Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector having a conductive member capable of realizing both of a strength and an easy dismantlement.SOLUTION: A conductive member 40 includes: a fastening part 42 that is positioned to an external part of a housing 20, and is fastened to a fixing part 30; a connection part 43 that is positioned into an inner part of the housing 20, and is connected to a terminal 90; and coupling parts 44 and 45 that is positioned between the connection part 43 and the fastening part 42 in the external part of the housing 20. The coupling parts 44 and 45 include: a fragile part 44 that is integrally coupled to each of the connection part 43 and the fastening part 42, and can be broken; and a reinforcement part 45 that is extended from at least one side on the connection part 43 side and the fastening part 42 side to the other side, and is engaged to the other side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to connectors. [Background technology]

[0002] The connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a housing and a metallic conductive member attached to the housing. The conductive member has a connection portion connected to a female terminal connected to an electric wire, and an earth connection portion led out of the housing and fixed to a vehicle. The conductive member has a groove in a portion located inside the housing. When dismantling a vehicle, the electric wire drawn out from the housing is pulled by a crane or the like with the earth connection portion fixed to the vehicle. This breaks (destroys) the groove, and the portion of the conductive member closer to the earth connection portion than the groove remains on the vehicle, while the portion closer to the connection portion than the groove is pulled away from the vehicle together with the electric wire.

[0003] In the case of Patent Document 1, the groove is located inside the housing. Therefore, a relatively small force such as vibration applied to the vehicle when not dismantling the vehicle is received by the housing and is not directly transmitted to the groove. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the groove from being broken by the relatively small force.

[0004] The technology for removing electric wires and the like from a vehicle is also disclosed in Patent Document 2. The conductive member in Patent Document 1 is a terminal called an earth joint terminal. Such an earth joint terminal is also disclosed in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-73925 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2003-203687 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2011-103192 A [Patent Document 4] Patent Publication No. 2022-113255 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, unlike Patent Document 1, there are cases where a structure in which the recessed groove is located outside the housing must be adopted due to design circumstances of the connector, etc. If a weak part such as the recessed groove is located outside the housing, there is a concern that the weak part may be unintentionally broken by a relatively small force such as vibration applied to the vehicle, and some kind of countermeasure is necessary.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector having a conductive member that is both strong and easy to disassemble. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The connector of the present disclosure comprises a housing and a metallic conductive member attached to the housing, the conductive member having a fastening portion located outside the housing and fastened to a fixed portion, a connection portion located inside the housing and connected to a terminal, and a connecting portion located outside the housing between the connection portion and the fastening portion, the connecting portion having a breakable fragile portion integrally connected to each of the connection portion and the fastening portion, and a reinforcing portion extending from at least one side of the connection portion side and the fastening portion side toward the other side and engaged with the other side. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector equipped with a conductive member that is both strong and easy to disassemble. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, as viewed obliquely from above and behind. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the rear of the connector. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the housing main body as viewed obliquely from above and from the front. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the housing body as viewed obliquely from above and rearward. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the conductive member as viewed obliquely from below and from the front. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the conductive member as viewed obliquely from above and behind. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing the first locking portion and the first locked portion in an engaged state. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing the second locking portion and the second locked portion in an engaged state. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the tip end of the extending portion in the extending direction is fitted into the receiving portion. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the conductive member that remains on the vehicle after the vehicle has been dismantled, as viewed obliquely from above and rearward. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The connector of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A housing and a metal conductive member attached to the housing, the conductive member having a fastening portion located outside the housing and fastened to a fixed portion, a connection portion located inside the housing and connected to a terminal, and a connecting portion located outside the housing between the connection portion and the fastening portion, the connecting portion having a breakable fragile portion integrally connected to each of the connection portion and the fastening portion, and a reinforcing portion extending from at least one side of the connection portion side and the fastening portion side toward the other side and engaged with the other side.

[0012] For example, when a vehicle equipped with the connector is dismantled, if a relatively large force is applied to the conductive member, the reinforcement part is disengaged from the other side (the side that the reinforcement part is engaged with) and the fragile part is broken (destroyed). As a result, the part of the conductive member that is on the fastening part side remains on the fixed part side, and the part that is on the connection part side is pulled away from the fixed part side. In contrast, when a relatively small force is applied to the conductive member, for example, when the connector is installed in a vehicle or when the vehicle is running, this force is distributed to the reinforced portion in addition to the weak portion, thereby preventing the weak portion from being unintentionally broken.

[0013] (2) In the connector described in (1) above, it is preferable that the connection portion is located forward and above the fastening portion, the reinforcing portion extends rearward and downward from the connection portion, and has a lower end side that is engaged with the fastening portion, and has a covering portion that covers the weak portion from behind.

[0014] Since the fragile portion is covered and protected from the rear by the covering portion, it is possible to prevent the fragile portion from being broken or damaged by an external force. In addition, since the reinforcing portion extends rearward and downward from the connecting portion, the reinforcing portion is also pulled away when the vehicle is dismantled, etc., and the amount of the conductive member remaining in the fixing portion can be reduced. As a result, the conductive member can be efficiently recovered.

[0015] (3) In the connector described in (2) above, it is preferable that the fastening portion has a first locking portion that faces the reinforcing portion from the front and a second locking portion that faces the reinforcing portion from above.

[0016] For example, when a force that pulls the connection portion forward is applied to the conductive member, the first locking portion is locked to the reinforcement portion from behind, and the lock between the reinforcement portion and the fastening portion can be maintained. When a force that pulls the connection portion up is applied to the conductive member, the second locking portion is locked to the reinforcement portion, and the lock between the reinforcement portion and the fastening portion can be maintained. Therefore, whether the force applied to the conductive member acts in the forward or upward direction, the lock between the reinforcement portion and the fastening portion can be maintained.

[0017] (4) In the connector described in (2) or (3) above, it is preferable that the connection portion has an upper tier busbar portion, a lower tier busbar portion located lower than the upper tier busbar portion, and a connecting portion connecting one end of the upper tier busbar portion and the lower tier busbar portion, the upper tier busbar portion and the lower tier busbar portion have a plurality of tabs protruding forward, the weak portion extends rearward and downward from the lower tier busbar portion, and the reinforcing portion extends rearward and downward from the upper tier busbar portion.

[0018] Since the weak portion extends from the lower bus bar portion and the reinforcing portion extends from the upper bus bar portion, the connection portion, weak portion, reinforcing portion and fastening portion can be manufactured with good yield from conductive plate material.

[0019] (5) In the connector described in any of (1) to (4) above, it is preferable that the reinforcing portion has a shape extending from the one side to the other side, and the fragile portion has a shape extending from the one side to the other side in a longer detour than the reinforcing portion.

[0020] When a relatively large force is applied to the conductive member during dismantling of a vehicle, the engagement between the reinforcement portion and the other side is released first, and then the weak portion is destroyed. Therefore, the state in which the engagement between the reinforcement portion and the other side is released and the state in which the weak portion is destroyed can be appropriately achieved. In addition, the load (stress) acting on the conductive member can be dispersed in the longitudinal direction of the weak portion by the amount that the weak portion extends in a detour.

[0021] (6) In the connector described in any one of (1) to (5) above, it is preferable that the conductive member has an extension portion extending from the fastening portion toward the connection portion, the extension portion being positioned away from the connecting portion, and the housing has a receiving portion into which a tip end of the extension portion in the extending direction fits.

[0022] For example, when a force (bending load) is applied to the connecting portion in a bending direction, the mating portion between the extension portion and the receiving portion can resist the bending load. Since the extension portion is disposed away from the connecting portion, the bending load transmitted to the engagement portion between the reinforcement portion and the other side can be reduced, and the engagement between the reinforcement portion and the other side can be maintained. In addition, since the extension portion does not have a locking structure for the housing, when a relatively large force is applied to the conductive member, such as when dismantling a vehicle, the extension portion can easily come out of the housing.

[0023] (7) In the connector described in (6) above, it is preferable that a rear surface of the housing is an outlet surface from which the conductive member is drawn, and the receiving portion is a lightening hole that opens into the outlet surface.

[0024] Since the receiving portion has both the function of receiving the extension portion and the function of a lightening hole (preventing the housing from sinking, reducing weight, etc.), it is possible to avoid the housing structure becoming complicated due to the formation of the receiving portion.

[0025] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0026] <Embodiment 1> As shown in Fig. 2, the connector 10 of the first embodiment includes a housing 20, a conductive member 40 attached to the housing 20, and a plurality of terminals 90 accommodated in the housing 20. Each terminal 90 is connected (jointed) to the conductive member 40 inside the housing 20. In the following description, the front side is defined as the side where each terminal 90 is located with respect to the conductive member 40. The up-down direction is based on the up-down direction in Fig. 2. The symbols X, Y, and Z in Figs. 1 and 2 represent the front side, the left side (the left side when viewed from the front side), and the top side, respectively. The references for these directions are for convenience, and do not necessarily coincide with the references for directions when the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like (not shown).

[0027] (Terminal 90) The terminal 90 is integrally formed by bending a conductive metal plate, etc. As shown in Fig. 2, the rear end of the terminal 90 is connected by crimping to an end portion of the covered electric wire 100. The front end of the terminal 90 is cylindrical, and a tab 66 (described later) of the conductive member 40 can be inserted and connected inside.

[0028] (Housing 20) The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin, and has a housing body 21 and a retainer 22 movably assembled to the housing body 21, as shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, a plurality of cavities 23 capable of accommodating each terminal 90 are formed in the front part of the housing body 21. The cavities 23 are arranged in two tiers, upper and lower, and open to the front surface of the housing body 21. The coated electric wires 100 connected to each terminal 90 are arranged to extend forward from the housing body 21.

[0029] 2, a pair of upper and lower retainer insertion holes 24 are formed in the front-rear intermediate portion of the housing body 21. Each retainer insertion hole 24 opens in pairs on the upper and lower surfaces of the housing body 21. The rear end of each cavity 23 communicates with each retainer insertion hole 24. A retainer 22 is inserted and attached into each retainer insertion hole 24.

[0030] The housing body 21 has an elastically deformable lance 29 that protrudes into the cavity 23. The terminal 90 is inserted into the cavity 23 from the front of the housing body 21, and is primarily restricted from coming out of the cavity 23 by being locked by the lance 29. The terminal 90 is secondarily restricted from coming out of the cavity 23 by the retainer 22 inserted into the retainer insertion hole 24.

[0031] As shown in Figures 2 and 5, a mounting hole 25 into which a conductive member 40 can be mounted is formed in the rear of the housing body 21. The mounting hole 25 has a slit-like cross-sectional shape corresponding to the conductive member 40 described later, and opens on the rear surface of the housing body 21. The rear surface of the housing body 21 is configured as an extraction surface 26 from which an exposed portion 41 of the conductive member 40 is extracted. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the conductive member 40 has an exposed portion 41 extending rearward and downward from the extraction surface 26. Note that a die removal hole 27 formed due to removal of a die (not shown) for molding the lance 29 opens in a position adjacent to the mounting hole 25 on the extraction surface 26.

[0032] The housing main body 21 has receiving portions 28 that open in pairs at both left and right ends of the lower end side of the pull-out surface 26, which is on the outer periphery side of the mounting hole 25. As shown in FIG. 10, each receiving portion 28 extends in the front-rear direction inside the housing main body 21 and receives an extension portion 55 (described later) of the conductive member 40 from the rear in a fitted state. As shown in FIG. 5, each receiving portion 28 is L-shaped in rear view and is composed of a portion extending in the left-right direction and a portion extending upward from the left and right outer ends of this portion. The portion of each receiving portion 28 that receives the extension portion 55 (excluding the left and right inner ends) opens at a position that does not overlap with the exposed portion 41 of the conductive member 40 in rear view of the connector 10 (see FIG. 1).

[0033] (Conductive member 40) The conductive member 40 is integrally formed by bending a conductive metal plate or the like. As shown in Fig. 2, the conductive member 40 has a fastening portion 42, a connecting portion 43 disposed inside the housing main body 21, and linking portions 44, 45 disposed between the connecting portion 43 and the fastening portion 42 and connecting the connecting portion 43 and the fastening portion 42. The exposed portion 41, which is a portion disposed outside the housing 20, is composed of the fastening portion 42 and the linking portions 44, 45. As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 10, the connecting portion 43 is inserted into the mounting hole 25 and disposed inside the housing 20.

[0034] 6 and 7, the fastening portion 42 has a fastening body 46 with a plate surface facing in the vertical direction. A circular fastening hole 47 is formed penetrating the fastening body 46 in the plate thickness direction (vertical direction). The conductive member 40 is screwed to the fixing portion 30 (see FIG. 2) in a grounded state via a fixing member such as a bolt (not shown) that is inserted into the fastening hole 47. The fastening portion 42 has a rotation prevention portion 48 that bends downward and extends from one of the left and right ends. The rotation prevention portion 48 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the side, and is disposed with its plate surface facing the left and right direction. The rotation prevention portion 48 fits into a hole or the like (not shown) of the fixing portion 30 to prevent rotation and position the conductive member 40 relative to the fixing portion 30.

[0035] 6 and 7, the fastening body 46 is formed with an embossed fastening side rib 49 that bulges upward. The fastening side ribs 49 are arranged in pairs at positions near both the left and right ends of the fastening body 46. Each fastening side rib 49 is composed of a portion that curves and extends toward the outer periphery of the fastening hole 47 and a portion that extends forward from the front end of this portion.

[0036] As shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 7, the fastening portion 42 is formed with a first locking portion 51 and a second locking portion 52. The first locking portion 51 is bent upward and stands from the front end portion of the fastening body 46 and the middle portion on the left and right (excluding both left and right ends). As shown in Fig. 8, the first locking portion 51 has a rectangular shape in a side view and is disposed with its plate surface facing in the left and right direction. The rear end surface (plate thickness surface) of the first locking portion 51 is formed as a first locking surface 53 that can be locked with a first locked portion 78 described later.

[0037] 3 and 7, the second locking portions 52 are arranged in pairs at positions near the front end of the fastening body 46 and near both the left and right sides. Each second locking portion 52 is formed by cutting and raising a part of the fastening body 46. By cutting and raising each second locking portion 52, a hole 54 is formed in the fastening body 46 at a position adjacent to each second locking portion 52.

[0038] 2 and 9, the second locked portion 81 is sandwiched between the fastening body 46 and the second locked portion 52 in the vertical direction, and faces and contacts the upper surface of the fastening body 46 and faces and contacts the lower surface of the second locked portion 52. A portion of the second locked portion 52 that protrudes upward from the fastening body 46 faces and contacts the rear end surface (plate thickness surface) of the second locked portion 81.

[0039] As shown in Figs. 3 and 7, the conductive member 40 has a pair of extensions 55 extending rearward from the front end and both left and right ends of the fastening body 46. Each extension 55 extends forward independently from both ends of the fastening body 46, and is disposed apart from the left and right outer sides of the connecting parts 44, 45. As shown in Figs. 3, 6, 10, and 11, each extension 55 has an inclined part 56 inclined upward toward the front from the fastening part 42 side, and a tip part 57 extending straight forward from the front end of the inclined part 56, as viewed from the extension direction. The tip part 57 is located forward and above the fastening body 46. As shown in Fig. 10, the tip part 57 is located in a range overlapping with the connecting part 43 in the front-rear direction and below the connecting part 43.

[0040] A cross section of each extension portion 55 (a cross section cut in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of each extension portion 55) is L-shaped, similar to the cross section of each receiving portion 28. As shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 11, when viewed in the left-right direction, each extension portion 55 has an extension main body (horizontal plate portion 58) arranged to continue from the fastening main body 46 with its plate surface facing up and down, and extension ribs (vertical plate portion 59) standing from the left-right outer ends of the horizontal plate portion 58 and arranged with their plate surfaces facing left-right. The vertical plate portion 59 is also formed to continue to the left-right outer ends of the fastening main body 46.

[0041] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the connection portion 43 has an upper busbar portion 62 arranged with its plate surface facing in the vertical direction, a lower busbar portion 63 located below the upper busbar portion 62 and arranged with its plate surface facing in the vertical direction, and a connecting portion 64 connecting the left and right ends of the lower busbar portion 63 and the upper busbar portion 62 (the right ends as shown).

[0042] Each of the upper busbar portion 62 and the lower busbar portion 63 has a band-shaped busbar body 65 extending in the left-right direction, and a plurality of tabs 66 protruding forward from the front end of the busbar body 65. The tabs 66 are arranged side by side at regular intervals in the left-right direction at the front end of the busbar body 65 so that the upper busbar portion 62 and the lower busbar portion 63 have the same pitch. In addition, the upper busbar portion 62 and the lower busbar portion 63 have a plurality of cut-and-raised protrusions 67. The cut-and-raised protrusions 67 are arranged side by side at intervals in the left-right direction on the busbar body 65 so as to correspond to the respective tabs 66 individually. As shown in FIG. 2, when the connection portion 43 is inserted into the mounting hole 25, each of the cut-and-raised protrusions 67 is engaged with the inner surface of the mounting hole 25. This prevents the connection portion 43 from slipping out of the mounting hole 25, and the conductive member 40 is held in the housing 20. The connecting portion 64 is disposed between the left and right ends (right ends in the figure) of the upper busbar portion 62 and the lower busbar portion 63 so as to extend in the vertical direction.

[0043] 1, 6 and 7, the connecting portion has a reinforcing portion 45 of a constant width whose plate width faces the left-right direction, and a weak portion 44 narrower than the reinforcing portion 45. The reinforcing portion 45 and the weak portion 44 are arranged so that the plate surfaces of the portions excluding the ends in the up-down direction (upper end root portion 68, lower end root portion 69, upper end reinforcement portion 74, and lower end reinforcement portion 75, which will be described later) face in the front-rear direction.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 6, the weak portion 44 is disposed forward of the reinforcing portion 45. As described later, the weak portion 44 is set to break first when a relatively large force acts on the conductive member 40, such as when each coated electric wire 100 drawn out from the housing 20 is pulled upward and pulls the connecting portion 43 away from the fixed portion 30. An upper end of the weak portion 44 is integrally connected to the rear end of the busbar main body 65 of the lower busbar portion 63. A lower end of the weak portion 44 is integrally connected to the front end of the fastening main body 46. In short, the weak portion 44 is integrally connected to each of the connecting portion 43 and the fastening portion 42.

[0045] 6, the fragile portion 44 has an upper end root portion 68 that protrudes rearward from a position closer to one of the left and right sides at the rear end of the busbar body 65 of the lower busbar portion 63 and is bent downward, a lower end root portion 69 that protrudes forward from a position closer to the other left or right side at the front end of the fastening body 46 and is then bent upward, and a band plate portion 71 that extends in the left-right direction between the upper end root portion 68 and the lower end root portion 69. The upper end root portion 68 is an end portion on one of the left and right sides of the band plate portion 71 and is integrally connected to the upper end portion. The lower end root portion 69 is an end portion on the other left or right side of the band plate portion 71 and is integrally connected to the lower end portion.

[0046] Compared to a case where the connection portion 43 and the fastening portion 42 are each connected linearly in the up-down direction, the weak portion 44 has a detoured S- or Z-shaped shape in a front view because the band plate portion 71 extends in the left-right direction. V-shaped notches 72 are recessed into both left and right end surfaces (plate thickness surfaces) of the lower end root portion 69 of the weak portion 44. Each notch 72 is formed in the rear end portion of the lower end root portion 69 near the fastening body 46. When the above-mentioned relatively large force is applied, the weak portion 44 is broken at each notch 72, and a fracture surface 73 (see FIG. 11 ) along the left-right direction is formed as an exposed surface between each notch 72 of the lower end root portion 69.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 7, the reinforcement portion 45 has an upper end reinforcement portion 74 that is integrally connected to the rear end of the busbar main body 65 of the upper busbar portion 62, a lower end reinforcement portion 75 that is placed on the upper surface of the front end of the fastening main body 46, and a cover portion 76 that extends downward from the upper end reinforcement portion 74 to the lower end reinforcement portion 75. The upper end reinforcement portion 74, the lower end reinforcement portion 75 and the cover portion 76 have a constant width dimension in the left-right direction. The upper end reinforcement portion 74 protrudes rearward from a left-right intermediate portion (a portion excluding both left and right ends) of the rear end of the busbar main body 65 and is then bent downward. The lower end reinforcement portion 75 is curved downward and rearward from the cover portion 76, and is disposed with its free end, that is, its rear end surface (plate thickness surface), facing rearward.

[0048] The covering portion 76 is disposed along the up-down direction. Embossed reinforcing side ribs 77 that bulge rearward are formed on both the left and right ends of the covering portion 76. Each reinforcing side rib 77 extends in the up-down direction in the covering portion 76. Each reinforcing side rib 77 is formed continuously with the lower end reinforcing portion 75, and its lower end in the extending direction reaches the rear end surface of the lower end reinforcing portion 75 (see FIG. 9).

[0049] As shown in FIG. 7, a first locked portion 78 is formed at the left-right intermediate portion of the covering portion 76. The first locked portion 78 is a hole-shaped hole that penetrates the covering portion 76 in the plate thickness direction and extends in the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 8, the reinforcing side ribs 77 are arranged on both the left and right sides of the first locked portion 78. The first locked portion 78 is also formed to be continuous with the lower end reinforcing portion 75. As shown in FIG. 3, the first locked portion 78 has a first locked surface 79 that extends in the left-right direction at the lower end reinforcing portion 75. The first locked surface 79 of the first locked portion 78 is arranged facing forward and can be locked by facing the first locking surface 53 (see FIG. 8) of the first locking portion 51.

[0050] 7, second locked portions 81 are formed on both left and right ends of the bottom end reinforcement portion 75. Each reinforcing side rib 77 is disposed on the left and right inner side of each second locked portion 81. The second locked portions 81 include the upper surface, lower surface and rear end surface of the bottom end reinforcement portion 75, and are formed without applying any special processing to both left and right ends of the bottom end reinforcement portion 75.

[0051] (Function of Connector 10) When assembling the connector 10, first, the conductive member 40 is attached to the housing 20. Specifically, the connection portion 43 is press-fitted into the mounting hole 25 from the rear of the housing 20 and held therein. In addition, the tip portion 57 of each extension portion 55 is inserted into each receiving portion 28 from the rear of the housing 20 in a fitted state, and fitting portions having an L-shaped cross section are formed by the extension portion 55 and the receiving portion 28 at both left and right ends of the connector 10. Here, as shown in FIG. 10, the extension portion 55 is not engaged with the receiving portion 28 but is merely inserted. In addition, the exposed portion 41 of the conductive member 40 is arranged exposed outside (rear) of the housing 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0052] After the conductive member 40 is attached to the housing 20, each terminal 90 is inserted into each cavity 23 from the front of the housing 20 and held therein. Each terminal 90 is in a state in which it is connected to an end portion of the covered electric wire 100 in advance. As shown in FIG. 2, each tab 66 of the connection portion 43 of the conductive member 40 is connected to each terminal 90 inside the housing 20.

[0053] When the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle (not shown), the fastening portion 42 of the conductive member 40 is fixed (grounded) to the fixed portion 30 (body, ground portion) of the vehicle via a fixing member such as a bolt. With the conductive member 40 attached, the housing 20 is disposed at a position one step higher than the fastening portion 42 via the connecting portions 44, 45. When the connector 10 is mounted on the vehicle or the vehicle is running, if a relatively small force such as vibration (a vibration with a small amplitude, hereinafter also referred to as a "small load") is applied to the connector 10, there is a concern that the weak portion 44 may break (including fatigue breakage). However, in the case of the present embodiment 1, since the reinforcing portion 45 is provided behind the weak portion 44, the small load acting on the connecting portions 44, 45 is distributed to the reinforcing portion 45 in addition to the weak portion 44, and is not concentrated on the weak portion 44. This makes it possible to avoid a situation in which the weak portion 44 is broken unintentionally. In particular, since the reinforcing portion 45 has a wider and larger area than the weak portion 44, it can sufficiently resist the small load.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 8, the first engaging portion 51 is inserted into the first engaged portion 78, and the first engaging surface 53 of the first engaging portion 51 is arranged to be able to abut against the first engaged surface 79 of the first engaged portion 78 from the front, thereby restricting the reinforcing portion 45 from being displaced forward with respect to the fastening portion 42. Also, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 9, the second engaged portion 81 is sandwiched between the fastening main body 46 and the second engaging portion 52 in the vertical direction, and the second engaging portion 52 is arranged to be able to abut against the upper surface of the second engaged portion 81, thereby restricting the reinforcing portion 45 from being displaced upward with respect to the fastening portion 42. Furthermore, the second engaging portion 52 is arranged to be able to abut against the rear end surface of the second engaged portion 81, thereby restricting the reinforcing portion 45 from being displaced backward with respect to the fastening portion 42. As a result, when small loads act on the connecting portions 44, 45 in the forward, rearward, and upward directions, the reinforcing portion 45 is prevented from shifting in position relative to the fastening portion 42, and the connection state between the fastening portion 42 and the reinforcing portion 45 can be maintained in a good state.

[0055] Furthermore, when a bending load is applied to connector 10 with the fastening portion 42 as the fulcrum, the L-shaped cross-sectional mating portion between extension portion 55 and receiving portion 28 can resist the bending load (see Figures 1 and 10), so that the connected state between fastening portion 42 and reinforcing portion 45 can be maintained, as described above.

[0056] When a vehicle is dismantled, each of the coated electric wires 100 drawn out from the housing 20 is hooked on a hook of a crane (not shown) or the like, and each of the coated electric wires 100 is pulled upward (including diagonally upward) away from the fixing part 30. Then, a relatively large force (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a "large load") that pulls the housing 20 upward acts on the housing 20. As a result, the engagement between the reinforcing part 45 and the fastening part 42 is released, and the reinforcing part 45 is pulled away from the fastening part 42. Then, the reinforcing structure by the reinforcing part 45 is lost, and the tip part 57 of the extending part 55 comes out of the receiving part 28, and the fragile part 44 is deformed so as to stretch in the pulling direction of each of the coated electric wires 100. Furthermore, as each of the coated electric wires 100 is pulled upward, the fragile part 44 is stretched to its maximum extent, and each of the notches 72 is used as a trigger to break the fragile part 44 from the fracture surface 73.

[0057] 11, of the conductive member 40, a part of the lower end reinforcement portion 75 of the weak portion 44, the fastening portion 42, and the extending portion 55 remain on the fixed portion 30 side. In contrast, of the conductive member 40, most of the weak portion 44 (excluding a part of the lower end reinforcement portion 75), the connecting portion 43, and the reinforcement portion 45 are pulled away from the fixed portion 30 side together with the coated electric wires 100 and the housing 20. Since most of the weak portion 44 and the reinforcement portion 45, etc. do not remain on the fixed portion 30 side, shredder dust from the harness components, etc. remaining in the vehicle can be reduced, which is advantageous from the standpoint of environmental protection and economy.

[0058] As described above, according to the first embodiment, when a relatively large force is applied to the conductive member 40 during dismantling of a vehicle equipped with the connector 10, the engagement between the reinforcing portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 is released and the fragile portion 44 is broken. As a result, the portion of the conductive member 40 on the fastening portion 42 side remains in the fixed portion 30, and the portion on the connection portion 43 side is pulled away from the fixed portion 30.

[0059] In contrast, when a relatively small force is applied to the conductive member 40 when the connector 10 is mounted on the vehicle or when the vehicle is running, this force is distributed to the reinforcing portion 45 in addition to the weak portion 44, thereby preventing the weak portion 44 from being unintentionally broken.

[0060] Furthermore, in the case of the first embodiment, the connection portion 43 is located forward and above the fastening portion 42, the reinforcing portion 45 extends rearward and downward from the connection portion 43, the lower end side of the reinforcing portion 45 is engaged with the fastening portion 42, and the fragile portion 44 is covered from the rear by the covering portion 76 of the reinforcing portion 45. This protects the rear surface of the fragile portion 44 with the covering portion 76, thereby preventing the fragile portion 44 from being broken or damaged by an external force from behind (interference with a foreign object, etc.). In particular, since the reinforcing portion 45 extends rearward and downward from the connection portion 43, the reinforcing portion 45 is also pulled away during dismantling, and the amount of the conductive member 40 remaining on the fixing portion 30 can be reduced.

[0061] Moreover, the fastening portion 42 has a first locking portion 51 facing the lower end reinforcing portion 75 of the reinforcing portion 45 from the front and a second locking portion 52 facing the lower end reinforcing portion 75 of the reinforcing portion 45 from above. As a result, when a force (the above-mentioned small load) that pulls the connecting portion 43 forward acts on the conductive member 40, the first locking portion 51 is locked to the first locked portion 78 of the reinforcing portion 45, and the lock between the reinforcing portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 can be maintained. Also, when a force (similarly a small load) that pulls the connecting portion 43 up acts on the conductive member 40, the second locking portion 52 is locked to the second locked portion 81 of the reinforcing portion 45, and the lock between the reinforcing portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 can be maintained. Therefore, whether the force applied to the conductive member 40 acts in the forward or upward direction, the lock between the reinforcing portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 can be maintained.

[0062] Furthermore, in the structure of the conductive member 40, the weak portions 44 extend rearward and downward from the lower busbar portion 63, and the reinforcing portions 45 extend rearward and downward from the upper busbar portion 62. Therefore, the weak portions 44 and the reinforcing portions 45 can be manufactured from a metal plate with a relatively good yield.

[0063] Furthermore, the weak portion 44 is shaped to extend in a roundabout manner longer than the reinforcement portion 45 from the connection portion 43 side to the fastening portion 42 side. Therefore, when a relatively large force is applied to the conductive member 40 when a vehicle equipped with the connector 10 is dismantled, the engagement between the reinforcement portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 side is released first, and then the weak portion 44 is destroyed. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately realize a state in which the engagement between the reinforcement portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 side is released, and a state in which the weak portion 44 is destroyed. Moreover, since the weak portion 44 extends in a roundabout manner, the load (stress) acting on the conductive member 40 can be dispersed in the length direction of the weak portion 44, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the weak portion 44 from being unintentionally broken.

[0064] Furthermore, the conductive member 40 has an extension portion 55 extending from the fastening portion 42 toward the connecting portion 43, the extension portion 55 is disposed away from the connecting portions 44, 45, and the housing 20 has a receiving portion 28 into which the tip portion 57 of the extension portion 55 fits. Therefore, when a bending load is applied to the connecting portions 44, 45, the fitting portion between the extension portion 55 and the receiving portion 28 can resist the bending load. In particular, since the extension portion 55 is disposed away from the connecting portions 44, 45, the bending load transmitted to the engagement portion between the reinforcing portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 side can be reduced, and the engagement between the reinforcing portion 45 and the fastening portion 42 side can be maintained. In addition, since the extension portion 55 does not have a locking structure for the housing 20, the extension portion 55 can easily come out of the housing 20 when dismantled.

[0065] Furthermore, the rear surface of the housing 20 is the pull-out surface 26 from which the conductive member 40 is pulled out, and the receiving portion 28 is configured as a lightening hole that opens into the pull-out surface 26. In other words, since the receiving portion 28 has both the function of receiving the extending portion 55 and the function of a lightening hole (preventing the housing 20 from shrinking, reducing weight, etc.), it is possible to avoid the structure of the housing 20 from becoming complicated due to the formation of the receiving portion 28.

[0066] [Another embodiment of the present disclosure] The above-described first embodiment disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the case of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the conductive member 40 is attached by being inserted into the attachment hole 25 of the housing 20. In contrast to this, according to another embodiment, the conductive member may be attached by being insert molded into the housing. In the case of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the reinforcing portion 45 extends from the connecting portion 43 side toward the fastening portion 42 side and is shaped to be locked to the fastening portion side. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the reinforcing portion may extend from the fastening portion side toward the connecting portion side and be locked to the connecting portion side. Alternatively, the reinforcing portion may be composed of a portion extending from the connecting portion side toward the fastening portion side and a portion extending from the fastening portion side toward the connecting portion side, and both portions may be configured to be locked to each other at the upper and lower intermediate portions of the coupling portion. In the case of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the housing 20 in which the terminals 90 are accommodated is the same as the housing 20 in which the conductive member 40 is attached. In contrast, the housing in which the terminals are accommodated may be a housing separate from the housing in which the conductive member is attached, and may be a mating housing for the housing in which the conductive member is accommodated. In the case of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the reinforcing portion 45 is disposed so as to cover the weak portion 44 from the rear. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the reinforcing portion may be disposed so as to cover the weak portion from the front. Moreover, the reinforcing portion may only cover a part of the weak portion, or may not cover the weak portion and may be offset from the weak portion. In the case of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the reinforcing portion 45 is configured to be locked to the fastening portion 42 by locking with both the first locking portion 51 and the second locking portion 52. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the reinforcing portion may be configured to be locked to the fastening portion by locking with either one of the first locking portion or the second locking portion. Also, the number and arrangement of the first locking portions and the second locking portions are arbitrary. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 10…Connector 20. Housing 21…Housing body 22…Retainer 23…Cavity 24…Retainer insertion hole 25…Mounting hole 26...Drawer surface 27…Mold hole 28…Receiving part 29…Lance 30…Fixed part 40...Conductive member 41...Exposed part 42… Fastening part 43…Connection 44...Fragile part (connection part) 45…Reinforcement section (connection section) 46…Fastening body 47…Fastening hole 48…Anti-rotation part 49…Fastening side rib 51...First locking portion 52...Second locking portion 53…First locking surface 54…Drilling hole 55...Extension part 56…Slope part 57...Tip 58…Horizontal plate part 59…Vertical plate section 62…Upper busbar section 63…Lower busbar section 64…Connecting part 65…Busbar body 66…Tab 67…Cut-out protrusion 68…Top end base 69…Bottom end base 71...Strip plate part 72…Notch 73...Fracture surface 74…Upper end reinforcement 75…Lower end reinforcement part 76…Covering part 77…Reinforcement side rib 78...First locked part 79...First locked surface 81...Second locked part 90…Terminal 100…Coated wire

Claims

1. Housing and a metal conductive member attached to the housing; Equipped with The conductive member is a fastening portion located outside the housing and fastened to a fixing portion; a connection portion located inside the housing and connected to a terminal; a coupling portion located outside the housing between the connection portion and the fastening portion; having The connecting portion is a breakable fragile portion integrally connected to each of the connection portion and the fastening portion; a reinforcing portion extending from at least one of the connection portion side and the fastening portion side toward the other side and engaging with the other side.

2. The connection portion is located forward and above the fastening portion, 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing portion extends rearward and downward from the connection portion, a lower end side of the reinforcing portion is engaged with the fastening portion, and the reinforcing portion has a covering portion that covers the fragile portion from behind.

3. 3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the fastening portion has a first locking portion facing the reinforcing portion from the front and a second locking portion facing the reinforcing portion from above.

4. The connection portion is An upper bus bar portion; a lower busbar portion located below the upper busbar portion; a connecting portion connecting one end of the upper busbar portion and one end of the lower busbar portion; having the upper busbar portion and the lower busbar portion each have a plurality of tabs protruding forward; The weak portion extends rearward and downward from the lower busbar portion, The connector according to claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing portion extends rearward and downward from the upper busbar portion.

5. The reinforcing portion has a shape extending from the one side to the other side, The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the fragile portion has a shape that extends from the one side to the other side in a longer detour than the reinforcing portion.

6. the conductive member has an extension portion extending from the fastening portion toward the connection portion, The extension portion is disposed away from the connecting portion, The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the housing has a receiving portion into which a tip end of the extending portion in an extending direction is fitted.

7. a rear surface of the housing is a withdrawal surface from which the conductive member is withdrawn, The connector according to claim 6 , wherein the receiving portion is a lightening hole that opens onto the lead-out surface.

Images