Connector device

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to achieve miniaturization in the bending direction of a lock arm. A connector device is provided with: a male-side housing (11) having a cover section (14) and a lock arm (19); a female terminal fitting (40) having a terminal main body part (41) and a low height part (47) having a shape lower than the terminal main body part (41) and extending rearward from the terminal main body part (41); and a female-side housing (31) having a terminal housing chamber (34) for housing the female terminal fitting (40) and fitted into the cover section (14), in which a locking recess (38) is formed in an outer surface (31S) of the female-side housing (31), the locking recess (38) having a shape in which a portion of the outer surface (31S) covering the low-height section (47) is recessed, and the female-side housing (31) is fitted into the locking recess (38) by means of the locking protrusion (21) of the locking arm (19). As a result, the male-side housing (11) and the female-side housing (31) are locked in a fitted state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to connector devices. Background Technology

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a connector having a female housing and a male housing. The female housing has a locking arm, and the male housing has a cover. By fitting the female housing into the cover, the locking arm is engaged with a locking protrusion on the male housing, thereby locking the two housings into a fitted state. Existing technical documents Patent documents

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-032084 Summary of the Invention The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0004] In the aforementioned connector, the locking arm is configured to allow for a flexible space spaced apart from the outer surface of the female housing, and the locking portion for mating protrudes from the outer surface of the locking arm to the side opposite to the female housing. Furthermore, a locking protrusion of the male housing is formed on the inner surface of the cover. Therefore, the flexible space, the locking arm, the locking portion for mating, the locking portion of the locking protrusion, and the wall portion constituting the cover are arranged in an overlapping manner between the outer surface of the female housing and the outer surface of the cover. Consequently, there is a problem of increasing the size of the locking arm in the flexible direction.

[0005] The connector device of the present invention is based on the above-described situation, with the aim of achieving miniaturization in the flexural direction of the locking arm. Solution for solving the problem The connector device of the present invention comprises: The male-side housing has a cover and a locking arm; A female terminal component has a terminal body portion and a low-height portion, the low-height portion being lower in height than the terminal body portion and extending rearward from the terminal body portion; and The female-side housing has a terminal storage chamber for receiving the female terminal component, and fits into the cover portion. A locking recess is formed on the outer surface of the female housing. The locking recess is shaped to recess a portion of the outer surface that covers the low-height portion. The male housing and the female housing are locked in a locked state by the locking protrusion of the locking arm engaging with the locking recess. Invention Effects

[0007] According to the present invention, miniaturization in the flexural direction of the locking arm can be achieved. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the mating state of the male connector and female connector in Embodiment 1. Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional diagram showing the state in which the male connector and female connector are disconnected. Figure 3 It is a side sectional view showing the state in which the male connector and the female connector are engaged. Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional view showing the exploded state of the female connector. Figure 5 This is a side view of the female terminal component. Detailed Implementation

[0009] [Description of embodiments of the present invention] First, embodiments of the present invention will be described. Any combination of the following multiple embodiments is included in the specific embodiments without causing contradiction. (1) The connector device of the present invention comprises: a male housing having a cover and a locking arm; a female terminal part having a terminal body part and a low-height part, the low-height part being shaped with a height lower than the terminal body part and extending rearward from the terminal body part; and a female housing having a terminal receiving chamber for receiving the female terminal part, fitting into the cover part, a locking recess being formed on the outer surface of the female housing, the locking recess being shaped to recess a portion of the outer surface covering the low-height part, and the male housing and the female housing being locked into a fitted state by the locking protrusion of the locking arm engaging with the locking recess. Because the locking protrusion and the locking recess of the present invention are secured to the inner side of the female housing than the outer surface of the female housing, the connector device of the present invention can achieve miniaturization in the bending direction of the locking arm compared to securing the locking protrusion and the locking recess to the outside of the female housing.

[0010] (2) In (1), preferably, the locking arm has an arm body portion disposed within the thickness range of the plate-like portion constituting the cover portion, and the locking protrusion protrudes from the arm body portion toward the inner surface side. According to this structure, in the deflection direction of the locking arm, the space between the outer surface of the female housing and the outer surface of the cover portion only needs to be the thickness of the plate-like portion of the cover portion. Compared to disposing the arm body portion further inward than the plate-like portion constituting the cover portion, miniaturization can be achieved.

[0011] (3) In (1) or (2), preferably, the outer wall portion of the female housing has a bent portion, which is bent in such a way that it protrudes towards the lower height portion to form the locking recess, and the front end of the bent portion is disposed in the front-rear direction between the rear end of the terminal body portion and the locking protrusion. According to this structure, when the female terminal part is pulled backward, the pulling force acts directly on the locking protrusion through the front end of the bent portion, so the influence of the pulling force can be prevented from affecting a large area of ​​the housing.

[0012] [Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention] [Example 1] Reference Figures 1-5 The connector device of Embodiment 1, which embodies the present invention, is described below. The invention is not limited to these examples, but is shown by the claims, which include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the equivalent claims. In this Embodiment 1, regarding the front-to-back direction, Figure 1 , 2 In points 4 and 5, direction F is defined as forward. Regarding the up and down directions, ... Figure 1 , 2 In points 4 and 5, the direction H is defined as upward. Regarding the left and right directions, [the following is a separate section:] Figure 1 , 2 In section 4, the R direction is defined as the right.

[0013] The connector device of this embodiment 1 is configured to include a male connector 10 and a female connector 30 that can be engaged and disengaged from each other. The engagement and disengagement directions of the male connector 10 and the female connector 30 are front-to-back directions. The male connector 10 is used as a board connector for mounting on a circuit board (not shown).

[0014] The male connector 10 is constructed by assembling a male housing 11 made of synthetic resin and a plurality of male terminal parts 25. The male housing 11 is a single component having a terminal holding portion 12 and a cover portion 14. When viewed from the front, the terminal holding portion 12 is rectangular. A plurality of press-in holes 13 are formed in the terminal holding portion 12, extending through the terminal holding portion 12 in the front-rear direction.

[0015] The cover portion 14 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape extending rearward from the outer periphery of the terminal holding portion 12. The cover portion 14 is composed of four plate-shaped portions (upper plate portion 15, left and right side plate portions 16, and lower plate portion 17). A pair of left and right slits 18 are formed in the upper plate portion 15, extending forward from the rear end edge of the upper plate portion 15. The portion between the pair of slits 18 in the upper plate portion 15 functions as a locking arm 19.

[0016] The locking arm 19 has an arm body portion 20 and a locking protrusion 21. The arm body portion 20 is a flat plate extending vertically in the thickness direction and cantilevered rearward. The arm body portion 20 is part of the upper plate portion 15 and can elastically deform in the vertical direction (in the thickness direction of the arm body portion 20) with the front end of the arm body portion 20 as a fulcrum. When viewed from the side in the male side housing 11, in the non-elastically deformed state, the arm body portion 20 is only located within the thickness range of the upper plate portion 15.

[0017] A locking protrusion 21 protrudes downward from the extended end (rear end) of the lower surface of the arm body 20. When the locking arm 19 is not elastically deformed, the locking protrusion 21 protrudes further into the cover 14 than the lower surface of the upper plate 15. The front surface of the locking protrusion 21 functions as a locking surface 22 that is inclined relative to the mating direction of the two connectors 10 and 30. In a side view, the locking surface 22 is inclined in a manner that decreases towards the rear. Therefore, in a side view, the locking surface 22 forms an obtuse angle relative to the lower surface of the arm body 20. The rear surface of the locking protrusion 21 functions as a guide surface 23 that is inclined relative to the mating direction of the two connectors 10 and 30. In a side view, the guide surface 23 is inclined in a manner that increases towards the rear. In a side view, the angle of inclination of the locking surface 22 relative to the mating direction of the two connectors 10 and 30 on the side that forms an acute angle is greater than the angle of inclination of the guide surface 23 relative to the mating direction of the two connectors 10 and 30 on the side that forms an acute angle.

[0018] The male terminal component 25 is formed by bending a metal rod. The male terminal component 25 has a terminal connection portion 26 extending in the front-rear direction and a substrate connection portion 27 extending downward from the front end of the terminal connection portion 26. The male terminal component 25 is assembled to the male-side housing 11 by pressing the terminal connection portion 26 into the press-in hole 13. The rear end of the terminal connection portion 26 is housed within the cover portion 14. When the male-side connector 10 is mounted on the circuit board, the substrate connection portion 27 is conductively fixed to the circuit board by soldering.

[0019] The female connector 30 is constructed by assembling a female housing 31 made of synthetic resin and a plurality of female terminal parts 40. The female housing 31 is constructed by joining a lower housing 32 and an outer housing 33 together. A terminal storage chamber 34 is formed inside the female housing 31 in the joined state. The outer housing 33 has an upper wall portion 35 and a pair of left and right side wall portions 39 extending downward from the left and right side edges of the upper wall portion 35. The upper wall portion 35 is composed of a pair of front and rear wall main bodies 36F and 36R and a bent portion 37. The pair of front and rear wall main bodies 36F and 36R are flat plate portions constituting the front and rear side portions of the upper wall portion 35. The outer surfaces (upper surfaces) of the pair of wall main bodies 36F and 36R are planes parallel to the mating direction of the two connectors 10 and 30 and are located at the same height.

[0020] A bending portion 37 is disposed between the front wall body portion 36F and the rear wall body portion 36R. The bending portion 37 is composed of a front wall portion 37F, a middle wall portion 37C, and a rear wall portion 37R. The front wall portion 37F extends obliquely downward and rearward from the rear end of the front wall body portion 36F, forming the front end of the bending portion 37. The middle wall portion 37C extends rearward from the rear end of the front wall portion 37F. In a side view, the middle wall portion 37C is positioned lower than the wall body portions 36F and 36R, and is a flat plate parallel to the wall body portions 36F and 36R. The rear wall portion 37R extends obliquely upward and rearward from the rear end of the middle wall portion 37C. The rear end of the rear wall portion 37R is connected to the front end of the rear wall body portion 36R. The portion of the outer surface 31S (upper surface) of the female housing 31 (outer housing 33) with the bend 37 formed therein functions as a locking recess 38.

[0021] The female terminal part 40 is generally elongated in the front-to-back direction. The female terminal part 40 includes a terminal body portion 41, a connecting portion 42, a coil portion 43, and an insulating cylinder portion 44. The terminal body portion 41 is cylindrical and forms the front end portion of the female terminal part 40. A resilient contact piece 45 is disposed within the terminal body portion 41. The connecting portion 42 extends rearward from the rear end of the terminal body portion 41. The coil portion 43 extends rearward from the rear end of the connecting portion 42. The insulating cylinder portion 44 extends rearward from the rear end of the coil portion 43. The insulating cylinder portion 44 forms the rear end portion of the female terminal part 40. The coil portion 43 is crimped to the core wire 51 of the wire 50. The insulating cylinder portion 44 is crimped to the insulating sheath 52 of the wire 50.

[0022] The female terminal part 40 has a base plate portion 46 that extends from the front end to the rear end of the female terminal part 40. The female terminal part 40 is housed in the female side housing 31 (terminal storage chamber 34) with the base plate portion 46 placed on the upper surface of the lower housing 32. The height of the female terminal part 40, based on the base plate portion 46, is different in four parts constituting the female terminal part 40 (terminal body portion 41, connecting portion 42, wire spool portion 43, and insulating spool portion 44). That is, the height of the upper surface of the terminal body portion 41 is the highest in the female terminal part 40. The height of the uppermost end of the connecting portion 42 and the upper end of the wire spool portion 43 is the lowest in the female terminal part 40. The connecting portion 42 and the wire spool portion 43 constitute a low-height portion 47, which is the lowest part in the female terminal part 40. A storage recess 48 is formed in the area where the low-height portion 47 is formed in the upper surface of the female terminal part 40.

[0023] With the female terminal part 40 housed within the female housing 31, the bent portion 37 of the outer housing 33 is located within the formation range of the low-height portion 47 of the female terminal part 40 in the front-rear direction. The bent portion 37 is housed within the receiving recess 48. The lower surface of the middle wall portion 37C of the bent portion 37 is lower than the upper end of the terminal body portion 41 and the upper end of the insulating cylinder portion 44. The front wall portion 37F is positioned to abut against the rear end of the terminal body portion 41 from the rear, or to approach and oppose the rear end of the terminal body portion 41 from the rear. The rear wall portion 37R is located further forward than the front end of the insulating cylinder portion 44.

[0024] When fitting the male connector 10 and the female connector 30, the female housing 31 is inserted into the cover portion 14. During the insertion of the female housing 31, the upper front part of the female housing 31 slides against the guide surface 23 of the locking arm 19, causing the locking arm 19 to elastically deform upward. During the insertion of the female housing 31, the lower end of the locking protrusion 21 slides against the front wall body portion 36F of the female housing 31. When the female housing 31 is inserted into its proper position within the cover portion 14, the locking arm 19 elastically returns downward, and the locking protrusion 21 is housed within the locking recess 38. Through the above, the fitting of the two connectors 10 and 30 is completed.

[0025] With the two connectors 10 and 30 engaged, the locking protrusion 21 engages with the locking recess 38, and the locking surface 22 of the locking protrusion 21 locks against the front wall portion 37F of the bend portion 37 from the rear. This locking action locks the two connectors 10 and 30 into an engaged state. To disengage the two connectors 10 and 30 from the engaged state, a jig (not shown) is inserted between the rear wall portion 37R of the bend portion 37 and the locking protrusion 21, causing the locking arm 19 to flex upwards. This releases the locking state formed by the locking protrusion 21 and the locking recess 38, so the two connectors 10 and 30 can be pulled apart while maintaining this unlocked state.

[0026] The connector device of this embodiment 1 includes a male housing 11, a female terminal part 40, and a female housing 31. The male housing 11 has a cover portion 14 and a locking arm 19. The female terminal part 40 has a terminal body portion 41 and a low-height portion 47, the low-height portion 47 being lower in height than the terminal body portion 41 and extending rearward from the terminal body portion 41. A terminal storage chamber 34 for receiving the female terminal part 40 is formed in the female housing 31. The female housing 31 is fitted into the cover portion 14.

[0027] A locking recess 38 is formed on the outer surface 31S (upper surface) of the female housing 31. The locking recess 38 is shaped to recess the portion of the lower height portion 47 in the outer surface 31S of the female housing 31. The male housing 11 and the female housing 31 are locked into a locked state by engaging the locking protrusion 21 of the locking arm 19 with the locking recess 38. According to this structure, the locking protrusion 21 and the locking recess 38 are secured to the inside (lower) side of the outer surface 31S of the female housing 31. Therefore, compared to securing the locking protrusion 21 and the locking recess 38 to the outside of the female housing 31, miniaturization can be achieved in the bending direction (vertical direction) of the locking arm 19.

[0028] The locking arm 19 has an arm body portion 20, which is disposed within the thickness range of the plate-shaped portion (upper plate portion 15) constituting the cover portion 14. A locking protrusion 21 protrudes from the arm body portion 20 toward the inner surface side of the arm body portion 20 (inner side of the cover portion 14). According to this structure, in the deflection direction (vertical direction) of the locking arm 19, the space that needs to be ensured between the outer surface 31S (upper surface) of the inner housing 31 and the outer surface 14S (upper surface) of the cover portion 14 is only the thickness of the upper plate portion 15 of the cover portion 14. This allows for miniaturization compared to disposing the arm body portion 20 further inward (below) than the upper plate portion 15.

[0029] The upper wall portion 35 of the female housing 31 has a bent portion 37, which is bent in such a way that it protrudes towards the lower height portion 47 of the female terminal part 40. The bent portion 37 forms a locking recess 38. The front end portion (front wall portion 37F) of the bent portion 37 is disposed in the front-rear direction between the rear end portion of the terminal body portion 41 and the locking protrusion 21. According to this structure, when the female terminal part 40 is pulled rearward, the pulling force acts directly on the locking protrusion 21 via the front wall portion 37F (front end portion) of the bent portion 37. Therefore, the effect of the pulling force acting on the female terminal part 40 is unlikely to spread over a large area of ​​the housing.

[0030] [Other Embodiments] This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, but is illustrated by the claims. This invention includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims, as well as the embodiments described below. The main body of the locking arm can also be positioned inside the plate-shaped portion that constitutes the cover (on the inner side of the housing). The low-height section may also be formed only in the area in front of the bobbin section. This invention is not limited to connectors for substrates, but can also be applied to connectors that connect wire harnesses to each other. The locking arm is not limited to a cantilevered extension shape; it can also be supported at both the front and rear ends. Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0031] 10: Male connector 11: Anode side shell 12: Terminal holding part 13: Press-in hole 14: Cover 14S: Outer surface of the cover 15: Upper plate part 16: Left and right side panels 17: Lower plate section 18: Slit 19: Locking arm 20: Arm Body 21: Locking protrusion 22: Locked Face 23: Guiding Surface 25: Male terminal component 26: Terminal connection part 27: Substrate connection part 30: Female connector 31: Void shell 31S: Outer surface (upper surface) of the female housing 32: Lower shell 33: Outer shell 34: Terminal storage compartment 35: Upper wall (outer wall) 36F: Front wall body 36R: Rear wall body 37: Bending section 37C: Middle wall portion 37F: Front wall portion (front end of the bend) 37R: Rear wall portion 38: Locking recess 39: Side wall portion 40: Female terminal component 41: Terminal body 42: Connecting part 43: Boll section 44: Insulating cylinder section 45: Flexible contact sheet 46: Base plate 47: Low-altitude section 48: Storage recess 50: Electrical wire 51: Core wire 52: Insulation coating layer

Claims

1. A connector device, comprising: a male housing having a cover portion and a locking arm; a female terminal member having a terminal main body portion and a low height portion which is shaped to have a lower height than the terminal main body portion and extends rearward from the terminal main body portion; and a female housing formed with a terminal receiving chamber that receives the female terminal member and fitted into the cover portion, wherein a locking recess that is shaped to recess a portion of an outer surface of the female housing that covers the low height portion is formed in the outer surface, the locking arm and the locking recess are fitted to each other by a locking protrusion of the locking arm, and the male housing and the female housing are locked in a fitted state.

2. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the locking arm has an arm main body portion disposed within a thickness range of a plate-shaped portion that constitutes the cover portion, and the locking protrusion protrudes from the arm main body portion toward an inner surface side.

3. The connector device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein an outer wall portion of the female housing has a bent portion that is bent to constitute the locking recess in a manner protruding toward the low height portion side, and a front end portion of the bent portion is disposed between a rear end portion of the terminal main body portion and the locking protrusion in a front-rear direction. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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