Connector and method for manufacturing connector

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a connector and a method for manufacturing the connector, wherein an electric wire with a terminal can be more appropriately assembled to a housing member. A connector (1) is provided with: a terminal-equipped electric wire (10); and a housing member (20) having a terminal housing part (21) which is open toward one end side in the height direction (Z) and houses a terminal (12) of the terminal-equipped electric wire (10), a terminal locking lock (22) provided on a side wall (21a) of the terminal housing part (21), and a terminal locking block (23) provided on a bottom wall (21b) of the terminal housing part. The terminal (12) is inserted into the terminal accommodating part along the height direction (Z) while the terminal locking lock (22) and the side wall are bent, the housing member (20) has a base part (24), the base part is arranged on the bottom wall of the terminal accommodating part, and the base part (24) is partially abutted against a covering joint part (12c) in the terminal (12) to suppress inclination of the covering joint part (12c) relative to the electric connection part (12a).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a connector and a manufacturing method of a connector. BACKGROUND

[0002] As a technology related to the conventional connector, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a connector provided with a terminal-equipped electric wire and a housing member having a terminal housing portion that houses a terminal of the terminal-equipped electric wire, a terminal stopper lock provided to a side wall of the terminal housing portion that restricts movement of the terminal-equipped electric wire in a height direction by abutting against the terminal, and a terminal stopper block provided to a bottom wall of the terminal housing portion that restricts movement of the terminal-equipped electric wire in an axis direction by abutting against the terminal.

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0004] PATENT LITERATURE

[0005] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-16575 SUMMARY

[0006] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] However, in the connector described in Patent Literature 1 described above, for example, the terminal is inserted into the terminal housing portion of the housing member along the height direction while the terminal stopper lock and the side wall are flexed, but there is room for further improvement in terms of more appropriately assembling the terminal-equipped electric wire to the housing member.

[0008] The present application has been achieved in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a connector and a manufacturing method of a connector that can more appropriately assemble a terminal-equipped electric wire to a housing member.

[0009] MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS

[0010] To achieve the above object, a connector according to the present application includes a wire with a terminal having a wire extending in an axial direction and a terminal provided at a distal end of the wire, and a housing member having a terminal housing portion open toward one end portion side in a height direction intersecting the axial direction and housing the terminal of the wire with the terminal, a terminal stopper lock provided to a side wall of the terminal housing portion and restricting movement of the terminal housed in the terminal housing portion in the height direction by abutting against the terminal, and a terminal stopper block provided to a bottom wall of the terminal housing portion and restricting movement of the terminal housed in the terminal housing portion in the axial direction by abutting against the terminal, the terminal being inserted into the terminal housing portion in the height direction while flexing the terminal stopper lock and the side wall, the terminal being configured to include an electrical connection portion abutting against the terminal stopper block and electrically connected to a counterpart terminal, and a sheath engaging portion provided to an end portion on a side opposite to the electrical connection portion in the axial direction and engaged with an insulating sheath portion of the wire, the housing member having a base portion provided to the bottom wall of the terminal housing portion and partially abutting against the sheath engaging portion in the terminal to suppress inclination of the sheath engaging portion with respect to the electrical connection portion.

[0011] Further, to achieve the above object, a method of manufacturing a connector according to the present application includes a first step of inserting a terminal of a wire with a terminal into a terminal housing portion provided to a housing member and open toward one end portion side in a height direction intersecting an axial direction of the wire with the terminal in the height direction while flexing a side wall of the terminal housing portion and a terminal stopper lock provided to the side wall, a second step of abutting an electrical connection portion of the terminal against a terminal stopper block provided to a bottom wall of the terminal housing portion in the axial direction, and a third step of partially abutting a sheath engaging portion provided to an end portion of the terminal on a side opposite to the electrical connection portion in the axial direction against a base portion provided to the bottom wall of the terminal housing portion to suppress inclination of the sheath engaging portion with respect to the electrical connection portion.

[0012] Effects of Invention

[0013] In the connector and the manufacturing method of the connector according to the present application, the housing member has a base portion provided to a bottom wall of the terminal housing portion, and the base portion locally abuts against the sheath engaging portion of the terminal to suppress inclination of the sheath engaging portion with respect to the electrical connection portion. According to this structure, the connector and the manufacturing method of the connector can suppress the inclination of the sheath engaging portion with respect to the electrical connection portion by the base portion, for example, and can further correct and hold the electrical wire with the terminal in a proper posture. As a result, the connector and the manufacturing method of the connector can have an effect of more properly assembling the electrical wire with the terminal to the housing member. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 is an example of a perspective view of the connector of the embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2 is an example of an exploded perspective view of the connector of the embodiment.

[0016] Figure 3 is an example of a plan view of the housing member of the connector of the embodiment.

[0017] Figure 4 is an example of a perspective view (partially cutaway) of the connector of the embodiment.

[0018] Figure 5 is an example of a sectional view of the connector of the embodiment, which shows a state before insertion of the terminal with respect to the terminal housing portion.

[0019] Figure 6 is an example of a perspective view of the connector of the embodiment, which shows a state halfway through insertion of the terminal with respect to the terminal housing portion.

[0020] Figure 7 is an example of a perspective view of the connector of the embodiment, which shows a state after insertion of the terminal with respect to the terminal housing portion.

[0021] Figure 8 is an example of a flowchart showing the manufacturing method of the connector of the embodiment.

[0022] Figure 9 is an example of an explanatory view showing the manufacturing method of the connector of the embodiment.

[0023] Figure 10 is an example of a perspective view of the connector of the modification example.

[0024] Figure 11 is an example of an explanatory view showing the manufacturing method of the connector of the modification example.

[0025] REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0026] 1, 1A connector

[0027] 10 wire with terminal

[0028] 11 wire

[0029] 12 terminal

[0030] 12a electrical connection portion

[0031] 12b conductor joint portion

[0032] 20 housing member

[0033] 21 terminal housing portion

[0034] 21a side wall

[0035] 21b bottom wall

[0036] 22 terminal locking lock

[0037] 23 terminal locking block

[0038] 23a locking surface

[0039] 23b inclined surface

[0040] 24 base portion

[0041] S1 first step

[0042] S2 second step

[0043] S3 third step

[0044] X axial direction

[0045] Y width direction

[0046] Z height direction DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] Hereinafter, embodiments and modifications of the present application will be described in detail based on the drawings. Furthermore, the present application is not limited to the following embodiments and modifications. In addition, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments and modifications, elements that can be substituted by those skilled in the art and elements that are substantially the same are included.

[0048] In addition, the same constituent elements are included in the following disclosed embodiments and modifications. Therefore, hereinafter, the same constituent elements are given common reference numerals, and repeated description is omitted. Furthermore, in the present specification, ordinal numbers are used only to distinguish components, members, parts, positions, directions, and the like, and do not indicate order, priority.

[0049] [EMBODIMENT]

[0050] Figure 1is a perspective view of the connector 1 of the embodiment. Figure 1 The connector 1 of the present embodiment is assembled to a wire harness laid in a vehicle such as an automobile. Here, the wire harness is, for example, a collection member in which a plurality of electric wires 11 (electric wires 10 with terminals) for power supply and signal communication are bundled as a bundle in order to connect between each device mounted on the vehicle, and the electric wires 11 are connected to each device by the connector 1 or the like. The connector 1 of the present embodiment has, for example, a plurality of electric wires 10 with terminals and a housing member 20 that holds the plurality of electric wires 10 with terminals. In addition, the connector 1 can also be configured to include various constituent members such as a rod, a fixing member, and the like.

[0051] In addition, in the following description, among the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction that cross each other, the first direction is referred to as the "axial direction X", the second direction is referred to as the "width direction Y", and the third direction is referred to as the "height direction Z". Here, the axial direction X, the width direction Y, and the height direction Z are substantially orthogonal to each other. The axial direction X is typically along the extension direction of the electric wires 11 (the electric wires 10 with terminals), the length direction of the housing member 20, the fitting direction (insertion direction) of the connector 1 to the counterpart connector, and the like. The width direction Y is typically along the radial direction of the electric wires 11, the width direction of the housing member 20 (the connector 1), and the like. The height direction Z is typically along the radial direction of the electric wires 11, the height direction (the up-down direction) of the housing member 20 (the connector 1), and the like. In addition, each direction used in the following description is described as a direction in a state in which the connector 1 is assembled to the vehicle, unless otherwise specified.

[0052] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector 1, Figure 3 is a plan view of the housing member 20 of the connector 1. As Figure 2 , Figure 3 indicated, the housing member 20 is, for example, a so-called sleeve cut plate that constitutes a part of an inner housing of the connector 1, and holds a plurality of electric wires 10 with terminals or the like inside. In the present embodiment, for example, several housing members 20 (sleeve cut plates) assembled with a plurality of electric wires 10 with terminals are combined to constitute an inner housing of the connector 1, and the inner housing is assembled to an outer housing to form the connector 1. In addition, in the present embodiment, the housing member 20 is, for example, a so-called sleeve cut plate that is formed by cutting a long plate-like member (a sleeve) in a predetermined shape. Figures 1 to 4 In the following description, only one of the plurality of electric wires 10 with terminals is shown for convenience.

[0053] The housing member 20 is, for example, configured to include a terminal housing portion 21, a plurality of terminal locking locks 22, and a terminal locking block 23 described later (refer to FIG. 2). The terminal housing portion 21 is a portion that houses the plurality of electric wires 10 with terminals. The plurality of terminal locking locks 22 are portions that lock the plurality of electric wires 10 with terminals. The terminal locking block 23 is a portion that locks the plurality of electric wires 10 with terminals. Figure 3). The terminal housing portion 21 is a portion that houses the terminal 12 of the electric wire 10 with the terminal, and is open toward the one end side (upper side) in the height direction Z. In the present embodiment, for example, three terminal housing portions 21 are provided by combining a plurality of housing members 20 in line along the width direction Y. Note that the number of terminal housing portions 21 is not limited to this example, and one, two, or four or more terminal housing portions 21 can be provided, for example.

[0054] The terminal housing portion 21 is configured to include a pair of side walls 21a and a bottom wall 21b, for example. The bottom wall 21b is a portion that supports the lower surface of the terminal 12, and is formed in a flat surface shape extending along a direction (XY plane) intersecting the height direction Z. The pair of side walls 21a are portions that support the side surfaces of the terminal 12, and protrude from the bottom wall 21b along the height direction Z and extend along the axis direction X. In the present embodiment, for example, one of the pair of side walls 21a is shared between two terminal housing portions 21 adjacent along the width direction Y. That is, in the present embodiment, four side walls 21a in total are provided with respect to the three terminal housing portions 21 arranged in line along the width direction Y. The pair of side walls 21a of the terminal housing portion 21 disposed in the central portion among the three terminal housing portions 21 also function as a partition wall that separates the terminal housing portions 21 adjacent along the width direction Y from each other.

[0055] The terminal stopper lock 22 is provided to the side wall 21a of the terminal housing portion 21, and restricts movement of the terminal 12 housed in the terminal housing portion 21 along the height direction Z by abutting against the terminal 12. The terminal stopper lock 22 is formed in a claw shape at the one end portion (upper end portion) in the height direction Z of the side wall 21a, for example. In the present embodiment, for example, three terminal stopper locks 22 are arranged in line along the axis direction X in one of the pair of side walls 21a in each terminal housing portion 21. The terminal stopper lock 22 has a stop surface that stops the upper surface of the terminal 12 along the height direction Z, respectively. In the present embodiment, for example, in a state in which the terminal 12 is housed in the terminal housing portion 21, the stop surface of the terminal stopper lock 22 stops the upper surface of the terminal 12 along the height direction Z, thereby suppressing movement (falling out) of the terminal 12 along the height direction Z with respect to the terminal housing portion 21.

[0056] Figure 4 is a perspective view (partially cutaway view) of the connector 1, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the connector 1, and is a view showing a state before the terminal 12 is inserted with respect to the terminal housing portion 21. As shown in Figure 4 , Figure 5 The electric wire 10 with the terminal is configured to include the electric wire 11 and the terminal 12 provided to the terminal end of the electric wire 11. The electric wire 11 is configured to include a wire-shaped conductor portion 11a having electrical conductivity (refer to Figure 5The conductor portion 11a is covered by an insulating sheath portion 11b, which has insulating properties. The wire 11 is an insulated wire in which the conductor portion 11a is covered by the insulating sheath portion 11b. In addition, the conductor portion 11a in this embodiment is a core wire formed by bundling multiple conductive metal wires, but it can also be a stranded core wire formed by twisting the multiple metal wires together.

[0057] The wire 11 is formed to extend linearly along the axial direction X, with approximately the same diameter in the axial direction X (the extension direction). In the wire 11, for example, the cross-sectional shape of the conductor portion 11a (the cross-sectional shape intersecting the axial direction X) is formed to be approximately circular, the cross-sectional shape of the insulating sheath portion 11b is formed to be approximately annular, and the wire 11 as a whole is formed to have a generally circular cross-sectional shape. At at least one end of the wire 11, the insulating sheath portion 11b is stripped, and a terminal 12 is connected to the conductor portion 11a exposed from the insulating sheath portion 11b.

[0058] Terminal 12 is, for example, a female terminal fitting made of a conductive metal material, and is electrically connected to the counterpart terminal of the other connector. Terminal 12 is configured to include, for example, an electrical connection portion 12a, a conductor engagement portion 12b, and a sheath engagement portion 12c. The electrical connection portion 12a and the locking surface 23a of the terminal locking block 23 (described later) are referenced. Figure 5 It is locked in place and electrically connected to the other terminal. For example, a terminal insertion part (contact part) is provided in the electrical connection part 12a for inserting the other terminal along the axial direction X.

[0059] The sheathing joint portion 12c is located at the end opposite to the electrical connection portion 12a in the axial direction X, and is the portion that joins with the insulating sheath portion 11b of the wire 11. The sheathing joint portion 12c is joined with the insulating sheath portion 11b of the wire 11, for example, by crimping. The conductor joint portion 12b is located between the electrical connection portion 12a and the sheathing joint portion 12c in the axial direction X, and is the portion that joins with the conductor portion 11a of the wire 11. The conductor joint portion 12b is joined with the conductor portion 11a of the wire 11, for example, by crimping. Furthermore, the joining method of the conductor joint portion 12b and the sheathing joint portion 12c is not limited to this example; for example, they can also be joined with the conductor portion 11a and the insulating sheath portion 11b of the wire 11 by laser welding, ultrasonic bonding, heat fusion, etc.

[0060] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of connector 1, showing the state in which terminal 12 is inserted relative to terminal receiving portion 21. Figure 7 This is a perspective view of connector 1, showing the state after terminal 12 is inserted relative to terminal receiving portion 21. Figure 6 , Figure 7As shown, the terminal retaining block 23 is provided, for example, to the bottom wall 21b of the terminal housing portion 21, and restricts movement of the terminal 12 housed in the terminal housing portion 21 along the axis direction X by abutting against the terminal 12. In the present embodiment, for example, the terminal retaining block 23 is provided to the bottom wall 21b of each of the terminal housing portions 21, and these plurality of terminal retaining blocks 23 are arranged along the width direction Y.

[0061] The terminal retaining block 23 is configured, for example, to include a retaining face 23a, an inclined face 23b, and a flat face 23c. The retaining face 23a is a portion of the terminal retaining block 23 that retains the electric connection portion 12a of the terminal 12 along the axis direction X, and extends along the height direction Z. In the present embodiment, for example, the terminal retaining block 23 is provided protruding from the bottom wall 21b of the terminal housing portion 21 along the height direction Z, and an end face (side face) of the terminal retaining block 23 along the axis direction X constitutes the retaining face 23a. The terminal retaining block 23 is protruding in two stages, for example, having a first protruding portion 23e having the retaining face 23a and the flat face 23c, and a second protruding portion 23f having the inclined face 23b and protruding from the first protruding portion 23e along the height direction Z.

[0062] The inclined face 23b is a portion that guides the electric connection portion 12a of the terminal 12 in the terminal retaining block 23 toward the retaining face 23a. The inclined face 23b is inclined, for example, toward one end portion side of the axis direction X as it goes from the retaining face 23a of the first protruding portion 23e toward one end portion side (upper side) of the height direction Z. The inclined face 23b is constituted, for example, by the end face (side face) of the second protruding portion 23f of the above-described terminal retaining block 23 along the axis direction X. The second protruding portion 23f is formed, for example, in a substantially trapezoidal shape in cross section, having the inclined face 23b, a flat face-like top face extending from the inclined face 23b along the axis direction X, and an inclined face inclined symmetrically from the top face and the inclined face 23b.

[0063] The flat face 23c is constituted, for example, by the end face (upper surface) of the first protruding portion 23e of the above-described terminal retaining block 23 along the height direction Z, and extends along the axis direction X. The flat face 23c is a flat face in the terminal retaining block 23 that is one level lower than the second protruding portion 23f in which the inclined face 23b is formed, and is positioned offset toward one end portion side (electric wire 11 side) of the axis direction X from the second protruding portion 23f (electric connection portion 12a). In a state in which the retaining face 23a and the electric connection portion 12a are retained along the axis direction X (refer to FIG. 6), the flat face 23c is provided separated along the height direction Z from the conductor bonding portion 12b. Figure 7

[0064] ​In this embodiment, a pedestal portion 24 that locally abuts against the sheath engaging portion 12c in the terminal 12 is provided in the bottom wall 21b of the terminal housing portion 21. The pedestal portion 24 protrudes from the bottom wall 21b of the terminal housing portion 21 in the height direction Z. The pedestal portion 24 is constituted by, for example, an end surface (upper surface) in the height direction Z, and has a flat surface-shaped pedestal surface 24a that extends in the axis direction X. The pedestal surface 24a is able to suppress the inclination of the conductor engaging portion 12b and the sheath engaging portion 12c with respect to the electrical connection portion 12a by abutting against the sheath engaging portion 12c. The pedestal portion 24 is provided separately from the terminal stopper 23 toward the one end portion side (the wire 11 side) in the axis direction X in the bottom wall 21b of the terminal housing portion 21, for example. In the bottom wall 21b of the terminal housing portion 21, the protruding amount of the pedestal portion 24 in the height direction Z is less than the protruding amount of the terminal stopper 23 in the height direction Z.

[0065] Next, an example of a manufacturing method (assembly method) of the connector 1 having the above-described structure will be described. Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the manufacturing method of the connector 1, Figure 9 is an explanatory view showing the manufacturing method of the connector 1. As shown in Figure 8 , Figure 9 , first, in the process of the first step S1, the terminal 12 is inserted into the terminal housing portion 21 while flexing the side wall 21a and the terminal stopper 23 in the height direction Z. In this case, the terminals 12 of the plurality of terminal-equipped wires 10 are sequentially inserted into the plurality of terminal housing portions 21 from the one end portion side toward the other end portion side in the width direction Y.

[0066] At this time, the plurality of terminal-equipped wires 10 are sequentially inserted from the side of the terminal housing portion 21 having the side wall 21a in which the terminal stopper 23 is not provided (the left side of Figure 9 ). Thus, during the insertion of the terminal-equipped wire 10 with respect to the terminal housing portion 21, elastic deformation of the terminal stopper 23 and the side wall 21a provided with the terminal stopper 23 in the width direction Y is allowed, and further, the assembly property of the plurality of terminal-equipped wires 10 with respect to the plurality of terminal housing portions 21 can be improved.

[0067] Next, in the process of the second step S2, as shown in Figure 7 , Figure 8 , the electrical connection portion 12a of the terminal 12 is stopped in the terminal stopper 23 in the axis direction X. In this case, the one end portion (the end portion on the conductor engaging portion 12b side) of the electrical connection portion 12a abuts against the stop surface 23a of the terminal stopper 23, and the electrical connection portion 12a is stopped in the stop surface 23a in the axis direction X.

[0068] Next, in the process of the third step S3, as shown inFigure 7 、 Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 6, the sheathing engagement portion 12c in the terminal 12 partially abuts against the base portion 24, thereby suppressing inclination of the sheathing engagement portion 12c with respect to the electrical connection portion 12a. In this case, for example, the sheathing engagement portion 12c, which is in a state of being bent upward at the time of crimping of the terminal 12 and inclined with respect to the electrical connection portion 12a, abuts against the base surface 24a of the base portion 24, thereby correcting the inclination (bending) of the terminal 12 with respect to the axis direction X. By the first step S1 to the third step S3, the plurality of terminal-equipped electric wires 10 can be assembled to the plurality of terminal housing portions 21, and the connector 1 can be manufactured.

[0069] Further, the manufacturing method of the connector 1 is not limited to this example, and for example, can be configured to include a step of combining several of the housing member 20 (jacket cutting plate) assembled with the plurality of terminal-equipped electric wires 10 to form an inner housing of the connector 1, and the like. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, a step of guiding the terminal 12 by the inclined surface 23b of the terminal stopper 23 toward the stop surface 23a can be provided between the above-described first step S1 and the above-described second step S2. Figure 6

[0070] As described above, in the connector 1 and the manufacturing method of the connector 1 of the present embodiment, the housing member 20 has the base portion 24 provided to the bottom wall 21b of the terminal housing portion 21, and the base portion 24 partially abuts against the sheathing engagement portion 12c in the terminal 12 to suppress inclination of the sheathing engagement portion 12c with respect to the electrical connection portion 12a. According to this structure, the connector 1 and the manufacturing method of the connector 1 can suppress the inclination of the sheathing engagement portion 12c with respect to the electrical connection portion 12a by the base portion 24, for example, and further can correct and hold the terminal-equipped electric wire 10 in a proper posture. As a result, the connector 1 and the manufacturing method of the connector 1 can more appropriately assemble the terminal-equipped electric wire 10 to the housing member 20.

[0071] Further, in the connector 1 of the present embodiment, the terminal stopper 23 has the stop surface 23a that stops the electrical connection portion 12a along the axis direction X, and the inclined surface 23b that is inclined toward the one end portion side of the axis direction X as it goes from the stop surface 23a toward the one end portion side of the height direction Z, and guides the electrical connection portion 12a toward the stop surface 23a. According to this structure, the connector 1 can guide the electrical connection portion 12a toward the stop surface 23a by the inclined surface 23b, for example, and further can absorb a positional deviation of the electrical connection portion 12a with respect to the stop surface 23a along the axis direction X. As a result, the connector 1 can more appropriately assemble the terminal-equipped electric wire 10 to the housing member 20.

[0072] ​Further, in the connector 1 of the present embodiment, the housing member 20 has a plurality of terminal locking latches 22 arranged in the axis direction X in one of the pair of side walls 21a of the terminal housing portion 21. According to this structure, the connector 1 is able to lock the terminal 12 by the plurality of terminal locking latches 22, for example, and in the case where a plurality of terminal housing portions 21 are arranged in the width direction Y, the side wall 21a provided with the plurality of terminal locking latches 22 is able to flex toward the side of the adjacent terminal housing portion 21 in the width direction Y, and thus the assemblability of the electric wire 10 with the terminal 12 with respect to the housing member 20 can be further improved.

[0073] [Modified Example]

[0074] Figure 10 is a perspective view of a connector 1A which is a modified example. Figure 10 The connector 1A illustrated has the same structure as the connector 1 of the above-described embodiment. Therefore, the connector 1A is able to obtain the same effects as the above-described embodiment based on this same structure.

[0075] However, in the present modified example, as illustrated in Figure 10 the difference from the above-described embodiment is that one terminal housing portion 21 is provided in the housing member 20, and the terminal locking latches 22 are provided in the pair of side walls 21a of the terminal housing portion 21. That is, in the present modified example, the terminal locking latches 22 are configured to include a first terminal locking latch 22A provided in one of the pair of side walls 21a and a second terminal locking latch 22B provided in the other of the pair of side walls 21a.

[0076] In the present modified example, for example, the first terminal locking latches 22A are provided in one of the pair of side walls 21a at a pair of intervals apart from each other in the axis direction X. On the other hand, the second terminal locking latches 22B are provided in the other of the pair of side walls 21a in a manner so as to be positioned between the pair of first terminal locking latches 22A. That is, the first terminal locking latches 22A and the second terminal locking latches 22B are provided on the pair of side walls 21a so as to be staggered with each other in the axis direction X.

[0077] Next, an example of a manufacturing method (assembly method) of the connector 1A having the above-described structure will be described. Figure 11 is an explanatory view illustrating the manufacturing method of the connector 1A of the modified example. As illustrated in Figure 11 first, in the process of the first step S1, the terminal 12 is inserted into the terminal housing portion 21 while flexing the side wall 21a and the terminal locking latch 22. In this case, the first terminal locking latches 22A and the second terminal locking latches 22B and the pair of side walls 21a are elastically deformed toward the side of separation from each other in the width direction Y in conjunction with the insertion of the terminal 12 with respect to the terminal housing portion 21.

[0078] Next, in the process of the second step S2, as shown in Figure 7 the terminal 12 is engaged with the base portion 24, and thus inclination of the sheathing engagement portion 12c with respect to the electrical connection portion 12a is suppressed. By the first step S1 to the third step S3, the electrical wire 10 with the terminal is assembled to the terminal housing portion 21, and thus the connector 1A can be manufactured. Further, the manufacturing method of the connector 1A is not limited to this example, and for example, can be configured to include a process of combining several of the housing member 20 (sleeve cutting plate) assembled with the electrical wire 10 with the terminal to form an inner housing of the connector 1A, and the like.

[0079] As described above, in the connector 1A of the present modified example, the housing member 20 has the plurality of terminal engagement locks 22 that are respectively provided on the pair of side walls 21a of the terminal housing portion 21 so as to be staggered with respect to each other along the axis direction X. According to this structure, the connector 1A can engage the terminal 12 by the plurality of terminal engagement locks 22, for example, and can further suppress movement (falling) of the terminal 12 with respect to the terminal housing portion 21 along the height direction Z by the terminal engagement locks 22 that are provided so as to be staggered with respect to each other.

[0080] Further, in the present modified example and the above-described embodiment, a case where three terminal engagement locks 22 are provided on the pair of side walls 21a of the terminal housing portion 21 is exemplified, but is not limited to this example, and for example, one, two, or four or more terminal engagement locks 22 can be provided on the pair of side walls 21a of the terminal housing portion 21. Further, in the present modified example and the above-described embodiment, a case where the base portion 24 (base surface 24a) is provided on the bottom wall 21b of the terminal housing portion 21 is exemplified, but is not limited to this example, and for example, the base portion 24 (base surface 24a) can be provided on the terminal engagement block 23.

[0081] The above-described embodiment and the modified example are one example, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above-described embodiment and the modified example can be implemented in other various ways, and various omissions, substitutions, combinations, modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the invention. Further, each of the specifications (configuration, kind, direction, form, size, length, width, thickness, height, number, arrangement, position, material, and the like) can be appropriately modified and implemented.

Claims

1. A connector, characterized in that, have: A terminald wire having a wire extending along an axial direction and a terminal disposed at the end of the wire; as well as A housing component includes: a terminal receiving portion, which opens towards one end in a height direction intersecting the axial direction and receives the terminal of a wire with a terminal; a terminal locking lock disposed on a side wall of the terminal receiving portion and restricting the movement of the terminal received in the terminal receiving portion along the height direction by abutting against the terminal; and a terminal locking block disposed on a bottom wall of the terminal receiving portion and restricting the movement of the terminal received in the terminal receiving portion along the axial direction by abutting against the terminal, wherein the terminal is inserted into the terminal receiving portion along the height direction while flexing the terminal locking lock and the side wall. The terminal is configured to include: an electrical connection portion that engages with the terminal locking block and is electrically connected to a counterpart terminal; and a sheathing engagement portion disposed at an end on the side opposite to the electrical connection portion in the axial direction and engaging with the insulating sheathing portion of the wire. The housing component has a base portion disposed on the bottom wall of the terminal receiving portion, which partially abuts against the overlay joint portion in the terminal to suppress the tilting of the overlay joint portion relative to the electrical connection portion.

2. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal locking block has: a locking surface that locks with the electrical connection portion along the axial direction; and an inclined surface that is inclined such that it guides the electrical connection portion toward the locking surface as it is inclined from the locking surface toward one end side in the height direction toward one end side in the axial direction.

3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The housing component has multiple terminal locking mechanisms. Multiple terminal locking devices are arranged along the axial direction on one of the pair of sidewalls of the terminal receiving portion.

4. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The housing component has multiple terminal locking mechanisms. Multiple terminal locking devices are respectively staggered along the axial direction and disposed on a pair of sidewalls of the terminal receiving portion.

5. A method for manufacturing a connector, characterized in that, have: In the first step, the terminal of the wire with terminals is inserted into the terminal receiving part, which is provided in the housing component and is open at one end in the height direction, while the side wall of the terminal receiving part and the terminal provided on the side wall are flexed to lock and flex. The second step is to lock the electrical connection portion of the terminal along the axial direction into the terminal locking block provided on the bottom wall of the terminal receiving portion; as well as In the third step, the skin-coated joint portion located at the end of the terminal on the side opposite to the electrical connection portion in the axial direction partially abuts against the base portion of the bottom wall of the terminal receiving portion, thereby suppressing the tilting of the skin-coated joint portion relative to the electrical connection portion.

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