Connector

Abstract

The invention provides a connector provided with a conductive member capable of achieving both strength and easy disassembly. The conductive member (40) has: a fastening part (42) positioned outside the housing (20) and fastened to the fixed part (30); a connection part (43) located inside the housing (20) and connected to the terminal (90); and connecting parts (44, 45) located between the connecting part (43) and the fastening part (42) outside the housing (20). The connecting sections (44, 45) have: a breakable fragile section (44) integrally connected to the connecting section (43) and the fastening section (42); and a reinforcing part (45) which extends from at least one side of the connecting part (43) side and the fastening part (42) side to the other side and is locked to the other side.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] The connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a housing and a metal conductive member mounted on the housing. The conductive member includes a connection portion connected to a female terminal and a grounding portion extending to the outside of the housing and fixed to the vehicle, wherein the female terminal is connected to an electric wire. The conductive member includes a groove in a portion located inside the housing. When dismantling the vehicle, the electric wire led out of the housing is pulled by a crane or the like while the grounding portion is fixed to the vehicle. As a result, the groove is broken (destroyed), and a portion of the conductive member that is closer to the grounding portion than the groove remains in the vehicle, while a portion that is closer to the connection portion than the groove is pulled away from the vehicle together with the electric wire.

[0003] In the case of Patent Document 1, the groove is located inside the housing. Therefore, a relatively small force such as vibration applied to the vehicle when the vehicle is not disassembled is received by the housing and is not directly transmitted to the groove. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the groove from being broken by the relatively small force.

[0004] Patent Document 2 also discloses a technique for removing electric wires and the like from a vehicle. In addition, the conductive member of Patent Document 1 is a terminal called a ground terminal. Patent Documents 3 and 4 also disclose such ground terminals. Prior art literature Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-73925 Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-203687 Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-103192 Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-113255 Summary of the invention Problems to be solved by the invention

[0006] However, unlike Patent Document 1, the groove may be located outside the housing depending on the design of the connector. If a fragile portion such as the groove is located outside the housing, the fragile portion may be accidentally broken by a relatively small force such as vibration applied to the vehicle, and some countermeasures are required.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector including a conductive member that can achieve both strength and easy disassembly. Solutions to Solve Problems

[0008] The connector of the present invention comprises a shell and a metal conductive component mounted on the shell, the conductive component comprising: a fastening portion, located outside the shell and fastened to a fixing portion; a connecting portion, located inside the shell and connected to a terminal; and a connecting portion, located outside the shell between the connecting portion and the fastening portion, the connecting portion comprising: a breakable fragile portion, connected to the connecting portion and the fastening portion, respectively; and a reinforcing portion, extending from at least one side of the connecting portion side and the fastening portion side toward the other side, and being locked to the other side. Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector including a conductive member that can achieve both strength and easy disassembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the connector in Embodiment 1 of the present invention as viewed from an oblique upper rear side. Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector. Figure 3 is a top view of the rear of the connector. Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional view of the housing body viewed from the upper front. Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional view of the shell body viewed from the upper rear. Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the conductive member viewed from the front and obliquely below. Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional view of the conductive member viewed from the upper rear obliquely. Figure 8 It is a perspective view showing an enlarged locked state of the first locking portion and the first locked portion. Fig. 9 It is a perspective view showing an enlarged locked state of the second locking portion and the second locked portion. Fig.10 This is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the leading end portion of the extending portion in the extending direction is fitted into the receiving portion. Fig.11 This is a perspective view of a portion of the conductive member remaining in the vehicle after the vehicle is disassembled, as viewed from diagonally above and rearward. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] [Description of Embodiments of the Invention] First, embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of examples. The connector of the present invention, (1) A housing and a metal conductive member mounted on the housing, the conductive member comprising: a fastening portion located outside the housing and fastened to a fixing portion; a connecting portion located inside the housing and connected to a terminal; and a connecting portion located outside the housing between the connecting portion and the fastening portion, the connecting portion comprising: a breakable fragile portion connected to the connecting portion and the fastening portion, respectively; and a reinforcing portion extending from at least one side of the connecting portion and the fastening portion toward the other side and being locked to the other side.

[0012] For example, when a vehicle equipped with a connector is dismantled, if a relatively large force is applied to the conductive member, the locking between the reinforcing portion and the other side (the other side of the reinforcing portion) is released, and the fragile portion is broken (destroyed). As a result, the portion of the conductive member on the fastening portion side remains on the fixing portion side, and the portion on the connecting portion side is pulled away from the fixing portion side. On the other hand, when a relatively small force is applied to the conductive member, for example when the connector is mounted on a vehicle or when the vehicle is traveling, the force is dispersed to the reinforced portion in addition to the fragile portion, thereby preventing the fragile portion from accidentally breaking.

[0013] (2) In the connector described in (1) above, preferably, the connecting portion is located in front of and above the fastening portion, the reinforcing portion extends rearward and downward from the connecting portion, and the lower end side is locked in the fastening portion, and the reinforcing portion has a covering portion that covers the fragile portion from the rear.

[0014] Since the fragile part is covered and protected from the rear by the covering part, it is possible to prevent the fragile part from being broken or damaged by external force. In addition, since the reinforcing part extends backward and downward from the connecting part, the reinforcing part is also pulled away when the vehicle is dismantled, etc., and the amount of the conductive member remaining in the fixing part can be reduced. As a result, the conductive member can be effectively recovered.

[0015] (3) In the connector described in (2) above, preferably, the fastening portion includes a first locking portion facing the reinforcing portion from the front and a second locking portion facing the reinforcing portion from the top.

[0016] For example, when a force such as the connection part being pulled forward is applied to the conductive member, the first stopper is stopped at the reinforcing part from the rear, and the reinforcing part and the fastening part are kept stopped. In addition, when a force such as the connection part being pulled is applied to the conductive member, the second stopper is stopped at the reinforcing part, and the reinforcing part and the fastening part are kept stopped. Therefore, no matter which direction the force applied to the conductive member is, the front or the top, the reinforcing part and the fastening part are kept stopped.

[0017] (4) In the connector described in (2) or (3) above, preferably, the connecting portion comprises: an upper bus bar portion; a lower bus bar portion located below the upper bus bar portion; and a connecting portion connecting one end of the upper bus bar portion and the lower bus bar portion to each other, the upper bus bar portion and the lower bus bar portion having a plurality of protrusions protruding forward, the fragile portion extending rearward and downward from the lower bus bar portion, and the reinforcing portion extending rearward and downward from the upper bus bar portion.

[0018] Since the fragile portion extends from the lower bus bar portion and the reinforcing portion extends from the upper bus bar portion, the connecting portion, the fragile portion, the reinforcing portion, and the fastening portion can be manufactured with a high yield from the conductive plate material.

[0019] (5) In the connector described in any one of (1) to (4) above, preferably, the reinforcing portion is shaped to extend from the one side to the other side, and the fragile portion is shaped to extend in a roundabout manner from the one side to the other side longer than the reinforcing portion.

[0020] When a vehicle is dismantled, for example, if a relatively large force is applied to the conductive member, the locking of the reinforcing portion and the other side is first released, and then the fragile portion is destroyed. Therefore, the state where the locking of the reinforcing portion and the other side is released and the state where the fragile portion is destroyed can be appropriately achieved. In addition, the load (stress) acting on the conductive member can be dispersed in the length direction of the fragile portion in accordance with the circuitous extension of the fragile portion.

[0021] (6) In the connector described in any one of (1) to (5) above, preferably, the conductive member has an extension portion extending from the fastening portion toward the connecting portion, the extension portion is configured to be away from the connecting portion, and the shell has a receiving portion, and the top end portion of the extension portion in the extension direction is engaged with the receiving portion.

[0022] For example, when a force in the bending direction (bending load) is applied to the connecting portion, the interlocking portion of the extension portion and the receiving portion can resist the bending load. Since the extension portion is arranged away from the connecting portion, the bending load transmitted to the reinforcing portion and the locking portion of the other side can be reduced, and the locking of the reinforcing portion and the other side can be maintained. In addition, since the extension portion does not have a locking structure relative to the shell, when a relatively large force is applied to the conductive member during the dismantling of the vehicle, the extension portion can be easily detached from the shell.

[0023] (7) In the connector described in (6) above, preferably, the rear surface of the housing is a lead-out surface from which the conductive member is led out, and the receiving portion is a lightening hole opened in the lead-out surface.

[0024] Since the receiving portion has both the function of receiving the extension portion and the function of serving as a weight-reducing hole (anti-shrinkage of the housing, weight reduction, etc.), it is possible to avoid complicating the structure of the housing due to forming the receiving portion.

[0025] [Details of Embodiments of the Invention] Specific examples of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the present disclosure is not limited to the examples, but is shown by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0026] <Implementation Method 1> like Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the connector 10 of the first embodiment includes a housing 20, a conductive member 40 mounted on the housing 20, and a plurality of terminals 90 housed in the housing 20. Each terminal 90 is connected to the conductive member 40 inside the housing 20 (connector). In the following description, with respect to the front-to-back direction, the side where each terminal 90 is located relative to the conductive member 40 is referred to as the front side. The up-down direction is Figure 2 The up and down direction is used as the reference. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The reference numerals X, Y, and Z in the figure represent the front side, the left side (the left side when viewed from the front), and the upper side, respectively. In addition, these directional references are for convenience and may not be consistent with the directional references when the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle, etc., not shown in the figure.

[0027] (Terminal 90) The terminal 90 is formed integrally by bending a conductive metal plate or the like. Figure 2 As shown, the rear end of the terminal 90 is crimped and connected to the terminal end of the covered electric wire 100. The front end of the terminal 90 is cylindrical, and a protruding piece 66 of the connecting conductive member 40 described later can be inserted therein.

[0028] (Housing 20) The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin, such as Figure 2 As shown, it has a housing body 21 and a holding body 22 that is movably assembled to the housing body 21. Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, a plurality of cavities 23 capable of accommodating the terminals 90 are formed in the front portion of the housing body 21. The cavities 23 are arranged in two layers, one above the other, and open in the front surface of the housing body 21. The covered wires 100 connected to the terminals 90 are arranged to extend forward from the housing body 21.

[0029] like Figure 2As shown, a pair of upper and lower retaining body insertion holes 24 are formed in the front and rear middle parts of the housing body 21. Each retaining body insertion hole 24 opens in pairs on the upper surface and the lower surface of the housing body 21. The rear end of each cavity 23 is connected to each retaining body insertion hole 24. The retaining body 22 is inserted and installed in each retaining body insertion hole 24.

[0030] The housing body 21 has an elastically deformable lance 29 protruding into the cavity 23. The terminal 90 is inserted into the cavity 23 from the front of the housing body 21, and is locked with the lance 29 to be restricted from falling out of the cavity 23 by the primary restriction. In addition, the terminal 90 is inserted into the retaining body 22 of the retaining body insertion hole 24 to be restricted from falling out of the cavity 23 by the secondary restriction.

[0031] like Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 2 , a mounting hole 25 is formed at the rear of the housing body 21 to which the conductive member 40 can be mounted. The mounting hole 25 has a slit-like cross-sectional shape corresponding to the conductive member 40 described later, and is open at the rear surface of the housing body 21. The rear surface of the housing body 21 is configured as a lead-out surface 26 for leading out the exposed portion 41 of the conductive member 40. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the conductive member 40 has an exposed portion 41 extending rearward and downward from the lead surface 26. In addition, a demolding hole 27 is opened at a position adjacent to the mounting hole 25 of the lead surface 26, and the demolding hole 27 is formed by drawing a mold (not shown) for molding the lance 29.

[0032] The housing body 21 has a pair of opening receiving portions 28 at both left and right end portions on the lower end side of the lead-out surface 26, which are the outer peripheral side of the mounting hole 25. Fig.10 As shown, each receiving portion 28 extends in the front-rear direction inside the housing body 21, and receives an extending portion 55 of the conductive member 40 described later from the rear in a fitted state. Figure 5 As shown, each receiving portion 28 is L-shaped when viewed from behind, and is composed of a portion extending in the left-right direction and a portion extending upward from the left and right outer ends of the portion. The portion of each receiving portion 28 that receives the extension portion 55 (excluding the left and right inner ends) is opened at a position that does not overlap with the exposed portion 41 of the conductive member 40 when the connector 10 is viewed from behind (see Figure 1 ).

[0033] (Conductive member 40) The conductive member 40 is formed integrally by bending a conductive metal plate or the like. Figure 2As shown, the conductive member 40 includes a fastening portion 42, a connecting portion 43 disposed inside the housing body 21, and connecting portions 44 and 45 disposed between the connecting portion 43 and the fastening portion 42 to connect the connecting portion 43 and the fastening portion 42. The exposed portion 41, which is a portion disposed outside the housing 20, is formed by the fastening portion 42 and the connecting portions 44 and 45. Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Fig.10 As shown, the connection portion 43 is inserted into the mounting hole 25 and is disposed inside the housing 20 .

[0034] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown in FIG. 1 , the fastening portion 42 has a fastening body 46 with the plate surface facing the vertical direction. A circular fastening hole 47 is formed through the fastening body 46 in the plate thickness direction (vertical direction). The conductive member 40 is screwed and fastened to the fixing portion 30 (see FIG. 1 ) in a grounded state via a fixing member such as a bolt (not shown) inserted into the fastening hole 47. Figure 2 The fastening portion 42 has a rotation-stopping portion 48 that is bent and extended downward from the end portions on the left and right sides. The rotation-stopping portion 48 is rectangular in side view, and is arranged with the plate surface facing the left and right directions. The rotation-stopping portion 48 is engaged with a hole (not shown) of the fixing portion 30, etc., to stop the conductive member 40 from rotating and position it relative to the fixing portion 30.

[0035] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown in FIG. 1 , embossed fastening side ribs 49 bulging upward are formed on the fastening body 46. The fastening side ribs 49 are arranged in pairs near the left and right ends of the fastening body 46. Each fastening side rib 49 is composed of a portion extending in a curved manner toward the outer peripheral side of the fastening hole 47 and a portion extending forward from the front end of the portion.

[0036] like Figure 3 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the fastening portion 42 is formed with a first locking portion 51 and a second locking portion 52. The first locking portion 51 is bent upward from the front end portion and the left and right middle portion (the portion excluding the left and right ends) of the fastening body 46. Figure 8 As shown, the first locking portion 51 is rectangular in side view and arranged with the plate surface facing the left and right direction. The rear end surface (plate thickness surface) of the first locking portion 51 is formed to be locked to the first locking surface 53 of the first locked portion 78 described later.

[0037] like Figure 3 and Figure 7As shown in the figure, the second stopper 52 is arranged in pairs at positions near the front end and near the left and right side portions of the fastening body 46. Each second stopper 52 is formed by cutting out and raising a part of the fastening body 46. By cutting out and raising each second stopper 52, a pull-out hole 54 is formed at a position of the fastening body 46 adjacent to each second stopper 52.

[0038] In addition, each second locking portion 52 sandwiches the second locked portion 81 described later and folds back forward. Figure 2 and Fig. 9 As shown, the second engaged portion 81 is sandwiched between the fastening body 46 and the second engaging portion 52 in the up-down direction, and is in face-to-face contact with the upper surface of the fastening body 46, and is in face-to-face contact with the lower surface of the second engaging portion 52. The portion of the second engaging portion 52 that protrudes upward from the fastening body 46 is in face-to-face contact with the rear end surface (plate thickness surface) of the second engaged portion 81.

[0039] In addition, if Figure 3 and Figure 7 As shown, the conductive member 40 has a pair of extensions 55 extending forward from the front end and the left and right ends of the fastening body 46. Each extension 55 is independently extended forward from both ends of the fastening body 46 and is arranged to be separated from the left and right outer sides of the connecting parts 44 and 45. Figure 3 , Figure 6 , Fig.10 and Fig.11 As shown, each extension portion 55 has an inclined portion 56 that is inclined upward from the fastening portion 42 side toward the front when viewed from the extension direction, and a top portion 57 that extends straight forward from the front end of the inclined portion 56. The top portion 57 is located in front of and above the fastening body 46. Fig.10 As shown, the tip portion 57 is located in a range overlapping with the connection portion 43 in the front-rear direction and below the connection portion 43 .

[0040] The cross section of each extension portion 55 (a cross section cut in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of each extension portion 55) is L-shaped, similar to the cross section of each receiving portion 28. Figure 7 and Fig.11 As shown, each extension portion 55 includes: an extension body (horizontal plate portion 58) which is continuous from the fastening body 46 when viewed from the left and right directions, and is arranged with the plate surface facing the vertical direction; and an extension rib (vertical plate portion 59) which stands from the left and right outer ends of the horizontal plate portion 58 and is arranged with the plate surface facing the left and right directions. The vertical plate portion 59 is also formed continuously with the left and right outer ends of the fastening body 46.

[0041] like Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, the connecting portion 43 has an upper bus bar portion 62 configured with the plate surface facing the up-down direction, a lower bus bar portion 63 located below the upper bus bar portion 62 and configured with the plate surface facing the up-down direction, and a connecting portion 64 connecting the left and right ends of the lower bus bar portion 63 and the upper bus bar portion 62 to each other (the right sides shown in the figure).

[0042] The upper bus bar portion 62 and the lower bus bar portion 63 each have a bus bar body 65 in the form of a strip extending in the left-right direction, and a plurality of protrusions 66 protruding forward from the front end of the bus bar body 65. The protrusions 66 are arranged at a certain interval in the left-right direction at the front end of the bus bar body 65 in a manner that the pitch is the same in the upper bus bar portion 62 and the lower bus bar portion 63. In addition, a plurality of cut-out protrusions 67 are formed on the upper bus bar portion 62 and the lower bus bar portion 63. The cut-out protrusions 67 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction on the bus bar body 65 in a manner that corresponds to each protrusion 66. Figure 2 As shown, when the connection portion 43 is inserted into the mounting hole 25, each cut-out protrusion 67 is locked to the inner surface of the mounting hole 25. As a result, the connection portion 43 is restricted from falling off from the mounting hole 25, and the conductive member 40 is retained in the housing 20. The connection portion 64 is arranged between the left and right ends (between the right ends in the figure) of the upper bus bar portion 62 and the lower bus bar portion 63 in a manner extending in the up-down direction.

[0043] like Figure 1 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the connecting portion includes a reinforcing portion 45 having a certain width that makes the plate width in the left-right direction, and a fragile portion 44 having a width narrower than the reinforcing portion 45. The reinforcing portion 45 and the fragile portion 44 are arranged so that the plate surface of the portion other than the ends in the up-down direction (the upper end root 68, the lower end root 69, the upper end reinforcing portion 74, and the lower end reinforcing portion 75 described later) is oriented in the front-back direction.

[0044] like Figure 6 As shown, the fragile portion 44 is arranged on the front side of the reinforcing portion 45. As described later, when each covered electric wire 100 drawn out from the housing 20 is pulled upward, and a relatively large force such as pulling the connecting portion 43 away from the fixing portion 30 side acts on the conductive member 40, the fragile portion 44 is broken first. The upper end of the fragile portion 44 is integrally connected to the rear end of the bus bar body 65 of the lower bus bar portion 63. The lower end of the fragile portion 44 is integrally connected to the front end of the fastening body 46. In short, the fragile portion 44 is integrally connected to the connecting portion 43 and the fastening portion 42.

[0045] like Figure 6As shown, the fragile portion 44 includes: an upper root portion 68, which protrudes backward from a position close to one left and right sides of the rear end portion of the bus bar body 65 of the lower bus bar portion 63 and bends downward; a lower root portion 69, which protrudes forward from a position close to the other left and right sides of the front end portion of the fastening body 46 and bends upward; and a strip portion 71, which extends in the left and right direction between the upper root portion 68 and the lower root portion 69. The upper root portion 68 is integrally connected to the end of one left and right side of the strip portion 71 and the upper end. The lower root portion 69 is integrally connected to the end of the other left and right side of the strip portion 71 and the lower end.

[0046] Compared to the case where the connection portion 43 and the fastening portion 42 are connected in a straight line in the vertical direction, the fragile portion 44 is formed into a shape that is curved in the left-right direction corresponding to the extension of the strip plate portion 71 into an S-shaped or Z-shaped shape in the front view. V-shaped notches 72 are recessed on the left and right end surfaces (plate thickness surfaces) of the lower end root 69 of the fragile portion 44. Each notch 72 is formed in the rear end portion of the lower end root 69 close to the fastening body 46. When the above-mentioned relatively large force acts, the fragile portion 44 breaks from each notch 72, and a fracture surface 73 along the left-right direction is formed between each notch 72 of the lower end root 69 (refer to Fig.11 ) as the exposed surface.

[0047] like Figure 3 and Figure 7 As shown, the reinforcement portion 45 includes: an upper end reinforcement portion 74 integrally connected to the rear end of the busbar body 65 of the upper busbar portion 62; a lower end reinforcement portion 75 placed on the upper surface of the front end of the fastening body 46; and a covering portion 76 extending downward from the upper end reinforcement portion 74 to the lower end reinforcement portion 75. The upper end reinforcement portion 74, the lower end reinforcement portion 75 and the covering portion 76 have a certain width dimension in the left-right direction. The upper end reinforcement portion 74 is a shape that protrudes backward from the left and right middle portion (the portion excluding the left and right ends) of the rear end portion of the busbar body 65 and then bends downward. The lower end reinforcement portion 75 is a shape that bends backward and downward from the covering portion 76, and the rear end surface (plate thickness surface) as the free end is arranged to face the rear.

[0048] The cover portion 76 is arranged in the vertical direction. The left and right ends of the cover portion 76 are formed with embossed reinforcing side ribs 77 that bulge out to the rear. Each reinforcing side rib 77 is shaped to extend in the vertical direction on the cover portion 76. Each reinforcing side rib 77 is also formed continuously with the lower end reinforcing portion 75, and the lower end in the extending direction reaches the rear end surface of the lower end reinforcing portion 75 (refer to Fig. 9 ).

[0049] like Figure 7 As shown in FIG. 1 , a first latched portion 78 is formed in the left and right middle portions of the cover portion 76. The first latched portion 78 is in the shape of a hole that penetrates the cover portion 76 in the plate thickness direction and extends in the up-down direction. Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 1 , each reinforcing side rib 77 is disposed on both left and right sides of the first locked portion 78. The first locked portion 78 is also formed continuously with the lower end reinforcing portion 75. Figure 3 As shown, the first locked portion 78 has a first locked surface 79 extending in the left-right direction at the lower end reinforcement portion 75. The first locked surface 79 of the first locked portion 78 is arranged to face forward and can be engaged with the first locking surface 53 of the first locking portion 51 (see Figure 8 ) are locked face to face.

[0050] like Figure 7 As shown, second stopped portions 81 are formed at both left and right ends of the lower end reinforcement portion 75. Each reinforcement side rib 77 is arranged on the left and right inner sides of each second stopped portion 81. The second stopped portion 81 includes the upper surface, the lower surface and the rear end surface of the lower end reinforcement portion 75, and is configured without performing special processing on the left and right ends of the lower end reinforcement portion 75.

[0051] (Function of connector 10) When assembling the connector 10, first, the conductive member 40 is mounted on the housing 20. Specifically, the connecting portion 43 is pressed into the mounting hole 25 from the rear of the housing 20. In addition, the top end 57 of each extension portion 55 is inserted into each receiving portion 28 from the rear of the housing 20 in a mating state, and a mating portion with an L-shaped cross section formed by the extension portion 55 and the receiving portion 28 is formed at the left and right ends of the connector 10. Here, as shown in FIG. Fig.10 As shown, the extension portion 55 is not locked relative to the receiving portion 28, but is only inserted. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the exposed portion 41 of the conductive member 40 is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside (rear) of the housing 20 .

[0052] After the conductive member 40 is mounted on the housing 20, each terminal 90 is inserted from the front of the housing 20 and held in each cavity 23. Each terminal 90 is in a state of being pre-connected to the terminal end of the covered wire 100. Figure 2 As shown, each protrusion 66 of the connection portion 43 of the conductive member 40 is connected to each terminal 90 inside the housing 20 .

[0053] When the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle (not shown), the fastening portion 42 of the conductive member 40 is fixed (grounded) to the fixed portion 30 (vehicle body, grounding portion) of the vehicle via a fixing member such as a bolt. The housing 20 is arranged at a position one level higher than the fastening portion 42 via the connecting portions 44 and 45 when the conductive member 40 is installed. When the connector 10 is mounted on the vehicle or when the vehicle is running, if a relatively small force such as vibration (vibration with a small amplitude, hereinafter sometimes referred to as "small load") is applied to the connector 10, there is a possibility that the fragile portion 44 will break (including fatigue failure). However, in the case of the first embodiment, since the reinforcement portion 45 is provided behind the fragile portion 44, the small load acting on the connecting portions 44 and 45 is dispersed to the reinforcement portion 45 in addition to the fragile portion 44, and will not be concentrated on the fragile portion 44. As a result, the situation where the fragile portion 44 breaks unexpectedly can be avoided. In particular, since the reinforcement portion 45 has a wider and larger area than the fragile portion 44, it can fully resist the small load.

[0054] like Figure 8 As shown, by inserting the first locking portion 51 into the first locked portion 78, the first locking surface 53 of the first locking portion 51 is configured to abut against the first locked surface 79 of the first locked portion 78 from the front face to face, thereby limiting the forward displacement of the reinforcement portion 45 relative to the fastening portion 42. Figure 2 and Fig. 9 As shown, the second stopped portion 81 is sandwiched between the fastening body 46 and the second stop portion 52 in the up-down direction, and the second stop portion 52 is configured to face-to-face contact with the upper surface of the second stopped portion 81, thereby suppressing the reinforcing portion 45 from being displaced upward relative to the fastening portion 42. Furthermore, the second stop portion 52 is configured to face-to-face contact with the rear end surface of the second stopped portion 81, thereby limiting the rearward displacement of the reinforcing portion 45 relative to the fastening portion 42. As a result, when a small load acts on the connecting portions 44, 45 in the forward, rearward, and upward directions, the displacement of the reinforcing portion 45 relative to the fastening portion 42 can be limited, and the connection state of the fastening portion 42 and the reinforcing portion 45 can be well maintained.

[0055] Furthermore, when a bending load with the fastening portion 42 as a fulcrum acts on the connector 10, the L-shaped fitting portion of the extending portion 55 and the receiving portion 28 can resist the bending load (see Figure 1 and Fig.10 ), so the connection state of the fastening portion 42 and the reinforcement portion 45 can be maintained in the same manner as described above.

[0056] When the vehicle is dismantled, each covered electric wire 100 drawn out from the housing 20 is hooked on a hook of a crane (not shown) or the like, and each covered electric wire 100 is pulled upward (including obliquely upward) away from the fixing portion 30. Then, a relatively large force (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "large load") pulling upward also acts on the housing 20. As a result, first, the locking of the reinforcing portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 is released, and the reinforcing portion 45 is pulled away from the fastening portion 42. Then, since the reinforcing structure based on the reinforcing portion 45 is lost, the top end portion 57 of the extension portion 55 is separated from the receiving portion 28, and the fragile portion 44 is deformed so as to extend in the pulling direction of each covered electric wire 100. Furthermore, as each covered electric wire 100 is pulled upward, the fragile portion 44 is stretched to the maximum, and the fragile portion 44 is broken from the fracture surface 73 at the opportunity of each notch 72.

[0057] As mentioned above, Fig.11 As shown, a part of the lower end reinforcement part 75 of the fragile part 44 in the conductive member 40, the fastening part 42 and the extending part 55 remain on the fixed part 30 side. On the other hand, most of the fragile part 44 (a part other than a part of the lower end reinforcement part 75), the connecting part 43 and the reinforcement part 45 in the conductive member 40 are pulled away from the fixed part 30 side together with each covered electric wire 100 and the housing 20. Since most of the fragile part 44 and the reinforcement part 45 do not remain on the fixed part 30 side, it is possible to reduce the gravel dust remaining in the wiring harness components of the vehicle, etc., which is advantageous from the viewpoints of environmental protection and economic efficiency.

[0058] As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the vehicle equipped with the connector 10 is dismantled, if a relatively large force is applied to the conductive member 40, the locking of the reinforcing portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 is released, and the fragile portion 44 is broken. As a result, the portion of the conductive member 40 on the fastening portion 42 side remains on the fixing portion 30, and the portion on the connecting portion 43 side is pulled away from the fixing portion 30.

[0059] On the other hand, when the connector 10 is mounted on the vehicle or the vehicle is running, if a relatively small force is applied to the conductive member 40 , the force is dispersed to the reinforcing portion 45 in addition to the fragile portion 44 , thereby preventing the fragile portion 44 from accidentally breaking.

[0060] In the case of the first embodiment, the connection portion 43 is located in front of and above the fastening portion 42, the reinforcement portion 45 extends from the connection portion 43 to the rear and downward, the lower end side of the reinforcement portion 45 is locked to the fastening portion 42, and the fragile portion 44 is covered from the rear by the covering portion 76 of the reinforcement portion 45. Thus, the rear surface of the fragile portion 44 is protected by the covering portion 76, so that the fragile portion 44 can be prevented from being broken or damaged due to external force from the rear (interference with foreign objects, etc.). In particular, since the reinforcement portion 45 extends from the connection portion 43 to the rear and downward, the reinforcement portion 45 is also pulled away during disassembly, and the residual amount of the conductive member 40 remaining in the fixing portion 30 can be reduced.

[0061] In addition, the fastening portion 42 has a first stopper 51 opposed to the lower end reinforcement portion 75 of the reinforcement portion 45 from the front and a second stopper 52 opposed from the top. Thus, when a force such as the connection portion 43 being pulled forward (the above-mentioned small load) acts on the conductive member 40, the first stopper 51 is stopped by the first stopped portion 78 of the reinforcement portion 45, and the stopper between the reinforcement portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 can be maintained. In addition, when a force such as the connection portion 43 being pulled up (also a small load) acts on the conductive member 40, the second stopper 52 is stopped by the second stopped portion 81 of the reinforcement portion 45, and the stopper between the reinforcement portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 can be maintained. Therefore, regardless of whether the direction of the force applied to the conductive member 40 is the front or the top, the stopper between the reinforcement portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 can be maintained.

[0062] Furthermore, in the structure of the conductive member 40, the fragile portion 44 extends rearward and downward from the lower bus bar portion 63, and the reinforcing portion 45 extends rearward and downward from the upper bus bar portion 62. Therefore, the fragile portion 44 and the reinforcing portion 45 can be manufactured from metal plates with high yield.

[0063] Furthermore, the fragile portion 44 is shaped to extend in a circuitous manner from the connection portion 43 side to the fastening portion 42 side longer than the reinforcing portion 45. Therefore, when the vehicle equipped with the connector 10 is dismantled, if a relatively large force is applied to the conductive member 40, the locking of the reinforcing portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 side is first released, and then the fragile portion 44 is broken. Therefore, the state in which the locking of the reinforcing portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 side is released and the state in which the fragile portion 44 is broken can be appropriately achieved respectively. Moreover, the load (stress) acting on the conductive member 40 can be dispersed in the length direction of the fragile portion 44 in accordance with the circuitous extension of the fragile portion 44, and the situation in which the fragile portion 44 is accidentally broken can be more reliably prevented.

[0064] Furthermore, the conductive member 40 has an extension portion 55 extending from the fastening portion 42 toward the connecting portion 43, the extension portion 55 is configured away from the connecting portions 44 and 45, and the housing 20 has a receiving portion 28, and the top end portion 57 of the extension portion 55 is engaged with the receiving portion 28. Therefore, when a bending load is applied to the connecting portions 44 and 45, the engaging portion of the extension portion 55 and the receiving portion 28 can resist the bending load. In particular, since the extension portion 55 is configured away from the connecting portions 44 and 45, the bending load applied to the locking portion on the reinforcing portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 side can be reduced, and the locking on the reinforcing portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 side can be maintained. In addition, since the extension portion 55 does not have a locking structure relative to the housing 20, the extension portion 55 can be easily detached from the housing 20 when disassembled.

[0065] In addition, the rear surface of the housing 20 is the lead-out surface 26 for leading out the conductive member 40, and the receiving portion 28 is configured as a weight-reducing hole opened on the lead-out surface 26. That is, since the receiving portion 28 has both the function of receiving the extension portion 55 and the function of being a weight-reducing hole (anti-shrinkage of the housing 20, weight reduction, etc.), it is possible to avoid complicating the structure of the housing 20 due to the formation of the receiving portion 28.

[0066] [Other embodiments of the present invention] It should be considered that the above-mentioned Embodiment 1 disclosed this time is an illustration and not restrictive in all aspects. In the case of the above-mentioned first embodiment, the conductive member 40 is inserted and mounted in the mounting hole 25 of the housing 20. On the other hand, according to another embodiment, the conductive member may be mounted on the housing by insert molding. In the case of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the reinforcing portion 45 is a shape extending from the connecting portion 43 side toward the fastening portion 42 side and locked at the fastening portion side. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the reinforcing portion may also be a shape extending from the fastening portion side toward the connecting portion side and locked at the connecting portion side. Alternatively, the reinforcing portion may also be a structure consisting of a portion extending from the connecting portion side toward the fastening portion side and a portion extending from the fastening portion side toward the connecting portion side, and the two portions are locked to each other at the upper and lower middle portions of the connecting portion. In the first embodiment, the housing 20 for accommodating the terminals 90 is the same as the housing 20 for mounting the conductive member 40. In contrast, the housing for accommodating the terminals may be different from the housing for mounting the conductive member and may be a paired housing for accommodating the conductive member. In the case of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the reinforcing portion 45 is arranged so as to cover the fragile portion 44 from the rear. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the reinforcing portion may be arranged so as to cover the fragile portion from the front. In addition, the reinforcing portion may only cover a part of the fragile portion, or may not cover the fragile portion but be offset from the fragile portion. In the case of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the reinforcing portion 45 is locked to the fastening portion 42 side by the locking of both the first locking portion 51 and the second locking portion 52. On the other hand, according to other embodiments, the reinforcing portion may be locked to the fastening portion side by the locking of either the first locking portion or the second locking portion. In addition, the number and arrangement of the first locking portion and the second locking portion are arbitrary. Description of Reference Numerals

[0067] 10: Connector 20: Shell 21: Shell body 22: Keep your body 23: Cavity 24: Holding body insertion hole 25: Mounting hole 26: Lead-out surface 27: Demolding hole 28: Reception Department 29: Spear 30: Fixed part 40: Conductive components 41: Exposed part 42: Fastening part 43: Connection 44: Weak part (connection part) 45: Reinforcement (connection) 46: Fasten the main body 47: Fastening hole 48: Stopper 49: Fasten the side ribs 51: First stopper 52: Second stopper 53: The first stop surface 54: Pull-out hole 55: Extension 56: Inclined part 57: Top 58: Horizontal board 59: Vertical plate part 62: Upper busbar 63: Lower busbar section 64: Connection 65: Busbar body 66: Tab 67: Cut out the raised protrusions 68: Upper root 69: Lower root 71: With plate 72: Notch 73: Fracture surface 74: Upper end reinforcement 75: Lower end reinforcement 76: Covering 77: Strengthen the side ribs 78: First locked portion 79: The first stuck surface 81: Second locked portion 90: Terminal 100: Coated wire

Claims

1. A connector comprising a housing and a metal conductive member mounted on the housing, The conductive member has: A fastening portion, located outside the housing and fastened to the fixing portion; a connecting portion, located inside the housing and connected to the terminal; and a connecting portion, located outside the housing between the connecting portion and the fastening portion, The connecting portion has: a breakable fragile portion integrally connected to the connecting portion and the fastening portion; and The reinforcing portion extends from at least one of the connecting portion side and the fastening portion side toward the other side and is locked to the other side.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: The connecting portion is located in front of and above the fastening portion, The reinforcing portion extends rearward and downward from the connecting portion, and a lower end side is engaged with the fastening portion. The reinforcing portion includes a covering portion that covers the fragile portion from the rear.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein: The fastening portion includes a first locking portion facing the reinforcing portion from the front and a second locking portion facing the reinforcing portion from the top.

4. The connector according to claim 2, wherein: The connecting portion has: upper bus bar section; a lower bus bar portion located below the upper bus bar portion; and a connecting portion connecting one end of the upper bus bar portion and one end of the lower bus bar portion to each other, The upper bus bar portion and the lower bus bar portion have a plurality of protrusions protruding forward. The fragile portion extends rearward and downward from the lower bus bar portion. The reinforcement portion extends rearward and downward from the upper bus bar portion.

5. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The reinforcing portion is shaped to extend from the one side to the other side. The fragile portion has a shape that extends in a roundabout manner from the one side to the other side longer than the reinforcement portion.

6. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: The conductive member has an extending portion extending from the fastening portion toward the connecting portion, The extending portion is arranged away from the connecting portion, The housing has a receiving portion, and a top end portion of the extending portion in an extending direction is fitted into the receiving portion.

7. The connector according to claim 6, wherein: The rear surface of the housing is a lead-out surface for leading out the conductive member. The receiving portion is a weight-reducing hole opened on the lead-out surface.

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