Shielding member and shielding connector

Abstract

A shield member is attached to a shield case by a fastening member. The shield member includes a first plate portion provided with an electric wire insertion port protruding in a first direction, and a second plate portion formed by bending an end portion of the first plate portion toward a second direction opposite to the first direction. The second plate portion includes a first end and a second end along a cross direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, a fastening hole provided at the first end and the second end, and a protruding portion provided at the first end and protruding toward the first direction. The first end and the second end are offset from each other in a plate thickness direction of the second plate portion. In the first direction and the second direction, a length of the protruding portion is longer than a length of the second plate portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a shielding component and a shielding connector. Background Technology

[0002] Existing shielded connectors include: a wire with terminals connected to the ends of the wire, a wire insertion port through which the power supply line is inserted, a braid covering the wire, and a shielding shell, which is fitted to a housing having the wire insertion port and is conductively connected to the braid. For example, one existing shielded connector includes a pair of wires, a braided conductor covering the pair of wires, a wire insertion hole disposed in a housing through which the pair of wires are inserted, and a shielding shell fitted to the housing (e.g., see patent document JP2020-087582A). In this shielded connector, the braided conductor is covered to collectively cover the pair of wires, including the wire insertion hole, and the braided conductor is conductively connected to the shielding shell.

[0003] Typically, when braiding is applied to multiple wires, as in prior art shielded connectors, the braid is applied to collectively cover all wires. However, considering shielding performance, it is preferable to apply braiding to each individual wire. In this way, from an operability standpoint, it is preferable to form a wire insertion port (wire insertion hole) for each wire, and this wire insertion port is formed independently of the housing.

[0004] When the wire insertion port is constructed as described above, for example, the component with the wire insertion port (hereinafter also referred to as the "wire pull-out component") is attached to the shielding shell, thereby facilitating the conductive connection between the braid and the shielding shell. In this construction, simply assembling the wire pull-out component and the shielding shell results in an increase in the size of the shielding connector. Therefore, by assembling adjacent wire pull-out components to the shielding shell in an overlapping manner, it is possible to suppress the increase in the size of the shielding connector, and thus it is possible to reduce the size of the shielding connector. As an example, when the wire pull-out component and the shielding shell are fastened by fastening components, the fastening holes of adjacent wire pull-out components overlap, so that adjacent wire pull-out components are fastened together to the shielding shell.

[0005] From the viewpoint of reducing the size of the shielded connector, it is preferable that the overlapping portions of two adjacent wire pull-out parts are offset from each other, and the size of the shielded connector can be reduced in the overlapping direction of the wire pull-out parts by being constructed in such a way. For example, when adjacent wire pull-out parts overlap in the vertical direction, the portion located on the lower side can be offset downwards (so-called sinking), or the portion located on the upper side can be offset upwards (so-called floating).

[0006] However, when the order in which the wire pull-out components are assembled (i.e., overlapped) to the shielding shell is incorrect, the position of the overlap differs from the initial position. In this state, when the wire pull-out components and the shielding shell are fastened by fastening components, deformation of the overlap or loosening of the fastening components may occur. Summary of the Invention

[0007] An exemplary aspect of this disclosure provides a shielding component and a shielding connector that prevents the shielding component from being incorrectly assembled into a shielding housing.

[0008] According to an exemplary aspect of the subject matter of this disclosure, a shielding member is configured to be attached to a shielding shell by means of a fastening member. The shielding member includes: a first plate portion having a wire insertion port projecting along a first direction; and a second plate portion formed by bending an end of the first plate portion toward a second direction opposite to the first direction. The second plate portion includes: a first end and a second end along an intersecting direction that intersects the first and second directions; a fastening hole provided at each of the first and second ends, and a fastening member configured to pass through the fastening hole; and a protrusion provided at the first end and projecting toward the first direction. The second plate portion is configured such that the first end and the second end are offset from each other in the thickness direction of the second plate portion. The length of the protrusion along the first and second directions is longer than the length of the second plate portion along the first and second directions.

[0009] Other aspects and advantages of this disclosure will become more apparent from the following description, drawings and claims. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a shielded connector according to an embodiment of the subject matter of this disclosure;

[0011] Figure 2 This shows an incorrect assembly of the shielded connector, and is a front view before the wire shielding components and shielding wires are attached to the shielding housing;

[0012] Figure 3 This shows an incorrect assembly of the shielded connector, and is a front view of the process of assembling the wire shielding components and shielding wires into the shielding housing;

[0013] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Enlarged view of the main parts;

[0014] Figure 5A This is a perspective view of a wire shielding component according to an embodiment of the subject matter of this disclosure. Figure 5B yes Figure 5A The front view from the rear, and Figure 5C yes Figure 5A A top-view frontal view; and

[0015] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of a shielded connector according to another embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0016] In the following description, an embodiment of the wire shielding component 3 and a shielding connector 1 according to the subject matter of this disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The wire shielding component 3 corresponds to the term "shielding component" in the subject matter of this disclosure.

[0017] For ease of description, the following is as follows: Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, the terms "front-back direction," "up-down direction," "left-right direction," "front," "back," "up," "down," "left," and "right" are defined. The "front-back direction," "up-down direction," and "left-right direction" are perpendicular to each other. The front-back direction corresponds to the "predetermined direction" of this disclosure. The rear side in the front-back direction corresponds to the "protruding side of the wire insertion port 25" of this disclosure, and the front side in the front-back direction corresponds to the "opposite side of the protruding side of the wire insertion port 25" of this disclosure. The up-down direction corresponds to the "thickness direction of the second plate portion 22" of this disclosure. The left-right direction corresponds to the "intersecting direction" of this disclosure. In this embodiment, the left side corresponds to the "one side" of this disclosure, and the right side corresponds to the "other side" of this disclosure.

[0018] like Figure 1 As shown, the shielded connector 1 includes a shielded housing 2 that houses electronic components, a pair of wire shielding components 3 that are connected to the shielded housing 2, and a pair of shielded wires 4.

[0019] A pair of shielded wires 4 includes: a pair of wires 6 equipped with terminals, which are inserted through the wire insertion port 25 of the wire shielding member 3; and a pair of braids 5, which are wrapped around the wires 6b of the wires 6 equipped with terminals and are conductively connected to the shielding shell 2 via the wire shielding member 3. Each wire 6 equipped with terminals includes a wire 6b and a terminal portion 6a conductively connected to the front end of the wire 6b.

[0020] First, the shielding shell 2 will be described. The shielding shell 2 is made of conductive material, and the braid 5 of the shielding wire 4 is grounded via the wire shielding component 3. For example... Figures 1 to 3 (in particular Figure 2 As shown in the figure, the shielding shell 2 has an outer shell 11 that houses electronic components and the like inside.

[0021] The housing 11 is box-shaped, including a bottom wall on the lower side in the vertical direction and a peripheral wall standing upright from the bottom wall, and has an opening on the upper side. A pair of mounting parts 12 are provided at the rear end of the housing 11, to which the wire shielding member 3 is attached.

[0022] Each mounting portion 12 includes a cutout portion 12a and a mounting portion 12b. The cutout portion 12a is formed by cutting off the rear peripheral wall of the housing 11 to open rearward, and the mounting portion 12b has an upper end surface that is located on a plane substantially the same as the opening surface of the housing 11. The mounting portion 12b is located at the rear ends of the left and right peripheral walls and between a pair of cutout portions 12a. A fastening hole 14 that is recessed downward in the vertical direction is provided on the upper end surface of the mounting portion 12b. As will be described later, in the shielding shell 2, the fastening member 8 is inserted into the fastening hole 14 of the mounting portion 12 and the fastening hole 24 of the wire shielding member 3, and the shielding shell 2 and the shielding member 3 are fastened and fixed.

[0023] The shielding housing 2 has a pair of wire receiving portions 13 and a pair of terminal connecting portions 15 within the outer casing 11. Each wire receiving portion 13 receives the front portion of the wire 6b of the terminal-equipped wire 6 inserted into the wire shielding component 3. The terminal portion 6a of the terminal-equipped wire 6 is securely fixed and electrically connected to the terminal connecting portion 15. The shielding housing 2 has been described above.

[0024] Next, the wire shielding component 3 will be described. The wire shielding component 3 is made of conductive material, is attached to the shielding shell 2, and is electrically connected to the shielding shell 2 and the braid 5.

[0025] like Figures 5A to 5C As shown, the wire shielding component 3 includes: a first plate portion 21 having a wire insertion port 25; and a second plate portion 22 formed by bending the upper end of the first plate portion 21 toward the front side in the front-rear direction.

[0026] When the wire shielding component 3 is attached to the shielding shell 2, the first plate portion 21 is positioned to correspond to the cutout portion 12a of the attachment portion 12. In other words, the wire shielding component 3 is attached such that the first plate portion 21 closes the opening on the rear side of the outer shell 11 of the shielding shell 2 (i.e., the cutout portion 12a).

[0027] A wire insertion port 25, provided in the first plate portion 21, protrudes rearward (in a first direction) from the rear end surface of the first plate portion 21. The wire insertion port 25 is generally cylindrical, and a wire 6 fitted with a terminal passes through the wire insertion port 25 as described above. As described later, a braid 5 covering the wire 6b is attached to the outer periphery of the wire insertion port 25.

[0028] As described above, the second plate portion 22 is formed by bending the upper end of the first plate portion 21 toward the front side (second direction) in the front-rear direction. The second plate portion 22 is provided with fastening holes 24 at both ends in the left-right direction.

[0029] In particular, such as Figure 5BAs shown, the left end (first end) and right end (second end) of the second plate portion 22 are offset from each other in the vertical direction. Specifically, the right end and left end of the second plate portion 22 are offset from the plate thickness (length d) of the second plate portion 22 in the vertical direction. In other words, the right end of the second plate portion 22 is located at a position that is shorter by a length d than the left end.

[0030] A protrusion 23 protruding rearward in the front-rear direction is provided at the left end of the second plate portion 22. Specifically, the protrusion 23 is provided on the upper one (left end in the example) of the left and right ends of the second plate portion 22 that are offset in the vertical direction. The protrusion 23 is formed such that its length L2 in the front-rear direction is longer than its length L1 in the front-rear direction of the second plate portion 22. The wire shielding member 3 has been described above.

[0031] Next, the method for assembling the shielding shell 2 and the wire shielding component 3 will be described. First, refer to... Figure 2 Describe the shape of the wire shielding component 3 before it is installed into the shielding shell 2. Figure 2 The incorrect assembly of the shielding shell 2 and the wire shielding component 3 is shown, but the shape of the wire shielding component 3 is the same.

[0032] In the following description, it is assumed that the second plate portion 22 of the subsequently installed wire shielding component 3 overlaps the upper side of the second plate portion 22 of the previously installed wire shielding component 3. For this reason, the following content is not limited when the second plate portion 22 of the subsequently installed wire shielding component 3 overlaps the lower side of the second plate portion 22 of the previously installed wire shielding component 3.

[0033] like Figure 2 As shown, the wire 6 with terminals of the shielded wire 4 is inserted into the wire insertion port 25 of the wire shielding component 3 in the front-to-back direction. The seal 9 is attached to a portion of the wire 6b on the front side of the wire insertion port 25. When the wire shielding component 3 is attached to the shielding housing 2, the seal 9 is located in the wire receiving portion 13 and prevents water from entering between the wire receiving portion 13 and the wire 6b housed in the wire receiving portion 13.

[0034] The braided material 5 covers the rear side of the wire 6b at the wire insertion port 25. The front end of the braided material 5 covering the wire 6b is also attached to the wire insertion port 25 to cover the outer peripheral surface of the wire insertion port 25. Therefore, the braided material 5 and the wire insertion port 25 (i.e., the wire shielding component 3) are electrically connected.

[0035] The shielding ring 7 is installed (e.g., crimped) to the portion of the braid 5 that is attached to the wire insertion port 25. This portion with the shielding ring 7 installed is arranged radially outward toward the wire insertion port 25 in the order of wire insertion port 25, braid 5, and shielding ring 7.

[0036] The wire shielding component 3, including the shielding wire 4, is attached to the shielding shell 2 in the front-to-back direction. Since, as described above, the right end of the second plate portion 22 is positioned lower than the left end, it is necessary to overlap the left end of the second plate portion 22 of one wire shielding component 3 above the right end of the second plate portion 22 of the adjacent wire shielding component 3. Therefore, in this example, the wire shielding components 3 are sequentially attached to the shielding shell 2 from the left side.

[0037] Move the left-side wire shielding component 3 toward a predetermined position, which is the position where the left-side wire shielding component 3 is attached to the shielding housing 2. When the left-side wire shielding component 3 is positioned at the predetermined position, insert the fastener 8 through the fastening hole 24a and the fastening hole 14a of the shielding housing 2, and fasten and fix the left end of the left-side wire shielding component 3 to the shielding housing 2 (specifically, the mounting part 12b).

[0038] The left-side wire shielding component 3 is moved toward a predetermined position, which is the position where the right-side wire shielding component 3 is attached to the shielding shell 2. When the right-side wire shielding component 3 is positioned at this predetermined position, its left end overlaps the upper side of the right end of the left-side wire shielding component 3. At this time, the fastening holes 24b and 24c of the left-side wire shielding component 3 and the fastening hole 14 of the shielding shell 2 are interconnected in the vertical direction, allowing the fastening component 8 to be inserted through them. That is, the fastening component 8 is inserted through the fastening holes 24b, 24c, and 14b, and the left and right wire shielding components 3 are fastened together to the shielding shell 2.

[0039] Subsequently, the fastening component 8 is inserted through the right-side fastening hole 24 of the right-side wire shielding component 3 and the right-side fastening hole 14 of the shielding shell 2. In this way, multiple (in this example, a pair) wire shielding components 3 are assembled (i.e., fastened and secured) to the shielding shell 2. The method for assembling the shielding shell 2 and the wire shielding components 3 has been described above.

[0040] Next, a structure for preventing the wire shielding component 3 from being incorrectly assembled to the shielding housing 2 will be described. As described above, in the shielded connector 1 according to this embodiment, the wire shielding component 3 is sequentially assembled to the shielding housing 2 from the left side. However, when the wire shielding component 3 is assembled to the shielding housing 2, there is a possibility that the wire shielding component 3 may be incorrectly assembled from the right side.

[0041] In cases where overlapping portions are offset to secure adjacent wire shielding components together, as in this embodiment, if the overlapping portions are secured together in an incorrect overlapping order (e.g., a wire shielding component that is offset and located on the upper side is arranged on the lower side), component deformation or loosening of the fasteners may occur. Incorrect assembly is implemented to prevent these problems from occurring.

[0042] In the following description, it is assumed that the second plate portion 22 of the subsequently installed wire shielding component 3 overlaps the upper side of the second plate portion 22 of the previously installed wire shielding component 3. For this reason, the following content is not limited when the second plate portion 22 of the subsequently installed wire shielding component 3 overlaps the lower side of the second plate portion 22 of the previously installed wire shielding component 3.

[0043] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the shielded connector 1 of this embodiment is configured such that when the right wire shielding component 3 is first installed and then the left wire shielding component 3 is subsequently installed, the left wire shielding component 3 cannot be installed into the shielding shell 2.

[0044] Specifically, when the left wire shielding component 3 is installed after the right wire shielding component 3 has been installed, the right end of the left wire shielding component 3 overlaps the upper side of the left end of the right wire shielding component 3. At this time, the protrusion 23 of the right wire shielding component 3 abuts against the rear end face of the first plate portion 21 of the left wire shielding component 3 (specifically, see...). Figure 4 ).

[0045] Therefore, even if the left-side wire shielding member 3 is to be positioned at a predetermined location, the protrusion 23 of the right-side wire shielding member 3 interferes with the first plate portion 21 of the left-side wire shielding member 3, and thus the left-side wire shielding member 3 cannot be positioned at the predetermined location where it is attached to the shielding housing 2. That is, the fastening member 8 cannot be inserted through the fastening holes 24b, 24c, and 14b. Therefore, incorrect assembly of the wire shielding member 3 to the shielding housing 2 is prevented. The structure for preventing incorrect assembly of the wire shielding member 3 to the shielding housing 2 has been described above.

[0046] In the wire shielding member 3 according to this embodiment, since the left end and right end of the second plate portion 22 are offset in the vertical direction, the right end of the second plate portion of one wire shielding member 3 can overlap with the left end of the second plate portion 22 of another adjacent wire shielding member 3, and the size of the shielding connector 1 in the vertical direction can be prevented from increasing.

[0047] In the shielded connector 1 according to this embodiment, since the second plate portion 22 of the wire shielding member 3 is provided with a protrusion 23, the protrusion 23 interferes with the first plate portion 21 of the adjacent wire shielding member 3. That is, even if multiple wire shielding members 3 are assembled to the shielding shell 2 in an incorrect order (i.e., even if multiple second plate portions 22 overlap in an incorrect order), the wire shielding members 3 cannot be assembled to the shielding shell 2. Therefore, in the shielded connector 1, the incorrect assembly of the wire shielding members 3 to the shielding shell 2 is prevented.

[0048] While the subject matter of this disclosure has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof, the scope of the subject matter of this disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, and those skilled in the art will understand that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the subject matter of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

[0049] In the shielded connector 1 according to this embodiment, a pair of wire shielding components 3 are attached to the shielding shell 2, but as Figure 6 As shown, the three wire shielding components 3 can also be installed onto the shielding housing 2. Figure 6 In the shielded connector 101 shown, three mounting parts are provided in the outer shell 111 of the shielding shell 102.

[0050] According to the aspects of the above embodiments, the shielding component (e.g., wire shielding component 3) is configured to be attached to the shielding shell (2) by means of a fastening component (8). The shielding component includes: a first plate portion (21) having a wire insertion port (25) protruding in a first direction; and a second plate portion (22) formed by bending the end of the first plate portion (21) toward a second direction opposite to the first direction. The second plate portion (22) includes: a first end and a second end in an intersecting direction that intersects the first and second directions; a fastening hole (24) provided at each of the first and second ends, the fastening component (8) being configured to pass through the fastening hole (24); and a protrusion (23) provided at the first end and protruding toward the first direction. The second plate portion (22) is configured such that the first end and the second end are offset from each other in the thickness direction of the second plate portion. The length (L2) of the protrusion (23) along the first and second directions is longer than the length (L1) of the second plate portion along the first and second directions.

[0051] The shielding member having the above-described structure will now be described. The shielding member having this structure includes: a first plate portion having a wire insertion port protruding in a predetermined direction; and a second plate portion formed by bending an end of the first plate portion toward a side opposite to the protruding side of the wire insertion port in the predetermined direction. The second plate portion has fastening holes at both ends in the intersecting direction and is configured such that one end and the other end in the intersecting direction are offset from each other in the thickness direction of the second plate portion. Therefore, for example, when multiple shielding members are attached to a shielding shell, one end of one shielding member can overlap with the other end of another shielding member adjacent to that one shielding member, and an increase in the size of the shielding member and the shielding shell in the thickness direction can be prevented. Furthermore, in the shielding member having this structure, the second plate portion has a protrusion at one end in the intersecting direction, which protrudes toward the same side as the protruding side of the wire insertion port in the predetermined direction, and the length of the protrusion in the predetermined direction is longer than the length of the second plate portion in the predetermined direction. That is, when multiple shielding components are assembled to the shielding shell, one end with the protrusion in the intersecting direction overlaps with the other end of the adjacent shielding component, such that this end is located on the outside. For example, when this end overlaps with the other end of the adjacent shielding component, such that this end is located on the inside, the protrusion interferes with the first plate portion of the adjacent shielding component. In this way, shielding components with this structure can prevent incorrect assembly to the shielding shell.

[0052] The shielded connector (1) may include shielding components (wire shielding component 3) and a shielding shell (2), with multiple shielding components configured to be attached to the shielding shell (2). The first end of the second plate portion (22) of the first shielding component among the multiple shielding components may be configured to overlap the outer side of the second end of the second plate portion (22) of the second shielding component among the multiple shielding components, with the second shielding component adjacent to the first shielding component. When the first end of the first shielding component overlaps the inner side of the second end of the second shielding component, the protrusion (23) of the first shielding component may interfere with the first plate portion (21) of the second shielding component.

[0053] With this configuration, the shielded connector includes the shielding components as described above and a shielding shell to which a plurality of the shielding components are fitted. The shielded connector is configured such that one end of the second plate portion of one shielding component overlaps outwardly with the other end of the second plate portion of another shielding component. That is, in this case, the fastening member can be inserted through fastening holes passing through both the shielding component and the other shielding component. Furthermore, the shielded connector is configured such that when one end of the second plate portion of one shielding component overlaps inwardly with the other end of the second plate portion of another shielding component, the protrusion of one shielding component interferes with the first plate portion of the other shielding component. That is, in this case, the fastening member cannot be inserted through the fastening hole at one end of one shielding component and the fastening hole at the other end of the other shielding component. In this way, in the shielded connector with this configuration, when a shielding component is incorrectly fitted to the shielding shell, the protrusion interferes with the first plate portion of the adjacent shielding component, and thus, incorrect assembly of the shielding component to the shielding shell can be prevented.

[0054] The shielded connector (1) may also include a wire (e.g., a wire 6 with terminals) configured to pass through a wire insertion port (25), the outer periphery of which is covered by a braid (5). The shielding shell (2) and the braid (5) may be configured to be electrically connected to each other via a shielding component (wire shielding component 3).

[0055] With this construction, the shielded connector also includes a wire inserted through a wire insertion port and whose outer periphery is covered by braid, and the shielding shell and the braid are electrically connected via the shielding component. That is, by assembling the shielding component onto the shielding shell, the shielding shell and the braid can be easily electrically connected.

Claims

1. A shielding member configured to be attached to a shielding case by a fastening member, the shielding member comprising: a first plate portion provided with an electric wire insertion port protruding in a first direction; and a second plate portion formed by bending an end portion of the first plate portion toward a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein the second plate portion includes: a first end and a second end along a cross direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, a fastening hole provided at each of the first end and the second end, and the fastening member is configured to be inserted through the fastening hole; and a protruding portion provided to the first end and protruding toward the first direction, wherein the second plate portion is configured such that the first end and the second end are offset from each other in a plate thickness direction of the second plate portion, wherein the second end of the second plate portion is not provided with the protruding portion, and wherein the protruding portion protrudes toward the first direction more than the second end of the second plate portion, so that a length of the protruding portion along the first direction and the second direction is longer than a length of the second end of the second plate portion along the first direction and the second direction.

2. A shielding connector including a shielding case and the shielding member according to claim 1, a plurality of the shielding members being configured to be attached to the shielding case, wherein a first end of the second plate portion of a first shielding member among the plurality of the shielding members being configured to overlap an outer side of a second end of a second plate portion of a second shielding member adjacent to the first shielding member, and wherein the protruding portion of the first shielding member interferes with the first plate portion of the second shielding member when the first end of the first shielding member overlaps an inner side of the second end of the second shielding member.

3. The shielding connector according to claim 2, further comprising: an electric wire configured to be inserted through the electric wire insertion port, an outer circumference of the electric wire being covered by a braid, wherein the shielding case and the braid are configured to be conductively connected to each other via the shielding member.

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