JPH08321346A - Connector with terminal locking piece - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a connector having a terminal locking piece capable of ensuring freedom from the projection of a hinge used for connecting the piece to a housing, as well as preventing the breakage of the hinge. CONSTITUTION: A connector housing 1 and a terminal locking piece 3 (3A, 3B and 3C) are connected to each other via a foldable connecting member 2. Then, constitution is so made that when the locking piece 3 is inserted in the opening 1b of the housing 1 for catching a terminal, the member 2 is folded and housed inside the outer wall 1c of the housing 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector which is used for electric wiring of an automobile or the like, and which is provided with a terminal locking device capable of securely locking a terminal accommodated in a connector housing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a connector provided with a terminal locking device, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-119285 discloses a connector K as shown in FIG. The connector K is provided with an opening d facing the terminal accommodating chamber c in the wall b of the connector housing a, and a retaining member f supported outside the opening d by the flexible upright pieces e on both sides.
It has. After inserting the terminal fitting g into the terminal accommodating chamber c and pushing the retaining member f toward the terminal accommodating chamber c, as shown in FIG.
Engages with the shoulder g ₁ of the terminal fitting g to lock the terminal fitting g.

However, as shown in FIG. 9, in the connector housing a after the retaining member f is pushed in, as shown in FIG.
The flexible standing pieces e on both sides may be projected from the wall b of the connector housing a, and the protruding flexible standing pieces e may interfere with electric wiring or may be damaged by receiving unnecessary external force. Further, since the flexible upright piece e is locked in a bent state, there is an internal restoring force for returning to the original form, and even if a slight external force acts, the flexible upright piece e will be restored by the restoring force. There is a problem that the retaining member f comes off.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and by improving a connecting member for connecting a terminal locking device and a connector housing,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector including a highly reliable terminal locking device, which can prevent the connecting member from being damaged without protruding from the outer wall of the connector housing.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a terminal for accommodating a terminal locking member in an opening provided in a connector housing, and the terminal locking member and the terminal locking member. In a connector provided with a terminal locking member adapted to lock a terminal by abutting with each other, the connector housing and the terminal locking device are connected via a foldable connecting member, When the terminal is locked by fitting, the connecting member is folded so that the connecting member is housed inside the outer wall of the connector housing.
It is preferable that the foldable connecting member is a connecting member that is integrally formed with the connector housing and the terminal locking member and has hinges at both ends and a central portion (claim 2). It is effective to install the operating portion of the terminal locking device above the locking arm of the connector housing (claim 3).

[0006]

According to the present invention, since the terminal locking member and the connector housing are connected via the foldable connecting member, when the terminal locking member is fitted into the opening of the connector housing, the connecting member is connected. Is folded and stored near the outer wall of the connector housing. Therefore, since the connecting member does not protrude from the outer wall of the connector housing,
It is possible to reduce the size of the connector housing without damaging the connecting member or obstructing the wiring due to useless external force. Further, after the terminal locking member is fitted into the connector housing, the connecting member is folded and stored, so that the connecting member may return to its original form even if an external force acts on the connecting member or the terminal locking device. Instead, the terminal locking device is held in a stable state.

[0007]

1 is a perspective view showing a connector A provided with a terminal locking device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. The connector A includes a connector housing 1 integrally formed by molding an electrically insulating synthetic resin material, and three terminal locking members 3A connected to the connector housing 1 via a foldable connecting member 2. Three
It consists of B and 3C.

The connector housing 1 is provided with a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 4 arranged vertically in two stages, and the female terminals 5 are accommodated in the terminal accommodating chambers 4. The upper and lower outer walls 1a, 1a 'of the connector housing 1 are notched so that the rear part (on the side of the wire 6 connected to the female terminal 5) faces the terminal accommodating chamber 4, so that the outer wall 1a has two openings 1b. 1b
And one opening 1b 'is provided in the outer wall 1a'. The outer wall 1a between the two openings 1b and 1b is provided with an arm accommodating portion 7, and the arm accommodating portion 7 is provided with a locking arm 8 for engaging with a mating connector (not shown). It is supposed to be housed.

Openings 1b, 1 of the connector housing 1
On the outer side of b, 1b ', terminal locking devices 3A, 3B, 3C
(In the following, a representative representation is simply represented by 3), but the side wall 1c of the connector housing 1 and
Upper and lower edges of 1c 'and side walls 7a, 7 of the arm housing 7
It is connected to the upper edge of a '. As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting member 2 is formed in a plate shape and has thin hinges 2 at both ends.
A thin hinge 2b for folding the connecting member 2 is formed in a and a and 2a '. One hinge 2a is connected to the outer walls 1c, 1c 'of the connector housing 1 or the side walls 7a, 7a' of the arm housing 7, and the other hinge 2a 'is connected to both ends 3a, 3a' of the terminal locking device 3, respectively. Are combined.

The terminal locking device 3 is provided with a plurality of locking projections 3b corresponding to the terminal accommodating chamber 4, and as shown in FIG.
When the terminal locking device 3 is fitted into the openings 1b and 1b 'of the connector housing 1, the shoulder 5a of the female terminal 5 and the locking projection 3 are inserted.
The female terminal 5 is locked in the terminal accommodating chamber 4 by abutting b.

Next, the operation of fitting the above-mentioned terminal locking member 3 into the openings 1b, 1b 'of the connector housing 1 and the operation of the connecting member 2 at that time will be described. Terminal accommodating chamber 4
After inserting the female terminal 5 in the inside, attach the terminal locking tool 3 to the opening 1.
When it is pushed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 in order to enter the inside of b (1b ′), first, as shown in FIG. 4, the hinge 2b of the connecting member 2 is bent.

Further, when the terminal locking member 3 is pressed, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, as the number of bends of the hinge 2b increases, the hinges 2a and 2a ′ bend, the connecting member 2 is folded into an inverted V shape, and the inside of the opening 1b or 1b ′ of the terminal locking device 3 is folded. The insertion into is completed. Connecting member 2 folded in an inverted V shape
Is housed between the outer wall 1c (1c ') of the connector housing 1 and the end 3a of the terminal locking device 3. At this time, the lock claw 9 protruding from the terminal locking device 3 and the lock hook 10 provided on the connector housing 1 are engaged with each other, and the terminal locking device 3 is locked to the connector housing 1.

The height from the hinge 2a to the hinge 2b when the connecting member 2 is folded in an inverted V shape is set to be lower than the thickness of the operating portion 3c of the terminal locking member 3, so that the connecting member is formed. The second hinge 2b does not protrude from the operation portion 3c of the terminal locking device 3. Further, it does not project outward from the outer walls 1c, 1c 'of the connector housing 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a connector B having a terminal locking device according to another embodiment of the present invention. The connector B has substantially the same configuration as the connector A, except that the connector B has a terminal locking tool 11 having a structure different from that of the terminal locking tool 3 of the connector 4. That is, the connector housing 12
Connecting members 2 and 2 similar to the connector A are attached to the outer walls 12a and 12a 'on both sides of the terminal locking device 11, respectively.
An operating portion 11b is provided so as to straddle the upper side of the locking arm 8, and both end portions 11a, 11 of the terminal locking tool 11 are provided.
Each a ′ is connected to the connecting member 2.

Therefore, in the connector B, unlike the connector A, it is not necessary to provide the two terminal locking members 3A and 3B which are divided with the locking arm 6 interposed therebetween.
It is possible to lock the terminal accommodating chambers 4 on both sides of the locking arm 8 only with the base terminal locking tool 8, and the work of assembling the connector is simplified.

[0016]

According to the present invention, since the terminal locking member and the connector housing are connected via the foldable connecting member, when the terminal locking member is mounted on the connector housing, the connecting member is It is folded and stored near the outer wall of the connector housing. Therefore, since the connecting member does not protrude from the outer wall of the connector housing, the connecting member is not damaged by an unnecessary external force and does not hinder the wiring, and the connector housing can be downsized. . In addition, after the terminal locking member is fitted into the connector housing, the connecting member is folded and stored, so that the connecting member can return to its original form even when an external force acts on the connecting member and the terminal locking device. However, there is an advantage that the terminal locking tool is held in a stable state and the terminal is securely locked.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector including a terminal locking tool according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a structure of a connecting member of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a process of fitting the terminal locking tool of FIG. 1 into a connector housing.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the fitting of the terminal locking device of FIG. 4 is completed and the connecting member is folded.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a main part of a connector including a terminal locking tool according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a connector provided with a conventional retaining member.

8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a terminal is locked by the retaining member of FIG.

9 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the housing after inserting the retaining member of FIG. 7 into the housing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Connector with A and B terminal locking device 1 Connector housing 2 Connecting members 2a, 2a ', 2b Hinge 3 (3A, 3B, 3C) Terminal locking device 4 Terminal accommodating chamber 5 Female terminal 8 Locking arm 11 Terminal locking Tool 11b Operation part

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Kimihiro Abe 206-1 Nunobikihara, Haibara-machi, Haibara-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture Yazaki Parts Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A terminal assembly in which a terminal locking device is fitted into an opening provided in a connector housing, and the terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber is abutted with the terminal locking device to lock the terminal. In a connector including a stopper, the connector housing and the terminal locking member are connected via a foldable connecting member, and the connecting member is folded when the terminal is locked by fitting the terminal locking member. A connector provided with a terminal locking member, wherein the connecting member is housed inside the outer wall of the connector housing. 2. The terminal locking device according to claim 1, wherein the foldable connecting member is a connecting member integrally formed with the connector housing and the terminal locking device and having hinges at both ends and a central part. connector. 3. The connector provided with the terminal locking device according to claim 1, wherein the operating part of the terminal locking device is installed above the locking arm of the connector housing.