JP6780851B2 - Connector device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector device used for connecting electrical wiring in various electrical devices such as a power seat device of an automobile, and is particularly suitable for reducing the thickness of the connector device and reducing the number of parts and the number of assembly steps.

Conventionally, a power seat has been known as an automobile seat, and in an automobile equipped with this type of power seat, a means for electrically connecting an electric motor such as a motor for driving the power seat and a switch box for operating the electric motor. For example, a connector device (connector) having the structure described in Patent Document 1 is known.

The connector device (connector) of Patent Document 1 has a male connector housing (1) and a female connector housing (8), and accommodates the male terminal fitting (2) in the male connector housing (1), while the female connector. The structure in which the female terminal fitting (9) is housed in the housing (8), and the male connector housing (1) and the female connector housing (8) are fitted to each other, and the male terminal fitting (2) is The structure is such that the female terminal fitting (9) is inserted (see the description of paragraphs 0013 to 0016 of Patent Document 1).

However, in the conventional connector device in which the male connector housing (1) and the female connector housing (8) are fitted, as in the connector device (connector) of Patent Document 1 described above, the fitting is performed. There is a problem that the thickness is generated due to the overlap of the two male and female connector housings in the portion, and the entire connector device has to be thickened, so that the connector device cannot be installed in a narrow and small space.

Further, according to the conventional connector device as described above, since two male and female connector housings are required, the number of parts is large, and on the female connector housing (8) side, the female terminal fitting (2) is attached to the tip of the wiring. ), In addition to the assembly work of installing the female terminal fitting (2) in the female connector housing (8), there is also a problem that the assembly work of the entire connector device is large. ..

The reference numerals in parentheses are the reference numerals used in Patent Document 1.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-60022

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector device suitable for reducing the thickness of the connector device and reducing the number of parts and the number of assembly steps.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a base provided with a terminal accommodating chamber and an outlet communicating with the terminal accommodating chamber, and projects from the inner wall surface of the terminal accommodating chamber toward the outlet. A male terminal fitting, a female terminal fitting provided with a fitting portion that can be fitted to the male terminal fitting, a cantilever beam portion provided near the ceiling of the terminal accommodation chamber, and a lower surface of the tip portion of the cantilever beam portion. It includes an engaging portion which is provided, and a cover mounted to said base, to said cover includes a top plate portion disposed on the upper surface side of the base, which is formed integrally on the rear surface of the top plate The presser foot protrusion has a presser foot protrusion, and the presser foot protrusion portion includes a first pressing portion for pressing the fitting portion of the female terminal fitting toward the bottom surface of the base, and the cantilever beam portion. The female terminal is composed of a second pressing portion for pressing the engaging portion toward the female terminal fitting, and the female terminal fitting is inserted from the insertion port toward the male terminal fitting. The fitting portion of the metal fitting is in a state of being fitted to the male terminal metal fitting, the male terminal metal fitting and the female terminal metal fitting are electrically connected, and the female terminal metal fitting comes off from the insertion port. As a means for preventing the above, the engaging portion is caught on the outer peripheral step portion of the female terminal fitting , and the first pressing portion is attached to the base with the cover attached. It is characterized in that the fitting portion of the female terminal fitting is pressed by the female terminal fitting, and the cantilever beam portion is pressed by the second pressing portion .

In the present invention, a cover mounted on the base is provided as a means for pressing the engaging portion in the direction of the outer peripheral step portion of the female terminal fitting via the cantilever portion to position and fix the engaging portion. It may be a feature.

In the present invention, the female terminal fitting includes an elongated base fitting portion and a tubular fitting portion provided on the tip end side of the base fitting portion, and the tubular fitting portion functions as the fitting portion. It may be characterized in that the boundary portion between the tubular metal fitting portion and the base metal fitting portion is used as the outer peripheral step portion.

In the present invention, a plurality of the male terminal fittings are provided, and the two adjacent male terminal fittings are electrically insulated by an insulating wall in a form rising from the base. It may be characterized by that.

In the present invention, as a specific configuration of the connector device, as described above, the female terminal fitting itself is directly inserted into the insertion port of the base, and the cantilever beam portion near the ceiling of the terminal accommodation chamber of the base. Is provided, and an engaging portion is provided on the lower surface of the tip portion of the cantilever beam portion, and the engaging portion is provided with respect to the outer peripheral step portion of the female terminal fitting as a means for preventing the female terminal fitting from coming off from the insertion port. Adopted a configuration that makes it caught. Therefore, according to the present invention, the conventional female connector housing to which the female terminal fitting is attached can be abolished, the number of parts is reduced by the amount of the abolished female connector housing, and the entire connector device is made thinner. This is suitable for reducing the thickness of the connector device and the number of parts. Further, it is also suitable for reducing the man-hours for assembling the entire connector device because the assembly work of attaching the female terminal fitting to the female connector housing as in the conventional case is not required.

1 (a) is an external front view of the connector device to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 1 (b) is a top sectional view of the connector device, and FIG. 1 (c) is a front sectional view of the connector, FIG. Is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 2 (a) is a front view of a base which is a component of the connector device of FIG. 1 (a), FIG. 2 (b) is a top view of the base, and FIG. 2 (c) is a front sectional view of the base. 2 (d) is a left side view of the same base. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view for explanation of a state in which the female terminal fitting, which is a component of the connector device of FIG. 1A, is attached to the tip of the wiring. 4 (a) is a top view of the cover which is a component of the connector device of FIG. 1 (a), FIG. 4 (b) is a sectional view taken along the line EE of FIG. 4 (a), and FIG. 4 (c) is the same. FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF. 5 (a) is an explanatory view of the state before wiring connection by the connector device of FIG. 1 (a), and FIG. 5 (b) shows the female terminal metal fitting from the base insertion port of the same connector device toward the male terminal metal fitting. An explanatory view of a state in which a predetermined amount is inserted, FIG. 5 (c) is an explanatory view of a state in which the insertion work is completed, and FIG. 5 (d) is an explanation of a state in which the cover is attached to the base after the insertion work is completed. Figure.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

1 (a) is an external front view of the connector device to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 1 (b) is a top sectional view of the connector device, and FIG. 1 (c) is a front sectional view of the connector, FIG. Is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.

With reference to FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (d), the connector device of FIG. 1 (a) (hereinafter referred to as “connector device 1 of the present embodiment”) is the difference between the terminal accommodating chamber 21 and the terminal accommodating chamber 21. A base 2 having an inlet 22, a male terminal fitting 3 protruding from the inner wall surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 21 toward the insertion port 22, and a fitting portion 41 that can be fitted to the male terminal fitting 3 are provided. It includes a female terminal fitting 4, a cantilever portion 5 provided near the ceiling of the terminal accommodating chamber 21, and an engaging portion 6 provided on the lower surface of the tip end portion of the cantilever beam portion 5.

FIG. 2A is a front view of a base which is a component of the connector device 1 of the present embodiment (connector device 1 of FIG. 1A), FIG. 2B is a top view of the base, and FIG. 2C. ) Is a front sectional view of the base, and FIG. 2D is a left side view of the base.

With reference to FIGS. 2 (b), (c) and (d), in the connector device 1 of the present embodiment, as a specific configuration example of the terminal accommodating chamber 21 and the insertion port 22, the vicinity of the ceiling of the terminal accommodating chamber 21 A double-sided beam portion 24 having a structure supported by both side plates 23 of the accommodation chamber 21 is provided, and a tunnel-shaped entrance surrounded by the double-holding beam portion 24, both side plates 23 of the terminal accommodation chamber 21, and a bottom plate 25 is provided. It is used as an outlet 22.

Further, in the connector device 1 of the present embodiment, as a specific configuration example of the male terminal fitting 3, a plurality of male terminal fittings 3 (specifically, 4) are provided, and the plurality of male terminal fittings 3 are provided. Of these, the two adjacent male terminal fittings 3 and 3 are electrically insulated by an insulating wall 27 that rises from the base 2.

The male terminal fitting 3 can be integrally provided with the base 2 by insert molding when the base 2 is molded with resin using a mold. The number of male terminal fittings 3 can be increased or decreased as needed, and the shape of the male terminal fittings 3 can also be changed as needed.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view for explanation of a state in which the female terminal fitting, which is a component of the connector device 1 of the present embodiment (connector device 1 of FIG. 1A), is attached to the tip of the wiring.

Referring to FIG. 3, the female terminal fitting 4 includes an elongated plate-shaped base fitting portion 42, a tubular fitting fitting portion 43 provided on the tip side of the base fitting portion 42, and one of the fitting fitting portions 43. It is provided with a contact spring piece 44 formed by bending the portion inward, and an outer peripheral step portion 45 that can be brought into contact with the above-mentioned engaging portion 6 provided on the lower surface of the tip portion of the cantilever beam portion 5 in a hooked manner. The structure is such that the fitting fitting portion 43 functions as the above-mentioned fitting portion 41, and the boundary portion between the fitting fitting portion 43 and the base fitting portion 42 is used as the outer peripheral step portion 45. ..

With reference to FIG. 2C, in the connector device 1 of the present embodiment, as a specific configuration example of the cantilever portion 5, the cantilever portion 5 has a double-sided beam portion 24 having one end side as a support end 5A. In addition to being supported by, a structure in which the other end side is provided as a free end 5B and a structure in which the support end 5A can be elastically deformed and bent by a predetermined force are adopted.

Further, as described above, an engaging portion 6 is provided on the lower surface of the tip portion of the cantilever portion 5, and the engaging portion 6 is a means for preventing the female terminal fitting 4 from coming off from the insertion port 22. Functions as (stopper means).

That is, in the connector device 1 of the present embodiment, when the female terminal fitting 4 is inserted by a predetermined amount from the insertion port 22 toward the male terminal fitting 3, the fitting portion 41 (fitting fitting portion 43) of the female terminal fitting 4 is inserted. The above-mentioned engaging portion 6 is pushed up toward the ceiling of the terminal accommodating chamber 21, and the cantilever portion 5 elastically deforms and bends due to the pushing force, whereby the engaging portion 6 of the terminal accommodating chamber 21 It temporarily escapes toward the ceiling.

Then, in the state where the engaging portion 6 has escaped as described above, by further inserting the female terminal fitting 4 by a predetermined amount, when the fitting portion 41 of the female terminal fitting 4 passes below the engaging portion 6, one piece The holding beam portion 5 tries to return to the original state (the state before bending) by the elastic restoring force based on the bending. As a result, the engaging portion 6 descends in the direction of the outer peripheral step portion 45 of the female terminal fitting 4, and is caught in the outer peripheral step portion of the female terminal fitting 4. At this time, the contact spring piece 44 of the male terminal fitting 4 comes into contact with the male terminal fitting 3 with a predetermined spring force inside the fitting portion 41 of the female terminal fitting 4, specifically, the fitting fitting portion 43. When the fitting portion 41 of the female terminal fitting 4 and the male terminal fitting 3 are in a fitted state, the male terminal fitting 3 and the female terminal fitting 4 are electrically connected.

Further, in the connector device 1 of the present embodiment, the engaging portion 6 is pressed in the direction of the outer peripheral step portion 45 in a state where the fitting portion 41 of the female terminal fitting 4 is fitted to the male terminal fitting 3 as described above. A cover 7 (see FIGS. 4A to 4C) mounted on the base 2 is provided as a means for positioning and fixing.

FIG. 4A is a top view of a cover which is a component of the connector device 1 of the present embodiment (connector device 1 of FIG. 1A), and FIG. 4B is a view taken along the line EE of FIG. A cross-sectional view, FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF of FIG. 4A.

Referring to FIGS. 4A to 4C, the cover 7 has a top plate portion 71 arranged on the upper surface side of the base 2 (specifically, the ceiling side of the terminal accommodating chamber 21) and both sides of the base 2. It has a pair of left and right side plate portions 72, 72 arranged in, a mounting hole 73 formed in both side plate portions 72, 72, and a pressing protrusion 74 formed on the back surface of the top plate portion 71.

By the way, locking claws 26 corresponding to the mounting holes 73 of the cover 7 are provided on both outer surfaces of the base 2, and the cover 7 can be covered by hooking the mounting holes 73 of the cover 7 on the locking claws 26. Reference numeral 7 has a structure in which the base 2 is detachably attached and fixed to the base 2.

Further, the presser projection portion 74 of the cover 7 has a first pressing portion 74A for pressing the fitting portion 41 of the female terminal fitting 4 toward the bottom surface of the base 2 from above, and the engaging portion 6 with the female terminal fitting. It has a second pressing portion 74B for pressing toward No. 4 from above.

Then, in the connector device 1 of the present embodiment, in the state where the cover 7 is attached and fixed to the base 2 as described above, the fitting portion 41 of the female terminal fitting 4 is pressed by the first pressing portion 74A of the cover 7. It is configured to be done. This is because the fitting state of the fitting portion 41 of the female terminal fitting 4 and the male terminal fitting 3 is stably maintained by such pressing, so that the electrical connection between the female terminal fitting 4 and the male terminal fitting 3 is poor. This is to prevent the problem and to always obtain a good electrical connection.

Further, in the connector device 1 of the present embodiment, the cantilever beam portion 5 is pressed by the second pressing portion 74B of the cover 7 in the state where the cover 7 is attached and fixed to the base 2 as described above. It is configured. This prevents the free end 5B side of the cantilever portion 5 and the engaging portion 6 from rising due to such pressing, thereby stabilizing the hooked state of the engaging portion 6 with respect to the outer peripheral step portion 45 of the female terminal fitting 4. It is designed to be maintained at.

Next, an example of using the connector device 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5A is an explanatory view of a state before wiring connection by the connector device 1 of the present embodiment (connector device 1 of FIG. 1A), and FIG. 5B is from the insertion port of the base in the connector device. An explanatory view of a state in which a predetermined amount of female terminal fittings are inserted toward the male terminal fittings, FIG. 5 (c) is an explanatory view of a state in which the insertion work is completed, and FIG. 5 (d) is after the insertion work is completed. It is explanatory drawing of the state which attached the cover to the base.

The connector device 1 of the present embodiment can be used as a means for connecting electrical wiring in various electrical devices such as a power seat device of an automobile.

When connecting the electrical wiring by actually using the connector device 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, the female terminal fitting 4 is attached and attached to the tip of the wiring 8 to be connected. The tip of the female terminal fitting 4 and the insertion port 22 of the base 2 face each other. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, the female terminal fitting 4 itself is directly inserted from the insertion port 22 of the base 2 toward the male terminal fitting 3.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 5B, at the stage where the female terminal fitting 4 is inserted by a predetermined amount as described above, the engaging portion 6 of the cantilever portion 5 is provided by the fitting portion 41 of the female terminal fitting 4. Is pushed up toward the ceiling of the terminal accommodating chamber 21, and the cantilever beam portion 5 elastically deforms and bends due to the pushing force, whereby the free end 5B and the engaging portion 6 of the cantilever accommodating chamber 5 are elastically deformed and bent. It temporarily escapes toward the ceiling.

Then, when the female terminal fitting 4 is further inserted, as shown in FIG. 5C, the fitting portion 41 of the female terminal fitting 4 passes below the engaging portion 6 of the cantilever beam portion 5, and this At this point, the cantilever portion 5 returns to its original state, that is, the state before bending due to its elastic restoring force.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 5C, the engaging portion 6 of the cantilever beam portion 5 is lowered toward the outer peripheral step portion 45 of the female terminal fitting 4, and the engaging portion 6 is lowered. Is caught in the outer peripheral step portion 45 of the female terminal fitting 4, so that the female terminal fitting 4 is prevented from coming off from the insertion port 22.

At this time, the contact spring piece 44 of the male terminal fitting 4 comes into contact with the male terminal fitting 3 with a predetermined spring force inside the fitting portion 41 of the female terminal fitting 4, specifically, the fitting fitting portion 43. When the fitting portion 41 (fitting bracket portion 43) of the female terminal fitting 4 and the male terminal fitting 3 are in a fitted state, the male terminal fitting 3 and the female terminal fitting 4 are electrically connected.

In short, in the connector device 1 of the present embodiment, the female terminal fitting 4 is inserted from the insertion port 22 toward the male terminal fitting 3, so that the fitting portion 41 of the female terminal fitting 4 fits into the male terminal fitting 3. In this state, the male terminal fitting 3 and the female terminal fitting 4 are electrically connected, and as a means for preventing the female terminal fitting 4 from coming off from the insertion port 22, the outer peripheral step portion of the female terminal fitting 4 is provided. The engaging portion 6 is hooked on the 45.

Finally, by attaching the cover 7 to the base 2, the wiring connection work by the connector device 1 of the present embodiment is completed.

By the way, when the cover 7 is attached as described above, the fitting portion 41 of the female terminal fitting 4 is pressed by the first pressing portion 74A of the cover 7, so that the fitting portion 41 of the female terminal fitting 4 and the male terminal fitting 4 are pressed. The mated state with 3 is not easily released, and a good electrical connection state between the female terminal fitting 4 and the male terminal fitting 3 is always obtained. Further, since the cantilever portion 5 of the base 2 is pressed by the second pressing portion 74B of the cover 7, there is no possibility that the free end 5B of the cantilever beam portion 5 and the engaging portion 6 are lifted, and the female The hooked state of the engaging portion 6 with respect to the outer peripheral step portion 45 of the terminal fitting 4 is stably maintained, and the female terminal fitting 4 is effectively prevented from coming off from the insertion port 22.

In the connector device 1 of the present embodiment described above, as a specific configuration thereof, as described above, the female terminal fitting 4 itself is directly inserted into the insertion port 22 of the base 2. A cantilever portion 5 is provided near the ceiling of the terminal accommodating chamber 21 of the base 2, an engaging portion 6 is provided on the lower surface of the tip portion of the cantilever beam portion 5, and the female terminal fitting 4 comes off from the insertion port 22. As a means for preventing the above, a configuration is adopted in which the engaging portion 6 is caught in the outer peripheral step portion 45 of the female terminal fitting 4.

Therefore, according to the connector device 1 of the present embodiment, the conventional female connector housing to which the female terminal fitting is attached can be abolished, the number of parts is reduced by the amount of the abolished female connector housing, and the connector device. 1 There is an advantage that the whole can be made thin. Further, the abolition of the conventional female connector housing has an advantage that the conventional assembly work of attaching the female terminal fitting to such a female connector housing becomes unnecessary.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and more modifications can be made by a person having ordinary knowledge in the art within the technical idea of the present invention.

1 Connector device 2 Base 21 Terminal accommodation chamber 22 Outlet 23 Both side plates of terminal accommodation chamber 24 Double-sided beam 25 Bottom plate of terminal accommodation chamber 26 Locking claw 27 Insulation wall 3 Male terminal fitting 4 Female terminal fitting 41 Mating part 42 Base metal fittings 43 Fitting metal fittings 44 Contact spring pieces 45 Outer peripheral step 5 Cantilever beam 5A One end (support end) of the cantilever
5B The other end of the cantilever (free end)
6 Engagement part 7 Cover 71 Top plate part 72 Both side plate parts 73 Mounting holes 74 Presser protrusion 74A First pressing part 74B Second pressing part 8 Wiring

Claims (3)

A base having a terminal accommodating chamber and an outlet communicating with the terminal accommodating chamber,
A male terminal fitting protruding from the inner wall surface of the terminal accommodating chamber toward the insertion port,
A female terminal fitting having a fitting portion that can be fitted to the male terminal fitting,
A cantilever beam provided near the ceiling of the terminal accommodation chamber and
With the engaging portion provided on the lower surface of the tip portion of the cantilever portion,
With a cover attached to the base ,
The cover has a top plate portion arranged on the upper surface side of the base and a pressing protrusion portion integrally formed on the back surface of the top plate portion.
The pressing protrusion has a first pressing portion for pressing the fitting portion of the female terminal fitting toward the bottom surface of the base, and the engaging portion of the cantilever beam portion on the female terminal fitting. It consists of a second pressing part for pressing toward and
By inserting the female terminal fitting from the insertion port toward the male terminal fitting, the fitting portion of the female terminal fitting is in a state of being fitted to the male terminal fitting, and the male terminal fitting and the said A state in which the engaging portion is hooked on the outer peripheral step portion of the female terminal fitting as a means for electrically connecting the female terminal fitting and preventing the female terminal fitting from coming off from the insertion port. And, with the cover attached to the base, the fitting portion of the female terminal fitting is pressed by the first pressing portion, and the piece is pressed by the second pressing portion. A connector device characterized in that the holding beam portion is pressed . The female terminal fitting includes an elongated base fitting portion and a tubular fitting portion provided on the tip end side of the base fitting portion, and the tubular fitting portion functions as the fitting portion and the tubular fitting portion thereof. The connector device according to claim 1 , wherein the boundary portion between the portion and the base metal fitting portion is used as the outer peripheral step portion. A plurality of the male terminal fittings are provided, and the two adjacent male terminal fittings are electrically insulated by an insulating wall in a form rising from the base. The connector device according to claim 1 or 2 .

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