Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector which can appropriately prevent fingers from touching a terminal while suppressing complication of a terminal structure.SOLUTION: A connector 100 comprises: a terminal 20 which is electrically connected to an end part 10a of a wire 10; a housing 30 which houses the end part of the wire, and which allows the terminal to protrude from an opening formed at one end; an elastic member 40 provided inside the housing; and a cover housing 50 which is disposed while being supported by the elastic member on one end side of the housing so as to house the terminal, and which has an opening part 50b at an end 50a on the opposite side to the housing side. When external force toward the housing side acts on the cover housing, the cover housing is housed into the housing from the opening of the housing while elastically deforming the elastic member, thereby causing the terminal to protrude from the opening part to the outside of the cover housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology related to a spring connector including a movable terminal and a spring member that constantly biases the movable terminal upward. The spring connector of Patent Document 1 is provided with two movable terminals that are independently slidable in the vertical direction and swingable independently within a plane parallel to the sliding direction. The upper ends of the movable terminals each have an arc-shaped protrusion that protrudes from the upper end of the housing and has a line contact portion that can come into contact with a terminal electrically connected to the movable terminal. The lower ends of the movable terminals each have an inclined surface that is inclined relative to the pressing surface of the spring member. Patent Document 1 claims that the above configuration stabilizes contact resistance and enables stable electrical conductivity. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 320817 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] High-voltage connectors used in electric vehicles and the like often employ a contact prevention structure that prevents the operator's fingers from coming into contact with the terminals (conductive portions). Connectors employing such a contact prevention structure can result in increased manufacturing costs due to the complex terminal structure. It is desirable for connectors to be able to appropriately prevent fingers from coming into contact with the terminals while minimizing the complexity of the terminal structure.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can appropriately suppress contact of a finger with a terminal while suppressing complication of the terminal structure.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The connector of the present invention includes a terminal electrically connected to the end of an electric wire, a housing that houses the end of the electric wire and projects the terminal from an opening formed at one end, an elastic member provided in the housing, and a cover housing that is disposed on the one end side of the housing and supported by the elastic member, houses the terminal, and has an opening at an end opposite to the housing side. The cover housing is housed in the housing from the opening of the housing while elastically deforming the elastic member when an external force acting toward the housing side acts on the cover housing, and projects the terminal outward from the opening of the cover housing.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] The connector according to the present invention has an effect that it can appropriately suppress contact of a finger with a terminal while suppressing complication of the terminal structure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by this embodiment. In addition, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiment] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the connector according to the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection state between the connector according to the embodiment and the counterpart device unit. Note that FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the connector as viewed from the counterpart device unit side in FIG. 1.

[0011] The connector 100 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, a shield connector and is incorporated into a wire harness routed in a vehicle such as an automobile. Here, the wire harness is, for example, a collective component formed by bundling a plurality of electric wires 10 used for power supply and signal communication for connection between various devices mounted on the vehicle, and the plurality of electric wires 10 are connected to each device by a connector 100 or the like.

[0012] The connector 100 according to the embodiment includes a terminal 20, a housing 30, an elastic member 40, a cover housing 50, and a terminal cover 60. The terminal 20 is formed of a conductive metal. In the embodiment, the terminal 20 is formed in a flat plate shape having a pair of main surfaces. One end of the terminal 20 is electrically connected to the end portion 10a of the electric wire 10.

[0013] In an embodiment, the electric wire 10 is a so-called shielded electric wire and includes a core wire 11, an inner covering (inner sheath) 12, a shielding material 13, and an outer covering (outer sheath) 14. The core wire 11 has conductivity and is formed in a cylindrical shape. For example, the core wire 11 may be composed of a single cylindrical metal linear conductor, or may be a bundle formed by twisting a plurality of metal linear conductors into a single cylindrical shape. The inner covering 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is an insulating member that covers the core wire 11. The shielding material 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is a conductive member that covers the inner covering 12. The shielding material 13 may be a braided body formed by braiding metal linear conductors in a mesh shape and in a cylindrical shape, or may be a metal foil material (so-called metal foil) formed in a cylindrical shape. The outer covering 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is an insulating member that covers the shielding material 13. The electric wire 10 of the embodiment has a core wire exposed portion at the end portion 10a, where the inner covering 12, the shielding material 13, and the outer covering 14 are partially removed and the core wire 11 is exposed to the outside.

[0014] In an embodiment, one end portion of the terminal 20 is joined to the core wire exposed portion at the end portion 10a of the electric wire 10 by ultrasonic welding or the like. Here, one end portion of one of the pair of main surfaces (upper surface) of the terminal 20 is joined to the core wire exposed portion. Further, an insertion hole 20b that penetrates the terminal 20 in the plate thickness direction is formed at the other end portion of the terminal 20. The insertion hole 20b is a hole through which the shaft portion of a fastening bolt 301 described later is inserted.

[0015] The housing 30 is configured to accommodate the end portion 10a of the electric wire 10. The housing 30 of the embodiment has a cylindrical portion 31 and a rear holder 32. The cylindrical portion 31 is a conductive member formed in a cylindrical shape and accommodates the end portion 10a of the electric wire 10 in its internal space. At the end portion 10a of the electric wire 10 accommodated in the internal space of the housing 30, the shielding material 13 and the outer covering 14 are folded back so as to expose the inner covering 12 that covers the core wire 11 to the outside, and the end portion of the folded-back shielding material 13 is electrically connected to the inner peripheral surface of the housing 30.

[0016] One end of the cylindrical portion 31 of the housing 30 is formed with an opening 30a, and the terminal 20 projects from the opening 30a. Also, a plate-shaped flange portion 31a extending outward of the cylindrical portion 31 is formed at one end of the cylindrical portion 31.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the flange portion 31a is formed with an insertion hole 31b penetrating the flange portion 31a. The connector 100 is attached to a mating device unit 200 described later and fixed to the mating device unit 200 by a fastening member (for example, a fastening bolt). Specifically, the fastening member is inserted into the insertion hole 31b of the flange portion 31a of the connector 100 and screwed into a screw hole formed in the mating device unit 200 so as to communicate with the insertion hole 31b, thereby fixing the connector 100 to the mating device unit 200.

[0018] In the embodiment, the flange portion 31a is formed in a rectangular shape having the opening 30a at the center when viewed from the side of the mating device unit 200 (the side opposite to the base end side of the electric wire 10 with respect to the flange portion 31a). Two insertion holes 31b are formed in the flange portion 31a. One insertion hole 31b is formed at the upper right corner when viewed from the side of the mating device unit 200, and the other insertion hole 31b is formed at the lower left corner when viewed from the side of the mating device unit 200.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the rear holder 32 is a portion that closes the opening formed at the other end of the cylindrical portion 31. The rear holder 32 is formed with an insertion hole through which the electric wire 10 is inserted, and the end portion 10a of the electric wire 10 is accommodated in the accommodation space of the cylindrical portion 31 through the insertion hole of the rear holder 32.

[0020] The elastic member 40 is provided within the housing 30 and is a member that supports the cover housing 50 described later. The elastic member 40 of the embodiment is a metal coil spring. The elastic member 40 is disposed in the accommodation space of the cylindrical portion 31 in the housing 30 and extends in a direction along the attachment direction between the connector 100 and the counterpart device unit 200. In the embodiment, the elastic member 40 is wound around the end portion 10a of the electric wire 10 within the housing 30 and extends in a direction along the attachment direction between the connector 100 and the counterpart device unit 200.

[0021] On the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 31, a first locking projection 31c that protrudes toward the inside of the cylindrical portion 31 is formed. The first locking projection 31c of the embodiment is formed in a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 31. The first locking projection 31c is located at the end portion of the cylindrical portion 31 on the rear holder 32 side. The end portion of the elastic member 40 on the rear holder 32 side is supported by the housing 30 by abutting against the first locking projection 31c, and the elastic member 40 is held to be elastically deformable in the accommodation space of the cylindrical portion 31 while being sandwiched between the cover housing 50 and the first locking projection 31c.

[0022] The cover housing 50 is disposed on one end side of the housing 30 (one end on the counterpart device unit 200 side) in a state supported by the elastic member 40 and is a member that accommodates the terminal 20. The cover housing 50 of the embodiment is an insulating cylindrical member and is a member that suppresses the operator's finger from contacting the terminal 20 by accommodating the terminal 20 inside when the connector 100 is not attached to the counterpart device unit 200.

[0023] At the end of the cover housing 50 on the side of the rear holder 32, a third locking projection 50c that protrudes outward is formed. The third locking projection 50c is formed, for example, in a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the cover housing 50 on the outer peripheral surface of the cover housing 50. Also, at the end of the cylindrical portion 31 on the side of the opening 30a, a second locking projection 31d that protrudes toward the inside of the cylindrical portion 31 is formed. The second locking projection 31d of the embodiment is formed in a ring shape along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 31. The cover housing 50 is held by sandwiching the third locking projection 50c between the second locking projection 31d and the elastic member 40.

[0024] The cover housing 50 has an opening 50b at the end 50a on the side opposite to the housing 30 side. In the embodiment, at the end 50a of the cover housing 50, an annular portion 50d that protrudes toward the inside of the cover housing 50 is formed so as to surround the opening 50b. For example, the connector 100 according to the embodiment can prevent an operator's finger from entering the cover housing 50 by the annular portion 50d.

[0025] The cover housing 50 is received into the housing 30 through the opening 30a of the housing 30 while elastically deforming the elastic member 40 when an external force acting on the cover housing 50 toward the housing 30 side, and the terminal 20 protrudes outward from the opening 50b of the cover housing 50. That is, the cover housing 50 moves from the terminal accommodation position where the terminal is accommodated inside to the terminal protrusion position where the terminal 20 protrudes outward from the cover housing 50 while elastically deforming the elastic member 40 when an external force acting on the cover housing 50 toward the housing 30 side. Also, when the external force acting on the cover housing 50 toward the housing 30 side is released, the cover housing 50 moves from the position (terminal protrusion position) inside the housing 30 to the position (terminal accommodation position) where the terminal 20 is accommodated by the restoring force of the elastic member 40.

[0026] The terminal cover 60 is an insulating member that covers the terminal 20. The terminal cover 60 is housed in the cover housing 50 together with the terminal 20. The opening 50b of the embodiment is formed in a size that permits the passage of the terminal 20 and the terminal cover 60 housed in the cover housing 50. As shown in FIG. 2, in the embodiment, the opening 50b is formed in a shape (here, a rectangular shape) corresponding to the terminal cover 60 that covers the flat terminal 20. When the cover housing 50 moves from the terminal housing position to the terminal protruding position, the terminal cover 60 protrudes outward from the opening 50b of the cover housing 50 together with the terminal 20. Further, when the cover housing 50 moves from the terminal protruding position to the terminal housing position, the terminal cover 60 is housed in the cover housing 50 together with the terminal 20.

[0027] The terminal cover 60 of the embodiment is formed so as to expose the mating terminal connection surface 20a, which is the connection surface of the terminal 20 with the mating terminal 202, and cover the other surfaces. That is, the terminal 20 of the embodiment is provided in a state where the mating terminal connection surface 20a is exposed from the terminal cover 60. Further, an insertion hole 60a communicating with the insertion hole 20b of the terminal 20 is formed in the terminal cover 60. In the embodiment, the mating terminal connection surface 20a of the terminal 20 is the lower surface (the surface opposite to the bonding surface with the core wire exposed portion) of the pair of main surfaces of the terminal 20.

[0028] The mating device unit 200 is a device unit to which the connector 100 is attached, and includes a housing 201, a mating terminal 202, and a pedestal portion 203. The housing 201 is a metal housing 201 that houses the mating terminal 202 and the pedestal portion 203 therein. A terminal insertion port 201a is formed in the attachment surface, which is the surface of the housing 201 to which the connector 100 is attached. The terminal insertion port 201a is formed in a size that permits the passage of the terminal 20 and restricts the passage of the cover housing 50. Further, the edge portion 201b of the terminal insertion port 201a has a recessed shape that is recessed with respect to the surrounding surface of the attachment surface.

[0029] The recessed shape at the edge 201b of the terminal insertion port 201a functions as a guide portion when the opening 50b of the cover housing 50 and the terminal insertion port 201a are overlapped and communicated. Also, the recessed shape at the edge 201b of the terminal insertion port 201a functions as a mark at the position where the end portion 50a of the cover housing 50 is pressed. Further, a screw hole is formed in the housing 201 at a position corresponding to the insertion hole 31b of the flange portion 31a in the connector 100. The housing 201 is configured to be able to fasten the flange portion 31a to the housing 201 by screwing a fastening member (such as a fastening bolt) into the screw hole.

[0030] The mating terminal 202 is formed of a conductive metal. In the embodiment, the mating terminal 202 is formed in a flat plate shape having a pair of main surfaces. The end portion of the mating terminal 202 is electrically connected to, for example, an electronic component or the like provided in the housing 201 of the mating device unit 200 via a conductive member such as an electric wire. An insertion hole 202a penetrating the mating terminal 202 in the plate thickness direction is formed in the mating terminal 202.

[0031] The pedestal portion 203 is an insulating member on which the mating terminal 202 is placed on the upper surface. A screw hole 203a is formed in the pedestal portion 203 so as to communicate with the insertion hole 202a of the mating terminal 202 placed on the upper surface. The screw hole 203a is formed to be capable of screwing with a fastening member 300 described later.

[0032] The terminal 20 and the mating terminal 202 are fixed in a state of being in contact with each other by the fastening member 300. The fastening member 300 of the embodiment includes a fastening bolt 301 including a shaft portion and a head portion, and a cover portion 302 covering the head portion of the fastening bolt 301. The fastening bolt 301 is formed of a conductive metal material or the like, and the cover portion 302 is formed of an insulating resin material or the like. The shaft portion of the fastening bolt 301 is a rod-shaped portion extending in one direction, and the head portion of the fastening bolt 301 extends in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the shaft portion. The shaft portion of the fastening bolt 301 is formed to be insertable into the insertion holes 20b, 60a, 202a and to be screwable with the screw hole 203a of the pedestal portion 203.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the connector 100 is attached to the mating device unit 200 by overlapping the terminal insertion opening 201a of the mating device unit 200 and the opening 50b of the cover housing 50, and pressing the end portion 50a of the cover housing 50 against the edge portion 201b of the terminal insertion opening 201a.

[0034] For example, an operator who attaches the connector 100 to the mating device unit 200 holds the housing 30 in hand and presses the end portion 50a of the cover housing 50 against the edge portion 201b of the terminal insertion opening 201a in the mating device unit 200, thereby applying a force toward the housing 30 side to the end portion 50a of the cover housing 50.

[0035] When an external force toward the housing 30 side acts on the cover housing 50 due to the housing 30 being moved so as to press the cover housing 50 against the edge portion 201b of the terminal insertion opening 201a of the mating device unit 200, the cover housing 50 moves to the terminal protruding position and protrudes the terminal 20 from the opening 50b into the terminal insertion opening 201a.

[0036] The operator moves the housing 30 toward the mating device unit 200 until the flange portion 31a abuts against the housing 201 of the mating device unit 200. Then, the operator inserts a fastening member through the insertion hole 31b of the flange portion 31a and threads it with the threaded hole of the housing 201 of the mating device unit 200, thereby fixing the connector 100 to the mating device unit 200. By fixing the connector 100 to the mating device unit 200 with a fastening bolt, for example, it is possible to restrict the cover housing 50 from being pushed back toward the mating device unit 200 by the restoring force of the elastic member 40.

[0037] The mating terminal 202 of the mating device unit 200 is disposed at a position where it contacts the terminal 20 protruding into the terminal insertion port 201a. In the embodiment, the mating terminal 202 is disposed at a position where the upper surface of the mating terminal 202 is in surface contact with the mating terminal connection surface (lower surface) 20a of the terminal 20 protruding into the terminal insertion port 201a. At this time, the insertion hole 20b of the terminal 20 protruding into the terminal insertion port 201a and the insertion hole 202a of the mating terminal 202 are located at positions communicating with each other. That is, in the embodiment, when the connector 100 is attached to the mating device unit 200, the terminal 20 and the mating terminal 202 overlap in a state where the insertion hole 20b and the insertion hole 202a communicate with each other.

[0038] The operator inserts the shaft portion of the fastening bolt 301 through the insertion holes 20b, 60a, and 202a and threads it with the screw hole 203a of the pedestal portion 203 to fix the terminal 20 and the mating terminal 202 to the pedestal portion 203. At this time, the terminal 20 is covered with the insulating terminal cover 60, and the head of the fastening bolt 301 is covered with the insulating cover portion 302. With this configuration, when the connector 100 according to the embodiment fixes the terminal 20 and the mating terminal 202 to the pedestal portion 203 by the fastening member 300, it is possible to prevent the operator's fingers from contacting the conductive portions (the terminal 20, the mating terminal 202, the fastening bolt 301, etc.).

[0039] When removing the connector 100 from the mating device unit 200, the operator first removes the fastening bolt inserted through the insertion hole 31b (see FIG. 2) of the flange portion 31a and the fastening member 300 inserted through the insertion hole 20b of the terminal 20. Then, the operator holds the housing 30 in hand and moves the housing 30 in a direction away from the edge 201b of the terminal insertion port 201a to remove the terminal 20 from the terminal insertion port 201a of the mating device unit 200.

[0040] When the cover housing 50 is moved in a direction away from the edge 201b of the terminal insertion opening 201a of the housing 30, and the external force acting toward the housing 30 is released, the cover housing 50 moves to the terminal accommodation position by the restoring force of the elastic member 40 and accommodates the terminal 20 removed from the terminal insertion opening 201a. With this configuration, even when the connector 100 of the embodiment is removed from the mating device unit 200, it is possible to prevent an operator's finger from coming into contact with the conduction portions (such as the terminal 20 and the fastening bolt 301).

[0041] As described above, the connector 100 according to the embodiment includes a terminal 20 electrically connected to the end portion 10a of the electric wire 10, a housing 30 that accommodates the end portion 10a of the electric wire 10 and projects the terminal 20 from the opening 30a formed at one end, an elastic member 40 provided in the housing 30, and a cover housing 50 that is disposed on one end side of the housing 30 while being supported by the elastic member 40, accommodates the terminal 20, and has an opening 50b at an end portion 50a on the side opposite to the housing 30 side. When an external force acting toward the housing 30 side acts on the cover housing 50, the cover housing 50 is accommodated in the housing 30 from the opening 30a of the housing 30 while elastically deforming the elastic member 40, and the terminal 20 is projected outward from the cover housing 50 through the opening 50b.

[0042] In the connector 100 according to the embodiment, when an external force acting toward the housing 30 side is applied to the cover housing 50, the cover housing 50 is accommodated in the housing 30 from the opening 30a of the housing 30 while elastically deforming the elastic member 40, and the terminal 20 protrudes outward from the cover housing 50 through the opening 50b. The connector 100 according to the embodiment attaches the housing 30 to the mating device unit 200, for example, by pressing the end of the cover housing 50 against the edge 201b of the terminal insertion port 201a of the mating device unit 200, so that the terminal 20 can be inserted into the mating device unit 200 while suppressing contact between the operator's finger and the terminal 20. With this configuration, the connector 100 according to the embodiment can appropriately suppress contact between the operator's finger and the terminal 20 while suppressing complication of the structure of the terminal 20.

[0043] Further, in the connector 100 according to the embodiment, when the external force acting toward the housing 30 side applied to the cover housing 50 is released, the cover housing 50 moves to the position where the terminal 20 is accommodated by the restoring force of the elastic member 40.

[0044] The connector 100 according to the embodiment removes the connector 100 from the mating device unit 200, thereby releasing the external force acting toward the housing 30 side that has been acting on the end of the cover housing 50, and the cover housing 50 moves by the restoring force of the elastic member 40 to accommodate the terminal 20. With this configuration, even when the connector 100 is removed from the mating device unit 200, contact between the operator's finger and the terminal 20 can be appropriately suppressed.

[0045] Also, in the connector 100 according to the embodiment, when an external force toward the housing 30 acts on the cover housing 50 by moving the cover housing 50 so that the housing 30 presses against the edge 201b of the terminal insertion port 201a of the mating device unit 200, the cover housing 50 moves to the terminal protruding position and protrudes the terminal 20 from the opening 50b into the terminal insertion port 201a. When the external force toward the housing 30 is released by moving the housing 30 in a direction away from the edge 201b of the terminal insertion port 201a, the cover housing 50 moves to the terminal accommodation position by the restoring force of the elastic member 40 and accommodates the terminal 20 removed from the terminal insertion port 201a.

[0046] The connector 100 according to the embodiment can be attached to the mating device unit 200 so as to press the cover housing 50 against the edge 201b of the terminal insertion port 201a, so that the terminal 20 can be inserted into the terminal insertion port 201a of the mating device unit 200 without the operator's finger touching the vicinity of the terminal 20. Also, when removing the connector 100 from the mating device unit 200, since the cover housing 50 moves to the position where it accommodates the terminal 20 by the restoring force of the elastic member 40, it is possible to appropriately prevent the operator's finger from contacting the terminal 20 even when removing the connector 100 from the mating device unit 200.

[0047] Also, in the connector 100 according to the embodiment, the connector further includes a terminal cover 60 that covers the terminal 20, is accommodated in the cover housing 50 together with the terminal 20, and protrudes outward from the cover housing 50 together with the terminal 20 from the opening 50b when an external force toward the housing 30 acts on the cover housing 50. The terminal 20 is formed in a flat plate shape having a pair of main surfaces, and the mating terminal connection surface 20a, which is one of the pair of main surfaces, is exposed from the terminal cover 60.

[0048] In the connector 100 according to the embodiment, since the terminal cover 60 covers the terminal 20, it is possible to prevent the operator's finger from contacting the terminal 20, for example, even when the terminal 20 protrudes outward from the cover housing 50 from the opening 50b.

[0049] In addition, as a configuration of a comparative example different from the embodiment, a structure in which screwing holes are provided in the terminal of the connector and the mating terminal and fastened with a fastening bolt is also conceivable. When applying a contact prevention structure for preventing the contact of the operator's finger to such a terminal structure, cylindrical conduction portions extending in the mutual fastening directions are formed in both terminals by the length of the shaft portion of the fastening bolt, and a configuration in which each terminal is individually covered with an insulating member is conceivable. In this case, since the terminal structure becomes complicated, the manufacturing cost of the connector may increase.

[0050] On the other hand, in the connector 100 of the embodiment, since the cover housing 50 and the terminal cover 60 can suppress the contact of the operator's finger with the flat plate-shaped terminal 20, it is possible to appropriately suppress the contact of the operator's finger with the terminal 20 while suppressing the complication of the shape of the terminal 20. By suppressing the complication of the shape of the terminal 20, for example, an increase in the manufacturing cost of the connector 100 can be suppressed.

[0051] [Modification Example] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which an external force toward the housing 30 side is applied to the cover housing 50 by pressing the end portion 50a of the cover housing 50 against the edge portion 201b of the terminal insertion port 201a of the mating device unit 200 has been described as an example, but the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the cover housing 50 may have a protrusion protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface of the cover housing 50.

[0052] In this case, the protrusion is formed, for example, in the vicinity of the end portion 50a of the cover housing 50. The protrusions may be provided in plurality on the outer peripheral surface of the cover housing 50, and may be formed in a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the cover housing 50. The terminal insertion port 201a of the mating device unit 200 is set to a size that permits the passage of the terminal 20 and restricts the passage of the cover housing 50 by the protrusion.

[0053] Further, the recessed shape of the edge 201b of the terminal insertion port 201a in the counterpart device unit 200 may be formed to have a depth capable of accommodating the protrusion when the connector 100 is attached to the counterpart device unit 200. Further, a recessed shape for accommodating the protrusion may be formed on the flange portion 31a side. With this configuration, for example, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a gap between the flange portion 31a and the housing 201 and a decrease in dustproof performance or the like.

[0054] The contents disclosed in the above embodiments and modifications can be executed in appropriate combination.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0055] 10: Electric wire, 10a: End portion 20: Terminal 30: Housing, 31: Cylindrical portion, 32: Rear holder 40: Elastic member 50: Cover housing, 50a: End portion, 50b: Opening 60: Terminal cover 100: Connector 200: Counterpart device unit, 201: Housing, 201a: Terminal insertion port 201b: Edge, 202: Counterpart terminal 300: Fastening member, 301: Fastening bolt, 302: Cover portion

Claims

1. A terminal electrically connected to the end of a wire, a housing that houses the end of the wire and projects the terminal from an opening formed at one end, an elastic member provided in the housing, a cover housing that is disposed on the one end side of the housing in a state supported by the elastic member, houses the terminal, and has an opening at an end opposite to the housing side, comprising: when an external force directed toward the housing side acts on the cover housing, the cover housing is accommodated in the housing from the opening of the housing while elastically deforming the elastic member, and the terminal is projected outward from the opening of the cover housing, A connector characterized by the above.

2. When the external force directed toward the housing side acting on the cover housing is released, the cover housing moves to a position where it houses the terminal from within the housing by the restoring force of the elastic member. The connector according to claim 1.

3. When an external force directed toward the housing side acts on the cover housing as the housing is moved so as to press the cover housing against an edge of a terminal insertion opening of a mating device unit, the cover housing moves to a terminal projection position and projects the terminal into the terminal insertion opening from the opening. When the external force directed toward the housing side is released as the housing is moved in a direction away from the edge of the terminal insertion opening, the cover housing moves to a terminal accommodation position by the restoring force of the elastic member and accommodates the terminal removed from the terminal insertion opening. The connector according to claim 1.

4. further comprising a terminal cover that covers the terminal, is accommodated in the cover housing together with the terminal, and projects outward from the cover housing together with the terminal from the opening when an external force directed toward the housing side acts on the cover housing, the terminal is formed in a flat plate shape having a pair of main surfaces, and a mating terminal connection surface, which is one of the pair of main surfaces, is exposed from the terminal cover. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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