JPH11273797A - Connector structure of electric connecting box - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ease the stress imposed on a soldered part of a connector terminal. SOLUTION: A connector 5 of which terminals 4 are attached to a wiring board 3 by means of soldering (a), an opening 2d that is used to fit the connector 5 into it loosely from its inside is formed in a case 2 of an electric connecting box 1, and locking parts 2f, 5d to lock the connector 5 at a predetermined position of the opening 2d are formed in the opening 2d and on the connector 5. respectively. Thereby. the connector 5 is separated from the case 2 of the electric connecting box 1, the soldered parts of the terminals of the separated connector 5 are soldered to the wiring board in advance, the connector 5 is loosely fitted in the opening 2d formed in the case 2 of the electric connecting box 1 from its inside and the connector 5 is locked at the predetermined position of the opening 2d by the locking parts.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector structure of an electric junction box which can reduce stress applied to a soldering portion of a connector terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrical junction box used for branch connection of a wiring harness for automobiles to various electric components is provided with branch connection points concentrated at one place, and wiring is rationally and economically connected. With the increase in the density of wire harnesses, various types have been developed according to vehicle types or applications.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the connector structure of the electric connection box as described above is such that a connector housing portion 2a protruding outward is provided on an upper case (or a lower case) 2 of the electric connection box 1. Are integrally formed to form a terminal press-fit hole 2c in the bottom wall 2b of the connector housing portion 2a, and a wiring board (PCB: printed circuit board or FPC) having a through hole 3a formed inside the upper case 2. With the flexible printed circuit (3) facing the front, the soldering portion 4a of the terminal 4 pressed into the terminal press-fitting hole 2c from the outside of the upper case 2 is inserted into the through hole 3a of the wiring board 3, and then the soldering portion is inserted. 4a is soldered to the wiring portion of the wiring board 3 in some cases.

[0004]

However, in the above-described connector structure, the connector terminals 4 are fixed to both the upper case 2 and the wiring board 3, so that the upper case 2 and the wiring Due to the difference in thermal expansion of the substrate 3, stress is applied to the soldered portion 4a, which may adversely affect the life of the soldered portion 4a.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its object to provide a connector structure of an electric junction box capable of reducing stress applied to a soldering portion of a connector terminal. Is what you do.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a connector in which terminals are soldered to a wiring board, and an opening for loosely fitting the connector from the inside of the electrical connection box. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector structure of an electric connection box, wherein a lock portion formed in a case and provided in the opening and the connector to lock the connector at a predetermined position in the opening is provided.

According to the present invention, the connector is separated from the case of the electric connection box, the soldered portions of the terminals of the separated connector are soldered in advance to the wiring board, and the connector is connected to the case of the electric connection box. The connector is loosely fitted into the formed opening from the inside, and the connector is locked at a predetermined position of the opening by the lock portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a lock claw that protrudes inward from an opening of the case and locks a lock protrusion of the connector can be formed at a lower end.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a lock claw that protrudes outward from an opening of the case and locks a lock protrusion of the connector can be formed at an upper end.

According to a fourth aspect, the lock claw protruding outward from the case can be configured to be unlockable from outside the case.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the case may be configured such that an upper holding portion for holding an upper portion of the connector loosely fitted in the opening is formed.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the same components and operations as those of the prior art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electric junction box 1
Bottom wall 5a of connector 5 separated from upper case 2
Is formed with a terminal press-fitting hole 5b, into which the terminal 4 is press-fitted. Wide side surfaces 5c of this connector 5
Are formed with lock projections 5d projecting sideways.

The wiring board 3 has through holes 3a.
The soldering portion 4a of the terminal 4 press-fitted into the terminal press-fitting hole 5b of the connector 5 is inserted into the through hole 3a, and the soldering portion 4a is soldered to the wiring portion of the wiring board 3 by a. .

On the upper surface of the upper case 2, there is formed an opening 2d into which the connector 5 is loosely fitted. From the narrow side of the opening 2d, the opening 2d rises upward to play in the opening 2d. Upper holding portions 2e for holding both sides and the upper side of the upper portion of the fitted connector 5 are respectively formed.

On the wide side of the opening 2d of the upper case 2, as shown in FIG. 2, a connector 5 which projects inward from the upper case 2 and is loosely fitted into the opening 2d from inside. The lock claw 2f for locking the lock projection 5d is formed, and the lower end of the lock claw 2f is formed on an inclined surface. When the connector 5 is loosely fitted into the opening 2d from inside, the lock claw 2f is formed on the inclined surface. The lock projection 5d of the connector 5 abuts and is bent outward. When the lock projection 5d gets over the lock claw 2f, it returns inward and locks the lower surface of the lock projection 5d.

With the above construction, the connector 5 is separated from the upper case 2 of the electric connection box 1 and the soldered portion 4a of the terminal 4 of the separated connector 5 is previously soldered to the wiring board 3. At the same time, the connector 5 is loosely fitted into the opening 2d of the upper case 2 from the inside, and the lock projection 5 of the connector 5 is locked by the locking claw 2f of the opening 2d.
Lock d.

As a result, since the connector 5 is loosely fitted in the opening 2d of the upper case 2 in a locked state, even if there is a difference in thermal expansion between the upper case 2 and the wiring board 3, the soldering portion of the terminal 4 can be formed. The stress is not applied to 4a, and the life of the soldered portion 4a of the terminal 4 is not adversely affected.

When the connector 5 is loosely fitted into the opening 2d from the inside of the upper case 2, the locking projections 5d of the connector 5 are simultaneously locked by the locking claws 2f of the upper case 2, so that the locking operation of the connector 5 is performed. Can be performed with one touch, and the connector 5 is prevented from falling down by the lock claw 2f by the upper holding portion 2e of the upper case 2.
Can be reliably prevented from falling off and falling down in the width direction.

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the lock structure, in which lock claws 2g projecting outward from the upper case 2 and locking the lock projections 5d of the connector 5 loosely fitted into the openings 2d from the inside are formed. Have been.

With this configuration, similarly to the above embodiment, when the connector 5 is loosely fitted into the opening 2d from the inside of the upper case 2, the lock projection 5d of the connector 5 is locked by the lock claw 2g of the upper case 2. Since the connector 5 is locked at the same time, the locking work of the connector 5 can be performed with one touch, and the lock claw 2g can be unlocked from the outside of the upper case 2 as shown by an arrow in FIG. The connector 5 can be easily removed from the opening 2d.

[0022]

As is clear from the above description, in the connector structure of the present invention, the connector is separated from the case of the electric connection box, and the soldered portions of the terminals of the separated connector are previously soldered to the wiring board. At the same time, the connector is loosely fitted into the opening formed in the case of the electric connection box from inside, and the connector is locked at a predetermined position of the opening by the lock portion. Since it is loosely fitted to the part in the locked state, even if there is a difference in thermal expansion between the case and the wiring board, the stress is not applied to the soldered part of the terminal, and the life of the soldered part of the terminal is not adversely affected. .

When the connector is loosely fitted into the opening from the inside of the case as in the second aspect, the locking projection of the connector is simultaneously locked by the locking claw protruding inward of the case. Can be done with one touch.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the connector is loosely fitted into the opening from the inside of the case, the locking projections of the connector are simultaneously locked by the locking claws projecting outward from the case. Can be done with one touch.

According to the fourth aspect, the connector can be easily removed from the opening by unlocking the lock claw projecting outward from the case from the outside of the case after locking the connector.

According to the fifth aspect, the upper holding portion of the case can reliably prevent the connector, which has been prevented from falling down by the lock portion, from falling upward and falling down in the width direction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector structure of an electric junction box according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a connector part.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a connector portion of a modified example,
(B) is sectional drawing at the time of the lock release operation of a lock claw.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional connector structure of an electric junction box.

5A and 5B are sectional views of a conventional connector portion, in which FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view before press-fitting of a terminal, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view after press-fitting of a terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrical connection box 2 Upper case 2d Opening 2e Upper holding part 2f, 2g Lock claw 3 Wiring board 3a Through hole 4 Terminal 4a Soldering part 5 Connector 5d Lock protrusion a Soldering

Claims (5)

[Claims] A connector having terminals soldered to a wiring board is provided, an opening for loosely fitting the connector from the inside is formed in a case of an electric connection box, and a connector is connected to the opening and the connector. A connector structure for an electric connection box, wherein a lock portion for locking at a predetermined position of the opening is provided. 2. The connector structure for an electric connection box according to claim 1, wherein a lock claw that protrudes inward from an opening of the case and locks a lock protrusion of the connector is formed at a lower end. 3. The connector structure for an electric connection box according to claim 1, wherein a lock claw that protrudes outward from an opening of the case and locks a lock protrusion of the connector is formed at an upper end. 4. The lock claw projecting outward from the case,
The connector structure for an electric connection box according to claim 3, wherein the lock release operation can be performed from outside the case. 5. The connector structure for an electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein the case has an upper holding portion for holding an upper portion of the connector loosely fitted in the opening. .