Connector

Abstract

A connector includes: a female connector housing; a female terminal fitting; a lance hole; and a lance. In a state in which the lance is locked to the lance hole, a horizontal plane of a locking groove of the lance is in contact with a first wall portion of a cylindrical portion of the female terminal fitting, and the female terminal fitting is pressed by a pressing force based on a reaction force caused by elastic deformation of the lance. The cylindrical portion is pressed on an inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion, and a horizontal plane of the locking groove is pressed on the first wall portion, thereby generating friction between the female connector housing and the female terminal fitting, and relative movement of the female terminal fitting in the terminal accommodating portion is limited by the friction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector for connecting a wiring harness, for example, routed in an automobile. Background Art

[0002] As a connector in the related art, for example, a connector described in the following JP2016-207253A is known.

[0003] In the connector CN′, for example, Figure 7 As shown, a lance 36 is provided on the bottom wall 31 of the terminal accommodating portion 30 formed inside the female connector housing 3 . The base end portion 361 of the lance 36 is supported in a cantilever manner and is formed to be elastically deformable with the base end portion 361 as a fulcrum.

[0004] A locking groove 37 is formed in the front end portion 362 of the lance 36. This locking groove 37 locks to the opening edge of the lance hole 215, which opens into the first wall portion 211 of the cylindrical portion 21 of the female terminal fitting 2. The locking groove 37 has a horizontal surface 371 that is substantially parallel to the first wall portion 211 of the female terminal fitting 2, and a locking surface 372 that rises substantially perpendicularly from the horizontal surface 371 and opposes the locked surface 215a of the lance hole 215 in the terminal insertion direction. Furthermore, in the connector CN′, by locking the locking groove 37 of the lance 36 to the opening edge of the lance hole 215, the female terminal fitting 2 is fixed to the female connector housing 3 in a locked state.

[0005] However, in the conventional connector CN′, a vertical gap C1 is formed in the Y direction between the second wall portion 213 of the cylindrical portion 21 of the female terminal fitting 2 and the upper wall 33 of the female connector housing 3, and a horizontal gap C2 is formed in the Z direction between the cylindrical portion 21 of the female terminal fitting 2 and the end wall portion 303 of the female connector housing 3. Therefore, in the connector CN′, the relative movement of the female terminal fitting 2 with respect to the female connector housing 3 caused by gaps C1 and C2 may cause the female terminal fitting 2 to vibrate within the female connector housing 3 when an external input is generated during vehicle travel, leaving room for improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned technical problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector capable of suppressing vibration of female terminal fittings in a terminal insertion portion of a connector housing.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a connector is provided, in which a male connector and a female connector are connected, the connector comprising: a female connector housing having a terminal accommodating portion; a female terminal fitting accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion, comprising a cylindrical portion into which a male terminal fitting provided in the male connector is inserted, and electrically connected to the male terminal fitting by inserting the male terminal fitting into the cylindrical portion; a lance hole opening in an outer wall of the cylindrical portion; and a lance elastically supported on an inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion in a cantilever manner so as to protrude inwardly from the inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion and having a locking groove at a front end portion that can be locked to an opening edge of the lance hole, wherein: the female connector comprises the female connector housing , the female terminal connector, the lance hole and the lance; the locking groove has a horizontal surface and a locking surface, the horizontal surface is opposite to the outer wall of the cylindrical portion, and the locking surface is configured to limit the movement of the female terminal connector in the insertion direction by being locked to the locked surface of the lance hole; in a free state, the horizontal surface of the lance is located closer to the terminal accommodating portion relative to the inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion; and based on the reaction force caused by the elastic deformation of the lance caused by the outer wall of the cylindrical portion when the female terminal connector is pushed away when the female terminal connector is inserted into the terminal accommodating portion in a state where the lance is locked to the lance hole, the horizontal surface of the lance can elastically contact with the outer wall of the cylindrical portion.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, when the lance is locked in the lance hole, the horizontal surface of the lance's locking groove elastically contacts the outer wall of the female terminal fitting's cylindrical portion, and the female terminal fitting is compressed by the reaction force caused by the lance's elastic deformation. Consequently, the cylindrical portion is compressed against the inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion, and the horizontal surface of the locking groove is compressed against the outer wall of the cylindrical portion, thereby generating friction between the female connector housing and the female terminal fitting. The friction restricts the relative movement of the female terminal fitting within the terminal accommodating portion. Consequently, the female terminal fitting is prevented from vibrating due to vehicle vibration during travel, and the generation of abnormal noise caused by such vibration of the female terminal fitting can be suppressed.

[0009] Since the relative movement of the female terminal fittings within the female connector housing is restricted, the relative movement between the female and male terminal fittings is also restricted when the female and male connectors are connected, and minor sliding wear between the female and male terminal fittings can be suppressed. This improves the durability of the connector.

[0010] With the lance locked in the lance hole, the female terminal fitting is secured to the terminal accommodating portion by the reaction force caused by the elastic deformation of the lance applied to the cylindrical portion of the female terminal fitting. Consequently, the female terminal fitting can be properly retained without affecting the insertion force of the female terminal fitting into the terminal accommodating portion, such as increasing the insertion force. Consequently, the connector's manufacturability can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings, which are intended for illustration only and are therefore not to be limited thereto, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a connector according to the present disclosure;

[0013] Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the female connector;

[0014] Figure 3A is a perspective view of a female terminal connector with wires connected, and Figure 3B It is along Figure 3A A cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

[0015] Figure 4A is a perspective view of the female connector housing, and Figure 4B It is along Figure 4A A cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

[0016] Figure 5A is a perspective view of the male connector housing, and Figure 5B It is along Figure 5A A cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG.

[0017] Figure 6 A longitudinal sectional view of the connector is shown for explaining the assembly process of the connector, Figure 6 Part (a) shows the state of each female terminal fitting before it passes through the spear, Figure 6 Part (b) shows the state where the female terminal fitting is passing through the spear. Figure 6 Part (c) shows the state of the female terminal fitting after passing through the spear, and Figure 6 Part (d) shows a state where the male connector is connected to the female connector; and

[0018] Figure 7 It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a connector in the prior art. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the connector according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiment, an example will be described in which the connector according to the present disclosure is applied to a wiring harness wired in an automobile in the same manner as the connector of the prior art. In the description of the accompanying drawings, the width direction of the connector CN is defined as the "X direction", the height direction of the connector CN is defined as the "Y direction", and the insertion direction of the female terminal fitting 2 or the mating direction of the male connector CN2 relative to the female connector CN1 (the direction orthogonal to the XY plane) is defined as the "Z direction". In the Y direction, the side where the locking portion RK is provided is defined as "upper", and the opposite side is defined as "lower". In addition, in the Z direction, the mating direction of the female connector CN1 and the male connector CN2 is defined as "front", and the opposite side is defined as "rear".

[0020] (Connector Structure)

[0021] Figure 1 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the connector CN according to the present embodiment, taken along the Z direction, in a state where the female connector CN1 and the male connector CN2 are fitted together.

[0022] For example, Figure 1 As shown, the connector CN includes a female connector CN1 and a male connector CN2. In the female connector CN1, each female terminal fitting 2 connected to the electric wire 1 is accommodated and retained in a terminal accommodating portion 30 extending through the interior of a female connector housing 3 in the Z direction. In the male connector CN2, each male terminal fitting 4 is accommodated and retained in a terminal accommodating portion 50 within a male connector housing 5 that opens toward the front end in the Z direction.

[0023] In the connector CN, the female connector CN1 and the male connector CN2 are connected to each other by fitting the front end portion 39 of the female connector housing 3 into the terminal accommodating portion 50 of the male connector housing 5. When the female connector housing 3 and the male connector housing 5 are fitted, the male terminal fittings 4 accommodated in the respective terminal accommodating portions 50 of the male connector housing 5 are inserted into the female terminal fittings 2 (cylindrical portions 21 described later) accommodated in the respective terminal accommodating portions 30 of the female connector housing 3, thereby electrically connecting the female connector CN1 and the male connector CN2.

[0024] Connector CN also includes a locking portion 6 capable of maintaining the female connector housing 3 and the male connector housing 5 in a mated state. The locking portion 6 includes a locked portion 61 protruding from the upper end of the female connector housing 3 and a locking claw portion 62 elastically supported in a cantilevered manner on the upper end 513 of the male connector housing 5. Specifically, the locking claw portion 62, which enters from the front end of the female connector housing 3 and is supported on the male connector housing 5, passes over the locked portion 61 protruding from the female connector housing 3 and locks onto the rear end of the locked portion 61, thereby maintaining the female connector CN1 and the male connector CN2 in a connected state.

[0025] (Structure of female connector)

[0026] Figure 2 : is a longitudinal sectional view of the female connector CN1 taken along the Z direction. Figure 3A and 3B are diagrams each showing a cable assembly CA in which a female terminal fitting 2 is connected to a front end portion of an electric wire 1, Figure 3A is a perspective view of the cable assembly CA, and Figure 3B It is along Figure 3A A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cable assembly CA taken along line AA in FIG. Figure 4A and 4B are views each showing a female connector housing 3, Figure 4A is a perspective view of the female connector housing 3, and Figure 4B It is along Figure 4A BB is a longitudinal sectional view of the female connector housing 3 taken along line BB in FIG.

[0027] For example, Figure 2 As shown, the female connector CN1 includes a female connector housing 3 having a plurality of terminal accommodating portions 30 formed therein in a through-state in the Z direction, and female terminal fittings 2 to be accommodated in each terminal accommodating portion 30 of the female connector housing 3. One end of an electric wire 1 is connected to the rear end portion of the female terminal fitting 2, and the electric wire 1 and the female terminal fitting 2 are integrally formed into a cable assembly CA.

[0028] For example, Figure 3A and 3B As shown, the electric wire 1 includes a core wire 11 made of metal and a sheath 12 made of resin covering the core wire 11. At the end of the electric wire 1, a barrel portion 22 provided at the rear end portion of the female terminal fitting 2 is connected to the core wire 11 exposed by removing the sheath 12 in a crimped state by crimping.

[0029] The female terminal fitting 2 is formed by bending a thin metal plate made of a conductive material such as copper through press molding. Specifically, the female terminal fitting 2 integrally comprises a cylindrical portion 21 and a barrel portion 22. The cylindrical portion 21 is formed into a generally rectangular cylindrical shape at the front end, into which the male terminal fitting 4 is inserted. The barrel portion 22 is provided at the rear end of the cylindrical portion 21 and is connected to the end portion (core wire 11) of the electric wire 1 by crimping.

[0030] The cylindrical portion 21 has a rectangular cylindrical shape extending in the front-to-rear direction (Z direction), and includes a first wall portion 211, a pair of side wall portions 212 respectively rising substantially perpendicularly from both side edges of the first wall portion 211, and a second wall portion 213 connecting the upper ends of the pair of side wall portions 212. That is, in the cylindrical portion 21, the first wall portion 211, the pair of side wall portions 212, and the second wall portion 213 constitute the outer wall of the cylindrical portion 21.

[0031] When the cylindrical portion 21 is bent and die-formed, the first wall portion 211 is formed by overlapping the two ends of a thin metal plate. Furthermore, the first wall portion 211 is provided with a contact spring 214 formed by folding back inward from the front end of the first wall portion 221. The contact spring 214 cooperates with the terminal contact portion 213a, described later, to sandwich the male terminal fitting 4 between the contact spring 214 and the terminal contact portion 213a (in the Y direction) and elastically retain the male terminal fitting 4. A lance hole 215 is formed at the rear end of the first wall portion 211, which engages with the lance 36, described later, so as to penetrate the male terminal fitting 4 in the Y direction.

[0032] A pair of left and right stabilizers 212a extend downward from the rear ends of the pair of side walls 212. The stabilizers 212a are formed by symmetrically cutting the rear ends of the first wall 211. Furthermore, a rib 212b is formed in the center of each stabilizer 212a by press-molding the stabilizers 212a inward. The ribs 212b reinforce the corresponding stabilizer 212a.

[0033] The second wall portion 213 is provided with a terminal contact portion 213a formed on the inner surface of the second wall portion 213 and protruding inwardly by die molding. The terminal contact portion 213a contacts the male terminal fitting 4 inserted from the front end side of the cylindrical portion 21 and urged upward by the contact spring 214, and cooperates with the contact spring 214 to elastically sandwich and hold the male terminal fitting 4 (see FIG. Figure 2 ).

[0034] For example, Figure 4A and 4B As shown, the female connector housing 3 is formed into a rectangular cylindrical shape and is made of a synthetic resin material. It includes a plurality of terminal accommodating portions 30 arranged along the Z direction (in this embodiment, for example, eight rows in the X direction and two layers in the Y direction, for a total of 16 terminal accommodating portions 30). Specifically, the female connector housing 3 integrally includes a bottom wall 31, which defines the terminal accommodating portions 30; a pair of side walls 32 rising from the side edges of the bottom wall 31; and an upper wall 33 connecting the upper ends of the two side walls 32. The female connector housing 3 includes an intermediate wall 34 and intermediate side walls 35, which serve as inner walls separating the terminal accommodating portions 30. The intermediate wall 34 is arranged substantially parallel to the bottom wall 31 and the upper wall 33, and divides the interior of the female connector housing 3 into upper and lower portions. The intermediate side walls 35 are arranged to connect the bottom wall 31 and the upper wall 33 with the intermediate wall 34, and partition the interior of the female connector housing 3 at substantially equal intervals in the X direction. In this embodiment, the intermediate wall 34 corresponds to the inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion according to the present disclosure.

[0035] The terminal accommodating portion 30 is formed to penetrate the terminal accommodating portion 30 in the Z direction. At a first end portion 30B corresponding to the rear end portion, i.e., the side into which the female terminal fitting 2 is inserted, a female terminal insertion opening 301 is provided that is larger than the opening of the cylindrical portion 21. Furthermore, at a second end portion 30F corresponding to the front end portion opposite the first end portion 31B in the X direction, a male terminal insertion opening 302 is provided that is smaller than the opening of the cylindrical portion 21. Specifically, the terminal accommodating portion 30 is formed to have a generally rectangular cross-section corresponding to the cylindrical portion 21 of the female terminal fitting 2. The inner surface 310 of the bottom wall 31 and the inner surface 330 of the upper wall 33 are cut into a generally flat shape from the first end portion 30B side toward the second end portion 30F side, and the opening on the first end portion 30B side (the female terminal insertion opening 301) is larger than the opening of the cylindrical portion 21. On the other hand, an end wall portion 303 is formed on the second end portion 30F of the terminal accommodating portion 30 so as to protrude inward from the front ends of the bottom wall 31 and the upper wall 33 , and the opening on the second end portion 30F (male terminal insertion port 302 ) side is smaller than the cylindrical portion 21 .

[0036] The end wall portion 303 is formed to overlap with the front end face 213b of the second wall portion 213 of the female terminal fitting 2 in the Z direction, and is formed to be able to abut against the front end face 213b of the second wall portion 213 of the female terminal fitting 2 inserted into the terminal accommodating portion 30 from the female terminal insertion port 301 of the female connector housing 3. The end wall portion 303 abuts against the front end face 213b of the second wall portion 213 of the female terminal fitting 2, thereby limiting the insertion position (insertion amount) of the female terminal fitting 2 in the terminal accommodating portion 30. In addition, the end wall portion 303 has a state in which the cylindrical portion 21 is lifted by the extrusion force F of the reaction force caused by the elastic deformation (bending deformation) of the lance 36 described later (see Figure 6 (c) portion), the protrusion amount of the entire front end surface 213b of the second wall portion 213 of the cylindrical portion 21 is allowed to be accommodated in the end wall portion 303.

[0037] A receiving groove 38 is formed on the front end side of the intermediate wall 34 to receive the intermediate wall 55 of the male connector housing 5, described later. The formation of the receiving groove 38 branches the front end of the intermediate wall 34 into a forked upper portion and a lower portion. A lance 36 is provided at the front end of the intermediate wall 34 for locking and securing each female terminal fitting 2. The lance 36 is integrally formed with the intermediate wall 34 by being connected to the intermediate wall 34 at a base end 361. The lance 36 is cut and raised to extend inwardly (into the terminal accommodating portion 30) at an angle from the front end of the intermediate wall 34. Specifically, the lance 36 has a base end 361 supported on the intermediate wall 34 in a cantilevered manner and is capable of elastically deforming (flexibly deforming) toward the receiving groove 38, with the base end 361 serving as a fulcrum.

[0038] Furthermore, the lance 36 has a guide surface 363 having an inclined shape (tapered shape) between the base end portion 361 and the front end portion 362, so that the distance between the lance 36 and the inner surface 310 of the bottom wall 31 or the inner surface 330 of the upper wall 33, which is opposed to the lance 36, gradually decreases from the base end portion 362 toward the front end portion 362. The guide surface 363 is in sliding contact with the front end of the female terminal fitting 2 inserted from the female terminal insertion opening 301 to guide the movement (elastic deformation) of the lance 36 toward the receiving groove 38.

[0039] Furthermore, a stepped locking groove 37 is formed on the front end portion 362 of the lance 36 by cutting the front end portion 362 into an L-shape. The locking groove 37 opens forward (toward the male terminal insertion opening 302) and inward (toward the terminal accommodating portion 30). Specifically, the locking groove 37 has a flat horizontal surface 371 formed substantially parallel to the first wall portion 211 of the cylindrical portion 21 of the female terminal fitting 2, and a locking surface 372 that rises inward (toward the terminal accommodating portion 30 side opposite the lance 36) from the rear end portion of the horizontal surface 371 and is capable of locking in the Z direction to the locked surface 215a of the front end portion of the lance hole 215 formed in the female terminal fitting 2. That is, the upper end portion of the lance 36 having the locking surface 372 is inserted into the lance hole 215, and the locking surface 372 on the lance 36 is locked to the locked surface 215a of the lance hole 215, thereby restricting the rearward movement of the locked female terminal fitting 2 and locking and fixing the female terminal fitting 2 in the terminal accommodating portion 30 of the female connector housing 3.

[0040] In this embodiment, the lance 36 is positioned so that, in its free state, the horizontal surface 371 is positioned closer to the terminal accommodating portion 30 than to the inner surface 340 of the intermediate wall 34. In other words, the lance 36 is positioned so that substantially the entire surface of the horizontal surface 371 can elastically contact the first wall 211 of the cylindrical portion 21, due to the reaction force caused by the elastic deformation of the lance 36, which is pushed away by the first wall 211 of the cylindrical portion 21 when the female terminal fitting 2 is inserted into the terminal accommodating portion 30, while the locking groove 37 is locked to the opening edge of the lance hole 215. Thus, with the locking groove 37 locked to the opening edge of the lance hole 215, the reaction force caused by the elastic deformation of the lance 36 can press the cylindrical portion 21 toward the side toward which the lance 36 is directed, that is, toward the first wall 211 or the second wall 213 opposite the intermediate wall 34 in the Y direction. At this time, with the locking groove 37 locked to the opening edge of the lance hole 215, the locking surface 372 of the lance 36 is spaced apart from the locked surface 215a of the lance hole 215 in the X direction. In other words, a gap C is formed between the locking surface 372 of the locking groove 37 and the locked surface 215a of the lance hole 215 in the X direction.

[0041] (Structure of male connector)

[0042] Figure 5A and 5B Both show a male connector housing 5, Figure 5A is a perspective view of the male connector housing 5, Figure 5B It is along Figure 5A sectional view of the male connector housing 5 taken along line CC in FIG.

[0043] For example, Figure 5A and 5B As shown, the male connector CN2 includes a male connector housing 5 and male terminal fittings 4. The male connector housing 5 has a plurality of terminal accommodating portions 50 opened toward the front end side, and the male terminal fittings 4 are accommodated in each of the terminal accommodating portions 50 of the male connector housing 5. The ends of the electric wires (not shown) connected from the rear end portion of the male connector housing 5 are connected to the corresponding rear end portions of the male terminal fittings 4.

[0044] The male connector housing 5 is formed into a rectangular cylindrical shape and is made of a synthetic resin material. It includes a plurality of terminal accommodating portions 50 formed along the Z direction (in this embodiment, two layers in the vertical direction (Y direction)). Specifically, the male connector housing 5 integrally includes a bottom wall 51, a pair of side walls 52 rising from the two side edges of the bottom wall 51, and an upper wall 53 connecting the upper ends of the two side walls 52. The front end of the male connector housing 5 is open, and the rear end is closed by an end wall 54. The male connector housing 5 includes an intermediate wall 55 as an inner wall that divides the terminal accommodating portion 50. The intermediate wall 55 is arranged substantially parallel to the bottom wall 51 and the upper wall 53, and divides the interior of the male connector housing 5 into an upper portion and a lower portion.

[0045] The terminal accommodating portion 50 is formed along the Z direction, is open toward the front end side, and receives the front end side of the female connector housing 3. In addition, the male terminal fittings 4 extending toward the front end side of the male connector housing 5 are provided on the end wall 54 of the rear end portion of the closed terminal accommodating portion 50, and the male terminal fittings 4 are accommodated in each terminal accommodating portion 50.

[0046] (Connector assembly method)

[0047] Figure 6 A longitudinal sectional view of the connector CN is shown for explaining the assembly process of the connector CN. Figure 6 Part (a) shows the state before each female terminal fitting 2 passes through the spear 36, Figure 6 Part (b) in FIG. 1 shows a state where the female terminal fitting 2 is passing through the spear 36. Figure 6 Part (c) in FIG. 1 shows the state after the female terminal fitting 2 passes through the lance 36, and Figure 6Part (d) in FIG. 1 shows a state where the male connector CN2 is connected to the female connector CN1. Figure 6 A method of assembling the connector CN is described.

[0048] First, if Figure 6 As shown in part (a) of FIG. 3 , the female terminal fitting 2 is inserted from the female terminal insertion opening 301 of each terminal accommodating portion 30 of the female connector housing 3 to a position where the front end 211a of the first wall portion 211, i.e., the front end of the cylindrical portion 21 of the female terminal fitting 2 contacts the rear end portion of the guide surface 363 of the spear 36. Subsequently, when the female terminal fitting 2 is further pushed toward the front end side (male terminal insertion opening 302 side) of the female connector housing 3, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 As shown in part (b) of FIG, the lance 36 is pushed toward the receiving groove 38 by the first wall portion 211 of the cylindrical portion 21 of the female terminal fitting 2, and the lance 36 elastically deforms (flexibly deforms) toward the receiving groove 38 with the base end portion 361 as a fulcrum.

[0049] Then, if Figure 6 As shown in part (c) of the figure, in the terminal accommodating portion 30, the first wall portion 211 of the female terminal fitting 2 passes the lance 36, that is, the front end of the lance hole 215 passes the locking surface 372 of the locking groove 37 of the lance 36, and the female terminal fitting 2 is inserted to a Z-direction position where the lance 36 opposes the lance hole 215 in the female terminal fitting 2. Then, the lance 36, pushed away by the first wall portion 211 of the female terminal fitting 2, moves toward the terminal accommodating portion 30 due to the reaction force caused by its elastic deformation. The horizontal surface 371 of the locking groove 37 of the lance 36 then abuts against the first wall portion 211 of the female terminal fitting 2 at the opening edge of the lance hole 215, thereby restricting the lance 36 from returning to its original position. Specifically, by restricting the lance 36 from returning to its original position while the reaction force remains, the horizontal surface 371 of the locking groove 37 of the lance 36 elastically contacts the first wall portion 211 of the female terminal fitting 2.

[0050] In this way, the horizontal surface 371 of the locking groove 37 of each lance 36 elastically contacts the first wall portion 211 of the female terminal fitting 2, so that the pressing force F for pressing the cylindrical portion 21 toward the terminal accommodating portion 30 is applied to the female terminal fitting 2 via the horizontal surface 371 of the locking groove 37 of the lance 36, and the female terminal fitting 2 is urged (pressed) toward the terminal accommodating portion 30 (see FIG. Figure 6 At the same time, the locking surfaces 372 of the locking grooves 37 of the lances 36 oppose the locked surfaces 215a of the lance holes 215 in the Z direction, so that the female terminal fittings 2 are locked and fixed by the respective lances 36 in the terminal accommodating portions 30. Thus, the female terminal fittings 2 are completely assembled into the terminal accommodating portions 30 of the female connector housing 3, completing the female connector CN1.

[0051] Afterwards, if Figure 6As shown in part (d) of FIG1 , the male connector CN2 is fitted from the front end side of the female connector CN1. Specifically, the front end portion 39 of the female connector housing 3 is inserted into the terminal accommodating portion 50 of the male connector housing 5 until the insertion of the male connector housing 5 into the female connector housing 3 is restricted by the front end portion 39 of the connector housing 3 abutting against the end wall 54 of the terminal accommodating portion 50 of the male connector housing 5. Then, when the female connector CN1 and the male connector CN2 are fitted together, the male terminal fitting 4 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 21 of the female terminal fitting 2 and is elastically contacted and retained between the terminal contact portion 213a and the contact spring 214. This electrically connects the female connector CN1 and the male connector CN2, completing the assembly of the connectors CN.

[0052] (Operation and Effect of This Embodiment)

[0053] As described above, in the connector CN according to this embodiment, particularly in the state where the lance 36 is locked in the lance hole 215, the horizontal surface 371 of the locking groove 37 of the lance 36 elastically contacts the first wall portion 211, which is the outer wall of the cylindrical portion 21 of the female terminal fitting 2, and the female terminal fitting 2 can be pressed by the pressing force F based on the reaction force caused by the elastic deformation of the lance 36. As a result, the cylindrical portion 21 is pressed against the bottom wall 31 or the upper wall 33, which are the inner walls of the terminal accommodating portion 30, and the horizontal surface 371 of the locking groove 37 is pressed against the first wall portion 211 of the cylindrical portion 21, thereby generating friction between the female connector housing 3 and the female terminal fitting 2, and the relative movement of the female terminal fitting 2 in the terminal accommodating portion 30 is restricted by friction. Therefore, the female terminal fitting 2 does not vibrate in the terminal accommodating portion 30 due to external input (vibration) during vehicle travel, and the generation of abnormal noise due to such vibration in the female terminal fitting 2 can be suppressed.

[0054] As described above, since the relative movement of the female terminal fitting 2 within the female connector housing 3 is restricted, the relative movement between the female terminal fitting 2 and the male terminal fitting 4 is also restricted when the female connector CN1 and the male connector CN2 are connected, and slight sliding wear between the female terminal fitting 2 and the male terminal fitting 4 can be suppressed. Therefore, the durability of the connector CN can be improved.

[0055] The female terminal fitting 2 is fixed to the terminal accommodating portion 30 by a pressing force F based on a reaction force caused by the elastic deformation of the lance 36 applied to the cylindrical portion 21 of the female terminal fitting 2 in a state where the lance 36 is locked in the lance hole 215. Therefore, the female terminal fitting 2 can be appropriately held without affecting the insertion force of the female terminal fitting 2 into the terminal accommodating portion 30, for example, increasing the insertion force of the female terminal fitting 2 into the terminal accommodating portion 30, and the manufacturing workability of the connector CN can be improved.

[0056] In this embodiment, when the lance 36 is locked in the lance hole 215, the locking surface 372 of the lance 36 is spaced apart from the locked surface 215a of the lance hole 215, with a gap C therebetween. Therefore, when the lance 36 is locked in the lance hole 215, the locking surface 372 does not become caught in the lance hole 215 and thereby prevent the horizontal surface 371 from pressing (applying force) the cylindrical portion 21. Consequently, the pressing force F based on the reaction force caused by the elastic deformation of the lance 36 when the lance 36 is locked in the lance hole 215 can be appropriately applied to the cylindrical portion 21, and the relative movement of the female terminal fitting 2 in the terminal accommodating portion 30 of the female connector housing 3 can be appropriately restricted.

[0057] In the present embodiment, even if a gap (looseness) is generated between the outer wall of the cylindrical portion 21 and the inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion 30 due to, for example, a manufacturing error of the female terminal fitting 2 and the female connector housing 3, that is, a gap (looseness) is generated between the outer wall of the cylindrical portion 21 and the inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion 30, that is, a gap (looseness) is generated between the first wall portion 211 and the intermediate wall 34 or a gap (looseness) is generated between the second wall portion 213 and the bottom wall 31 or the upper wall 33, in the free state of the lance 36, the second wall portion 213 of the cylindrical portion 21 protrudes from the end wall portion 303 of the male terminal insertion opening 302 toward the intermediate wall 34 in the Y direction in the terminal accommodating portion 30, and in the state in which the lance 36 is locked to the lance hole 215, the cylindrical portion 21 is also lifted by the pressing force F based on the reaction force caused by the elastic deformation of the lance 36, so that the entire front end surface 213b of the second wall portion 213 of the cylindrical portion 21 can be accommodated inside the end wall portion 303. Therefore, when the male terminal fitting 4 is inserted from the male terminal insertion port 302 , the male terminal fitting 4 is not caught by the front end surface 213 b of the second wall portion 213 of the female terminal fitting 2 , thereby improving the workability of connecting the female connector CN1 and the male connector CN2 .

[0058] The present disclosure is not limited to the configurations shown in the above-described embodiments; for example, the specific shape of the female terminal fitting 2, the outer shapes of the female connector housing 3 and the male connector housing 5, the arrangement configuration of the terminal accommodating portions 30, 50, and the specific configuration of the locking portion 6 may be arbitrarily changed according to the specifications of the application target as long as they do not deviate from the main purpose of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A connector, wherein a male connector and a female connector are connected, the connector comprising: a female connector housing having a terminal accommodating portion therein; a female terminal fitting accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion, including a cylindrical portion into which a male terminal fitting provided in the male connector is inserted, and electrically connected to the male terminal fitting by inserting the male terminal fitting into the cylindrical portion; a spear hole opening in the outer wall of the cylindrical portion; as well as a lance elastically supported on the inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion in a cantilever manner so as to protrude inwardly from the inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion and having a locking groove at a front end portion capable of being locked to an opening edge of the lance hole, wherein: The female connector includes the female connector housing, the female terminal fitting, the lance hole and the lance; the locking groove having a horizontal surface and a locking surface, the horizontal surface being opposed to the outer wall of the cylindrical portion, the locking surface being configured to restrict movement of the female terminal fitting in the insertion direction by being locked to a locked surface of the lance hole; In a free state, the horizontal surface of the lance is located closer to the terminal accommodating portion relative to the inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion; and The horizontal surface of the lance can elastically contact the outer wall of the cylindrical portion based on a reaction force caused by elastic deformation of the lance caused by being pushed away by the outer wall of the cylindrical portion when the female terminal fitting is inserted into the terminal accommodating portion in a state where the lance is locked to the lance hole.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein In a state in which the lance is locked to the lance hole, the locking surface is separated from the locked surface of the lance hole.

3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The cylindrical portion includes a first wall portion formed with the lance hole, and a second wall portion opposite to the first wall portion; The terminal accommodating portion includes a female terminal insertion opening and a male terminal insertion opening, the female terminal insertion opening being formed at a first end portion in the insertion direction of the female terminal fitting and having a larger opening than the cylindrical portion, and the cylindrical portion being inserted from the female terminal insertion opening with a predetermined gap between the cylindrical portion and the inner wall of the terminal accommodating portion, and the male terminal insertion opening being formed at a second end portion opposite to the first end portion in the insertion direction of the male terminal fitting and having a smaller opening than the cylindrical portion, and the male terminal fitting being inserted from the male terminal insertion opening; The male terminal insertion opening has an end wall portion, the end wall portion being opposed to a front end surface of the second wall portion of the cylindrical portion and being configured to restrict an insertion position of the cylindrical portion by abutting against the front end surface of the second wall portion when the female terminal fitting is inserted; In the free state of the lance, a portion of the second wall portion of the cylindrical portion is located closer to the first wall portion than to the front end of the end wall portion based on the gap; and In a state where the lance is locked to the lance hole, the cylindrical portion is lifted by being pressed on the horizontal surface so that the entire front end surface of the second wall portion of the cylindrical portion faces the end wall portion and is accommodated in the end wall portion.

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