Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector which can stably hold a terminal in a housing by improving mountability.SOLUTION: A connector 1 comprises: a housing 3; and a terminal 5 which is housed in the housing 3, and which has a box-shaped electric connection part 29 for inserting a mating terminal 105. The electric connection part 29 has: an elastically deformable elastic contact piece 43 which is brought into contact with the mating terminal 105; a locking piece 47 provided on a free end of the elastic contact piece 43; and a hole part 51 which is penetratingly provided on a wall part facing the locking piece 47 so as to allow the locking piece 47 to protrude therefrom to the outside when the elastic contact piece 43 is elastically deformed. The housing 3 is provided with a locking piece housing part 21 which houses the locking piece 47 protruding from the hole part 51, and which has a locked part 23 disposed opposite to a removal direction of the terminal 5 from the housing 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, a connector is known that includes a housing and a terminal that is accommodated in the housing and has a box-shaped electrical connection portion into which a mating terminal is inserted (see Patent Document 1). In this connector, the electrical connection portion of the terminal has a terminal spring as an elastic contact piece that can be elastically deformed and that comes into contact with the mating terminal. A contact portion serving as a locking piece is provided at the free end of the terminal spring. The electrical connection portion of the terminal is provided with an opening portion that is provided as a hole portion that penetrates through a wall portion facing the contact portion and that allows the contact portion to protrude to the outside when the terminal spring is elastically deformed. The contact portion protruding from the opening portion is brought into contact with the inner wall of the housing and is pressed in. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-135998 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the connector of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the locking piece protruding from the hole is press-fitted into the inner wall of the housing, so that the terminal is fixed to the housing and the terminal and the mating terminal are electrically connected, and the terminal can be stably held in the housing. However, if the locking piece is press-fitted, the contact pressure between the elastic contact piece and the mating terminal becomes too high, which increases the insertion force of the mating terminal and reduces the ease of assembly.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems inherent in the conventional art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can be easily assembled and can stably hold terminals in a housing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector of this embodiment comprises a housing and a terminal having a box-shaped electrical connection portion accommodated in the housing and into which a mating terminal is inserted, the electrical connection portion having an elastically deformable resilient contact piece that comes into contact with the mating terminal, a locking piece provided at a free end of the resilient contact piece, and a hole portion that penetrates a wall portion opposite the locking piece and allows the locking piece to protrude to the outside when the resilient contact piece is elastically deformed, and the housing is provided with a locking piece accommodating portion that accommodates the locking piece protruding from the hole portion and has a locked portion arranged opposite the direction in which the terminal is removed from the housing. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector which can improve assembly performance and stably hold terminals in a housing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector and a mating connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion when a mating terminal is inserted into the connector according to the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3] 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion when a mating terminal is inserted into the connector according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main portion when a mating terminal is inserted into a terminal of the connector according to the embodiment; FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion of a housing of the connector according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main portion of a housing of the connector according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a terminal of the connector according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. [Figure 9]2 is a development view of an electrical connection portion of a terminal of the connector according to the embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the connector according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 1, a connector 1 according to this embodiment is applied to electrically connect electrical components, such as a power source and a device, or devices and devices. The connector 1 is, for example, electrically connected to one electrical component and can be fitted with a mating connector 101 electrically connected to the other electrical component. By fitting the connector 1 with the mating connector 101, the electrical connection between the electrical components is established.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the mating connector 101 includes a mating housing 103 and a mating terminal 105. The mating connector 101 includes a mating housing 103 and a mating terminal 105. As shown in FIG.

[0012] 1, mating housing 103 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin and is formed into a box shape. Mating housing 103 is provided with mating portion 107, which is open at one end and into which housing 3 is fitted. A locked portion (not shown) that protrudes inward is provided on the opening side of mating portion 107. A mating terminal accommodating chamber 109 is provided on the bottom side of mating portion 107.

[0013] The mating terminal accommodating chambers 109 are arranged in a plurality of stages in the height direction of the mating housing 103, and in a plurality of rows in the width direction of the mating housing 103. One end side of the mating terminal accommodating chambers 109 in the length direction is an accommodating opening, and the other end side in the length direction is a connecting opening. The mating terminal 105 is inserted from the mating electrical connection portion 117 side into the accommodating opening, and the mating terminal 105 is accommodated in the mating terminal accommodating chamber 109. With the mating terminal 105 accommodated in the mating terminal accommodating chamber 109, the mating electrical connection portion 117 of the mating terminal 105 is inserted into the connecting opening, and the mating electrical connection portion 117 is arranged within the fitting portion 107.

[0014] A mating locking lance (not shown) is provided in the mating terminal accommodating chamber 109 so as to be elastically deformable in the height direction. The mating locking lance is engaged with the mating terminal 105 when the mating terminal 105 is positioned at the normal position in the mating terminal accommodating chamber 109. The mating terminal 105 is prevented from coming out of the accommodating opening by the engagement between the mating locking lance and the mating terminal 105. In the mating terminal accommodating chamber 109, a mating spacer 111 is accommodated in an accommodating hole (not shown) provided to communicate the plurality of mating terminal accommodating chambers 109. The mating spacer 111 is held, for example, via an engagement means, so as to be movable between a provisional locking position where the mating terminal 105 can be accommodated in the mating terminal accommodating chamber 109 and a final locking position where the mating spacer 111 is engaged with the mating terminal 105 relative to the accommodating hole. When the mating terminal 105 is positioned at the normal position in the mating terminal accommodating chamber 109, the mating spacer 111 is held at a final locking position relative to the accommodating hole and engaged with the mating terminal 105. The engagement between the mating spacer 111 and the mating terminal 105 serves to doubly prevent the mating terminal 105 from slipping out of the receiving opening.

[0015] 1 to 4, the mating terminal 105 is formed by punching, bending, and the like, a single plate material made of a conductive material. The mating terminal 105 has a box portion 113 formed in the center thereof, which is engaged with a mating locking lance and a mating spacer 111. On one side of the box portion 113, a mating electric wire connection portion 115 is formed of a single member continuous with the box portion 113. On the other side of the box portion 113, a mating electrical connection portion 117 is formed of a single member continuous with the box portion 113.

[0016] The mating wire connecting part 115 is made up of a pair of crimping pieces, and is crimped at the end of the mating wire 119 electrically connected to an electric component (not shown) by crimping a core part exposed from a covering part of the mating wire 119. By crimping the mating wire connecting part 115 to the core part of the mating wire 119, the mating terminal 105 is electrically connected to the mating wire 119.

[0017] The mating electrical connection portion 117 is formed of one member that is continuous with the mating electric wire connection portion 115 via the box portion 113. The mating electrical connection portion 117 is a male connection portion that extends in a tab shape from the box portion 113 in the mating direction of the mating connector 101 and the connector 1. The mating electrical connection portion 117 is inserted through the connection opening and disposed in the mating portion 107 with the mating terminal 105 accommodated in the mating terminal accommodating chamber 109. The mating electrical connection portion 117 disposed in the mating portion 107 is electrically connected to the terminal 5 with the mating connector 101 and the connector 1 mated.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the connector 1 includes a housing 3 and a terminal 5. The housing 3 and the terminal 5 include a connector housing 3 and a terminal 5. As shown in FIG.

[0019] As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, 5 and 6, the housing 3 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin and is formed in a casing shape that can be fitted into the fitting portion 107 of the mating housing 103. A lock arm 9 is provided on the outer periphery of the housing 3 so as to be elastically deformable, from which a lock portion 7 that engages with a locked portion of the fitting portion 107 is protruded. When the mating connector 101 and the connector 1 are fitted together, the locked portion of the lock arm 9 is engaged with the lock portion 7. The engagement between the locked portion and the lock portion 7 maintains the mating state between the mating connector 101 and the connector 1. The lock arm 9 is provided with an operating portion 11. When the mating connector 101 and the connector 1 are released from their mating, the operating portion 11 is pressed to elastically deform the lock arm 9. The elastic deformation of the lock arm 9 releases the engagement between the locked portion and the lock portion 7, allowing the mating between the mating connector 101 and the connector 1 to be released. A terminal accommodating chamber 13 is provided inside the housing 3.

[0020] The terminal accommodating chambers 13 are arranged in a plurality of stages in the height direction of the housing 3, and in a plurality of rows in the width direction of the housing 3. One end side of the terminal accommodating chamber 13 in the length direction is an accommodating opening, and the other end side in the length direction is a connection opening 15. The terminal 5 is inserted into the accommodating opening from the electrical connection portion 29 side, and the terminal 5 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 13. The mating electrical connection portion 117 of the mating terminal 105 is inserted into the connection opening 15 by fitting the mating connector 101 and the connector 1 together. The mating terminal 105 and the terminal 5 are electrically connected by inserting the mating electrical connection portion 117 into the connection opening 15. A locking lance 17 is provided in the terminal accommodating chamber 13 so as to be elastically deformable in the height direction.

[0021] The locking lance 17 extends along the length of the terminal accommodating chamber 13 so that the inner wall of the terminal accommodating chamber 13 on the accommodating opening side is a base end and the connection opening 15 side is a free end, and is provided so as to be elastically deformable in the height direction. The locking lance 17 engages with the terminal 5 when the terminal 5 is positioned at the normal position of the terminal accommodating chamber 13. The engagement between the locking lance 17 and the terminal 5 prevents the terminal 5 from slipping out of the accommodating opening. In the terminal accommodating chamber 13, a spacer 19 is accommodated in an accommodating hole (not shown) that is provided to communicate the multiple terminal accommodating chambers 13. The spacer 19 is held, for example, via an engagement means, so as to be movable between a temporary locking position where the terminal 5 can be accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 13 and a full locking position where the spacer 19 is engaged with the terminal 5. When the terminal 5 is positioned at the normal position of the terminal accommodating chamber 13, the spacer 19 is held at the full locking position with respect to the accommodating hole and engaged with the terminal 5. The engagement between the spacer 19 and the terminal 5 doubles as a prevention against the terminal 5 coming out of the receiving opening. A locking piece receiving portion 21 is provided on the connection opening 15 side of the terminal receiving chamber 13.

[0022] The locking piece accommodating portion 21 extends along the length direction of the terminal accommodating chamber 13 so that the connection opening 15 side is open and the accommodating opening side is closed. The bottom of the locking piece accommodating portion 21 is a locked portion 23 extending in a plane direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the terminal 5 into the terminal accommodating chamber 13. The locked portion 23 side of the locking piece accommodating portion 21 is a communication hole 25 that is opened so as to communicate with the inside of the terminal accommodating chamber 13. The opening of the locking piece accommodating portion 21 serves as a punch hole of a molding die when the locking piece accommodating portion 21 is molded in the housing 3. The punch hole of the locking piece accommodating portion 21 allows the locked portion 23 to be visible from the outside of the housing 3. For example, when the mating terminal 105 is directly connected to the terminal 5 without being accommodated in the mating housing 103, the punch hole allows the positions of the locked portion 23 and the locking piece 47 of the terminal 5 to be visible from the outside of the housing 3. Therefore, the holes can also be used as check holes for checking the electrical connection state between the mating terminals 105 and the terminals 5 .

[0023] 1 to 4 and 7 to 9, terminal 5 is formed by subjecting a single plate material made of a conductive material to processes such as punching and bending. In terminal 5, electric wire connection portion 27 and electrical connection portion 29 are formed as a single continuous member.

[0024] The electric wire connection part 27 is made of a pair of crimping pieces, and is crimped by crimping a core part exposed from a coating part of an electric wire (not shown) at an end part of the electric wire (not shown) electrically connected to an electric component (not shown). By crimping the electric wire connection part 27 to the core part of the electric wire, the terminal 5 is electrically connected to the electric wire.

[0025] The electrical connection part 29 is formed of a single member in which the bottom wall 31 and both side walls 33, 33 are continuous with the electric wire connection part 27, and is formed into a box-shaped female connection part by bending both side walls 33, 33, the top wall 35, and the bottom wall 31. The top wall 35 is provided with a plurality of auxiliary contact parts 37 (two in this example) protruding toward the inside of the electrical connection part 29 by stamping. The auxiliary contact parts 37 come into contact with the mating electrical connection part 117 of the mating terminal 105 inserted into the electrical connection part 29, and electrically connect the mating terminal 105 and the terminal 5. The top wall 35 is provided with an engagement hole 39 formed penetrating the top wall 35. The locking lance 17 is engaged with the engagement hole 39 to prevent the terminal 5 from falling out of the receiving opening, and the terminal 5 is held in the housing 3. The top wall 35 is formed of a single member to which an elastic contact piece 43 is continuous via a connecting wall 41.

[0026] The resilient contact piece 43 is arranged inside the electrical connection part 29 so as to overlap with the bottom wall 31 by bending the connecting wall 41. The resilient contact piece 43 is arranged inside the electrical connection part 29 so as to be elastically deformable, with the connecting wall 41 side as a base end and the tip side as a free end. A contact part 45 that protrudes in a curved shape toward the inside of the electrical connection part 29 is provided on the free end side of the resilient contact piece 43 by stamping. The contact part 45 contacts the mating electrical connection part 117 of the mating terminal 105 inserted into the electrical connection part 29 and the auxiliary contact part 37 by the biasing force of the resilient contact piece 43 so as to be sandwiched between them, and electrically connects the mating terminal 105 and the terminal 5. The free end of the resilient contact piece 43 is formed into a locking piece 47 that protrudes toward the outside of the electrical connection part 29 by stamping when the contact part 45 is provided.

[0027] The bottom wall 31 is provided with a fulcrum portion 49 that is protruded toward the inside of the electrical connection portion 29 by stamping. The fulcrum portion 49 comes into contact with the elastic contact piece 43 and serves as a fulcrum when the elastic contact piece 43 is elastically deformed. By changing the position of the fulcrum portion 49, the elastic deformation force (urging force) of the elastic contact piece 43 can be adjusted. The bottom wall 31 is provided with a hole portion 51 that is formed penetrating the bottom wall 31. The hole portion 51 coincides with the communication hole 25 of the housing 3 when the terminal 5 is accommodated in the housing 3. The locking piece 47 is disposed in the hole portion 51. The locking piece 47 disposed in the hole portion 51 protrudes from the hole portion 51 to the outside of the electrical connection portion 29 when the mating electrical connection portion 117 is inserted into the electrical connection portion 29 and the elastic contact piece 43 is elastically deformed.

[0028] The locking piece 47 protruding from the hole 51 to the outside of the electrical connection portion 29 is accommodated in the locking piece accommodating portion 21 through the communication hole 25 of the housing 3. At this time, the tip of the locking piece 47 is arranged away from the opposing surface 53 of the locking piece accommodating portion 21 so as to have a gap between the tip of the locking piece 47 and the opposing surface 53 of the locking piece accommodating portion 21. The opposing surface 53 of the locking piece accommodating portion 21 may be curved to ensure a gap between the tip of the locking piece 47 and the opposing surface 53. The locking piece 47 accommodated in the locking piece accommodating portion 21 is arranged facing the locked portion 23 in the direction in which the terminal 5 is removed from the housing 3. The locking piece 47 is engaged with the locked portion 23 when an external force is applied to the terminal 5 in the direction in which the terminal 5 is removed from the housing 3 toward the receiving opening. The engagement between the locking piece 47 and the locked portion 23 prevents the terminal 5 from coming out of the receiving opening. Therefore, when the mating terminal 105 and the terminal 5 are electrically connected, the terminal 5 can be stably held in the housing 3. The locking piece 47 that holds the terminal 5 in the housing 3 is accommodated in the locking piece accommodating portion 21 and is not press-fitted. Therefore, the contact pressure between the elastic contact piece 43 and the mating electrical connection portion 117 of the mating terminal 105 does not increase, and the insertion force of the mating terminal 105 does not increase, improving the ease of assembly. In addition, since the tip of the locking piece 47 is separated from the opposing surface 53 of the locking piece accommodating portion 21, it is possible to reliably prevent the contact pressure between the elastic contact piece 43 and the mating electrical connection portion 117 of the mating terminal 105 from increasing. Note that the edge of the communication hole 25 of the housing 3 may be chamfered or rounded to prevent the contact pressure from increasing due to interference with the elastic contact piece 43 when the elastic contact piece 43 is elastically deformed.

[0029] Such a connector 1 includes a housing 3 and a terminal 5 accommodated in the housing 3 and having a box-shaped electrical connection portion 29 into which a mating terminal 105 is inserted. The electrical connection portion 29 includes an elastically deformable elastic contact piece 43 that comes into contact with the mating terminal 105, and a locking piece 47 provided at a free end of the elastic contact piece 43. The electrical connection portion 29 further includes a hole 51 that penetrates a wall portion facing the locking piece 47 and causes the locking piece 47 to protrude to the outside when the elastic contact piece 43 is elastically deformed. The housing 3 includes a locking piece accommodating portion 21 that accommodates the locking piece 47 protruding from the hole 51 and has an engaged portion 23 that is arranged opposite to the direction in which the terminal 5 is removed from the housing 3.

[0030] The locking piece 47 accommodated in the locking piece accommodating portion 21 is disposed facing the locked portion 23 in the direction in which the terminal 5 is removed from the housing 3. Therefore, when the mating terminal 105 and the terminal 5 are electrically connected, the terminal 5 can be stably held in the housing 3. The locking piece 47 that holds the terminal 5 in the housing 3 is accommodated in the locking piece accommodating portion 21 and is not press-fitted. Therefore, the contact pressure between the resilient contact piece 43 and the mating terminal 105 does not increase, and the insertion force of the mating terminal 105 does not increase, improving the ease of assembly.

[0031] Therefore, in such a connector 1, the assembling performance can be improved, and the terminals 5 can be stably held in the housing 3.

[0032] Furthermore, the tip of the locking piece 47 is disposed away from the opposing surface 53 of the locking piece receiving portion 21 when the elastic contact piece 43 is elastically deformed.

[0033] Therefore, the tip of the locking piece 47 does not come into contact with the opposing surface 53 of the locking piece receiving portion 21, and an increase in the contact pressure between the elastic contact piece 43 and the mating terminal 105 can be reliably prevented.

[0034] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

[0035] For example, in the present embodiment, the mating terminal is accommodated in the mating housing, but this is not limited thereto, and the mating terminal may be electrically connected to a terminal accommodated in the housing without being accommodated in the mating housing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1 Connector 3. Housing 5 Terminal 21 Locking piece receiving portion 23 Locked part 29 Electrical Connections 43 Elastic contact piece 47 Locking piece 51 Hole 53 Opposite Surface 105 Mating terminal

Claims

1. Housing and a terminal accommodated in the housing and having a box-shaped electrical connection portion into which a mating terminal is inserted; Equipped with the electrical connection portion has an elastically deformable elastic contact piece that comes into contact with the mating terminal, a locking piece provided at a free end of the elastic contact piece, and a hole portion that penetrates a wall portion facing the locking piece and causes the locking piece to project outward when the elastic contact piece is elastically deformed, The housing is provided with a locking piece accommodating portion that accommodates the locking piece protruding from the hole and has an engaged portion that is positioned opposite the direction in which the terminal is removed from the housing.

2. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a tip of the locking piece is disposed away from the opposing surface of the locking piece receiving portion when the elastic contact piece is elastically deformed.

Images