connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that can simplify an on-site assembling work for conductive members such as harnesses.SOLUTION: A housing 11 has an abutting stopper portion 17 that is located at the rear end side of a cavity 14 and abuts against a terminal fitting 80 to stop the terminal fitting 80. A holder 40 has a cover portion 41 facing the front end side of the cavity 14. A first insertion hole 18 is formed in the abutting stopper portion 17, and a second insertion hole 44 is formed in the cover portion 41. The terminal fitting 80 has a first connection portion 81 that is connectable from the first insertion hole 18 to a conductive portion of a mating terminal fitting 170 arranged in the cavity 14, and a second connection portion 82 that is connectable from the second insertion hole 44 to a conductive portion of an FPC 160 arranged in the cavity 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a connector including a holder that holds a flat cable in a bent state, and terminals housed in a connector housing. The connector housing has a terminal accommodation chamber extending in the front-rear direction inside the connector housing, a terminal insertion hole penetrating the front wall of the connector housing and communicating with the terminal accommodation chamber, and a rear opening that opens on the rear surface of the connector housing and communicates with the terminal accommodation chamber. Terminals are inserted and accommodated in each terminal accommodation chamber from the rear. A mating terminal is inserted into the terminal insertion hole from the front. The mating terminal is connected to the terminal housed in the terminal accommodation chamber. A holder holding a flat cable is inserted into the rear opening. Patent Document 2 discloses an electrical connector including a connector body into which a flat cable is inserted.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the case of Patent Document 1, at a site such as a harness factory, after inserting a terminal into the terminal accommodation chamber of the connector housing, it is necessary to perform an operation of inserting and assembling a holder holding a flat cable into the connector housing, resulting in a problem of a large working burden.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that can simplify the work at the site where the assembly work of a conductive member such as a harness is performed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure includes a housing having a cavity, a terminal fitting housed in the cavity of the housing, and a holder attached to the housing. The housing has a butting portion located on one end side of the cavity for butting the terminal fitting. The holder has a covering portion disposed to face the other end side of the cavity. A first insertion hole communicating with one end side of the cavity is formed in the butting portion, and a second insertion hole communicating with the other end side of the cavity is formed in the covering portion. The terminal fitting faces one end side of the cavity and has a first connection portion connectable to the conductive portion of a first conductive member disposed in the cavity from the first insertion hole, and faces the other end side of the cavity and has a second connection portion connectable to the conductive portion of a second conductive member disposed in the cavity from the second insertion hole.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector that can simplify the work at the site where the assembly work of a conductive member such as a harness is performed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

BEST 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. The connector of the present disclosure is (1) A housing having a cavity, a terminal fitting housed in the cavity of the housing, and a holder attached to the housing, wherein the housing has a contact portion located on one end side of the cavity for abutting the terminal fitting, the holder has a covering portion disposed opposite to the other end side of the cavity, a first insertion hole communicating with the one end side of the cavity is formed in the contact portion, a second insertion hole communicating with the other end side of the cavity is formed in the covering portion, the terminal fitting faces the one end side of the cavity and has a first connection portion connectable to a conductive portion of a first conductive member disposed in the cavity from the first insertion hole, and faces the other end side of the cavity and has a second connection portion connectable to a conductive portion of a second conductive member disposed in the cavity from the second insertion hole.

[0010] The terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity of the housing from the other end side of the cavity and abutted against the contact portion. Then, the holder is attached to the housing, and the other end side of the cavity of the housing is covered with the covering portion. Thereby, the terminal fitting is held in a state where it is restricted from coming out of the cavity with respect to the housing and the holder. The housing holding the terminal fitting is conveyed to a site such as a harness factory where the first conductive member or the second conductive member is assembled. At this site, the conductive portion of the first conductive member or the conductive portion of the second conductive member is inserted into the cavity from the first insertion hole or the second insertion hole. The conductive portion of the first conductive member or the conductive portion of the second conductive member is connected to the first connection portion or the second connection portion of the terminal fitting previously inserted into the cavity. According to this, at a site such as a harness factory, there is no need to perform the operation of inserting the terminal fitting into the cavity of the housing, so the number of work steps can be reduced and the work can be simplified.

[0011] (2) In the connector according to the above (1), further comprising a lock member attached to the housing, wherein the first conductive member is a circuit board, the housing has a locking receiving portion, and the lock member preferably has a locking portion that penetrates through a through hole of the circuit board and locks with the locking receiving portion. The conductive portion of the circuit board is inserted into the cavity from the first insertion hole and connected to the first connection portion of the terminal fitting. Thereafter, when the lock member is attached to the housing, the locking portion of the lock member penetrates the through hole of the circuit board and locks with the locking receiving portion of the housing. The circuit board is fixed to the housing via the lock member. By fixing the circuit board to the housing, the connection position between the conductive portion of the circuit board and the first connection portion of the terminal fitting can be kept constant.

[0012] (3) In the connector according to the above (1) or (2), it is preferable that the second conductive member has a tab-shaped mating connection portion on the conductive portion, and the second insertion hole of the holder is a tab insertion hole through which the mating connection portion is inserted. According to the configuration of the above (3), as the holder, a conventionally well-known front holder attached to the housing can be used.

[0013] (4) In the connector according to any one of the above (1) to (3), it is preferable that the terminal fitting is made of a conductive plate material and has a single flat plate-shaped connecting portion that connects the first connection portion and the second connection portion. According to the configuration of the above (4), in a chain terminal in which a plurality of terminal fittings are connected via a carrier, after forming the first connection portion and the second connection portion, the remaining portion after removing the carrier can be used as the connecting portion. Therefore, the terminal fitting can be efficiently and easily manufactured.

[0014] (5) In the connector according to any one of the above (1) to (4), it is preferable that the first conductive member is a circuit board, the first insertion hole has a tapered surface whose hole diameter in the thickness direction of the circuit board gradually decreases toward the cavity, and the housing has a fitting recess for fitting the first connection portion in a positioning state between opposing surfaces facing each other in the thickness direction in the cavity. With the first connection portion of the terminal fitting inserted into the cavity and positioned by the fitting recess, the conductive portion of the circuit board is guided by the tapered surface and connected to the first connection portion. According to this, the connection between the conductive portion of the circuit board and the first connection portion of the terminal fitting can be properly made.

[0015] (6) In the connector according to any one of (1) to (5) above, it is preferable that the first conductive member is a flexible printed circuit board as the circuit board. If the first conductive member is a flexible printed circuit board as the circuit board, the handleability can be improved.

[0016] [Details of Embodiments 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 this exemplification, and is shown by the claims, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are included.

[0017] <Embodiment 1> As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 10 of Embodiment 1 includes a housing 11, a holder 40, a lock member 60, and a terminal fitting 80. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 11 is fitted with a mating connector 100. The terminal fitting 80 has a first connection portion 81 and a second connection portion 82. The first connection portion 81 is connected to a flexible circuit board (FPC 160 described later) as the first conductive member. The second connection portion 82 is connected to a mating terminal fitting 170 as the second conductive member. In the following description, regarding the front-rear direction, the side where the second connection portion 82 of the terminal fitting 80 is located is defined as the front side, and the side where the first connection portion 81 of the terminal fitting 80 is located is defined as the rear side. The up-down direction is based on the up-down direction in each figure except FIGS. 8 and 10. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the front side is represented by the symbol X, the right side is represented by the symbol Y, and the upper side is represented by the symbol Z. The reference of these directions does not necessarily coincide with the reference of the directions in the state where the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like not shown in the drawings.

[0018] (Mating Connector 100) As shown in FIG. 2, the mating connector 100 includes a mating housing 110 and a plurality of mating terminal fittings 170. The mating housing 110 is made of synthetic resin and has a cylindrical hood portion 111 that is open to the rear. A lock receiving portion 112 is formed through the upper wall of the hood portion 111. A lock projection 13 of a lock arm 12 (to be described later) of the housing 11 is engageable with the lock receiving portion 112.

[0019] An inner wall 113 is formed on the front end side of the hood portion 111. Each mating terminal fitting 170 has a tab shape or a pin shape and includes a mating connection portion 171 that extends in the front-rear direction and penetrates the inner wall 113, and a board connection portion 172 that extends downward from the front end of the mating connection portion 171 in front of the inner wall 113. The mating connection portion 171 of each mating terminal fitting 170 penetrates the inner wall 113 in two upper and lower stages, and the rear end side projects into the hood portion 111. The lower end side of the board connection portion 172 is inserted into a through hole of a rigid printed circuit board (not shown) and is electrically connected to a conductive portion of the circuit board by soldering or the like.

[0020] (Housing 11) The housing 11 is made of synthetic resin and has a flat block shape with small vertical dimensions as shown in FIG. 5. A lock arm 12 projects from the upper surface of the housing 11. The lock arm 12 extends rearward from the front end portion of the upper surface of the housing 11 and is elastically deformable in the vertical direction with the front end side connected to the upper surface of the housing 11 as a fulcrum. A lock projection 13 that projects upward is formed on the lock arm 12. As shown in FIG. 2, when the housing 11 is fitted with the mating connector 100, the lock projection 13 fits into the lock receiving portion 112, and the housing 11 and the mating connector 100 are held in a fitted state.

[0021] The housing 11 is formed with a plurality of cavities 14 extending in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 5, each cavity 14 is arranged in a plurality of rows in the width direction in two upper and lower stages in the housing 11. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 12, the inner surface of each cavity 14 is arranged along the front-rear direction and does not project a lance equivalent to that of a conventional connector for locking the terminal fitting 80. Further, the housing 11 is formed with guide grooves 15 communicating individually with each cavity 14. Each guide groove 15 extends in the front-rear direction in parallel with each cavity 14, the front end of which opens to the front end surface of the housing 11 (see FIG. 5), and the rear end of which is closed at a position near the rear end of each cavity 14 (see FIGS. 2 and 12). The housing 11 has a fitting recess 16 in the rear portion of the cavity 14 behind each guide groove 15, into which the first connection portion 81 of the terminal fitting 80 can be fitted.

[0022] At the rear end portion of the housing 11, a contact portion 17 is formed so as to close the rear end of each cavity 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the contact portion 17 has a thickness exceeding the thickness of a lock member 60 described later in the front-rear direction. The front end surface (the front end face facing the cavity 14) of the contact portion 17 is struck by and stopped by the first connection portion 81 of the terminal fitting 80.

[0023] The abutting portion 17 is formed with first insertion holes 18 penetrating therethrough in the front-rear direction in upper and lower two stages. As shown in FIG. 4, each first insertion hole 18 has a slit shape that extends long in the left-right direction when viewed from the rear. The front end portions of flexible printed circuits (hereinafter referred to as "FPC 160") as flexible circuit boards are inserted into the respective first insertion holes 18 from the rear. As shown in FIG. 13, the front end portion of the FPC 160 is reinforced by attaching a reinforcing plate 161 to a film-like substrate 164 on which a conductive portion 163 (see FIG. 14) is printed. As shown in FIG. 2, the conductive portion 163 of the FPC 160 is electrically connected to the first connection portion 81 of the terminal fitting 80. As shown in FIG. 13, a pair of through holes 162 for penetrating the locking portions described later in a positioned state are formed on both the left and right end sides of the front end portion of the FPC 160. The through holes 162 have a rectangular opening shape at the front end portion of the FPC 160.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 12, the front-rear intermediate portion of the inner surface of the first insertion hole 18 is an insertion guide groove surface 19 that extends long along the front-rear direction. The front end portion of the inner surface of the first insertion hole 18 is a tapered surface 21 that gradually narrows in the vertical direction from the front end of the insertion guide groove surface 19 to the front end surface of the abutting portion 17. The rear end portion of the inner surface of the first insertion hole 18 is an attracting surface 18A that gradually expands in the vertical direction from the rear end of the insertion guide groove surface 19 to the rear end surface of the abutting portion 17. The tapered surface 21 is formed longer in the front-rear direction than the attracting surface 18A.

[0025] A pair of locking receivers 22 are formed at the left and right ends on the rear end side of the housing 11. As shown in FIG. 14, the locking receiver 22 has locking holes 23 that penetrate the left and right ends of the abutting portion 17 in the vertical direction. The locking holes 23 have a rectangular opening shape (see FIG. 5) and communicate with the respective first insertion holes 18 in two upper and lower stages. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, on the upper surface of the abutting portion 17, a rectangular cylindrical portion 24 that demarcates the upper end opening of each locking hole 23 protrudes. As shown in FIGS. 1, 5, and 14, on the inner surface of the hole surface of the locking hole 23 of the cylindrical portion 24, which is located on the left and right center side of the housing 11, a locking main body portion 25 protrudes. The locking main body portion 25 has a rib shape extending in the front-rear direction, and the upper surface is arranged flat along the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 14, a locking portion 62 (described later) of the lock member 60 is inserted into the locking hole 23 of the locking receiver 22 from below, and the locking protrusion 65 is locked to the locking main body portion 25.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 5, the front end of each cavity 14 opens on the front end surface of the housing 11 as a terminal insertion port 26 for inserting the terminal fitting 80 into the cavity 14. The housing 11 has a pair of side wall portions 27 that protrude forward from the left and right sides sandwiching the front end surface of the housing 11. A plurality of locked portions 28 that can be locked to the holder 40 are formed penetrating in the left-right direction in the side wall portion 27. Each locked portion 28 is arranged in two in the vertical direction in the side wall portion 27.

[0027] (Holder 40) The holder 40 is made of synthetic resin and is attached to the housing 11 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 12. The holder 40 has a covering portion 41 that covers the front end surface of the housing 11. The terminal fitting 80 is restricted from coming out forward from the cavity 14 by the covering portion 41. The covering portion 41 is arranged at a position facing the front end side of the cavity 14. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, a plurality of holder locking portions 42 protrude from the left and right ends of the covering portion 41, respectively. Each holder locking portion 42 is arranged in two in the vertical direction in the covering portion 41.

[0028] The holder 40 moves vertically along the front end face of the housing 11, and by fitting each holder locking portion 42 to each locked portion 28, it is held in a state where its movement is restricted with respect to the housing 11 (see FIG. 3).

[0029] As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of second insertion holes 44 are formed penetrating through the covering portion 41. The second insertion holes 44 are arranged in a plurality in the width direction in two upper and lower stages so as to correspond to the respective cavities 14. Each second insertion hole 44 communicates with the front end of each cavity 14 in a state where the holder 40 is properly mounted. As shown in FIG. 2, the mating connection portion 171 of the mating terminal fitting 170 is inserted into each second insertion hole 44 from the front. Further, a plurality of jig insertion holes 45 are formed penetrating through the covering portion 41 at positions adjacent to the respective second insertion holes 44. Each jig insertion hole 45 communicates with the front end of each cavity 14 at a temporary locking position before proper mounting. An inspection jig for inspecting the conduction state of each terminal fitting 80 (not shown) is inserted into each jig insertion hole 45 from the front. Note that the holder 40 shown in FIG. 6 is an existing front holder assembled to a general connector. Each second insertion hole 44 corresponds to a tab insertion hole of the front holder.

[0030] (Terminal fitting 80) The terminal fitting 80 is integrally formed by bending a conductive metal plate material or the like. The terminal fitting 80 of the first embodiment 1 is separated individually from a state where a plurality are arranged side by side in the left - right direction in the chain terminal 180 shown in FIG. 10. The terminal fitting 80 has a first connection portion 81 located on the rear - end side, a second connection portion 82 located on the front - end side, and a connection portion 83 connecting the first connection portion 81 and the second connection portion 82.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 7-9, the second connection portion 82 has a box portion 84 in the shape of a rectangular tube that is open in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 12, an elastic contact portion 85 is disposed inside the box portion 84. The elastic contact portion 85 extends rearward from the front end of the upper wall of the box portion 84 and is elastically deformable in the vertical direction with the front end side of the upper wall as a fulcrum. As shown in FIG. 2, the mating connection portion 171 of the mating terminal fitting 170 is disposed inside the second connection portion 82 and is conductively contacted with the elastic contact portion 85.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 7-9, the first connection portion 81 has a cylindrical portion 86 in the shape of a rectangular tube that is open in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 8, a slit 87 extending in the left-right direction is formed in the front-rear middle portion of the lower wall of the cylindrical portion 86. Among the lower wall of the cylindrical portion 86, the portion located on the front side (front side portion) via the slit 87 is disposed at a position one step lower than the portion located on the rear side (rear side portion). As shown in FIG. 12, an auxiliary spring portion 88 extending rearward from the rear end of the front side portion of the lower wall is formed in the cylindrical portion 86. The auxiliary spring portion 88 is elastically deformable in the vertical direction with the rear end side of the front side portion of the lower wall as a fulcrum.

[0033] Also, as shown in FIG. 12, a main body spring portion 89 is disposed inside the cylindrical portion 86. The main body spring portion 89 extends forward from the rear end of the rear side portion of the lower wall and is elastically deformable in the vertical direction with the rear end side of the rear side portion as a fulcrum. The front end portion of the main body spring portion 89 is supported from below by the rear end portion of the auxiliary spring portion 88.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, insertion portions 91 extending in the front-rear direction and opening at the rear end of the side wall are formed at the upper end portions of the left and right side walls of the cylindrical portion 86. The insertion portion 91 is an opening groove that extends long in the front-rear direction between the upper wall and the side wall of the cylindrical portion 86, and is open to the rear and both left and right sides. The front end portion of the FPC 160 is inserted into the insertion portion 91 of the cylindrical portion 86 along the front-rear direction. The front end portion of the FPC 160 is sandwiched in the vertical direction between the upper wall of the cylindrical portion 86 and the main body spring portion 89. The main body spring portion 89, together with the auxiliary spring portion 88, applies an elastic reaction force to the front end portion of the FPC 160, and sandwiches and holds the front end portion of the FPC 160 between itself and the upper wall of the cylindrical portion 86. The conductive portion 163 of the FPC 160 is in conductive contact with the contact portion 89A (see FIG. 9) of the main body spring portion 89.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, a stabilizer 92 is formed on the front end side of the upper wall of the cylindrical portion 86. The stabilizer 92 is bent between the cuts on both the left and right sides of the upper wall of the cylindrical portion 86. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 12, the stabilizer 92 is inserted into the guide groove 15 in a fitted state.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the connecting portion 83 has a single flat plate shape extending in the front-rear direction, and is arranged with the plate surface facing in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 12, the connecting portion 83 is a part of the carrier 181 of the chain terminal 180. In the chain terminal 180, the carrier 181 extends in the left-right direction, and the first connecting portion 81 and the second connecting portion 82 project from both the front and rear sides sandwiching the carrier 181. A connecting portion 83 is formed at the position connecting the first connecting portion 81 and the second connecting portion 82 by cutting away the portion between the terminal fittings 80 adjacent in the left-right direction in the carrier 181. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the front end of the connecting portion 83 is continuously connected to the upper wall of the box portion 84 of the second connecting portion 82 via the constricted portion 93. The rear end of the connecting portion 83 is also continuously connected to the upper wall of the cylindrical portion 86 of the first connecting portion 81 via the constricted portion 93. The left and right ends of the connecting portion 83 are configured as cut surfaces 94 resulting from the cutting of the carrier 181.

[0037] (Locking member 60) The locking member 60 is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, has an extending portion 61 that extends long in the left-right direction and a pair of locking portions 62 that project upward from both left and right ends of the extending portion 61. As shown in FIG. 14, the locking member 60 is fixed while positioning the FPC 160 with respect to the housing 11. The upper surface of the extending portion 61 is disposed flat along the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. The extending portion 61 is fitted into a recess 11A formed along the left-right direction in the lower surface of the abutting portion 17 of the housing 11 (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 2, the extending portion 61 has a portion that projects below the lower surface of the housing 11, and its rear surface and lower surface can be used as surfaces that can be touched by a finger during assembly.

[0038] The locking portion 62 is in the shape of a plate with a rectangular side view with the plate surface facing in the left-right direction and, as shown in FIG. 14, locks with the locking receiving portion 22. At the upper end portion of the locking portion 62, elastic locking pieces 64 that are thinner in the left-right direction than the lower portion are formed via shoulders 63 on both the left and right sides. The elastic locking pieces 64 are disposed in the locking holes 23 within the cylindrical portion 24 of the locking receiving portion 22 so as to be elastically deformable in the left-right direction with the root portions with the shoulders 63 as fulcrums. The lower portion of the locking portion 62 (the portion excluding the elastic locking pieces 64) is disposed in a state of being positioned in the left-right direction in the locking holes 23 of the locking receiving portion 22. Further, the lower portion of the locking portion 62 is inserted through the through holes 162 of the FPC 160 in a positioned state.

[0039] Each locking portion 62 has a locking protrusion 65 that projects from the tip end portion (upper end portion) of the elastic locking piece 64 toward the left and right center side of the locking member 60. As shown in FIG. 11, the locking protrusion 65 is in the shape of a rib that extends in the front-rear direction, and the lower surface is disposed flat along the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 14, the lower surface of the locking protrusion 65 faces the upper surface of the locking main body portion 25 of the housing 11 so as to be lockable.

[0040] (Operation of the connector 10) Next, an example of the operation of housing each terminal fitting 80 in the housing 11 will be described. First, in a factory where parts are assembled, the housing 11 is placed on a workbench (not shown) with each terminal insertion port 26 facing upward. Next, the terminal fitting 80 separated from the portion excluding the connecting portion 83 of the carrier 181 is sequentially inserted into each terminal insertion port 26 by its own weight. The first connection portion 81 of the terminal fitting 80 is inserted into the cavity 14 from the terminal insertion port 26, fitted into the fitting recess 16 in a positioned state, and abutted against the abutting portion 17. The insertion portion 91 of the terminal fitting 80 communicates with the first insertion hole 18.

[0041] After all the terminal fittings 80 are inserted into the corresponding cavities 14, the holder 40 is attached to the housing 11. When the holder 40 is properly held with respect to the housing 11, as shown in FIG. 12, the front end of the second connection portion 82 contacts or is close to and faces the covering portion 41 of the holder 40, and the inside of the box portion 84 communicates with the second insertion hole 44. In this way, the first connection portion 81 faces the abutting portion 17 so as to be capable of contacting from the front, and the second connection portion 82 faces the covering portion 41 so as to be capable of contacting from the rear, whereby the terminal fitting 80 is housed in a state where its movement in the front-rear direction is restricted between the housing 11 and the holder 40.

[0042] As described above, a housing unit 30 capable of integrally handling the terminal fitting 80, the housing 11, and the holder 40 is obtained. Each terminal fitting 80 is held in a state where its removal from each cavity 14 is restricted in the housing unit 30. Therefore, the housing unit 30 is in a form that can be transported between processes and factories during the manufacture of the connector 10.

[0043] Subsequently, the housing unit 30 is transported to the site where the FPC 160 in a harness factory or the like is assembled to the connector 10. Here, first, the front end portion of the FPC 160 is inserted into the first insertion hole 18 of the housing 11 from the rear. The front end portion of the FPC 160 is inserted along the insertion guide groove surface 19 while being guided by the guiding surface 18A in the first insertion hole 18, and the vertical position is gradually restricted and positioned by the tapered surface 21 on the inner side in the insertion direction. Then, the front end portion of the FPC 160 is collectively inserted into the insertion portions 91 of the first connection portions 81 of the respective terminal fittings 80 arranged in the left-right direction from the tapered surface 21 of the first insertion hole 18 (see the conceptual diagram in FIG. 13). When the conductive portion 163 of the FPC 160 contacts the main body spring portion 89, the FPC 160 and the terminal fitting 80 are electrically connected. The through holes 162 of the upper and lower two-stage FPC 160 communicate with the locking holes 23 of the respective locking receiving portions 22.

[0044] Subsequently, the lock member 60 is assembled to the rear end portion (abutting portion 17) of the housing 11 from below. Each locking portion 62 of the lock member 60 is inserted into the locking hole 23 of each locking receiving portion 22 while passing through each through hole 162 of each FPC 160. In the process of assembling the lock member 60 to the housing 11, the locking protrusions 65 of each locking portion 62 contact each locking main body portion 25, and each locking portion 62 is elastically deformed toward the left and right outer sides. When the lock member 60 is properly assembled to the housing 11, each locking portion 62 elastically returns, and the locking protrusion 65 is locked to the locking main body portion 25 from above (see FIG. 14). Further, the extending portion 61 of the lock member 60 is fitted into the recess 11A of the housing 11 from below. Thereby, the lock member 60 is held in a state where it is restricted from coming out and being displaced with respect to the housing 11. And when the lock member 60 is fixed to the housing 11, the state where the first connection portion 81 of each terminal fitting 80 is electrically connected to the conductive portion 163 of each FPC 160 is stably maintained.

[0045] Thereafter, the connector 10 assembled as described above is mated with the mating connector 100. Then, the mating connection portion 171 of the mating terminal fitting 170 is inserted into the box portion 84 of the second connection portion 82 of the terminal fitting 80 through the second insertion hole 44 of the holder 40. By the lock arm 12 locking the lock receiving portion 112 to restrict the mutual detachment of the connector 10 and the mating connector 100, the elastic contact portion 85 of the second connection portion 82 is stably maintained in an electrically connected state with the mating connection portion 171 of each mating terminal fitting 170.

[0046] As described above, the connector 10 of the first embodiment includes a housing 11 having a cavity 14, a terminal fitting 80 housed in the cavity 14 of the housing 11, and a holder 40 attached to the housing 11. The housing 11 has a abutting portion 17 located on the rear end side (one end side) of the cavity 14 for abutting against the terminal fitting 80. The holder 40 has a covering portion 41 disposed to face the front end side (the other end side) of the cavity 14. The abutting portion 17 is formed with a first insertion hole 18 communicating with the rear end side of the cavity 14. The covering portion 41 is formed with a second insertion hole 44 communicating with the front end side of the cavity 14. The terminal fitting 80 faces the rear end side of the cavity 14 and has a first connection portion 81 connectable to the conductive portion 163 of the FPC 160 (first conductive member) disposed in the cavity 14 from the first insertion hole 18, and faces the front end side of the cavity 14 and has a second connection portion 82 connectable to the mating connection portion 171 (conductive portion) of the mating terminal fitting 170 (second conductive member) disposed in the cavity 14 from the second insertion hole 44.

[0047] As described above, the terminal fitting 80 is inserted into the cavity 14 of the housing 11 from the front end side of the cavity 14 and abutted against the abutting portion 17. Next, the holder 40 is attached to the housing 11, and the front end side of the cavity 14 of the housing 11 is covered with the covering portion 41. Thereby, the terminal fitting 80 is held in a state where it is restricted from coming out of the cavity 14 with respect to the housing 11 and the holder 40. The housing 11 holding the terminal fitting 80 is conveyed to a site such as a harness factory where the FPC 160 is assembled. At this site, the conductive portion 163 of the FPC 160 is inserted into the cavity 14 from the first insertion hole 18. The conductive portion 163 of the FPC 160 is connected to the first connection portion 81 of the terminal fitting 80 that has been previously inserted into the cavity 14. According to this, at a site such as a harness factory, there is no need to perform the operation of inserting the terminal fitting 80 into the cavity 14 of the housing 11, so the number of work steps can be reduced and the work can be simplified.

[0048] Furthermore, the connector 10 of the first embodiment includes a lock member 60 attached to the housing 11. The housing 11 has a locking receiving portion 22, and the lock member 60 has a locking portion 62 that penetrates the through hole 162 of the FPC 160 and locks with the locking receiving portion 22.

[0049] The conductive portion 163 of the FPC 160 is inserted into the cavity 14 from the first insertion hole 18 and connected to the first connection portion 81 of the terminal fitting 80. After that, when the lock member 60 is attached to the housing 11, the locking portion 62 of the lock member 60 penetrates the through hole 162 of the FPC 160 and locks with the locking receiving portion 22 of the housing 11. The circuit board is fixed to the housing 11 via the lock member 60. By fixing the circuit board to the housing 11, the connection position between the conductive portion 163 of the circuit board and the first connection portion 81 of the terminal fitting 80 can be maintained constant.

[0050] Also, in the case of the first embodiment, the holder 40 has a second insertion hole 44 through which the mating connection portion 171 of the mating terminal fitting 170 passes through the covering portion 41. As this holder 40, a conventionally well-known front holder to be mounted on the housing 11 can be used.

[0051] Also, in the case of the first embodiment, the terminal fitting 80 is made of a conductive metal plate material and has a single flat plate-shaped connecting portion 83 that connects the first connection portion 81 and the second connection portion 82. In the chain terminal 180 that connects a plurality of terminal fittings 80 via the carrier 181, after forming the first connection portion 81 and the second connection portion 82, by cutting off a part of the carrier 181, the other part of the carrier 181 can be used as the connecting portion 83. Therefore, the terminal fitting 80 can be efficiently and easily manufactured.

[0052] Also, in the case of the first embodiment, the first insertion hole 18 has a tapered surface 21 that gradually reduces the hole diameter in the vertical direction (the plate thickness direction of the FPC 160) toward the cavity 14, and the housing 11 has a fitting recess 16 that fits the first connection portion 81 in a positioned state between the opposing surfaces that face each other in the vertical direction in the cavity 14. In a state where the first connection portion 81 of the terminal fitting 80 is inserted into the cavity 14 and positioned by the fitting recess 16, the conductive portion 163 of the FPC 160 is guided by the tapered surface 21 and connected to the first connection portion 81. According to this, the connection between the conductive portion 163 of the FPC 160 and the first connection portion 81 of the terminal fitting 80 can be properly made.

[0053] [Other Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] It should be considered that the above-described first embodiment disclosed this time is illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the case of the above-described Embodiment 1, the first conductive member connected to the first connection portion 81 of the terminal fitting 80 was the FPC 160, and the second conductive member connected to the second connection portion 82 of the terminal fitting 80 was the mating terminal fitting 170. On the other hand, according to another embodiment, contrary to the above-described Embodiment 1, the first conductive member may be the mating terminal fitting and the second conductive member may be the FPC. Further, both the first conductive member and the second conductive member may be FPCs. Alternatively, both the first conductive member and the second conductive member may be mating terminal fittings. Furthermore, the mating terminal fitting may be a terminal fitting connected to a linear electric wire such as a covered electric wire. In the case of the above-described Embodiment 1, both the first connection portion 81 and the second connection portion 82 had cylindrical portions (the cylindrical portion 86 of the first connection portion and the box portion 84 of the second connection portion). On the other hand, according to another embodiment, at least one of the first connection portion and the second connection portion does not have a cylindrical portion and may be formed of, for example, only a springy connection portion.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0054] 10... Connector 11... Housing 11A... Recess 12... Lock Arm 13... Lock Projection 14... Cavity 15... Guide Groove 16... Fitting Recess 17... Stopping Portion 18... First Insertion Hole 18A... Enticing Surface 19... Insertion Guide Groove Surface 21... Tapered Surface 22... Lock Receiving Portion 23... Lock Hole 24... Cylindrical Portion 25... Lock Body Portion 26... Terminal Insertion Port 27... Side Wall Portion 28... Locked Portion 30... Housing Unit 40... Holder 41... Covering Portion 42... Holder Locking Portion 44…Second insertion hole (tab insertion hole) 45…Fixture insertion hole 60…Locking member 61…Extended portion 62…Locking portion 63…Shoulder 64…Elastic locking piece 65…Locking protrusion 80…Terminal fitting 81…First connection part 82…Second connection part 83…Connecting part 84…Box part 85…Elastic contact part 86…Cylindrical part 87…Slit 88…Auxiliary spring part 89…Main body spring part 89A…Contact part 91…Insertion part 92…Stabilizer 93…Constricted part 94…Cutting surface 100…Mating connector 110…Mating housing 111…Hood part 112…Locking receiving part 113…Rear wall 160…FPC 161…Reinforcing plate (circuit board) 162…Through hole 163…Conductive part (conductive part of circuit board (FPC)) 170…Mating terminal fitting 171…Mating connection part (conductive part of mating terminal fitting) 172…Board connection part 180…Interlocking terminal 181…Carrier

Claims

1. A housing having a cavity, A terminal fitting housed in the cavity of the housing, A holder attached to the housing, comprising: The housing has a contact portion located on one end side of the cavity for abutting the terminal fitting. The holder has a covering portion disposed opposite the other end side of the cavity. A first insertion hole communicating with one end side of the cavity is formed in the contact portion. A second insertion hole communicating with the other end side of the cavity is formed in the covering portion. The terminal fitting is A first connection portion facing one end side of the cavity and connectable to a conductive portion of a first conductive member disposed in the cavity from the first insertion hole; A second connection portion facing the other end side of the cavity and connectable to a conductive portion of a second conductive member disposed in the cavity from the second insertion hole, a connector.

2. Furthermore, a locking member attached to the housing is provided. The first conductive member is a circuit board. The housing has a locking receiving portion. The locking member passes through a through hole of the circuit board and has a locking portion that locks with the locking receiving portion, the connector according to claim 1.

3. The second conductive member has a tab-shaped mating connection portion at the conductive portion. The second insertion hole of the holder is a tab insertion hole for inserting the mating connection portion, the connector according to claim 1.

4. The terminal fitting is made of a conductive plate material and has a single flat connecting portion connecting the first connection portion and the second connection portion, the connector according to claim 1.

5. The first conductive member is a circuit board. The first insertion hole has a tapered surface that gradually decreases the hole diameter in the thickness direction of the circuit board toward the cavity. The housing has a fitting recess for fitting the first connection portion in a positioned state between opposing surfaces facing each other in the thickness direction of the cavity, the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The first conductive member is a flexible substrate as a circuit board, the connector according to claim 1.

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