduction path. Since the circuit board is formed, productivity can be improved and the strength of the circuit board can be secured.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, only the conduction path is formed to be foldable, and the plate member on which the bent portion is formed is provided on any surface of the conduction path. Therefore, the productivity can be improved and the strength of the circuit board can be secured.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3, even if the one-side press-fit portion and the other-side press-fit portion are overlapped, there is an insulating member there. Therefore, even if the terminal press-fitted into the circuit board protrudes, it is possible to reliably prevent the one-side terminal and the other-side terminal from coming into contact with each other. Further downsizing can be achieved.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a joint connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of FIGS.

  The joint connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 includes a connector housing 10, one side fitting portion 13, the other side fitting portion 14, a plurality of one side terminals 15, a plurality of other side terminals 16, and a circuit. A substrate 17 and an insulating member 18 are included.

  The connector housing 10 is made of an insulating synthetic resin or the like. The connector housing 10 includes a one-side connector housing 11 and a second-side connector housing 12. The one side connector housing 11 and the other side connector housing 12 are housings having the same shape. That is, the connector housing 10 is composed of two divided one-side connector housings 11 and the other-side connector housing 12 having the same shape with the circuit board 17 interposed therebetween.

  The one-side connector housing 11 and the other-side connector housing 12 are formed in a substantially quadrangular cylindrical shape, and are formed on both sides of the hood portion 21 formed on the outer periphery on the connection side with the mating connectors 2 and 3. And an engagement receiver 23 that engages with the engagement protrusion, and a partition wall 24. In addition, the partition wall 24 has the same number of terminal holding holes 25 as the number of the one-side terminals 15 and the other-side terminals 16, six in the horizontal direction and four in the vertical direction. The terminal holding hole 25 penetrates the partition wall 24 in the fitting direction X of the mating connectors 2 and 3. The one-side connector housing 11 and the other-side connector housing 12 have a circuit board housing portion 26 at the front portion of the partition wall 24.

  The one side fitting portion 13 is formed as a space surrounded by the inner wall of the one side connector housing 11 and the partition wall 24 so that the mating connector 2 shown in FIG. Similarly, the other side fitting portion 14 is formed as a space surrounded by the inner wall of the other side connector housing 12 and the partition wall 24 so that the mating connector 3 shown in FIG. In addition, although this best form demonstrates the case where each one fitting part is formed in one side and the other side, a some fitting part can also be provided in any one or both.

  The one-side terminal 15 and the other-side terminal 16 are formed in the same shape by pressing a conductive metal plate member that is not easily thermally deteriorated, such as brass or iron, which is a general terminal material. In the best mode, each of the one-side terminal 15 and the other-side terminal 16 is used in a total of 24, 6 in the row and 4 in the column, each of which is a single unit and connected like a bus bar. It is formed without.

  The one side terminal 15 and the other side terminal 16 have a pressure contact portion 31 and a connection portion 32. The pressure contact portion 31 is formed in an elliptical ring shape, and can be elastically deformed in the direction of diameter reduction. The pressure contact portion 31 is electrically connected to a conduction path of the circuit board 17 by being pressed into a terminal insertion hole 42 of the circuit board 17 described later. The connection portion 32 is formed so as to extend in an axial shape from the pressure contact portion 31 toward the mating connectors 2 and 3. The connection part 32 is formed so as to be narrower than the pressure contact part 31 and gradually narrow toward the tip.

  The circuit board 17 is accommodated between the one-side fitting portion 13 of the one-side connector housing 11 in the connector housing 10 and the other-side fitting portion 14 of the other-side connector housing 12. The circuit board 17 includes a plate-like board main body 41, a total of 24 terminal insertion holes 42 that are provided so as to penetrate the board main body 41 in the horizontal direction and four in the vertical direction, and arbitrary terminals. A conduction path 43 that conducts the insertion holes 42 and a bent portion 44 are provided.

  The substrate body 41 is a first substrate 45 in which the conduction path 43 is formed to be foldable by a flexible substrate or the like, and a printed wiring board (rigid) laminated on both surfaces of the first substrate 45 other than the bent portion 44. 2 substrates 46.

  The first substrate 45 is in a state where a portion corresponding to the bent portion 44 is exposed, and the other portion is covered with four second substrates 46. The four second substrates 46 have the same shape. In the substrate body 41, the portion of the second substrate 46 on one side is the one press-fit portion 17a, and the portion of the second substrate 46 on the other side is the other-side press-fit portion 17b.

  The terminal insertion hole 42 is formed only in a portion of the first substrate 45 covered with the second substrate 46. The terminal insertion hole 42 is formed as a through hole in the substrate body 41 and has a size such that the tip of the pressure contact portion 31 between the one side terminal 15 and the other side terminal 16 protrudes. Even when the first substrate 45 is formed to be foldable in this manner, the second substrate 46 has sufficient strength to prevent terminal disconnection.

  The conduction path 43 is a wiring pattern and conducts two or more arbitrary terminal insertion holes 42. The conduction path 43 electrically connects the one-side terminals 15, the other-side terminals 16, and the one-side terminals 15 and the other-side terminals 16 that are in pressure contact with the terminal insertion holes 42.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the bent portion 44 is bent in the bending direction M so that the one side press-fit portion 17 a and the other side press-fit portion 17 b of the circuit board 17 are overlapped. The bent portion 44 is bent so that the connecting portion 32 of the one-side terminal 15 faces the one-side press-fit portion 17a and the connecting portion 32 of the other-side terminal 16 faces the other-side press-fit portion 17b.

  The insulating member 18 is formed in a sheet shape that is substantially the same size as the second substrate 46, and is disposed so as to be interposed between the one side press-fit portion 17 a and the other side press-fit portion 17 b of the circuit board 17. And the insulating member 18 is preventing that the one side terminal 15 and the other side terminal 16 contact, as shown in FIG.

  Next, an assembly example of the joint connector 1 having the above-described configuration will be described below.

  In the one side press-fit portion 17 a of the circuit board 17, the press contact portion 31 is elastically deformed in the diameter reducing direction, and the plurality of one-side terminals 15 are press-fit. Similarly, a plurality of other terminals 16 are press-fitted into the other-side press-fit portion 17b. As a result, the pressure contact portion 31 between the one side terminal 15 and the other side terminal 16 is connected to the conduction path 43, and any one of the one side terminal 15 and the other side terminal 16 is electrically connected by the conduction path 43. The

  In the state where the insulating member 18 is disposed on the surface of the one-side press-fit portion 17a or the other-side press-fit portion 17b in the bending direction M, the circuit board 17 is arranged so that the one-side press-fit portion 17a and the other-side press-fit portion 17b overlap each other. It can be bent. At this time, the contact between the one end side terminal 15 and the other side terminal 16 is blocked by the insulating member 18.

  The bent circuit board 17 is accommodated in the circuit board accommodating portion 26 of the one-side connector housing 11, and the engaging protrusion 22 and the protrusion receiver 23 of the one-side connector housing 11 are engaged with the engaging protrusion 22 of the other-side connector housing 12. The circuit board 17 is accommodated in the connector housing 10 and fixed.

  At this time, the one end side terminal 15 is inserted into the terminal holding hole 25 of the partition wall 24 of the one side connector housing 11 with the connecting portion 32 first, and the other side terminal 16 is connected to the other side connector with the connecting portion 32 first. The housing 12 is inserted into the terminal holding hole 25 of the partition wall 24.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the mating connector 2 connected to one end of the wire harness W <b> 2 among the wire harnesses W <b> 1 to W <b> 3 is mounted in the hood 21 of the one-side connector housing 11. The other mating connector 3 connected to the other end of the wire harness W3 is mounted in the hood 21. That is, the mating connectors 2 and 3 are fitted to the joint connector 1, whereby the wire harness W <b> 2 and the wire harness W <b> 3 are electrically connected via the circuit board 17.

  According to the joint connector 1 according to the first embodiment described above, the circuit board 17 is accommodated between the one-side fitting portion 13 and the other-side fitting portion 14 in the connector housing 10 while being bent by the bent portion 44. Therefore, even if a large number of joint circuits are concentrated, restrictions on the circuit configuration can be eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to electrically connect arbitrary terminals with a degree of freedom in arrangement of terminals on the circuit board 17. The circuit board 17 can be reduced in size. Therefore, even when the mating connectors 2 and 3 are electrically connected from both sides, the restriction of the circuit configuration can be eliminated and the joint connector 1 can be downsized.

  In addition, since only the conduction path 43 is formed to be foldable, and the circuit board 17 is formed so that the second board 46 as a plate member is laminated on both surfaces other than the bent portion of the conduction path 43, the production It is possible to improve the performance and secure the strength of the circuit board 17.

  Further, even if the one-side press-fit portion 17a and the other-side press-fit portion 17b are overlapped with each other, the insulating member 18 is interposed therebetween, so that even if the terminal press-fitted into the circuit board 17 protrudes, Since the contact of the other terminal 16 can be reliably prevented, the circuit board 17 can be thinned and the joint connector 1 can be further miniaturized.

  Next, the joint connector 1 according to the second embodiment includes the connector housing 10, the one-side fitting portion 13, the other-side fitting portion 14, and the plurality of one-side terminals 15 as in the first embodiment. And a plurality of other terminals 16, a circuit board 17, and an insulating member 18. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same as that of what was demonstrated in Example 1, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the circuit board 17 includes a plate-like board body 41, a plurality of terminal insertion holes 42, a conduction path 43, and a bent portion 44. The substrate body 41 includes a first substrate 45 in which the conduction path 43 is formed to be bendable by a flexible substrate or the like, and a second substrate 46 laminated on one surface of the first substrate 45.

  The bent portion 44 is formed as a groove having a V-shaped cross section so as to be equally divided into the center of the surface of the second substrate 46. And the bending part 44 has divided | segmented the circuit board 17 into the one side press-fit part 17a and the other side press-fit part 17b.

  The bent portion 44 is bent in the bending direction M so that the circuit board 17 is bent and the one-side press-fit portion 17a and the other-side press-fit portion 17b are overlapped. That is, the bent portion 44 is bent so that the connection portion 32 of the one-side terminal 15 faces the one-side press-fit portion 17a and the connection portion 32 of the other-side terminal 16 faces the other-side press-fit portion 17b.

  Next, an assembly example of the joint connector 1 having the above-described configuration will be described below.

  In the one side press-fit portion 17 a of the circuit board 17, the press contact portion 31 is elastically deformed in the diameter reducing direction, and the plurality of one-side terminals 15 are press-fit. Similarly, a plurality of other terminals 16 are press-fitted into the other-side press-fit portion 17b. As a result, the pressure contact portion 31 between the one side terminal 15 and the other side terminal 16 is connected to the conduction path 43, and any one of the one side terminal 15 and the other side terminal 16 is electrically connected by the conduction path 43. The

  In the circuit board 17, the second substrate 46 is bent at the bent portion 44 and the first substrate 45 is bent in a state where the insulating member 18 is disposed on the surface of the one side press-fit portion 17 a or the other side press-fit portion 17 b in the bending direction M. The one side press-fit portion 17a and the other side press-fit portion 17b overlap each other. At this time, the contact between the one end side terminal 15 and the other side terminal 16 is blocked by the insulating member 18.

  The bent circuit board 17 is accommodated in the circuit board accommodating portion 26 of the one-side connector housing 11, and the engaging protrusion 22 and the protrusion receiver 23 of the one-side connector housing 11 are engaged with the engaging protrusion 22 of the other-side connector housing 12. The circuit board 17 is accommodated in the connector housing 10 and fixed.

  At this time, the one end side terminal 15 is inserted into the terminal holding hole 25 of the partition wall 24 of the one side connector housing 11 with the connecting portion 32 first, and the other side terminal 16 is connected to the other side connector with the connecting portion 32 first. The housing 12 is inserted into the terminal holding hole 25 of the partition wall 24.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the mating connector 2 connected to one end of the wire harness W <b> 2 among the wire harnesses W <b> 1 to W <b> 3 is mounted in the hood 21 of the one-side connector housing 11. The other mating connector 3 connected to the other end of the wire harness W3 is mounted in the hood 21. That is, the mating connectors 2 and 3 are fitted to the joint connector 1, whereby the wire harness W <b> 2 and the wire harness W <b> 3 are electrically connected via the circuit board 17.

  According to the joint connector 1 of the second embodiment described above, the circuit board 17 is accommodated between the one-side fitting portion 13 and the other-side fitting portion 14 in the connector housing 10 while being bent by the bent portion 44. Therefore, even if a large number of joint circuits are concentrated, it is possible to eliminate restrictions on the circuit configuration. Therefore, it is possible to electrically connect arbitrary terminals with a degree of freedom in arranging terminals on the circuit board 17. Therefore, the circuit board 17 can be reduced in size. Therefore, even when the mating connectors 2 and 3 are electrically connected from both sides, the restriction of the circuit configuration can be eliminated and the joint connector 1 can be downsized.

  Further, since only the conduction path 43 is formed to be foldable, and the second substrate 46 (plate member) on which the bent portion 44 is formed is formed on any surface of the conduction path 43, the productivity is improved. The improvement can be achieved and the strength of the circuit board 17 can be secured.

  In the above-described best mode, the case where the connector housing 10 is divided into the one-side connector housing 11 and the other-side connector housing 12 has been described, but various different embodiments such as insert molding of the circuit board 17 in the connector housing. It can be.

  In addition, the joint connector 1 which concerns on Example 1, 2 mentioned above only showed the typical form of this invention, and this invention is not limited to embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a disassembled perspective view of Example 1 of the joint connector of this invention. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram around the terminal of the joint connector shown in FIG. It is a top view of the circuit board used for the joint connector shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of bending of the circuit board shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which connected the joint connector shown in FIG. 1 between wire harnesses. 10 is a diagram for explaining an example of bending a circuit board according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is the schematic of the conventional joint connector.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Joint connector 2,3 Mating connector 10 Connector housing 11 One side connector housing 12 The other side connector housing 13 One side fitting part 14 The other side fitting part 15 One side terminal 16 The other side terminal 17 Circuit board 17a One side press-fit part 17b The other side press-fit part 18 Insulating member 44 Bending part

Claims (4)

It is accommodated between a connector housing, a plurality of fitting portions formed on one side and the other side of the connector housing and fitted with a mating connector, and a fitting portion on one side and the other side in the connector housing. And a circuit board having a plurality of terminal insertion holes and a conduction path through which the arbitrary terminal insertion holes are connected, a pressure contact portion pressed against the terminal insertion holes, and extending from the pressure contact portion and connected to the mating connector. A joint connector having a plurality of terminals,
The plurality of terminals have a plurality of one side terminals connected to a mating connector on one side of the connector housing, and a plurality of other side terminals connected to a mating connector on the other side of the connector housing, And
The circuit board overlaps the one-side press-fitting part for press-fitting the one-side terminal and the other-side press-fitting part for press-fitting the other side terminal, and the connection parts of the one side terminal and the other side terminal are the one side and the other side. A joint connector comprising a bent portion for bending the circuit board so as to face each fitting portion on the side.   2. The joint connector according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board is formed such that the conduction path is foldable and a plate member is laminated on both surfaces of the conduction path other than the bent portion.   2. The circuit board according to claim 1, wherein the conductive path is formed to be bendable, and a plate member on which the bent portion is formed is laminated on any surface of the conductive path. The described joint connector.   The joint connector according to claim 1, further comprising an insulating member interposed between the one side press-fitted portion and the other side press-fitted portion of the circuit board that is bent by the bent portion.

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