Connectors

Abstract

A connector is provided, including a sacrificial pressing surface provided in a second shell and formed at an end portion on a side opposite to an insertion direction of the second shell. In a provisionally assembled state in which the second shell is fitted to the first shell more shallowly than in a fully assembled state and the locking portion is not locked to the locked portion, when an external force acts on the second shell, the sacrificial pressing surface is configured such that a pressure is applied in a direction in which a contact area of the locked portion with the locking portion is larger than a contact area when the second shell is pressed in the insertion direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector. Background Art

[0002] As a prior art, JP2001-357923A describes a connector.

[0003] like Figure 10 As shown, the connector 100 includes a first housing 101 that accommodates a terminal fitting (not shown), and a second housing 102 that can be fitted into the first housing 101 and suppress the terminal fitting accommodated in the first housing 101 from falling out.

[0004] That is, in the connector 100, the engaging protrusion 101a formed in the first shell 101 engages with the guide groove 103 formed in the second shell 102, and the engaging protrusion 101a slides from one end side to the other end side of the guide groove 103, so that the second shell 102 is engaged with the recess 101b formed in the first shell 101 to suppress the movement of the terminal fitting along the insertion direction.

[0005] Here, the guide groove 103 is constructed so that the inclination angle relative to the horizontal plane changes in two stages from one end side toward the other end side, and includes a first inclined portion 103a arranged on the front side along the insertion direction of the second shell 102 and having a relatively large inclination angle, and a second inclined portion 103b arranged on the rear side along the insertion direction of the second shell 102 and having a relatively small inclination angle.

[0006] That is, in the first inclined portion 103a, a state is constructed in which the second housing 102 is shallowly fitted into the recess 101b and the terminal fitting is not suppressed from falling out (hereinafter referred to as a "temporarily assembled state").

[0007] On the other hand, in the second inclined portion 103b, a state is constructed in which the second housing 102 is deeply fitted into the recess 101b to suppress the terminal fitting from falling out (hereinafter referred to as a "completely assembled state").

[0008] However, in the case of the connector of the related art, for example, when interference between the connectors 100 occurs during the process of transporting the connector 100 and external force acts on the second shell 102, the second shell 102 is pushed into the recess 101b and may accidentally constitute a fully assembled state.

[0009] In this case, since the terminal fitting cannot be inserted into the first shell 101 in the fully assembled state, it is necessary to push out the second shell 102 so that the engaging protrusion 101a slides from the second inclined portion 103b to the first inclined portion 103a along the guide groove 103 and returns to the temporary assembly state before inserting the terminal fitting into the first shell 101.

[0010] As described above, in the conventional connector, since the fully assembled state is accidentally formed during the transportation of the connector 100 , complicated assembly work of the terminal fittings is forced to be performed at the transportation destination of the connector 100 , so there is still room for improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The present disclosure provides a connector capable of preventing the second shell from being brought into a completely assembled state with respect to the first shell even if an external force acts on the second shell during transportation of the connector in a temporarily assembled state.

[0012] According to an illustrative aspect of the present disclosure, a connector includes: a first housing that accommodates a terminal fitting; a second housing that is inserted into the first housing so as to engage with the first housing and suppress the terminal fitting accommodated in the first housing from falling out; a locked portion provided on the second housing; a locking portion that is flexibly and deformably provided in the first housing and deformably bends as the first and second housings engage with each other, thereby engaging with the locked portion to move past the locked portion, thereby forming a fully assembled state in which the terminal fitting is suppressed from falling out; and a sacrificial pressing surface provided in the second housing and being a flat surface formed at an end portion on the side opposite to the insertion direction of the second housing. In a provisional assembled state in which the second housing is more shallowly engaged with the first housing than in the fully assembled state and the locking portion is not locked to the locked portion, when an external force acts on the second housing, the sacrificial pressing surface is configured to cause pressure to act in a direction in which the contact area of the locked portion with the locking portion is greater than in a state in which the second housing is pressed in the insertion direction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A longitudinal sectional view of the assembled state of the second shell and busbar is shown.

[0015] Figure 3 A first embodiment of a connector according to the present disclosure is shown and is Figure 1 A perspective view of the first and second shells shown in a temporarily assembled state.

[0016] Figure 4 It is along Figure 3 Cross-sectional view of line AA.

[0017] Figure 5 It is along Figure 3 Cross-sectional view of line BB.

[0018] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the connector showing the first and second shells in a fully assembled state.

[0019] Figure 7 is Figure 4 The arrow C indicates the direction of the view.

[0020] Figure 8 A second embodiment of the connector according to the present disclosure is shown, and is a longitudinal sectional view of the connector cut along the insertion direction of the second shell so as to pass through the completely locking portion and the completely locking projection in a provisionally assembled state of the first shell and the second shell.

[0021] Figure 9 is Figure 8 The view is viewed in the direction indicated by arrow D.

[0022] Figure 10 It is a side view of a connector in the prior art. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments of a connector according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] [First embodiment]

[0025] (Connector Structure)

[0026] The specific configuration of the connector according to this embodiment will be referred to Figures 1 to 7 In the description of the drawings, for convenience, the side of the first shell 1 facing the second shell 2 is defined as the "front", and the side opposite to the front is defined as the "rear". At the same time, the side of the second shell 2 facing the first shell 1 is defined as the "front", and the side opposite to the front is defined as the "rear". In addition, corresponding to Figures 4 to 6 The direction corresponding to the upper side of the paper surface is defined as "up", and the direction corresponding to the lower side of the paper surface is defined as "down".

[0027] For example, Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, the connector CN1 includes a first housing 1 having a plurality (four in this embodiment) of female terminal accommodating portions 11 serving as terminal fittings for accommodating female terminals 4 connected to (clamped and fixed to) the electric wires 3, and a second housing 2 that accommodates a bus bar 5 having a plurality (four in this embodiment) of male terminals 52 that can be respectively fitted to the female terminals 4 and is arranged to be fitted to the first housing 1. In other words, the connector CN1 illustrated in this embodiment is a so-called "joint connector" in which the plurality of female terminals 4 are electrically connected to each other via the bus bar 5.

[0028] The first housing 1 is formed into a generally rectangular tubular shape from a synthetic resin material having insulating properties, and is provided with a female terminal accommodating portion 11 for accommodating the female terminal 4 on the rear end side, and a second housing receiving portion 12 for receiving the fitted second housing 2 on the front end side. More specifically, the first housing 1 is provided with a vertically extending partition wall 10 at an intermediate portion in the front-to-back direction, the female terminal accommodating portion 11 being defined behind the partition wall 10, and the second housing receiving portion 12 being defined in front of the partition wall 10.

[0029] The female terminal accommodating portion 11 is defined as having a generally rectangular shape in cross section and capable of accommodating the female terminal 4 having a rectangular tubular shape described later, and in this embodiment, four female terminal accommodating portions 11 are arranged in parallel along the width direction of the first shell 1. At the same time, the second shell receiving portion 12 has a concave shape corresponding to the second shell 2 to be received and is integrally formed on the entire first shell 1 in the width direction.

[0030] like Figures 4 to 6 As shown, a lance portion 13 for preventing the female terminal 4 from falling out by being locked to the female terminal 4 is provided at the upper portion of the first shell 1 constituting each female terminal accommodating portion 11. The lance portion 13 is formed in a cantilever shape extending from rear to front, and is configured to be flexible and deformable in the up-down direction with a base end portion 13a as a fulcrum, and a distal end portion 13b can be locked to the rear end edge of a terminal connecting portion 42 (described later) of the female terminal 4.

[0031] More specifically, for example, Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, when the female terminal 4 is inserted, the lance portion 13 is elastically deformed to be pushed upward, and then elastically retreats to be locked to the rear end edge of the terminal connecting portion 42 (described later) of the female terminal 4, thereby suppressing the rearward movement of the female terminal 4. Figure 6 As shown, when the second housing 2 is completely fitted to the first housing 1 , the upward movement (bending deformation) of the lance 13 is suppressed by a lance suppressing portion 23 (described later) of the second housing 2 , and the female terminal 4 is prevented from falling off.

[0032] Furthermore, the first shell 1 and the second shell 2 are used to construct a fully assembled state (see Figure 6 ) is formed on one side in the width direction of the upper portion of the first shell 1 configuring the second shell receiving portion 12. In the fully assembled state, the first shell 1 and the second shell 2 are deeply fitted into each other, and the second shell 2 (the lance suppressing portion 23 described later) suppresses the bending deformation of the lance portion 13, thereby preventing the female terminal 4 from falling off. Figure 1 and Figure 3As shown, the full locking portion 14 has a generally rectangular frame shape defining a full locking opening 14a, and includes a pair of cantilevered full locking arm portions 14b and 14b that are parallel to each other and extend linearly forward, and a full locking piece 14c that is configured to connect the distal ends of the pair of full locking arm portions 14b and 14b to each other and capable of being locked to a full locking protrusion 24 (described later) of the second shell 2.

[0033] That is, Figure 5 As shown, when the second shell 2 is to be fitted into the first shell 1, the pair of fully locking arm portions 14b and 14b of the fully locking portion 14 bend and deform upward, causing the fully locking piece 14c to move over the fully locking protrusion 24 (described later) of the second shell 2 to lock to the rear end portion of the fully locking protrusion 24, thereby maintaining the first shell 1 and the second shell 2 deeply fitted with each other and preventing the female terminal 4 from falling off by the lance rod inhibitor 23 (described later).

[0034] For constructing the temporary assembly state of the first shell 1 and the second shell 2 (see Figure 4 ) is formed on the other side in the width direction of the upper portion of the first shell 1 configuring the second shell receiving portion 12. In the temporary assembled state, the first shell 1 and the second shell 2 are fitted into each other more shallowly than in the fully assembled state, and the second shell 2 (the lance suppressing portion 23 described later) does not suppress the bending deformation of the lance portion 13, thereby not preventing the female terminal 4 from falling off. Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the temporary locking portion 15 has a roughly rectangular frame shape that defines a long hole-shaped temporary locking opening 15a extending in the front-to-rear direction, and includes a pair of cantilevered temporary locking arm portions 15b and 15b that are parallel to each other and extend linearly forward, and a temporary locking piece 15c that is configured to connect the distal ends of the pair of temporary locking arm portions 15b and 15b to each other and be capable of being locked to a temporary locking protrusion 25 (described later) of the second shell 2.

[0035] That is, Figure 4 As shown, when the second shell 2 is to be fitted into the first shell 1, the pair of temporary locking arm portions 15b and 15b of the temporary locking portion 15 bend and deform upward, causing the temporary locking piece 15c to move over the temporary locking protrusion 25 (described later) of the second shell 2 to lock to the rear end portion of the temporary locking protrusion 25, thereby maintaining the first shell 1 and the second shell 2 in a temporary assembled state in which they are fitted into each other more shallowly than in a fully assembled state and the female terminal 4 is not prevented from falling off by the lance inhibitor 23 (described later).

[0036] In this temporary assembly state, Figure 4As shown, the temporary locking piece 15c moves over the temporary locking protrusion 25 (described later) of the second shell 2 and is immediately locked to the rear end of the temporary locking protrusion 25, thereby preventing the second shell 2 from falling off from the first shell 1. Figure 5 As shown, the complete locking piece 14c contacts the front end of the complete locking projection 24 (described later) of the second housing 2 just before moving over the complete locking projection 24, thereby not preventing the female terminal 4 from falling off by the lance suppressing portion 23 described later.

[0037] The second shell 2 is formed integrally of a synthetic resin material having insulating properties and includes Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, there are a busbar holding portion 21 for accommodating and holding the base 51 of the busbar 5, a rectangular plate-like top plate portion 22 connected to the upper portion of the busbar holding portion 21 and extending forward in parallel with the male terminal 52 of the busbar 5, a lance suppressing portion 23 that is tapered at the distal end portion (front end portion) of the top plate portion 22 and suppresses bending deformation of the lance portion 13 of the first shell 1, and a completely locking protrusion (corresponding to the locked portion according to the present disclosure) 24 and a temporarily locking protrusion (corresponding to the temporarily locked portion according to the present disclosure) 25 that are arranged in parallel along the width direction on the upper surface of the top plate portion 22.

[0038] like Figure 2 As shown, the busbar holding portion 21 has a recess 21a having a substantially rectangular cross-section and opening forward, and the base 51 of the busbar 5 is press-fitted into the recess 21a, so that the busbar 5 is accommodated and held in a state where the distal end side of the male terminal 52 faces outward (forward).

[0039] like Figures 4 to 6 As shown, the top plate portion 22 extends linearly forward to the vicinity of the distal end of the male terminal 52, thereby covering the upper side of the busbar 5. Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, a pair of guide grooves 26 for guiding the second shell 2 to fit into the first shell 1 are formed on both sides of the second shell 2 between the top plate portion 22 and the busbar holding portion 21. The pair of guide grooves 26 engage with a pair of linear guide rails 16 formed on both sides of the second shell receiving portion 12 to guide the second shell 2 to fit into the first shell 1.

[0040] In the fully assembled state, with the fully locking projection 24 locked to the fully locking portion 14, the lance suppressing portion 23 is inserted into the lance deformation space SP, which is intended to receive the upward deformation of the lance portion 13 of the first housing 1. Specifically, in this fully assembled state, the lance suppressing portion 23, inserted into the lance suppression space SP, contacts the upper portion of the lance portion 13, suppressing bending deformation of the lance portion 13. Thus, the state in which the lance portion 13 is locked to the rear end edge of the terminal connecting portion 42 of the female terminal 4 is maintained, and the female terminal 4 is prevented from falling out.

[0041] The lance suppressing portion 23 is allowed to enter the lance deformation space SP only when the lance portion 13 is locked to the rear end edge of the terminal connecting portion 42 of the female terminal 4, that is, when the lance portion 13 is not deformed upward. In other words, when the female terminal 4 is not fully inserted into the first housing 1, the lance portion 13 moves onto the terminal connecting portion 42 of the female terminal 4, and the lance suppressing portion 23 interferes with the lance portion 13, thereby suppressing its entry into the lance deformation space SP. With this configuration, the lance suppressing portion 23 has the function of detecting insufficient insertion of the female terminal 4 and, in the fully assembled state, ensuring that the female terminal 4 is properly inserted into the first housing 1, in which the lance suppressing portion 23 enters the lance deformation space SP and can suppress bending deformation of the lance portion 13.

[0042] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the complete locking projection 24 has a substantially rectangular block shape and is formed integrally with the top plate portion 22. Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the front end portion of the complete locking projection 24 is formed with a complete locking tapered portion 24a configured as an inclined surface (tapered surface) in which the height dimension T1 of the complete locking projection 24 gradually decreases forward. Due to the complete locking tapered portion 24a, the complete locking portion 14 (complete locking piece 14c) can be relatively easily lifted along the complete locking tapered portion 24a, and the complete locking portion 14 can be easily locked to the complete locking projection 24 with relatively little pressure.

[0043] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the temporary locking protrusion 25 has a substantially rectangular sheet shape and is formed integrally with the top plate portion 22. Figure 4 As shown, the front end portion of the temporary locking protrusion 25 is formed with a temporary locking tapered portion 25a configured as an inclined surface (tapered surface) in which the height dimension T2 of the temporary locking protrusion 25 gradually decreases forward. Through the temporary locking tapered portion 25a, the temporary locking portion 15 (temporary locking piece 15c) is relatively easily lifted along the temporary locking tapered portion 25a, and the temporary locking portion 15 can be easily locked to the temporary locking protrusion 25 with relatively small pressure.

[0044] On the rear end edge of the top plate portion 22, at positions facing the corners on both sides in the width direction of the fully locking portion 14 in the insertion direction of the second shell 2, a first protrusion 27a and a second protrusion 27b are provided as a pair of protrusions. The first protrusion 27a and the second protrusion 27b are provided outside the fully locking protrusion 24 in the width direction of the second shell 2, and are spaced apart from each other in the fully assembled state so as to be close to the fully locking portion 14, and have a relatively small gap X between them and the fully locking portion 14 (see FIG. Figure 6), and are arranged to have the same height as the completely locked portion 14 (completely locked piece 14c). That is, the first protrusion 27a and the second protrusion 27b are arranged close to and facing both sides of the distal end of the completely locked portion 14 (both ends of the completely locked piece 14c), thereby preventing external forces acting on the outside of the second shell 2 (which can cause the completely locked portion 14 to lift up) from directly acting on both sides of the distal end of the completely locked portion 14 (particularly, the lower end edges of both sides of the distal end of the completely locked portion 14).

[0045] like Figure 7 As shown, the second housing 2 is formed with a sacrificial pressing surface 28 for preventing accidental complete assembly of the first and second housings 1 and 2 due to external forces generated when transporting the connector CN1 in a provisionally assembled state. Sacrificial pressing surface 28 is provided at the rear end of the second housing 2. This is the position where external forces acting on the connector CN1 facilitate the formation of the fully assembled state through the principle of leverage. The rear end is located farther from the fully locking projection 24, which serves as the point of application of the external forces, in the direction of insertion of the second housing 2 and is located on the side opposite the fully locking projection 24 in the direction of insertion of the second housing 2.

[0046] Each sacrificial pressing surface 28 has a normal vector N that is not orthogonal to the insertion direction of the second shell 2, and is configured as a flat surface that generates pressure in a direction in which the contact area of the full locking protrusion 24 relative to the full locking portion 14 (full locking piece 14c) increases compared to the case where the second shell 2 is pressed in the insertion direction. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the second shell 2 is configured as a pair of flat surfaces formed by chamfering the corners on both sides of the lower end portion of the second shell 2. For example, the present embodiment discloses that the sharp angle θ of the angle formed between the sacrificial pressing surface 28 and the horizontal plane H along the insertion direction of the second shell 2 is set to 45°, and the slight sharp angle θ of the angle formed between the sacrificial pressing surface 28 and the horizontal plane H is preferably set to be less than or equal to 45°.

[0047] The female terminal 4 is integrally formed of a predetermined conductive metal material and includes a wire connecting portion 41 that is clamped onto the exposed core wire portion 32 obtained by removing a portion of the covering portion 31 at the distal end of the wire 3, and a terminal connecting portion 42 having a generally rectangular tubular shape that is integrally provided on the distal end side of the wire connecting portion 41 and is engaged with the male terminal 52 to be connected to the male terminal 52.

[0048] The busbar 5 is integrally formed by punching a conductive metal plate, and in particular, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, it includes a base portion 51 formed in a strip shape in the width direction and press-fitted and held in the busbar holding portion 21 of the second housing 2 , and a plurality (four in this embodiment) of male terminals 52 extending parallel to each other from the front end portion of the base portion 51 .

[0049] (Functions and Effects of This Embodiment)

[0050] Hereinafter, the functions and effects of the connector CN1 of this embodiment will be described in detail.

[0051] In the case of prior art connectors, such as Figure 10 As shown, when an external force acts on the second shell 102 during the transportation of the connector 100, the second shell 102 is pushed into the recess 101b, and the first shell 101 and the second shell 102 may be accidentally assembled. Therefore, after the second shell 102 is pulled out and returned to the temporary assembled state at the transportation destination of the connector 100, a complicated assembly operation such as inserting a terminal fitting (not shown) into the first shell 101 is forcibly performed, so there is still room for improvement.

[0052] On the contrary, according to the connector CN1 of the present embodiment, in the second shell 2, a sacrificial pressing surface 28 in the form of a flat surface is provided at the end portion on the side opposite to the complete locking protrusion 24 in the insertion direction of the second shell 2, wherein the end portion is a position at which a larger pressure in the insertion direction of the second shell 2 can be easily generated relative to the second shell 2 by the principle of leverage, thereby allowing pressure to be applied in a direction in which the contact area of the complete locking protrusion 24 relative to the complete locking portion 14 (complete locking piece 14c) is increased compared to when the second shell 2 is pressed in the insertion direction.

[0053] With this configuration, when external force acts on the second shell 2 during transport of the provisionally assembled connector CN1, the sacrificial pressing surface 28 receives the external force at the rear end of the second shell 2, where a relatively large pressure in the insertion direction of the second shell 2 is easily generated relative to the second shell 2 by the principle of leverage. Therefore, the external force acting on the sacrificial pressing surface 28 causes pressure to act in a direction that increases the contact area of the fully locking protrusion 24 with the fully locking portion 14 (fully locking tab 14c) based on the perpendicular component of the normal vector N, making it difficult for the fully locking portion 14 (fully locking tab 14c) to move past the fully locking protrusion 24. Consequently, it is possible to prevent problems that may arise from the external force acting on the second shell 2 during transport of the provisionally assembled connector CN1, causing the fully assembled state of the first and second shells 1 and 2 to be accidentally affected.

[0054] In the present embodiment, the sacrificial pressing surface 28 is configured by a pair of flat surfaces formed at corners on both sides of the lower end portion of the rear end portion of the second shell 2 .

[0055] In this way, the sacrificial pressing surface 28 is arranged at the corners on both sides of the width direction of the second shell 2 which are relatively easily subject to external forces and are relatively far away from the full locking protrusion 24, thereby more effectively preventing the problem of the fully assembled state of the first shell 1 and the second shell 2 being accidentally caused by external forces applied to the second shell 2.

[0056] In addition, by setting a sacrificial pressing surface 28 at the corners on both sides of the lower end portion of the rear end portion of the second shell 2, there is an advantage that the influence of the sacrificial pressing surface 28 on the outer shape of the second shell 2 can be relatively small, and the sacrificial pressing surface 28 is not easily suppressed by the outer shape of the second shell 2.

[0057] Even when a pair of sacrificial pressing surfaces 28 are corners on both sides of the rear end portion of the second shell 2, when a pair of sacrificial pressing surfaces 28 are arranged at the corners on both sides of the upper end portion opposite to the present embodiment, the external force acting on the sacrificial pressing surfaces 28 acts in a direction in which the contact area of the full locking protrusion 24 relative to the full locking portion 14 (full locking piece 14c) is reduced, and the full locking portion 14 (full locking piece 14c) easily moves over the full locking protrusion 24, which is inappropriate.

[0058] In the present embodiment, the minute angle θ formed between the sacrificial pressing surface 28 and the horizontal plane H along the insertion direction of the second shell 2 is set to be equal to or less than 45°.

[0059] In this manner, since the slight angle θ formed between the sacrificial pressing surface 28 and the horizontal plane H along the insertion direction of the second shell 2 is set to be equal to or less than 45°, the external force acting on the sacrificial pressing surface 28 acts in a direction that relatively greatly increases the contact area of the complete locking protrusion 24 with the complete locking portion 14 (complete locking piece 14c). Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent the problem of the complete assembly state of the first shell 1 and the second shell 2 being inadvertently configured by the external force acting on the second shell 2.

[0060] Furthermore, in this embodiment, by providing the temporary locking portion 15 (temporary locking piece 15c) and the temporary locking protrusion 25 that configure the temporary assembled state of the first shell 1 and the second shell 2, it is possible to maintain a certain temporary assembled state of the first shell 1 and the second shell 2 when transporting the connector CN1. Therefore, the connector CN1 can be transported satisfactorily, the first shell 1 and the second shell 2 can be quickly brought into a completely assembled state at the transport destination, and the workability associated with the complete assembly work can be improved.

[0061] In the present embodiment, a completely locking tapered portion 24 a is formed at the front end portion of the completely locking protrusion 24 and is inclined such that the height dimension of the completely locking protrusion 24 gradually decreases forward.

[0062] In this manner, since the fully locking tapered portion 24a is provided, which is inclined so that the height dimension T1 of the fully locking projection 24 gradually decreases forward, the vertical component of the external force acting on the sacrificial pressing surface 28 causes the rear end of the second shell 2 to lift, and the fully locking projection 24 to rise forward. Consequently, the fully locking tapered portion 24a and the fully locking portion 14 (fully locking tab 14c) approach each other in parallel, and the contact area of the fully locking tapered portion 24a with the fully locking portion 14 (fully locking tab 14c) increases. Consequently, it becomes more difficult for the fully locking portion 14 (fully locking tab 14c) to move past the fully locking projection 24, and it is possible to more effectively prevent the fully assembled state of the first and second shells 1 and 2 from being accidentally affected by external forces acting on the second shell 2 during transport of the provisionally assembled connector CN1.

[0063] [Second embodiment]

[0064] Figure 8 and Figure 9 A second embodiment of a connector according to the present disclosure is shown. In this embodiment, the configuration of the sacrificial pressing surface 28 according to the first embodiment is modified, and the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.

[0065] like Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, in the connector CN2 according to the present embodiment, the sacrificial pressing surface 28 is provided continuously on one side of the lower end edge of the rear end portion of the second shell 2, thereby extending in the width direction of the second shell 2, rather than being provided at corners on both sides of the lower end portion of the rear end portion of the second shell 2. In other words, in the connector CN2 according to the present embodiment, the lower end edge of the rear end portion of the second shell 2 is chamfered in the width direction to form the entire sacrificial pressing surface 28 that is continuous in the width direction of the second shell 2.

[0066] As described above, the sacrificial pressing surface 28 is continuously provided at the lower end edge of the rear end portion of the second shell 2 over a relatively wide range along the entire side extending in the width direction of the second shell 2. Therefore, external force is easily applied to the sacrificial pressing surface 28 by increasing the area of the sacrificial pressing surface 28. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent the complete assembly of the first shell 1 and the second shell 2 from being accidentally formed due to external force acting on the second shell 2 during the process of transporting the connector CN2 in a temporarily assembled state.

[0067] The present disclosure is not limited to the configurations described in the embodiments and can be freely changed according to the specifications of an application object and the like without departing from the essence of the present disclosure.

[0068] Specifically, for example, while each of the above-described embodiments describes a mode in which the fully locking portion 14 and the temporarily locking portion 15 are provided in the first shell 1 and the fully locking protrusion 24 and the temporarily locking protrusion 25 are provided on the second shell 2e, the fully locking protrusion 24 and the temporarily locking protrusion 25 may be provided on the first shell 1 and the fully locking portion 14 and the temporarily locking portion 15 may be provided in the second shell 2e. That is, even if the fully locking portion 14 and the temporarily locking portion 15, as well as the fully locking protrusion 24 and the temporarily locking protrusion 25, are configured opposite to those in the above-described embodiments, the contact area between the fully locking portion 14 and the fully locking protrusion 24 is increased by the external force acting on the sacrificial pressing surface 28. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the problem of the fully assembled state of the first shell 1 and the second shell 2 being accidentally reassembled by the external force acting on the second shell 2e.

[0069] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a connector (CN1, CN2) comprises: a first shell (1) which accommodates a terminal fitting (4); a second shell (2) which is inserted into the first shell (1) to be fitted into the first shell (1) and to suppress the terminal fitting (4) accommodated in the first shell (1) from falling out; a locked portion (24) which is provided on the second shell (2); a locking portion (14) which is flexibly and deformably provided in the first shell (1) and becomes deformably bent as the first shell (1) and the second shell (2) are fitted with each other, thereby fitting with the locked portion (24) to move over the locked portion (24), thereby forming a fully assembled state in which the falling out of the terminal fitting (4) is suppressed; and a sacrificial pressing surface (28) which is provided in the second shell (2) and is a flat surface formed at the end on the side opposite to the insertion direction of the second shell (2). In a temporary assembly state in which the second shell (2) is fitted into the first shell (1) more shallowly than in the fully assembled state and the locking portion (14) is not locked to the locked portion (24), when an external force acts on the second shell (2), the sacrificial pressing surface (28) is constructed to cause pressure to act in a direction in which the contact area of the locked portion (24) relative to the locking portion (14) is larger than that in a state in which the second shell (2) is pressed along the insertion direction.

[0070] According to the first aspect, in the second shell, a flat surface-shaped sacrificial pressing surface is provided at the end portion on the side opposite to the locked portion in the insertion direction of the second shell, and the end portion is at a position where a greater pressure in the insertion direction of the second shell is easily generated relative to the second shell by the principle of leverage, thereby applying pressure in a direction in which the contact area of the locked portion relative to the locking portion increases compared to the case where the second shell is pressed in its insertion direction.

[0071] Therefore, when external force acts on the second shell during transport of the provisionally assembled connector, the sacrificial pressing surface receives the external force, particularly at the rear end of the second shell, in the insertion direction. At this rear end, a significant pressure in the insertion direction of the second shell is easily generated relative to the second shell by the principle of leverage. Consequently, the external force acting on the sacrificial pressing surface causes pressure to act in a direction that increases the contact area of the locked portion relative to the locking portion, and the locking portion is less likely to move past the locked portion. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the fully assembled state of the first and second shells from being accidentally affected by external force acting on the second shell during transport of the provisionally assembled connector.

[0072] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, the second shell (2) can be formed so that the end of the second shell (2) on the side opposite to the locked portion (24) in the insertion direction has a substantially rectangular shape, and the sacrificial pressing surface (28) can be arranged at corners on both sides along the width direction of the second shell (2) at the end of the rectangular shape.

[0073] According to the second aspect, the sacrificial pressing surface is arranged at the corners on both sides along the width direction of the second shell, which is relatively susceptible to external force and is located relatively far away from the locked part, thereby more effectively preventing the problem of accidental external force applied to the second shell in the fully assembled state of the first shell and the second shell.

[0074] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, the second shell (2) can be formed so that the end of the second shell (2) on the side opposite to the locked portion (24) in the insertion direction has a substantially rectangular shape, and the sacrificial pressing surface (28) can be continuously arranged on one side of the end of the rectangular shape to extend along the width direction of the second shell (2) at the end of the rectangular shape.

[0075] According to the third aspect, because the sacrificial pressing surface is provided over a relatively wide area along the entire side extending in the width direction of the second shell, external forces generated during transport of the connector are more likely to act on the sacrificial pressing surface. Consequently, it is possible to more effectively prevent the fully assembled first and second shells from being accidentally damaged by external forces acting on the second shell during transport of the provisionally assembled connector.

[0076] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the sacrificial pressing surface (28) can be designed so that an angle (θ) formed between the sacrificial pressing surface (28) and a horizontal plane along the insertion direction of the second shell (2) is set to be less than or equal to 45 degrees.

[0077] According to the fourth aspect, since the slight angle formed between the sacrificial pressing surface and a horizontal plane along the insertion direction of the second shell is set to 45° or less, the external force acting on the sacrificial pressing surface acts in a direction that relatively greatly increases the contact area of the locked portion with the locking portion. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent the second shell from being inadvertently brought into a fully assembled state due to external force acting on the second shell.

[0078] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the connector (CN1, CN2) may further include: a temporarily locked portion (25) provided on the second shell (2); and a temporarily locked portion (15) flexibly and deformably provided in the first shell (1), and being able to deform and bend along the first shell (1) and the second shell (2) that are engaged with each other to engage with the temporarily locked portion (25) to move over the temporarily locked portion (25), thereby constituting the temporary assembled state in which the locking portion (14) is maintained in a state before the locking portion (14) is about to be locked to the locked portion (24) while the falling off of the second shell (2) relative to the first shell (1) is suppressed.

[0079] According to the fifth aspect, by providing a temporary locking portion and a temporarily locked portion that establish a temporary assembled state of the first and second shells, it is possible to maintain a certain temporary assembled state of the first and second shells during transportation of the connector. Consequently, the connector can be satisfactorily transported, the first and second shells can be quickly and completely assembled at the destination, and the workability associated with the complete assembly work can be improved.

[0080] According to the present disclosure, when an external force acts on the second shell during the process of transporting the connector in a temporarily assembled state, the sacrificial pressing surface receives the external force in the insertion direction, particularly at the rear end portion of the second shell, where a large pressure in the insertion direction of the second shell is easily generated relative to the second shell by the lever principle. Therefore, the external force acting on the sacrificial pressing surface causes pressure to act in a direction that increases the contact area of the locked portion relative to the locking portion, and the locking portion is less likely to move past the locked portion. Therefore, the problem of the fully assembled state of the first shell and the second shell being inadvertently being constructed by the external force acting on the second shell during the process of transporting the connector in a temporarily assembled state can be prevented.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising: a first housing accommodating a terminal fitting; a second housing inserted into the first housing to be fitted into the first housing and to suppress the terminal fitting accommodated in the first housing from falling out; a locked portion provided on one side in the height direction of the second shell; a locking portion flexibly and deformably provided in the first housing and deformably bent as the first housing and the second housing are fitted with each other, thereby fitting with the locked portion to move past the locked portion, thereby forming a completely assembled state in which the terminal fitting is suppressed from falling out; as well as a sacrificial pressing surface provided on the other side of the second shell in the height direction and located at an end away from the first shell, and being a flat surface formed at an end on the side opposite to the insertion direction of the second shell, the sacrificial pressing surface being inclined relative to the insertion direction, the insertion direction being perpendicular to the height direction, wherein The locking portion has a contact surface, and the locked portion has a tapered surface inclined relative to the contact surface, wherein In a temporary assembly state in which the second shell is more shallowly fitted into the first shell than in the fully assembled state and the locking part is not locked to the locked part, when an external force acts on the second shell, the sacrificial pressing surface receives the external force at the end of the second shell, and the external force generates a pressure component in a direction perpendicular to the sacrificial pressing surface at the sacrificial pressing surface. The sacrificial pressing surface is constructed so that the pressure component of the external force moves the second shell in a direction intersecting with the insertion direction, and so that the tapered surface and the contact surface approach each other in parallel, so that the contact area of the locked part relative to the locking part is larger than the contact area when the second shell is pressed along the insertion direction.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the second shell is formed so that an end portion of the second shell on the side opposite to the locked portion in the insertion direction has a substantially rectangular shape, and The sacrificial pressing surfaces are provided at corners on both sides in the width direction of the second shell at the end portions of the rectangular shape.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the second shell is formed so that an end portion of the second shell on the side opposite to the locked portion in the insertion direction has a substantially rectangular shape, and The sacrificial pressing surface is continuously provided on one side of the end portion of the rectangular shape at the end portion of the rectangular shape to extend in a width direction of the second case.

4. The connector according to claim 2 or 3, wherein The sacrificial pressing surface is designed so that an angle formed between the sacrificial pressing surface and a horizontal plane along the insertion direction of the second shell is set to be equal to or less than 45 degrees.

5. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a temporarily locked portion provided on the second shell; as well as A temporary locking portion is flexibly and deformably arranged in the first shell and is engaged with the temporarily locked portion so as to move over the temporarily locked portion by becoming deformably bent as the first shell and the second shell are engaged with each other, thereby forming the temporary assembled state, in which the locking portion is maintained in a state before the locking portion is about to be locked to the locked portion while the falling off of the second shell relative to the first shell is suppressed.

6. The connector according to claim 4, further comprising: a temporarily locked portion provided on the second shell; as well as A temporary locking portion is flexibly and deformably arranged in the first shell and is engaged with the temporarily locked portion so as to move over the temporarily locked portion by becoming deformably bent as the first shell and the second shell are engaged with each other, thereby forming the temporary assembled state, in which the locking portion is maintained in a state before the locking portion is about to be locked to the locked portion while the falling off of the second shell relative to the first shell is suppressed.

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