JPH06215831A - Connector structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure sufficient tensile strength without giving the external force applied to electric wires in the extracting direction to the tip section of a holder by terminating the electric wires with the holder, and bending them with a bending device. CONSTITUTION:Electric wire pressure fixing pins pressure-holds electric wires 40 between them and a main body 31, and a rotor 33 keeps the electric wires 40 bent by about 90 deg.. End sections 40a of the electric wires 40 are thus terminated, a holder 30 is inserted into a housing 20 from an opening section 21 together with the electric wires 40, the lock piece 35 of the holder 30 is elastically deformed, a hook lug 35a is coupled with a coupling hole 27, and the holder 30 is unreleasably coupled with the housing 20. Exposed conductors 41 are pressed into contact with elastic connecting terminals 10 in the housing 20 for electric conduction. The electric wires 40 are terminated by the holder 30 and can be inserted into the housing, they are bent by about 90 deg. by the rotor 33 of a bending device, and they can sufficiently cope with the external force in the backward releasing direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector structure, and more specifically, a flexible flat cable substrate (FFC) formed by coating a plurality of flat rectangular conductors arranged in parallel with an insulating resin. The present invention relates to a connector structure for connection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a flexible flat cable substrate (FFC) having the above-mentioned structure or a flexible flat cable such as a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) formed by baking an electric conductor on an insulating film has been widely used.
Its structure allows for installation in a narrow space,
Because of its flexibility, it can be applied to movable parts and is widely used in various devices such as wire harnesses for connecting electric components of automobiles and computers.

However, since these flexible cables are flexible, it is necessary to terminal their terminals in a rigid state when connecting to a connector. In the conventional technique, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the end portion of the cable 1 with the conductor 2 exposed is provided with a holder 3 which is a rigid plate member.
It is attached to and made into a terminal. The terminalized cable 1 is inserted into the housing 4 together with the holder 3 through the opening 5 formed in the front surface of the connector housing 4, and the spring piece of the elastic connection terminal 6 housed in the connector housing 4. Conduction is achieved by pressing 6a.

Here, an example of terminalization of the end portion of the cable 1 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, in which the cable 1 has a plurality of protrusions on the surface of the holder 3 formed in a substantially flat plate shape. The fixing pin 3a is integrated by engaging a mounting hole 1a for position regulation formed between the conductors of the cable 1. Alternatively, the cable 1 is integrated with the holder 3 by an adhesive material. Such an integrated structure is necessary to prevent the cable 1 from coming out of the housing against the tensile load acting on the cable 1 in the arrow direction when the cable 1 is connected to the connector.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, the plurality of fixing pins and the mounting holes are engaged with each other or adhered to each other for integration, and thus the assembly workability is poor and the manufacturing cost is low. I could not say that it was preferable. Further, in the above-described conventional structure, water droplets caused by dew condensation travel between the adjacent conductors (see arrow H in FIG. 13) and flow out to the exposed conductor portion 1b to generate a leakage current between the conductors, thereby improving the electrical connection performance. There was a risk of lowering.
The present invention has been made on the basis of the above-mentioned circumstances, and makes a terminal of a flexible flat cable (hereinafter, referred to as an electric wire in the present specification) into a terminal so that a connector can be connected and a conductor can be interconnected. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector structure capable of preventing the generation of leakage current between the connectors.

[0006]

That is, the above object of the present invention is to provide an end portion of a substantially sheet-shaped electric wire, which is formed by insulatingly coating a plurality of conductors arranged in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval.
A connector structure which is fitted into an opening formed in a connector housing to connect the conductor by press contact with a plurality of elastic connection terminals housed in the housing, the conductor structure being engaged with an end of the electric wire. A holder for holding the electric wire having a fixing groove for restricting the position of the electric wire to a predetermined position and a slit at a portion corresponding to each conductor, and a bending means for bending the electric wire, and each elastic connection terminal in the housing. This is achieved by a connector structure characterized in that it comprises a partition wall and a connector housing that is fitted into a slit of the holder and has a partition wall that is continuous with the opening.

[0007]

Since the holder is provided to hold the electric wire in a bent state, the bending portion absorbs the external force acting in the backward pulling direction of the electric wire and does not extend to the terminal connecting portion. The electrical contact property of can be maintained suitably. Also,
Since the partition wall of the connector housing forms the terminal accommodating chamber and engages with the slit of the holder to prevent the flow of water droplets between the terminals, the generation of leakage current can be prevented.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a connector structure of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the connection between a holder and an electric wire, which is a perspective view seen from the back side of the holder. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing in the state where the holder was inserted in the housing.

The connector structure of this embodiment holds a connector housing 20 into which a plurality of elastic connection terminals 10 (only one is shown in FIG. 1) are inserted and locked, and an electric wire 40 described later. And a holder 30 fitted in the housing 20 through an opening 21 formed in the front surface of the connector housing 20. The housing 20 is formed of an insulating resin material into a substantially rectangular body, and has a terminal accommodating chamber 22 that individually accommodates a plurality of elastic connection terminals 10 inserted from the rear end side. That is, in the terminal accommodating chamber 22, the partition wall 25 that connects the upper wall 23 and the lower wall 24 of the housing 20 is formed by partitioning the space in the housing into a plurality of chambers. Further, the partition wall 25 is connected to the opening portion 21.

The elastic connection terminal 10 is provided in the same manner as the conventional structure, and the low-voltage electric wire 11 connected to another device is pressure-contacted and inserted into the housing 20.
The locking portion 10a is engaged with a locking step portion (not shown) in the terminal accommodating chamber 22 and is fixed in the housing 20. In this embodiment, a flexible flat cable is used as the electric wire 40 that is fixedly held by the holder 30,
This electric wire 40 is provided by covering a plurality of rectangular conductors 41, which are arranged in parallel with each other with a predetermined interval, from both surface sides with an insulating resin 42. Then, the elastic connection terminal 10
The conductor 41 is exposed at the end 40a of the electric wire connected to. Therefore, in the exposed conductor portion, the notch 44 is formed between the conductor and the adjacent conductor. In addition, the conductor 41
Is provided in a slightly bent shape in order to improve the engagement with the terminal 10 when the tip portion 41a is inserted into the housing.

The holder 30 holds the electric wire 40 and is inserted into the housing 20 through the opening 21, and the main body 3 on the rear end side of the main body 31.
1 and a rotating body 33 that is rotatably connected via a hinge portion 32 (see FIG. 3) and serves as bending means for bending the electric wire 40.
Consists of. A position corresponding to the notch 44 when the electric wire 40 is held is cut out in front of the main body 31, and a slit 34 is provided which is fitted into the partition wall 25 when the electric wire 40 is inserted into the housing. . Further, on both sides of the main body 31, there are provided lock pieces 35 which are supported in a cantilevered manner and whose free ends are extended rearward, and which are formed on the lock pieces 35 when inserted into the housing 20. Locking protrusion 3
5a is provided so as to be engageable with an engagement hole 27 formed in the side wall 26 of the housing 20.

Regarding the holder 30, FIG. 2 and FIG.
Will be described in more detail. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the holder 30 shown in FIG. 1 is repeatedly turned on and yet immediately before holding the electric wire 40. The rotating body 33 is
A fixed insertion hole 36 through which the electric wire 40 can be inserted along the surface of the main body 31 in an inverted state with respect to the main body 31, and a guide storage portion 38 into which one end surface is opened and a guide 37 described later is fitted. It has a hollow substantially rectangular shape.

On the open peripheral surface of the guide housing portion 38, a plurality of sets of wire pressure contact fixing pins 39 are provided so as to project in the vertical direction of the rotating body 33 provided in an inverted state. The electric wire pressure contact fixing pin 39 is provided at a position corresponding to each conductor of the electric wire to be inserted. Also,
On both side walls of the rotating body 33, a pair of locking locks 50 which are similarly arranged in the vertical direction are provided in a protruding manner.

On the other hand, the main body 31 has the fixed insertion hole 3
The electric wire 40 that is inserted through
It is provided in an open structure that is exposed on one side.
In the portion formed in the comb tooth shape by the slit 34,
A guide wall 51 for guiding the exposed conductor 41 is formed along the slit 34, and a fixing groove 52 for accommodating the bent tip portion 41a of the conductor 41 is provided at a position near the tip end of the comb teeth. Has been formed. The guides 37 for restricting the positions of the exposed conductors 41 are provided at the base of the slits 34. Also, the lock piece 3
A vertical wall 53 is provided at a position corresponding to the base of No. 5, and the vertical wall 53 indicates the rotating body 33 in the figure by an arrow P.
When it rotates forward and is provided in contact with the main body 31, it engages with the side wall of the rotary body 33 to rotate the rotary body 3
3 has a set of lock engagement holes 54 into which the locks 50 are fitted at the same time.

Next, the holder 30 constructed as described above.
A state in which the electric wire 40 is held will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The electric wire 40 has an end portion 40a where the conductor 41 is exposed.
Is inserted through the fixed insertion hole 36 of the rotating body 33 toward the front side. Then, each conductor 41 is inserted along the guide wall 51 until the bent front end portion 41a is housed in the fixed groove 52 formed in the comb tooth-shaped front end position.
After that, the rotating body 33 rotates forward to store the guide 37 in the guide storing portion 38, and the locking lock 50 engages with the lock engaging hole 54 to fix it in the closed state. To be done.

By such an operation, the electric wire pressure contact fixing pin 39 holds the electric wire 40 in pressure contact with the main body 31, and the rotating body 33 brings the electric wire 40 into a state of being bent at about 90 degrees. With the electric wire end portion 40a thus made into a terminal, the holder 30 together with the electric wire 40 is
As shown in FIG. 4, the lock piece 35 of the holder 30 is elastically deformed by being inserted into the housing 20 through the opening 21, and the locking protrusion 35a is fitted into the engaging hole 27 to be inserted into the holder 30. The housing 20 is permanently connected to the housing 20. On the other hand, the exposed conductors 41 are brought into pressure contact with the elastic connection terminals 10 in the housing 20 to achieve electrical conduction. Since each conductor 41 has the bent front end portion 41a housed in the fixing groove 52, the conductor 41 is prevented from jumping up when it comes into contact with the elastic connection terminal 10. With the above configuration, the electric wire can be terminalized by the holder and inserted into the housing, and can be sufficiently resisted from the external force in the backward pulling direction by being bent by about 90 degrees by the rotating body as the bending means. . In addition, in order to make the pulling-out directions of the electric wires coincide with each other, the electric wires can be bent again as shown by an imaginary line in FIG.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, in this embodiment, each component except the main part of the holder 60 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and therefore, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The holder 60 holds the electric wire 40 in FIG.
From a body 61 to be inserted therein, and a spacer 63 which is engaged with a fixing hole 62 formed in the body 61 at the rear end side of the body 61 and which is a part of bending means for bending the electric wire 40. Become.

The rear end side of the main body 61 is formed as an electric wire insertion portion 64 having a plurality of fixing holes 62 through which the exposed conductor 41 is inserted, and each fixing hole 62 is formed with a notch 44 between the conductors. It is partitioned by an engaging partition wall 65. The other parts of the main body 61 except the above-mentioned structure are configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment. That is, on the front side of the main body 61, a position corresponding to the cut 44 between the conductors of the conductor 41 inserted through the fixing hole 62 is cut out, and a slit that fits with the partition wall 25 of the housing 20. 34 are provided. Further, on both sides of the main body 61, there are provided lock pieces 35 which are supported in a cantilevered manner and whose free ends extend rearward, and which are formed on the lock pieces 35 when inserted into the housing 20. The locking projection 35a is provided so as to be able to engage with the engagement hole 27 formed in the side wall 26 of the housing 20. Further, the body 61 connects the conductor 41, which is inserted through the fixing hole 62, to the electric wire 40.
It is provided with an open structure that exposes one side at the end. Further, a fixing groove 52 for accommodating the front end portion 41a of the conductor 41 is formed at a position near the front end formed by the slit 34 in a comb-teeth shape.

On the other hand, the spacer 63 has the fixing hole 6
It is composed of a rod-shaped body in which a plurality of ribs 66 fitted in 2 are projected on a substantially flat plate surface. Holder 6 configured as described above
In 0, the exposed conductor 41 is inserted through the fixing hole 62 to the front side. Then, the bent tip portion 41a
Is inserted until it is accommodated in the fixing groove 52. After being provided in such a state, as shown in FIG.
When the rib 66 of No. 3 is press-fitted into the fixing hole 62, the electric wire 40 is bent at a right angle by the plate surface of the spacer 63 and is fixed in the fixing hole 62. The electric wires 40 held by the holder 60 are electrically connected by the conductors 41 pressing the elastic connection terminals 10 in the housing 20.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment as well, each component except the main part of the holder 70 has the same structure as that of the first embodiment, and therefore the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The holder 70 holds the electric wire 40 in FIG.
A main body 71 to be inserted into the main body 71 and the main body 71,
It comprises a holder guide 72 which is a part of bending means for bending the electric wire 40.

The main body 71 has a rear edge formed in a rib shape, and through holes 73 are formed on both sides of the main body 71 to be aligned with a holder guide 72 described later. Also, the main body 7
Similar to the first and second embodiments, the position corresponding to the notch 44 formed between the conductors is cut out on the front side of the slit 1, and the slit 34 that fits into the partition wall 25 of the housing 20. Is provided, and the inner surface side is the wire end portion 41.
It is provided in an open structure that exposes one side of a. Further, a fixing groove 52 for accommodating the front end portion 41a of the conductor 41 is formed at a position near the front end formed by the slit 34 in a comb-teeth shape. In addition, in the vicinity of the base of the slit 34, a plurality of projecting walls 7 that regulate the position of each conductor 41
4 are provided. Further, the holder guide 72 is provided outside the projecting walls 74 located on the left and right ends of the projecting wall 74.
An elastic locking piece 75 for locking is provided so as to project.

On the other hand, the holder guide 72 is the main body 71.
It is configured to have a rib-like stepped portion 76 that holds the electric wire 40 inserted along the surface and engages with the rear end edge of the main body 71 to bend the electric wire 40 at a right angle. Positioning protrusions 77 that engage with the through holes 73 are provided at both ends of the stepped portion 76. Further, the holder guide 72 has a recess 78 into which the projecting wall 74 of the holder 70 is inserted, and a projecting piece 79 projecting at a position closing the recess 78 and engaging with the slit 34 of the holder 70. Is configured. At the left and right ends of the holder guide 72,
A locking hole 80 with which the elastic locking piece 75 is engaged is provided.

In the holder 70 constructed as described above, the exposed conductor 41 of the wire end 40a is passed between the projecting walls 74, and the tip 41a of each conductor is accommodated in the fixing groove 52. Then, the holder guide 72 is pressure-bonded in an overlapping state. That is, the holder guide 72 has the locking hole 8
The elastic locking piece 75 of the holder 70 is inserted into the holder 70 to be integrated with the holder 70. When the holder 70 and the holder guide 72 are integrated as described above, the electric wire 40 is bent at a right angle by each rib-shaped end portion as shown in FIG. The electric wire 40 held by the holder 70 is
The conductors 41 are brought into pressure contact with the elastic connection terminals 10 in the housing 20 to achieve electrical conduction. In each of the above embodiments, the flexible flat cable is applied as the electric wire, but the present invention can also be applied to the flexible flat circuit body and the ribbon electric wire.

[0024]

As described above, according to the connector structure of the present invention, since the electric wire is made into a terminal by the holder and is bent by the bending means, the external force acting on the electric wire in the pull-out direction is applied. , Sufficient tensile strength can be secured without reaching the tip of the holder. Further, since the tip of the holder separates the conductors by the slits and inserts the conductors into the terminal accommodating chambers of the housing, it is possible to prevent the flow of water droplets between the conductors and prevent leakage. Also, since the tip of each conductor is housed in the fixing groove of the holder,
Prevents the jumping action when contacting the elastic connection terminal,
A stable contact resistance with the elastic connection terminal can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of a connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 1 viewed from the back side.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the holder and the housing of FIG. 1 in a coupled state.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a second embodiment of the connector of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 5 viewed from the back side.

7 is a sectional view of the holder and the housing of FIG. 5 in a coupled state.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a third embodiment of the connector of the present invention.

9 is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 8 viewed from the back side.

10 is a sectional view of the holder and the housing of FIG. 8 in a coupled state.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a combined state of an electric wire and a holder according to a conventional example.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in the coupled state of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 elastic connection terminal 20 connector housing 21 opening 22 terminal accommodating chamber 25 partition walls 30, 60, 70 holder 33 rotating body 34 slit 36 fixing insertion hole 37 guide 40 electric wire 41 conductor 44 notch 52 fixing groove 62 fixing hole 63 spacer 66 rib 72 Holder guide 76 Steps 77 Positioning protrusion 79 Protrusion 80 Locking hole

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 10, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The elastic connection terminal 10 is provided in the same manner as the conventional structure, and the low voltage electric wire 11 connected to another device is pressed.
By connecting them to the housing 20 and inserting them into the housing 20,
The locking portion 10a is engaged with a locking step portion (not shown) in the terminal accommodating chamber 22 and is fixed in the housing 20. In this embodiment, a flexible flat cable is used as the electric wire 40 that is fixedly held by the holder 30,
This electric wire 40 is provided by covering a plurality of rectangular conductors 41, which are arranged in parallel with each other with a predetermined interval, from both surface sides with an insulating resin 42. Then, the elastic connection terminal 10
The conductor 41 is exposed at the end 40a of the electric wire connected to. Therefore, in the exposed conductor portion, the notch 44 is formed between the conductor and the adjacent conductor. In addition, the conductor 41
Is provided in a slightly bent shape in order to improve the engagement with the terminal 10 when the tip portion 41a is inserted into the housing.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A conductor in which an end portion of a substantially sheet-shaped electric wire formed by insulatingly coating a plurality of conductors arranged in parallel at a predetermined distance from each other is fitted into an opening formed in a connector housing. Is a connector structure in which a plurality of elastic connection terminals housed in the housing are pressed to be connected to each other, and a fixing groove for engaging with an end portion of the electric wire and for restricting a position of a conductor tip end portion to a predetermined position, and between the conductors. A holder for holding the electric wire having a slit at a portion corresponding to and having a bending means for bending the electric wire, and partitioning each elastic connection terminal in the housing, and fitting into the slit of the holder and the opening. A connector structure, comprising: the connector housing having a partition wall that is connected to the portion.