CONNECTOR WITH HOLDER

Abstract

A connector with a retainer, the connector comprising a tubular housing with a bottom, a retainer receiving portion, and a terminal, and a retainer inserted into the retainer receiving portion and including a base portion formed with a hole through which the terminal is inserted. The retainer includes a rib body portion protruding from the base portion and a rib reinforcement portion protruding from an upper surface of the rib body portion. An insertion hole is formed at a position of the rib body portion adjacent to the rib reinforcement portion or at a position of the rib reinforcement portion adjacent to the rib body portion. A hook portion provided at a distal end portion of a device is inserted into the insertion hole when the retainer is removed from the housing.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector with a holder. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, a connector 23 with a holder, as described in JP H09-45 411 A, comprises a tubular housing 24 with a bottom, a partition section 24a, and a front holder 26, which is received in a holder receptacle section 25 provided in the partition section 24a. A through-hole 25a, through which a plug connector 27 is inserted, is formed in the partition section 24a at a position above the holder receptacle section 25, and a tongue 27a of the plug connector 27 projects through the through-hole 25a into the holder receptacle section 25. In the Fig. In the arrangement shown in Figure 6, the front holder 26 is fully inserted into the holder receiving section 25 of the housing 24 and then locked onto the partition section 24a to be in a fully locked state. As shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. As shown in Figure 7, a hook-shaped section 28 is formed on one end section 26a, which projects in the thickness direction from an end section 26a of the front holder 26.

[0003] At the time of the transport process, for example, the front holder 26 is removed from the in Fig. The fully locked state shown in Figure 6 is brought into a temporarily locked state, in which the front holder 26 is pulled out of the holder receiving section 25 of the housing 24 by a predetermined distance. When the front holder 26 is pulled out from the fully locked state to the temporarily locked state, the front holder 26 is pulled out along a direction Q from an end section 25a of the holder receiving section 25, in a state in which the hook section of the removal device, which has the hook section at its distal end section, is hooked onto the hook-shaped section 28 of the front holder 26.

[0004] In the case of the JP H09-45411A, when the operator brings the hook section of the removal device close to the hook-shaped section 28 of the front holder 26 in order to engage the hook section in the hook-shaped section 28 during release from the fully locked state to the temporarily locked state of the front holder 26, the removal device comes into contact with the tongue 27a of the plug connector 27, which is located above the front holder 26, and thus the tongue 27a may be damaged.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a connector with a holder that is capable of preventing damage to a connection when a holder is released from a fully locked state to a temporarily locked state. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A connector with a holder, the connector comprising a tubular housing with a base, including a holder receiving section and provided with a connector projecting into the holder receiving section; and a holder inserted into the holder receiving section, which is lockable against a wall section of the holder receiving section located on one side opposite an opening end of the holder receiving section, and comprising a base section formed with a hole through which the connector is inserted. The holder comprises a rib body section projecting from the base section toward the opening end of the holder receiving section, and a rib reinforcement section projecting from an upper surface of the rib body section and extending from the base section to a distal end of the rib body section.An insertion hole is formed at a position on the rib body section adjacent to the rib reinforcement section, or at a position on the rib reinforcement section adjacent to the rib body section. A hook section provided at a distal end of a device is inserted into the insertion hole when the holder is removed from the housing.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, when the holder is released from the fully locked state to the temporarily locked state, the hook section of the device is guided along the rib body section or the rib reinforcement section to the insertion hole, and it is less likely that the device and the connector will come into contact with each other. Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage to the connector. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is an exploded view of a connector with a holder according to one embodiment; Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the connector with a holder in a fully locked state; Fig. Figure 3 is an explanatory view showing one step of the insertion of a removal device when the front connector holder is released from the fully locked state to a temporarily locked state; Fig. Figure 4 is an explanatory view showing one step of the removal device locking as the front connector holder is released from the fully locked state to the temporarily locked state; Fig. Figure 5 is an explanatory view showing one step of the removal device being pulled out when the front connector holder is released from the fully locked state to the temporarily locked state; Fig. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a connector with a holder in the related technique; and Fig. Figure 7 is a perspective view of a holder in the related technique. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXECUTION FORMS

[0008] An embodiment of a connector with a holder according to the present disclosure is described below with reference to the drawings.

[0009] Fig. Figure 1 is an exploded view of a connector with a holder according to one embodiment. Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the connector with a holder in a fully locked position. Fig. Figure 2 shows, for the convenience of description, a portion of the perspective view in cross-section.

[0010] The connector with a holder comprises a connector housing (a “housing” according to the claims) 3, which is provided with a plurality of first connector connections (“connections” according to the claims) 1 and a plurality of second connector connections (“connections” according to the claims) 2, and a front connector holder (a “holder” according to the claims) 4.

[0011] For the convenience of the description, the following is stated here in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 the longitudinal direction of the connector housing 3 is defined as “longitudinal direction X”, a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction X and along the short side of the connector housing 3 is defined as “top-bottom direction Y”, and a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction X and the top-bottom direction Y is defined as a “pull-out direction Z” of the front connector holder 4.

[0012] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the plurality of (nine in the present embodiment) first connector terminals 1 are arranged such that three first connector terminals 1 are aligned along the longitudinal direction X in the upper stage, which is located on the upper side in the up-down direction Y, and six first connector terminals 1 are aligned along the longitudinal direction X in the lower stage, which is located on the lower side in the up-down direction Y. Each of the first connector terminals 1 comprises a first tongue 1a that projects into the holder receiving section 5, which is provided in the connector housing 3.

[0013] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the majority of (in the present embodiment five) second connector terminals 2 are larger than the first connector terminals 1, and three second connector terminals 2 are aligned along the longitudinal direction X in the upper stage and two second connector terminals 2 are aligned along the longitudinal direction X in the lower stage. Each of the second connector terminals 2 includes a second tongue 2a that projects into the holder receiving section 5 provided in the connector housing 3.

[0014] The connector housing 3 is made of a synthetic resin material and has a rectangular, tubular shape with a base. The connector housing 3 comprises a base wall section (a "wall section" according to the claims) 6, a pair of side wall sections 7, an upper wall section 8, and a lower wall section 9. The base wall section 6 has a rectangular plate shape, the long side of which extends along the longitudinal direction X. The side wall section 7 has a rectangular plate shape and extends upright from both side edges of the base wall section 6 along the pull-out direction Z. The upper wall section 8 has a rectangular plate shape and extends upright from the upper edge of the base wall section 6 along the pull-out direction Z. The upper wall section 8 is connected to the upper end sections of the pair of side wall sections 7 in the top-bottom direction Y.The lower wall section 9 has a rectangular shape, similar to that of the upper wall section 8, and extends upright from the lower edge of the base wall section 6 along the pull-out direction Z. A space enclosed by the base wall section 6, the pair of side wall sections 7, the upper wall section 8, and the lower wall section 9 is the holder receptacle section 5, which accommodates the front connector holder 4. The holder receptacle section 5 includes an opening end 5a at one end section therein in the pull-out direction Z.

[0015] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, a first projecting section 10, a second projecting section 11 and a third projecting section 12 are projected from an inner surface 6a of the base wall section 6.

[0016] The first projecting section 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and projects from the inner surface 6a of the base wall section 6 into the holder receiving section 5 along the pull-out direction Z. The first projecting sections 10 are provided at the positions corresponding to the first three plug terminals 1 located in the upper stage in the top-bottom direction Y. At the positions of the first projecting sections 10 corresponding to the three first plug terminals 1, first tongue through-holes 10a penetrate the first projecting sections 10 along the pull-out direction Z. The first tongue 1a of the first plug terminal 1 is inserted through the first tongue through-hole 10a, and the first tongue 1a projects into the holder receiving section 5.

[0017] The second projecting section 11 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, which is longer along the longitudinal direction X than the first projecting section 10, and projects from the inner surface 6a of the base wall section 6 into the holder receiving section 5 along the withdrawal direction Z. The second projecting sections 11 are provided at the positions corresponding to the six first connector terminals 1 located in the lower stage in the top-bottom direction Y. At the positions of the second projecting sections 11 corresponding to the six first connector terminals 1, second tongue through-holes 11a penetrate the second projecting sections 11 along the withdrawal direction Z. The first tongue 1a of the first connector terminal 1 is inserted through the second tongue through-hole 11a, and the first tongue 1a projects into the holder receiving section 5.

[0018] The third projecting section 12 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and projects from the inner surface 6a of the base wall section 6 into the holder receiving section 5 along the withdrawal direction Z. The third projecting sections 12 are provided at the positions corresponding to the three second connector terminals 2 located in the upper stage in the up-down direction Y, and at the positions corresponding to the two second connector terminals 2 located in the lower stage in the up-down direction Y. At the positions of the third projecting sections 12 corresponding to the five second connector terminals 2, third tongue through-holes 12a penetrate the third projecting sections 12 along the withdrawal direction Z. The second tongue 2a of the second connector terminal 2 is inserted through the third tongue through-hole 12a, and the second tongue 2a projects into the holder receiving section 5.

[0019] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, a first guide projection 13 projects from a position on the inner surface 7a of the side wall section 7, close to the upper wall section 8. The first guide projection 13 guides the front connector holder 4 when the front connector holder 4 is inserted into the holder receptacle section 5 or when the front connector holder 4 is withdrawn from the holder receptacle section 5. The first guide projection 13 projects from the inner surface 7a of the side wall section 7 toward the inside of the holder receptacle section 5. The first guide projection 13 is continuous in the withdrawal direction Z from the base wall section 6 to the center position of the side wall section 7.

[0020] As in Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, a second guide projection 14 projects from an inner surface 9a of the lower wall section 9. The second guide projection 14 guides the front connector holder 4 when the front connector holder 4 is inserted into the holder receptacle section 5 or when the front connector holder 4 is withdrawn from the holder receptacle section 5. The second guide projection 14 projects from the inner surface 9a of the lower wall section 9 toward the inside of the holder receptacle section 5. The second guide projection 14 is continuous in the withdrawal direction Z from the base wall section 6 to the center position of the lower wall section 9.

[0021] The front connector holder 4 is made of a synthetic resin material and has a substantially rectangular plate shape. The front connector holder 4 comprises a base section 5, a rib body section 16, and a rib reinforcement section 17.

[0022] The base section 15 has a rectangular plate shape. At the position of the base section 15 corresponding to the first projecting section 10 of the connector housing 3, a first projecting section insertion hole 15a penetrates the base section 15 along the extraction direction Z. The first projecting section insertion hole 15a has a rectangular shape when viewed from a direction opposite to the extraction direction Z and is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the first projecting section 10. The first projecting section 10 is inserted into the first projecting section insertion hole 15a.

[0023] At the position of the base section 15 corresponding to the second projecting section 11 of the connector housing 3, a second projecting section insertion hole 15b penetrates the base section 15 along the extraction direction Z. The second projecting section insertion hole 15b has a rectangular shape when viewed from a direction opposite to the extraction direction Z and is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the second projecting section 11. The second projecting section 11 is inserted into the second projecting section insertion hole 15b.

[0024] At the positions of the base section 15 corresponding to the third projecting sections 12 of the connector housing 3, third projecting section insertion holes 15c penetrate the base section 15 along the withdrawal direction Z. The third projecting section insertion hole 15c has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from a direction opposite to the withdrawal direction Z and is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the third projecting section 12. The third projecting section 12 is inserted into the third projecting section insertion hole 15c.

[0025] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, a web section 18 projects from a surface 15d of the base section 15, which faces the base wall section 6 of the connector housing 3. The web section 18 projects from the center position of the surface 15d in the top-bottom direction Y to the side opposite the extraction direction Z. In the fully locked state of the front connector holder 4, which is shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the bridge section 18 is locked by fitting into a recess 6b formed in the base wall section 6 of the connector housing 3. In the fully locked state, the surface 15d of the base section 15 of the front connector holder 4 abuts against the inner surface 6a of the base wall section 6 of the connector housing 3.

[0026] In addition to the web section 18, a plurality of web segments are formed on the surface 15d of the base section 15, and a plurality of recesses, each to engage with a corresponding plurality of web segments described above, are formed in the base wall section 6 of the connector housing 3. However, the description of the web segments and the recesses is omitted.

[0027] A first recess 19 is formed in a section of a side section 15e of the base section 15, corresponding to the first guide projection 13 of the connector housing 3. The first recess 19 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the first guide projection 13. The first recess 19 slides on the outer side surface of the first guide projection 13 when the front connector holder 4 is inserted into the holder receptacle 5 or when the front connector holder 4 is withdrawn from the holder receptacle 5. This sliding action allows the front connector holder 4 to be inserted into and withdrawn from the holder receptacle 5 in a stable manner.

[0028] A second recess 20 is formed in a section of a lower section 15f of the base section 15, corresponding to the second guide projection 14 of the connector housing 3. The second recess 20 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the second guide projection 14. The second recess 20 slides on the outer side surface of the second guide projection 14 when the front connector holder 4 is inserted into the holder receptacle section 5 or when the front connector holder 4 is withdrawn from the holder receptacle section 5. This sliding action allows the front connector holder 4 to be inserted into and withdrawn from the holder receptacle section 5 in a stable manner.

[0029] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the ribbed body section 16 narrows a space S near the first plug terminal 1 and the second plug terminal 2 in the holder receptacle section 5. By narrowing the space S in this way when a finger of an operator's hand enters the holder receptacle section 5, it prevents the finger from coming into contact with the first tongue 1a of the first plug terminal 1 or the second tongue 2a of the second plug terminal 2. The ribbed body section 16 has a rectangular plate shape and projects from the base section 15 toward the opening end 5a of the holder receptacle section 5 along the pull-out direction Z. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the length of the rib body section 16 along the pull-out direction Z is smaller than the lengths of the side wall section 7, the upper wall section 8, and the lower wall section 9 along the pull-out direction Z. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the length of the rib body section 16 along the longitudinal direction X is smaller than the length of the second protruding section insertion hole 15b along the longitudinal direction X.

[0030] The rib reinforcement section 17 increases the stiffness of the rib body section 16, which projects from the base section 15 in the form of a cantilever. The rib reinforcement section 17 projects upwards in the longitudinal direction X from the central position of the upper surface 16a of the rib body section 16. The rib reinforcement section 17 extends from the base section 15 to a distal end 16b of the rib body section 16. The rib reinforcement section 17 has a rectangular shape when viewed from a direction (an insertion direction T of a removal device 22, which will be described later) that is opposite to the extraction direction Z.

[0031] At a position of the rib body section 16 adjacent to the rib reinforcement section 17 and the base section 15, a section is provided which is closest to the rib reinforcement section 17, the base section 15, and the rib body section 16 and which has the highest stiffness, and an insertion hole 21 penetrates this section along the top-bottom direction Y. In the present embodiment, the insertion hole 21 is formed at a position of the rib body section 16 adjacent to the rib reinforcement section 17 and the base section 15, and on the side opposite the first recess 19, with the rib reinforcement section 17 arranged between them.The insertion hole 21 can be arranged in the ribbed body section 16 at a position on the side opposite the position formed in the present embodiment, with the rib reinforcement section 17 between them, instead of the position formed in the present embodiment. A hook section 22c of the removal device 22, to be described later, is inserted into the insertion hole 21 when the front connector holder 4 is released from the fully locked state to the temporarily locked state. The insertion hole 21 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the top-bottom direction Y.

[0032] The insertion hole 21 does not necessarily have to be formed at a position of the rib body section 16 that is adjacent to the rib reinforcement section 17 and the base section 15, but can be formed at any position of the rib body section 16 that is adjacent to the rib reinforcement section 17.

[0033] If the height of the rib reinforcement section 17 in the top-bottom direction Y is greater than that in Fig. 1 and Fig. With respect to the height shown in Figure 2, the insertion hole 21 can be formed at a position of the rib reinforcement section 17 that is adjacent to the rib body section 16, instead of forming the insertion hole 21 in the rib body section 16 as described above. In this case, it is desirable to form the insertion hole 21 at a position of the rib reinforcement section 17 that is adjacent to the rib body section 16 and the base section 15.

[0034] A socket housing with multiple socket connections (not shown) is fitted to the plug housing 3, to which the front plug holder 4 is attached. Then, the first plug connection 1 and the second plug connection 2, which are provided in the plug housing 3, are electrically connected to the corresponding socket connections of the socket housing.

[0035] The removal device 22 is a device for an operator to perform a removal operation of the front connector holder 4 when the front connector holder 4 is removed from the in Fig. 2 shown fully locked state to the temporarily locked state (see Fig. 5) is released. The removal device 22 comprises a gripping section 22a and a withdrawal section 22b. The gripping section 22a has a substantially hexagonal column shape and is the section that is gripped by an operator when the front connector holder 4 is released. The withdrawal section 22b comprises a hook section 22c, which is formed by bending the distal end section of an elongated, column-shaped element made of metal into an L-shape, and the front connector holder 4 is withdrawn along the withdrawal direction Z by the hook section 22c engaging in the insertion hole 21 of the rib body section 16. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the length of the hook part 22c along the top-bottom direction Y is greater than the projecting height of the rib reinforcement section 17 in the top-bottom direction Y.

[0036] Next, a method for releasing the front connector holder 4 from the fully locked state to the temporarily locked state is described with reference to Fig. Described in sections 3 to 5. This release process is performed when the connector is transported with a holder or when the connector is repaired.

[0037] First, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, an operator (not shown) inserts the removal device 22 towards the insertion hole 21 along the insertion direction T of the removal device 22. At the time of this insertion, the removal device 22 is inserted along the insertion direction T, while the section of the outer circumferential portion of the hook section 22c on the side of the rib reinforcement section 17 is brought into contact with a side surface 17a adjacent to the insertion hole 21 by two side surfaces 17a and 17b of the rib reinforcement section 17 in the longitudinal direction X.

[0038] The removal device 22 is then inserted along the insertion direction T until the hook section 22c abuts the base section 15 of the front connector holder 4, and then the removal device 22 is moved downwards in the up-down direction Y. This movement, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the hook section 22c is inserted into the insertion hole 21 of the rib body section 16.

[0039] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, after the hook section 22c has been inserted, the hook section 22c is hooked onto an inner wall 21a of the insertion hole 21 by moving the removal device 22 along the withdrawal direction Z.

[0040] Then, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the front connector holder 4 is brought into the temporarily locked state by pulling out the removal device 22 along the withdrawal direction Z. In this temporarily locked state, the web section 18 of the front connector holder 4 is outside the recess 6b of the connector housing 3, and the surface 15d of the base section 15 of the front connector holder 4 is separated from the inner surface 6a of the base wall section 6 of the connector housing 3.

[0041] If the insertion hole 21 is not formed in the rib body section 16, but is formed at a position adjacent to the rib body section 16 and the base section 15 in the rib reinforcement section 17, the hook section 22c of the removal device 22 is guided along the insertion direction T while in contact with the upper surface 16a of the rib body section 16 in a position in which the hook section 22c is parallel to the rib body section 16 and the end section of the hook section 22c faces the rib reinforcement section 17, and then the hook section 22c is inserted in the direction of the insertion hole 21.

[0042] As described above, in the present embodiment, the front connector holder 4 comprises the rib body section 16, which projects from the base section 15 towards the opening end 5a of the holder receiving section 5, and the rib reinforcement section 17, which projects from the rib body section 16 and extends from the base section 15 to the distal end 16b of the rib body section 16. The insertion hole 21 is formed in the rib body section 16 at a position adjacent to the rib reinforcement section 17.When the front connector holder 4 is released from the fully locked state to the temporarily locked state, an operator inserts the removal device 22 along the insertion direction T, while the outer circumferential section of the hook section 22c of the removal device 22 is brought into contact with the side surface 17a of the rib reinforcement section 17, thus guiding the removal device 22 stably towards the insertion hole 21. Since it is less likely that the extraction section 22b and the hook section 22c will come into contact with the first tongue 1a of the first connector terminal 1 and the second tongue 2a of the second connector terminal 2, which project into the holder receiving section 5, damage to the first tongue 1a and the second tongue 2a can therefore be prevented.

[0043] In the present embodiment, the insertion hole 21 is formed at a position on the rib body section 16 that is adjacent to the base section 15, that is, at the foot section of the rib body section 16. As described above, the insertion hole 21 is also located at a position adjacent to the rib reinforcement section 17 and is formed on a section that is close to the base section 15, the rib body section 16, and the rib reinforcement section 17, and which has the highest stiffness. When the front connector holder 4 is released from the fully locked state to the temporarily locked state, it is necessary to pull out the removal device 22 with a relatively strong force in a state in which the hook section 22c is engaged on the inner wall 21a of the insertion hole 21, and thus a large force also acts on the inner wall 21a of the insertion hole 21.Therefore, by forming the insertion hole 21 in the foot section with the highest stiffness of the rib body section 16, as in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the rib body section 16 from being damaged by the removal device 22.

[0044] If the insertion hole 21 is at a position of the rib body section 16 that is adjacent to the base section 15, the hook section 22c of the removal device 22 can be easily inserted into the insertion hole 21 simply by moving the hook section 22c downwards while following the base section 15, in a state in which the hook section 22c abuts the base section 15. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP H09- 45 411 A [0002, 0004]

Claims

[1] Connector with a holder, wherein the connector has: a tubular housing (3) with a base, comprising a holder receiving section (5) and provided with a connection (1, 2) projecting into the holder receiving section (5); and a holder (4) which is inserted into the holder receiving section (5), which can be locked to a wall section (6) of the holder receiving section (5) which is located on one side opposite an opening end of the holder receiving section (5), and which comprises a base section (15) which is formed with a hole (15a, 15b, and 15c) through which the connection (1, 2) is inserted, wherein the holder (4) comprises a rib body section (16) which projects from the base section (15) towards the opening end of the holder receiving section (5), and a rib reinforcement section (17) which projects from an upper surface of the rib body section (16) and which extends from the base section (15) to a distal end of the rib body section (16), wherein an insertion hole (21) is formed at a position of the rib body section (16) that is adjacent to the rib reinforcement section (17), or at a position of the rib reinforcement section (17) that is adjacent to the rib body section (16), and wherein a hook section (22c) provided on a distal end section of a device (22) is inserted into the insertion hole (21) when the holder (4) is removed from the housing (3). [2] Connector with a holder according to claim 1, wherein the insertion hole (21) is formed at a position of the rib body section (16) which is adjacent to the base section (15).

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