Connector device

Abstract

To provide a connector device by which a connector can be stored and held in a holder.SOLUTION: A connector device C comprises a connector 10 and a holder 60 in which the connector 10 is stored. The connector 10 includes a housing 20, in which a plurality of cavities 23 is formed, and a bus bar 40 held in the housing 20. A female terminal fitting can be inserted from a rear side into the cavity 23. The plurality of cavities 23 is disposed side by side in a horizontal direction. The bus bar 40 includes a plurality of tabs 42 disposed on the front ends of the cavities 23. The housing 20 is formed in a flat shape which is longer in the horizontal direction than in a vertical direction. The holder 60 includes right and left sidewall surfaces 60C which are opposed with right and left side faces 10C of the connector 10 in a state where the connector 10 is stored inside. Connector side lock parts 11 are provided on the right and left side faces 20C of the housing 20, and holder side lock parts 66 which are locked with the connector side lock parts 11 are provided on the right and left sidewall surfaces 60C of the holder 60.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1 below, for example, a connector including a plate-shaped conductive member having a plurality of tabs and a housing that holds the conductive member is known. The housing is provided with a terminal accommodation portion. The tabs are disposed to project into the terminal accommodation portion. A female terminal connected to the end portion of an electric wire is inserted into the terminal accommodation portion. The female terminal inserted into the terminal accommodation portion is electrically connected to the tabs. The housing of this type of connector often has a flat shape along the plate surface of the conductive member. Note that Patent Documents 2 and 3 below disclose connectors provided with retainers.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, there is a desire to accommodate a connector including the above-described plate-shaped conductive member in a holder for fixing to a vehicle body or the like and use it. In this case, it is necessary to provide a lock structure for holding the connector in the holder. However, for example, when arranging connectors vertically in the holder, there is a situation where it is desirable to avoid increasing the height dimension of the flat housing as much as possible.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector device capable of accommodating and holding a connector in a holder without increasing the height dimension of a flat housing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The connector device of the present disclosure is a connector device including a connector and a holder that houses the connector therein, wherein the connector has a housing in which a plurality of cavities are formed and a bus bar held by the housing, the female terminal fitting can be inserted into the cavity from the rear, the plurality of cavities are arranged side by side in the left - right direction, the bus bar has a plurality of tabs arranged at the front end of each of the cavities, the housing has a flat shape that is longer in the left - right direction than in the up - down direction, the holder has left and right side wall surfaces facing the left and right side surfaces of the connector when the connector is housed therein, connector - side locking portions are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the housing, and holder - side locking portions that engage with the connector - side locking portions are provided on the left and right side wall surfaces of the holder.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector device capable of accommodating and holding a connector in a holder without increasing the height dimension of a flat housing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. [1] The connector device of the present disclosure is a connector device including a connector and a holder that houses the connector therein, wherein the connector has a housing in which a plurality of cavities are formed and a bus bar held by the housing, the female terminal fitting can be inserted into the cavity from the rear, the plurality of cavities are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, the bus bar has a plurality of tabs arranged at the front end of each of the cavities, the housing has a flat shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the up-down direction, the holder has left and right side wall surfaces facing the left and right side surfaces of the connector when the connector is housed therein, connector-side locking portions are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the housing, and holder-side locking portions that engage with the connector-side locking portions are provided on the left and right side wall surfaces of the holder. According to such a configuration, since it is not necessary to provide the connector-side locking portion on the upper surface or the lower surface of the housing, the connector can be housed and held in the holder without increasing the height dimension of the flat housing. [2] In the connector device described in [1] above, the left and right side wall surfaces of the holder have lock arms that extend in a cantilevered manner from the back side of the holder toward the opening side, the holder-side locking portion is provided on the lock arm, and the tip of the lock arm may be disposed in front of the opening end of the holder. According to such a configuration, compared with the case where the holder-side locking portion is disposed on the back side of the holder, it is easier to deform the lock arm in the unlocking direction. Therefore, when it is desired to remove the connector from the holder, the locked state between the holder-side locking portion and the connector-side locking portion can be easily released. [3] In the connector device described in [2] above, the holder-side locking portion is provided to project inward in the left-right direction of the lock arm, and has a holder-side contact surface that contacts the connector-side locking portion when the connector is inserted into the holder. The holder-side contact surface may be inclined such that the protruding dimension gradually increases from the tip side of the lock arm toward the back side. According to such a configuration, the connector-side locking portion smoothly rides up on the holder-side locking portion due to the inclination of the holder-side contact surface provided on the holder-side locking portion, so that the connector can be smoothly inserted into the holder. [4] In the connector device according to any one of [1] to [3] above, the connector has a retainer for preventing the female terminal fitting inserted into the cavity from coming off. The retainer has a main body portion extending in the left-right direction and locking portions provided at both ends in the left-right direction of the main body portion. Locking grooves into which the locking portions are fitted are recessed in the left and right side surfaces of the housing, and the locking grooves are provided with opening restriction surfaces inclined so as to restrict the locking portions from opening outward in the left-right direction. According to such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the locking portion of the retainer from opening outward in the left-right direction and forming a step on the side surface of the connector, so that the connector can be smoothly inserted into the holder. [5] In the connector device described in [4] above, the connector-side locking portion is provided to protrude outward in the left-right direction from the left and right side surfaces of the housing, and has a connector-side contact surface that contacts the holder-side locking portion when the connector is inserted into the holder. The connector-side contact surface may be provided continuously with the opening restriction surface and may be inclined so that the protruding dimension gradually increases from the front side to the rear side. According to such a configuration, the connector-side locking portion smoothly rides onto the holder-side locking portion due to the inclination of the holder-side contact surface and the connector-side contact surface, so that the connector can be smoothly inserted into the holder.

[0010] [Details of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] A specific example of the connector device of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, and is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0011] [Embodiment 1] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector device C includes two connectors 10 and a holder 60. The two connectors 10 are respectively inserted into the holder 60 from the opening end 61 of the holder 60. The holder 60 is provided with two accommodating portions 62 for individually accommodating the connectors 10.

[0012] In the description of the holder 60, the side where the opening end 61 is provided is the front side, and the back side of the accommodating portion 62 is the rear side. In the description of the connector 10, the front side in the insertion direction with respect to the holder 60 is the front side. In the description of both the holder 60 and the connector 10, the vertical direction is based on the vertical direction in FIG. 1, and the horizontal direction is the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and the front-rear direction. These definitions of directions are for explaining the connector device C and do not necessarily coincide with the directions in the usage state. In FIGS. 3 to 5 showing only the connector 10, "front side", "left side", and "upper side" are indicated by reference signs X, Y, and Z, respectively.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the holder 60 includes a partition wall 63 that divides the two accommodating portions 62. The two accommodating portions 62 are arranged vertically. Each accommodating portion 62 has a shape that is long in the left-right direction. The vertical dimension of each accommodating portion 62 is smaller than the left-right dimension.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, the two connectors 10 are accommodated in the respective accommodating portions 62 with their vertical orientations reversed. The two connectors 10 have the same structure. Regarding the connector 10, the side where the retainer 50 is attached will be described as the lower side.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, each accommodating portion 62 is surrounded by an upper wall surface 60A, a lower wall surface 60B, and left and right side wall surfaces 60C. In a state where the connector 10 is accommodated in the holder 60, the upper wall surface 60A faces the upper surface 10A of the connector 10, the lower wall surface 60B faces the lower surface 10B of the connector 10, and the left and right side wall surfaces 60C face the left and right side surfaces 10C of the connector 10. Both the upper and lower surfaces of the partition wall 63 are the lower wall surface 60B that faces the lower surface 10B of the connector 10.

[0016] In each accommodating portion 62, the upper wall surface 60A and the lower wall surface 60B are arranged in parallel. In each accommodating portion 62, the left and right side wall surfaces 60C are arranged in parallel. Holder-side locking portions 66 are provided on the left and right side wall surfaces 60C. The holder-side locking portions 66 are provided in two upper and lower rows, one pair on the left and right. A total of four holder-side locking portions 66 are provided.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the holder-side locking portion 66 is provided on the locking arm 64. The locking arm 64 is formed between the upper and lower slits 65. Each slit 65 extends linearly rearward from the opening end 61 of the holder 60. The locking arm 64 extends cantilever-like from the rear side to the front side. The locking arm 64 is elastically displaceable in the left-right direction starting from the rear end side. The tip of the locking arm 64 protrudes forward from the opening end 61 of the holder 60. The holder-side locking portion 66 will be described in more detail later.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 3, the connector 10 includes a housing 20, two busbars 40, and a retainer 50. The two busbars 40 are arranged in upper and lower two stages with respect to the housing 20. Each busbar 40 is formed by punching a conductive metal plate. Each busbar 40 has a connecting portion 41 and a plurality of tabs 42. The connecting portion 41 extends in the left - right direction. A plurality of connecting holes 43 are formed in the connecting portion 41. The plurality of tabs 42 protrude rearward from the trailing edge of the connecting portion 41 side by side in the left - right direction. The two busbars 40 are inserted and mounted into the housing 20 from the front.

[0019] The retainer 50 is pushed into the housing 20 from below upward for mounting. The retainer 50 is made of synthetic resin and has a main body portion 51 and a locking portion 52. The main body portion 51 extends in the left - right direction. A plurality of terminal locking portions 53 for locking to a female terminal fitting (not shown) are provided in the main body portion 51. In a state where the retainer 50 is mounted on the housing 20, the retainer 50 locks to the female terminal fitting inserted into each cavity 23 and prevents the female terminal fitting from coming off. The female terminal fitting is made of conductive metal and is connected to the terminal portion of an electric wire (not shown). The lower surface 50B of the main body portion 51 is continuous with the lower surface 20B of the housing 20 without a step in a state where the retainer 50 is mounted on the housing 20 (see Fig. 4). The lower surface 50B of the main body portion 51 and the lower surface 20B of the housing 20 constitute the lower surface 10B of the connector 10.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 3, the left and right locking portions 52 are provided at both ends in the left - right direction of the main body portion 51. Each locking portion 52 has a wall shape and protrudes upward from the main body portion 51. A locking recess 54 is formed in each locking portion 52. The locking recess 54 locks to a locking projection 22 provided on the housing 20. The locking recess 54 is provided on the inner surface 50D in the left - right direction of each locking portion 52. By the locking recess 54 locking to the locking projection 22, the retainer 50 is held in a state of being mounted on the housing 20.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 5, each locking portion 52 is shaped to fit into a locking groove portion 28 described later. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the cross-sectional shape of each locking portion 52 orthogonal to the vertical direction is a trapezoidal shape adapted to the shape of the locking groove portion 28. The outer surfaces 50C on the left and right sides of each locking portion 52 are continuous with the left and right side surfaces 20C of the housing 20 without a step in a state where the retainer 50 is attached to the housing 20 (see FIG. 5). The outer surfaces 50C of each locking portion 52 and the left and right side surfaces 20C of the housing 20 constitute the left and right side surfaces 10C of the connector 10.

[0022] The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin and has a flat shape along the plate surface of the bus bar 40 as shown in FIG. 3. The vertical dimension of the housing 20 is smaller than the horizontal dimension. The horizontal dimension of the housing 20 is larger than the front-rear dimension.

[0023] A plurality of cavities 23 are formed in the housing 20. The plurality of cavities 23 are arranged in two upper and lower stages. In each stage, the cavities 23 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The female terminal fittings are inserted into each cavity 23 from the rear.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 6, a bus bar mounting portion 24 is formed at the front end portion of the housing 20. The bus bar mounting portion 24 is provided in front of the cavity 23. Two bus bar mounting portions 24 are provided corresponding to the two-stage cavities 23. Each bus bar mounting portion 24 is open to the front. The bus bar 40 is inserted into the bus bar mounting portion 24 from the front. A plurality of locking protrusions 25 are provided on the bus bar mounting portion 24. The locking protrusions 25 fit into the connection holes 43 of each bus bar 40 to prevent each bus bar 40 from coming off. The tabs 42 are arranged to protrude one by one at the front end portions of each cavity 23.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3, a retainer mounting portion 26 is formed in the housing 20. The retainer mounting portion 26 has a main body groove portion 27 and a locking groove portion 28. The main body portion 51 of the retainer 50 fits into the main body groove portion 27. The locking portion 52 of the retainer 50 fits into the locking groove portion 28.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 6, the groove portion 27 for the main body is formed at the middle portion in the front-rear direction of the cavity 23 and extends in the left-right direction. The groove portion 27 for the main body opens to the lower surface 20B of the housing 20 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). The locking groove portion 28 is recessed in the left and right side surfaces 20C of the housing 20. A locking convex portion 22 projects from each locking groove portion 28 (see FIG. 3).

[0027] As shown in FIG. 7, each locking groove portion 28 has an opening restriction surface 29. The opening restriction surface 29 restricts the locking portion 52 from opening outward in the left-right direction. The opening restriction surface 29 constitutes both the front and rear surfaces of each locking groove portion 28. The front opening restriction surface 29 is inclined rearward from the inner side to the outer side in the left-right direction. The rear opening restriction surface 29 is inclined forward from the inner side to the outer side in the left-right direction. The dimension of the locking groove portion 28 in the front-rear direction gradually decreases from the inner side to the outer side in the left-right direction.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 5, connector-side lock portions 11 are provided on the left and right side surfaces 20C of the housing 20. The connector-side lock portions 11 are provided to project outward in the left-right direction from the left and right side surfaces 20C of the housing 20.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, the connector-side lock portion 11 is formed from a position slightly above the vertical center of the housing 20 to the lower end of the housing 20. Since the left and right connector-side lock portions 11 have the same structure, only one side will be described.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 7, the connector-side lock portion 11 includes a connector-side locking surface 12, a connector-side guide surface 13, and a connector-side contact surface 14. The connector-side locking surface 12 is provided at the rear end of the connector-side lock portion 11. The connector-side locking surface 12 forms an angle close to perpendicular to the left and right side surfaces 20C of the housing 20. The connector-side locking surface 12 is located in front of the rear end of the housing 20.

[0031] The connector-side contact surface 14 is provided on the front side of the connector-side locking portion 11. The connector-side contact surface 14 contacts the holder-side locking portion 66 when the connector 10 is inserted into the holder 60 (see FIG. 8). The connector-side contact surface 14 is inclined such that the protruding dimension gradually increases from the front side to the rear side. The connector-side contact surface 14 is provided continuously with the opening restriction surface 29. In other words, the front end of the connector-side contact surface 14 and the outer ends in the left-right direction of the opening restriction surface 29 are arranged at the same position. Thereby, the outer surface 50C of the locking portion 52 and the connector-side contact surface 14 are continuous without a gap in the front-rear direction.

[0032] The connector-side guide surface 13 is provided between the connector-side locking surface 12 and the connector-side contact surface 14. The connector-side guide surface 13 is parallel to the left and right side surfaces 20C of the housing 20.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 7, the holder-side locking portion 66 is provided at the free end of the lock arm 64. The holder-side locking portion 66 protrudes inward in the left-right direction of the lock arm 64. Approximately half of the holder-side locking portion 66 in the front-rear direction is arranged in front of the opening end 61 of the holder 60.

[0034] The holder-side locking portion 66 includes a holder-side locking surface 67, a holder-side guide surface 68, and a holder-side contact surface 69. The holder-side locking surface 67 is provided at the rear end of the holder-side locking portion 66. The holder-side locking surface 67 forms an angle close to perpendicular to the inner surface of the lock arm 64. The holder-side locking surface 67 is located behind the opening end 61 of the holder 60. The holder-side locking portion 66 and the connector-side locking portion 11 are locked within the accommodating portion 62.

[0035] The holder-side contact surface 69 is provided on the front side of the holder-side locking portion 66. The holder-side contact surface 69 contacts the connector-side locking portion 11 when the connector 10 is inserted into the holder 60 (see FIG. 8). The holder-side contact surface 69 is inclined such that the protruding dimension gradually increases from the front side to the rear side.

[0036] The holder-side guide surface 68 is provided between the holder-side locking surface 67 and the holder-side contact surface 69. The holder-side guide surface 68 is parallel to the inner surface of the lock arm 64. The length dimension of the holder-side guide surface 68 in the front-rear direction is smaller than the length dimension of the connector-side guide surface 13 in the front-rear direction.

[0037] Next, an example of the operation of inserting the connector 10 from the opening end 61 of the holder 60 into the accommodating portion 62 will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the locking portion 52 of the retainer 50 is arranged without floating outward in the left-right direction by the opening restriction surface 29 of the locking groove portion 28. As a result, no step is formed on the left and right side surfaces 10C of the connector 10. The left and right side surfaces 10C of the connector 10 are smoothly inserted into the back side of the holder 60 without getting caught on the holder-side locking portion 66. The connector-side contact surface 14 abuts against the holder-side contact surface 69, and when the connector 10 is further pushed in, the lock arm 64 is elastically displaced outward in the left-right direction, and the connector-side locking portion 11 passes inside the holder-side locking portion 66. As shown in FIG. 7, the connector-side locking portion 11 enters deeper than the holder-side locking portion 66, and the lock arm 64 elastically returns. Thereby, the connector-side locking surface 12 and the holder-side locking surface 67 are in a locked state. Thus, the operation of inserting the connector 10 into the holder 60 is completed. The operation of inserting the connector 10 into the holder 60 is performed without requiring so much force because the connector-side contact surface 14 and the holder-side contact surface 69 are inclined.

[0038] When removing the connector 10 from the holder 60, an outward force in the left - right direction is applied to the tip of the lock arm 64 by a finger or a jig or the like to elastically displace the lock arm 64 outward in the left - right direction. As a result, the locked state between the holder - side lock portion 66 and the connector - side lock portion 11 is released, and the connector 10 can be removed from the holder 60. Here, when the lock arm is provided on the inner side of the holder, in order to remove the connector from the holder, it is necessary to insert a jig to the inner side of the holder and push the lock arm in the unlocking direction. On the other hand, in the connector device C, since the tip of the lock arm 64 protrudes outward from the opening end 61 of the holder 60, the lock arm 64 can be easily pushed in the unlocking direction. Therefore, the connector 10 can be easily removed from the holder 60.

[0039] Next, the operation and effects of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. The connector device C includes a connector 10 and a holder 60 that houses the connector 10 inside. The connector 10 has a housing 20 and a bus bar 40. A plurality of cavities 23 are formed in the housing 20. The bus bar 40 is held by the housing 20. Female terminal fittings can be inserted into the cavities 23 from the rear. The plurality of cavities 23 are arranged side by side in the left - right direction. The bus bar 40 has a plurality of tabs 42 arranged at the front end of each of the cavities 23. The housing 20 has a flat shape that is longer in the left - right direction than in the up - down direction. The holder 60 has left and right side wall surfaces 60C that face the left and right side surfaces 10C of the connector 10 when the connector 10 is housed inside. Connector - side lock portions 11 are provided on the left and right side surfaces 20C of the housing 20, and holder - side lock portions 66 that lock with the connector - side lock portions 11 are provided on the left and right side wall surfaces 60C of the holder 60. According to this configuration, since the connector - side lock portions 11 do not need to be provided on the upper surface 20A or the lower surface 20B of the housing 20, the connector 10 can be housed and held in the holder 60 without increasing the height dimension of the flat housing 20.

[0040] Further, the left and right side wall surfaces 60C of the holder 60 have locking arms 64 that extend in a cantilevered manner from the back side of the holder 60 toward the opening end 61 side. The holder-side locking portion 66 is provided on the locking arm 64. The tip of the locking arm 64 is disposed in front of the opening end 61 of the holder 60. According to this configuration, compared with the case where the holder-side locking portion is disposed on the back side of the holder, the locking arm 64 can be more easily deformed in the unlocking direction. Therefore, when it is desired to remove the connector 10 from the holder 60, the locked state between the holder-side locking portion 66 and the connector-side locking portion 11 can be easily released.

[0041] Further, the holder-side locking portion 66 is provided so as to protrude inward in the left-right direction of the locking arm 64. The holder-side locking portion 66 has a holder-side contact surface 69. The holder-side contact surface 69 contacts the connector-side locking portion 11 when the connector 10 is inserted into the holder 60. The holder-side contact surface 69 is inclined so that the protruding dimension gradually increases from the tip side of the locking arm 64 toward the back side of the holder 60. According to this configuration, the connector-side locking portion 11 can smoothly ride up on the holder-side locking portion 66 due to the inclination of the holder-side contact surface 69 provided on the holder-side locking portion 66, so that the connector 10 can be smoothly inserted into the holder 60.

[0042] Further, the connector 10 has a retainer 50 that prevents the female terminal fitting inserted into the cavity 23 from coming off. The retainer 50 has a main body portion 51 and a locking portion 52. The main body portion 51 extends in the left-right direction. The locking portions 52 are provided at both ends in the left-right direction of the main body portion 51. Locking grooves 28 into which the locking portions 52 are fitted are recessed in the left and right side surfaces 20C of the housing 20. An opening restriction surface 29 is provided in the locking groove 28. The opening restriction surface 29 is inclined so as to restrict the locking portion 52 from opening outward in the left-right direction. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the locking portion 52 of the retainer 50 from opening outward in the left-right direction and forming a step on the side surface 10C of the connector 10, so that the connector 10 can be smoothly inserted into the holder 60.

[0043] In addition, the connector-side locking portion 11 is provided to protrude outward in the left-right direction from the left and right side surfaces 20C of the housing 20. The connector-side locking portion 11 has a connector-side contact surface 14. The connector-side contact surface 14 contacts the holder-side locking portion 66 when the connector 10 is inserted into the holder 60. The connector-side contact surface 14 is provided continuously with the opening restriction surface 29. The connector-side contact surface 14 is inclined so that the protruding dimension gradually increases from the front side to the rear side. According to this configuration, the connector-side locking portion 11 can smoothly ride up on the holder-side locking portion 66 due to the inclination of the holder-side contact surface 69 and the connector-side contact surface 14, so that the connector 10 can be smoothly inserted into the holder 60.

[0044] [Other Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the case of the above-described embodiment, the holder 60 is provided with two accommodating portions 62 for individually accommodating the connectors 10. However, as another embodiment, the holder may be provided with only one accommodating portion for accommodating the connectors, or may be provided with three or more accommodating portions. In the case of the above-described embodiment, the bus bars 40 are arranged in two upper and lower stages with respect to the housing 20. However, as another embodiment, the bus bars may be arranged in only one stage with respect to the housing, or may be arranged in three or more stages. In the case of the above-described embodiment, the holder-side locking portion 66 is provided on the locking arm 64. However, as another embodiment, the holder may not form a locking arm, and the holder-side locking portion may be directly provided on the left and right side wall surfaces of the holder. In the case of the above-described embodiment, the dimension of the housing 20 in the left-right direction is larger than the dimension in the front-rear direction. However, as another embodiment, the dimension of the housing in the left-right direction may be smaller than the dimension in the front-rear direction. In the case of the above-described embodiment, the tip of the locking arm 64 protrudes forward of the opening end 61 of the holder 60. However, as another embodiment, the tip of the locking arm may be arranged rearward of the opening end of the holder. In the case of the above-described embodiment, both the holder-side contact surface 69 and the connector-side contact surface 14 are inclined. However, as another embodiment, only one of them may be inclined. In the case of the above-described embodiment, each locking groove portion 28 has an opening restriction surface 29. However, as another embodiment, an opening locking surface may not be provided in each locking groove portion. In the case of the above-described embodiment, the connector-side contact surface 14 is provided continuously with the opening restriction surface 29. However, as another embodiment, the connector-side contact surface may be provided at a position spaced apart from the opening restriction surface.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0045] 10... Connector 10A... Upper surface 10B... Lower surface 10C... Side surface 11... Connector-side lock portion 12... Connector-side locking surface 13... Connector-side guide surface 14... Connector-side contact surface 20... Housing 20A... Upper surface 20B... Lower surface 20C... Side surface 22... Locking projection 23... Cavity 24... Bus bar mounting portion 25... Locking protrusion 26... Retainer mounting portion 27... Main body groove portion 28... Locking groove portion 29... Opening restriction surface 40... Bus bar 41... Connecting portion 42... Tab 43... Connecting hole 50... Retainer 50B... Lower surface 50C... Outer surface 50D... Inner surface 51... Main body portion 52... Locking portion 53... Terminal locking portion 54... Locking recess 60... Holder 60A... Upper wall surface 60B... Lower wall surface 60C... Side wall surface 61... Open end 62... Accommodation part 63... Partition wall 64... Lock arm 65... Slit 66... Holder-side locking part 67... Holder-side engaging surface 68... Holder-side guiding surface 69... Holder-side contact surface C... Connector device

Claims

1. A connector device comprising a connector and a holder for accommodating the connector therein, The connector includes a housing having a plurality of cavities formed therein, and a bus bar held by the housing. A female terminal fitting can be inserted into the cavity from the rear, and the plurality of cavities are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, the bus bar has a plurality of tabs disposed at a front end of each of the cavities; The housing has a flat shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the up-down direction, the holder has left and right side wall surfaces that face left and right side surfaces of the connector when the connector is housed therein; The housing is provided with connector-side locking portions on the left and right side surfaces thereof, The connector device includes a holder-side locking portion provided on each of the left and right side wall surfaces of the holder, the holder-side locking portion being engaged with the connector-side locking portion.

2. The left and right side wall surfaces of the holder have lock arms extending in a cantilever manner from the inner side of the holder to the opening side, The holder side locking portion is provided on the locking arm, The connector device according to claim 1 , wherein a tip end of the locking arm is disposed forward of an open end of the holder.

3. the holder-side locking portion is provided to protrude inward in the left-right direction of the locking arm and has a holder-side contact surface that comes into contact with the connector-side locking portion when the connector is inserted into the holder, 3. The connector device according to claim 2, wherein the holder-side contact surface is inclined so that a protruding dimension gradually increases from the tip side of the lock arm toward the inner side.

4. The connector has a retainer that prevents the female terminal fittings inserted into the cavities from falling out, The retainer has a main body portion extending in a left-right direction and locking portions provided at both left-right end portions of the main body portion, The housing has left and right side surfaces each having a recessed locking groove into which the locking portion is fitted, The connector device according to claim 1 , wherein the locking groove portion is provided with an opening restriction surface that is inclined to restrict the locking portion from opening outward in the left-right direction.

5. the connector-side locking portions are provided so as to protrude outward in the left-right direction from left and right side surfaces of the housing, and have connector-side contact surfaces that come into contact with the holder-side locking portions when the connector is inserted into the holder, 5. The connector device according to claim 4, wherein the connector-side contact surface is provided continuous with the opening restriction surface and is inclined so that a protruding dimension gradually increases from the front side to the rear side.

Images