Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector which can insert-mold a housing storing a terminal while suppressing deformation of the terminal.SOLUTION: A resin housing 3 is insert-molded in a state in which a plurality of terminals 2A and 2B are aligned in a vertical direction. In the plurality of terminals 2A and 2B, projections 211 projecting to a part filled into the housing 3 in the vertical direction are provided. The tips of the projections 211 project outside the housing 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Connectors have been proposed in the past that have multiple flat terminals and a housing that accommodates the terminals (see Patent Document 1). To increase the number of terminals that can be accommodated, it has been considered to stack multiple terminals in the thickness direction. When such connectors are insert-molded, the terminals end up floating in the mold or are supported only on one side in the thickness direction. This causes problems, such as deformation of the terminals due to the pressure of the resin when liquefied resin is filled into the mold, leading to misalignment of both ends of the terminals and poor electrical continuity with other terminals.

[0003] To solve this problem, it has been considered to mold the housing without insert molding and then accommodate the terminals in the housing. However, compared to insert molding the housing, this requires a step of accommodating the terminals in the housing, which poses problems such as longer production lead times and higher costs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-22874 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide a connector in which a housing that accommodates terminals can be insert-molded while suppressing deformation of the terminals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the connector according to the present invention has the following features. A connector comprising a plurality of plate-shaped terminals and a resin housing insert-molded with the plurality of terminals arranged in a thickness direction, At least one of the plurality of terminals has a protrusion that protrudes in the thickness direction from a portion that is filled into the housing, The tip of the protrusion is provided so as to protrude outside the housing. It is a connector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The connector according to the present invention has the advantage that the housing that accommodates the terminals can be insert-molded while suppressing deformation of the terminals.

[0008] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the following detailed description of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the terminal shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of the terminal shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a side view of the connector shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a mold for insert-molding the housing shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a mold for insert-molding the housing shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] For convenience of explanation, the following definitions are used for "front," "rear," "left," "right," "top," and "bottom" as shown in Figures 1 to 6. The "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," and "up-down direction" are perpendicular to one another. The up-down direction corresponds to the "thickness direction" of the present invention, and the left-right direction corresponds to the "width direction" of the present invention.

[0012] The connector 1 is a connector that constitutes part of a wire harness that is installed in, for example, a vehicle, etc. As shown in Fig. 1, the connector 1 includes a plurality of flat terminals 2A, a plurality of flat terminals 2B, and a resin housing 3 that is insert-molded with the plurality of terminals 2A, 2B arranged side by side.

[0013] The terminals 2A, 2B are formed by punching and pressing a metal plate. The multiple terminals 2A are arranged in the left-right direction (width direction) and housed in the housing 3. The multiple terminals 2B are arranged in the left-right direction and housed in the housing 3. The multiple terminals 2A and the multiple terminals 2B are arranged in the up-down direction (thickness direction) and housed in the housing 3. In this embodiment, four terminals 2A are arranged in the left-right direction, and four terminals 2B are arranged in the left-right direction. These four terminals 2A and four terminals 2B are arranged in the up-down direction.

[0014] 2 and 3, terminals 2A and 2B have a central portion 21 that is perpendicular to the up-down direction, and a pair of end portions 22 and 23 that are formed by bending both sides of the central portion 21 in the front-to-rear direction (length direction) along the left-to-right direction. In the central portion 21, the up-to-down direction is the thickness direction, and the central portions 21 of terminals 2A and 2B are housed side by side in the up-to-down direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the central portion 21 of terminal 2A is arranged on the upper side, and the central portion 21 of terminal 2B is arranged on the lower side.

[0015] 2 and 3, end 22 is bent downward. End 23 is bent upward. The thickness direction of ends 22, 23 is the front-to-rear direction, and ends 22, 23 of terminals 2A, 2B are accommodated side by side in the front-to-rear direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, ends 22, 23 of terminal 2A are arranged on the rear side, and ends 22, 23 of terminal 2B are arranged on the front side.

[0016] Terminals 2A and 2B are provided with a protrusion 211 that protrudes from the left end of central portion 21, and the boundary between protrusion 211 and central portion 21 is bent along the front-to-rear direction. Protrusion 211 is provided at the center of central portion 21 in the front-to-rear direction. Protrusion 211 of terminal 2A is bent so that its tip faces upward. Protrusion 211 of terminal 2B is bent so that its tip faces downward.

[0017] 1, the housing 3 has a central accommodating portion 31 that accommodates the central portions 21 of the terminals 2A and 2B, and end accommodating portions 32 and 33 that accommodate the central portions 21 of the end portions 22 and 23 of the terminals 2A and 2B. The end accommodating portion 32 is provided on the rear side of the central accommodating portion 31 and protrudes downward from the central accommodating portion 31. The end accommodating portion 33 is provided on the front side of the central accommodating portion 31 and protrudes upward from the central accommodating portion 31.

[0018] The tips of the ends 22 of the terminals 2A and 2B protrude from the lower surface of the end accommodating portion 32. The tips of the ends 23 of the terminals 2A and 2B protrude from the upper surface of the end accommodating portion 33. In addition, the tip of the protrusion 211 of the terminal 2A protrudes from the upper surface of the central accommodating portion 31. As shown in FIG. 4 , the tip of the protrusion 211 of the terminal 2B protrudes from the lower surface of the central accommodating portion 31.

[0019] Next, a manufacturing process for the above-described connector 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. As shown in FIG. 5, the connector 1 is manufactured using two lower molds 4 and an upper mold 5. First, the lower mold 4 and the upper mold 5 will be described. The lower mold 4 is formed in a cubic shape and is placed below the upper mold 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the lower mold 4 has two recesses 41, 42 that are connected in the front-to-rear direction on its upper surface. The recess 41 forms the lower side of the central accommodating portion 31 and the lower side of the end accommodating portion 33. The recess 42 forms the lower side of the end accommodating portion 32 of the housing 3. The recess 41 is formed to be lower in the up-down direction than the recess 42.

[0020] A hole (not shown) into which the tip of protrusion 211 of terminal 2B is inserted is provided in the bottom surface of recess 41. A hole 43 into which the tip of end 22 of terminals 2A and 2B is inserted is provided in the bottom surface of recess 42. The tip of protrusion 211 and the tip of end 22 of terminals 2A and 2B are housed tightly in the hole (not shown) and hole 43.

[0021] The upper mold 5 is disposed above the lower mold 4 and is movable in the vertical direction. The upper mold 5 is formed in a cubic shape and has two recesses 51, 52 that are connected in the front-to-rear direction on its lower surface. The recess 51 forms the upper side of the central accommodating portion 31 and the upper side of the end accommodating portion 32. The recess 52 forms the upper side of the end accommodating portion 33 of the housing 3. The recess 51 is formed to be lower in the vertical direction than the recess 52.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 5, a hole 53 into which the tip of the protrusion 211 of the terminal 2A is inserted is provided in the bottom surface of the recess 51. As shown in Fig. 6, a hole 54 into which the tip of the end 23 of the terminals 2A and 2B is inserted is provided in the bottom surface of the recess 52. The tip of the protrusion 211 and the tip of the end 23 of the terminals 2A and 2B are housed tightly in the holes 53 and 54.

[0023] Next, a description will be given of the manufacturing process of the above-mentioned connector 1. First, terminal 2B is brought close to lower mold 4 from above, and the tip of end 22 of terminal 2B is inserted into hole 43 provided in the bottom surface of recess 42, and the tip of protrusion 211 of terminal 2B is inserted into hole (not shown) provided in the bottom surface of recess 42. Next, terminal 2A is brought close to lower mold 4 from above, and the tip of end 22 of terminal 2A is inserted into hole 43 provided in the bottom surface of recess 42.

[0024] Next, the upper mold 5 is moved downward. The tips of the ends 23 of the terminals 2A and 2B are inserted into the holes 54 formed in the bottom surface of the recess 52 of the upper mold 5, and the tip of the protrusion 211 of the terminal 2A is inserted into the hole 53 formed in the bottom surface of the recess 51. Next, the lower surface of the upper mold 5 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the lower mold 4, thereby closing the openings of the recesses 41, 42, 51, and 52. This causes the lower mold 4 and the upper mold 5 to support the ends 22 and 23 of the terminals 2A and 2B and the protrusion 211 formed in the central portion 21. That is, the protrusion 211 formed in the central portion 21 of the terminal 2A is supported from above by the upper mold 5. Meanwhile, the protrusion 211 formed in the central portion 21 of the terminal 2B is supported from below by the lower mold 4.

[0025] Next, liquid resin is poured into the recesses 41 and 42 of the lower mold 4 and the recesses 51 and 52 of the upper mold 5. After that, when the resin cools and hardens, the upper mold 5 is moved upward and separated from the lower mold 4, and the connector 1 is removed.

[0026] According to the above-described embodiment, the terminals 2A, 2B are provided with protrusions 211 that protrude from the housing 3. Therefore, the protrusions 211 can be supported by the molds 4, 5, and the housing 3 can be insert-molded while suppressing deformation of the terminals 2A, 2B. By insert-molding the housing 3, it is possible to shorten the production lead time and reduce costs.

[0027] According to the above-described embodiment, the terminals 2A, 2B have a central portion 21 and a pair of end portions 22, 23 formed by bending both ends of the central portion 21, the pair of end portions 22, 23 being provided so as to protrude outside the housing 3, and the protrusion 211 being provided on the central portion 21. This allows the pair of end portions 22, 23 and the central portion 21 of the terminals 2A, 2B, both of which are bent, to be supported by the molds 4, 5, and the housing 3 can be insert-molded while suppressing deformation of the terminals 2A, 2B.

[0028] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. Furthermore, the material, shape, size, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary and not limited as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0029] According to the above-described embodiment, the terminals 2A and 2B are provided in a crank shape, but this is not limiting, and the terminals 2A and 2B may also be provided in a straight shape.

[0030] Here, the features of the above-described embodiments of the connector according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] and [2]. [1] A connector (1) comprising a plurality of plate-shaped terminals (2A, 2B) and a resin housing (3) insert-molded with the plurality of terminals (2A, 2B) arranged in a thickness direction (vertical direction), At least one of the plurality of terminals (2A, 2B) has a protrusion (211) that protrudes in the thickness direction (vertical direction) from a portion that is filled into the housing (3), The tip of the protrusion (211) is provided so as to protrude outside the housing (3). Connector(1).

[0031] According to the configuration [1] above, the terminals (2A, 2B) are provided with protrusions (211) that protrude from the housing (3). This allows the protrusions (211) to be supported by the molds (4, 5), making it possible to insert-mold the housing (3) while suppressing deformation of the terminals (2A, 2B).

[0032] [2] In the connector (1) described in [1], Each of the plurality of terminals (2A, 2B) has a central portion (21) and a pair of end portions (22, 23) formed by bending both ends of the central portion (21) along the width direction (width direction), The tips of the pair of ends (22, 23) are provided to protrude outside the housing (3), The protrusion (211) is provided on the central portion (21), Connector(1).

[0033] According to the configuration [2] above, the pair of end portions (22, 23) and the central portion (21) of the terminals (2A, 2B) whose both ends are bent can be supported by the molds (4, 5), and the housing (3) can be insert-molded while suppressing deformation of the terminals (2A, 2B). [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1 connector 2A,2B terminal 3. Housing 21 Central part 22,23 End 211 Protrusion

Claims

1. A connector comprising a plurality of plate-shaped terminals and a resin housing insert-molded with the plurality of terminals arranged in a thickness direction, At least one of the plurality of terminals has a protrusion that protrudes in the thickness direction from a portion that is filled into the housing, The tip of the protrusion is provided so as to protrude outside the housing. connector.

2. 2. The connector according to claim 1, Each of the plurality of terminals has a central portion and a pair of end portions formed by bending both ends of the central portion along the width direction, The pair of ends are provided so as to protrude outside the housing, The protrusion is provided in the central portion. connector.

Images