Connector with holder

Abstract

To suppress damage to a terminal when a holder is released from a fully locked state to a provisionally locked state.SOLUTION: A connector with a holder includes a male housing 3 provided with a first male terminal 1 that protrudes into a holder accommodating portion 5, and a male front holder 4 that is inserted into the holder accommodating portion 5 and can be engaged with a base wall portion 6 of the male housing 3. The male front holder 4 includes a base portion 15, a rib main body portion 16 that protrudes from the base portion 15 toward the open end 5a of the holder accommodating portion 5, and a rib reinforcing portion 17 that protrudes from an upper surface 16a of the rib main body portion 16. An insertion hole 21 is formed in the rib main body portion 16 at a position adjacent to the rib reinforcing portion 17 and the base portion 15. A hook portion 22c provided at the tip of a removal jig 22 that moves the male front holder 4 relative to the male housing 3 is inserted into the insertion hole 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] As shown in FIG. 6, the connector with holder 23 described in Patent Document 1 includes a cylindrical housing 24 with a bottom having a partition wall 24a, and a front holder 26 accommodated in a holder accommodating portion 25 provided in the partition wall 24a. A through-hole 25a into which a male terminal 27 is inserted is formed in the partition wall 24a at a position above the holder accommodating portion 25, and a tab 27a of the male terminal 27 protrudes through the through-hole 25a into the holder accommodating portion 25. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 6, the front holder 26 is fully inserted into the holder accommodating portion 25 of the housing 24 and is fully engaged with the partition wall 24a. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a hook 28 protruding from one end 26a of the front holder 26 in the thickness direction is formed on the one end 26b.

[0003] 6 to a temporary locking state in which the front holder 26 is pulled out a predetermined distance from the holder accommodating portion 25 of the housing 24. When pulling the front holder 26 out from the permanent locking state to the temporary locking state, the front holder 26 is pulled out in a direction Q away from the end 25a of the holder accommodating portion 25 with the hook portion of a pulling jig having a hook portion at its tip hooked onto the hook-shaped portion 28 of the front holder 26. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-45411 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In Patent Document 1, when releasing the front holder 26 from the permanently locked state to the provisionally locked state, when an operator approaches and hooks the hook portion of the removal jig onto the hook-shaped portion 28 of the front holder 26, the removal jig may come into contact with the tab 27a of the male terminal 27 located above the front holder 26, which could damage the tab 27a.

[0006] The present invention was devised in consideration of the current situation, and one of its objects is to provide a connector with a holder that can prevent damage to terminals when the holder is released from a fully engaged state to a partially engaged state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a connector with a holder, the connector comprising: a bottomed tubular housing having a holder accommodation portion and terminals protruding into the holder accommodation portion; and a holder that is inserted into the holder accommodation portion and can be engaged with a wall of the holder accommodation portion located opposite the open end of the holder accommodation portion, the holder having a base with holes through which the terminals are inserted. The holder has a rib main body portion that protrudes from the base toward the open end of the holder accommodation portion, and a rib reinforcement portion that protrudes from the upper surface of the rib main body portion and extends from the base to the tip of the rib main body. An insertion hole is formed in the rib main body portion at a position adjacent to the rib reinforcement portion, or in the rib reinforcement portion at a position adjacent to the rib main body portion, and a hook portion provided at the tip of a jig that moves the holder relative to the housing is inserted into the insertion hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, when the holder is released from the full-locking state to the provisional locking state, the hook portion of the jig is guided along the rib main body portion or the rib reinforcement portion to the insertion hole, making it less likely that the jig will come into contact with the terminal, thereby suppressing damage to the terminal. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector with a holder according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the connector with holder in a fully locked state. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are explanatory views showing a process of inserting a removal jig when releasing the male front holder from a fully locked state to a provisionally locked state. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are explanatory views showing a process of hooking the removal jig when releasing the male front holder from a fully locked state to a provisionally locked state. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are explanatory views showing a process of removing the removal jig when releasing the male front holder from a fully locked state to a provisionally locked state. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connector with a holder according to the prior art. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder of the prior art. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a connector with a holder according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector with a holder according to one embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the connector with a holder in a fully locked state. For ease of explanation, Fig. 2 shows a part of the perspective view in cross section.

[0012] The connector with holder comprises a male housing (corresponding to the "housing" in the claims) 3 provided with a plurality of first male terminals (corresponding to the "terminals" in the claims) 1 and a plurality of second male terminals (corresponding to the "terminals" in the claims) 2, and a male front holder (corresponding to the "holder" in the claims) 4.

[0013] For ease of explanation, in Figures 1 and 2, the longitudinal direction of the male housing 3 is defined as the "longitudinal direction X," the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and along the short side of the male housing 3 is defined as the "vertical direction Y," and further, the direction along the longitudinal direction X and the vertical direction Y is defined as the "pull-out direction Z" of the male front holder 4.

[0014] 1, the plurality of first male terminals 1, nine in this embodiment, are arranged such that three are aligned in the longitudinal direction X on an upper row located above the vertical direction Y, and six are aligned in the longitudinal direction X on a lower row located below the vertical direction Y. Each first male terminal 1 has a first tab 1a that protrudes into a holder accommodating portion 5 provided in the male housing 3.

[0015] 1, the plurality of second male terminals 2, five in this embodiment, are formed larger than the first male terminals 1, and are arranged so that three second male terminals are aligned in the longitudinal direction X on the upper row and two second male terminals are aligned in the longitudinal direction X on the lower row. Each second male terminal 2 has a second tab 2a that protrudes into a holder accommodating portion 5 provided in the male housing 3.

[0016] The male housing 3 is made of a synthetic resin material and has a rectangular cylindrical shape with a bottom. The male housing 3 has a base wall portion (corresponding to the "wall portion" in the claims) 6, a pair of side wall portions 7, an upper wall portion 8, and a lower wall portion 9. The base wall portion 6 has a rectangular plate shape with its long sides extending along the longitudinal direction X. The side wall portions 7 have a rectangular plate shape and are erected from both side edges of the base wall portion 6 in the pulling-out direction Z. The upper wall portion 8 has a rectangular plate shape and is erected from the upper edge of the base wall portion 6 in the pulling-out direction Z. The upper wall portion 8 is connected to upper ends of the pair of side wall portions 7 in the vertical direction Y. The lower wall portion 9 has a rectangular shape similar to the upper wall portion 8 and is erected from the lower edge of the base wall portion 6 in the pulling-out direction Z. The space surrounded by the base wall 6, the pair of side walls 7, the upper wall 8, and the lower wall 9 constitutes a holder accommodating section 5 that accommodates the male front holder 4. The holder accommodating section 5 has an open end 5a at one end in the pulling-out direction Z.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, a first protrusion 10, a second protrusion 11, and a third protrusion 12 are formed on the inner surface 6a of the base wall portion 6 so as to protrude therefrom.

[0018] The first protrusion 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and protrudes from the inner surface 6a of the base wall portion 6 into the holder accommodating portion 5 in the pulling-out direction Z. The first protrusion 10 is disposed at a position corresponding to the three first male terminals 1 located in the upper row in the vertical direction Y. First tab insertion holes 10a are formed in the first protrusion 10 at positions corresponding to the three first male terminals 1, penetrating the first protrusion 10 in the pulling-out direction Z. First tabs 1a of the first male terminals 1 are inserted into the first tab insertion holes 10a, and the first tabs 1a protrude into the holder accommodating portion 5.

[0019] The second protrusion 11 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is longer in the longitudinal direction X than the first protrusion 10, and protrudes from the inner surface 6a of the base wall 6 into the holder accommodating portion 5 in the pulling-out direction Z. The second protrusion 11 is disposed at a position corresponding to the six first male terminals 1 located in the lower row in the up-down direction Y. Second tab insertion holes 11a are formed in the second protrusion 11 at positions corresponding to the six first male terminals 1, penetrating the second protrusion 11 in the pulling-out direction Z. First tabs 1a of the first male terminals 1 are inserted into the second tab insertion holes 11a, and the first tabs 1a protrude into the holder accommodating portion 5.

[0020] The third protrusion 12 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and protrudes from the inner surface 6a of the base wall 6 into the holder accommodating portion 5 in the pulling-out direction Z. The third protrusions 12 are arranged at positions corresponding to the three second male terminals 2 located in the upper row in the vertical direction Y and at positions corresponding to the two second male terminals 2 located in the lower row in the vertical direction Y. Third tab insertion holes 12a are formed to penetrate the third protrusion 12 in the pulling-out direction Z at positions corresponding to the five second male terminals 2. The second tabs 2a of the second male terminals 2 are inserted into the third tab insertion holes 12a, and the second tabs 2a protrude into the holder accommodating portion 5.

[0021] 2, a first guide protrusion 13 is formed on the inner surface 7a of the side wall 7 at a position closer to the upper wall 8. The first guide protrusion 13 guides the male front holder 4 when inserting the male front holder 4 into the holder accommodating portion 5 or when pulling the male front holder 4 out of the holder accommodating portion 5. The first guide protrusion 13 protrudes from the inner surface 7a of the side wall 7 toward the inside of the holder accommodating portion 5. The first guide protrusion 13 is continuous from the base wall 6 to the center of the side wall 7 in the pulling-out direction Z.

[0022] 1 and 2, a second guide protrusion 14 is formed to protrude from the inner surface 9a of the lower wall 9. The second guide protrusion 14 guides the male front holder 4 when inserting the male front holder 4 into the holder accommodating portion 5 or when pulling the male front holder 4 out of the holder accommodating portion 5. The second guide protrusion 14 protrudes from the inner surface 9a of the lower wall 9 toward the inside of the holder accommodating portion 5. The second guide protrusion 14 is continuous from the base wall 6 to the center position of the lower wall 9 in the pulling-out direction Z.

[0023] The male front holder 4 is made of a synthetic resin material and has a generally rectangular plate shape. The male front holder 4 has a base 15, a rib main body 16, and a rib reinforcing portion 17.

[0024] The base 15 has a rectangular plate shape. A first protrusion insertion hole 15a is formed in the base 15 at a position corresponding to the first protrusion 10 of the male housing 3, penetrating the base 15 along the pulling-out direction Z. The first protrusion insertion hole 15a has a rectangular shape when viewed from the opposite direction to the pulling-out direction Z, and is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the first protrusion 10. The first protrusion 10 is inserted into the first protrusion insertion hole 15a.

[0025] Furthermore, a second protrusion insertion hole 15b is formed in the base 15 at a position corresponding to the second protrusion 11 of the male housing 3, penetrating along the pulling-out direction Z. The second protrusion insertion hole 15b has a rectangular shape when viewed from the opposite direction to the pulling-out direction Z, and is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the second protrusion 11. The second protrusion 11 is inserted into the second protrusion insertion hole 15b.

[0026] Third protrusion insertion holes 15c are formed in the base 15 at positions corresponding to the third protrusions 12 of the male housing 3, penetrating the base 15 along the pulling-out direction Z. The third protrusion insertion holes 15c have a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the opposite direction to the pulling-out direction Z, and are formed slightly larger than the outer diameter of the third protrusions 12. The third protrusions 12 are inserted into the third protrusion insertion holes 15c.

[0027] 2, a protrusion 18 is formed on a surface 15d of the base 15 that faces the base wall 6 of the male housing 3. The protrusion 18 protrudes from the center of the surface 15d in the vertical direction Y toward the opposite side of the pulling-out direction Z. When the male front holder 4 is in the fully locked state shown in FIG. 2, the protrusion 18 is locked by being fitted into a recess 6b formed in the base wall 6 of the male housing 3. Furthermore, in the fully locked state, the surface 15d of the base 15 of the male front holder 4 abuts against the inner surface 6a of the base wall 6 of the male housing 3.

[0028] In addition, in addition to the protrusion 18, multiple protrusions are formed on the surface 15d of the base 15, and multiple recesses are formed in the base wall 6 of the male housing 3 that are respectively engaged with the multiple protrusions, but a description of these protrusions and recesses will be omitted.

[0029] Furthermore, a first recess 19 is formed in a portion of the side portion 15e of the base 15 that corresponds to the first guide protrusion 13 of the male housing 3. The first recess 19 is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the first guide protrusion 13. The first recess 19 slides against the outer surface of the first guide protrusion 13 when inserting the male front holder 4 into the holder accommodating portion 5 or when removing the male front holder 4 from the holder accommodating portion 5. This sliding makes it possible to stabilize the insertion and removal of the male front holder 4 into and from the holder accommodating portion 5.

[0030] Additionally, a second recess 20 is formed in the lower portion 15f of the base 15 at a location corresponding to the second guide protrusion 14 of the male housing 3. The second recess 20 is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the second guide protrusion 14. The second recess 20 slides against the outer surface of the second guide protrusion 14 when inserting the male front holder 4 into the holder accommodating portion 5 or when removing the male front holder 4 from the holder accommodating portion 5. This sliding makes it possible to stabilize the insertion and removal of the male front holder 4 into and from the holder accommodating portion 5.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the rib main body portion 16 narrows the space S near the first male terminal 1 and the second male terminal 2 within the holder accommodation portion 5. By narrowing the space S in this manner, if an operator's fingers accidentally enter the holder accommodation portion 5, the fingers are prevented from coming into contact with the first tab 1a of the first male terminal 1 or the second tab 2a of the second male terminal 2. The rib main body portion 16 has a rectangular plate shape and protrudes from the base portion 15 toward the opening end 5a of the holder accommodation portion 5 along the removal direction Z. As shown in FIG. 2, the length of the rib main body portion 16 along the removal direction Z is shorter than the lengths of the side wall portion 7, the upper wall portion 8, and the lower wall portion 9 along the removal direction Z. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the length of the rib main body portion 16 along the longitudinal direction X is shorter than the length of the second protrusion insertion hole 15b along the longitudinal direction X.

[0032] The rib reinforcement 17 acts as a cantilever to reinforce the rigidity of the rib main body 16 that protrudes from the base 15. The rib reinforcement 17 protrudes upward from the center of the upper surface 16a of the rib main body 16 in the longitudinal direction X. The rib reinforcement 17 extends from the base 15 to the tip 16b of the rib main body 16. The rib reinforcement 17 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the direction opposite to the pulling-out direction Z (the insertion direction T of the pull-out jig 22, which will be described later).

[0033] Furthermore, a portion of the rib main body 16 adjacent to the rib reinforcement 17 and the base 15 is located closest to the rib reinforcement 17, the base 15, and the rib main body 16, and is the most rigid portion. An insertion hole 21 is formed through this portion in the vertical direction Y. In this embodiment, the insertion hole 21 is formed at a position of the rib main body 16 adjacent to the rib reinforcement 17 and the base 15, on the opposite side of the rib reinforcement 17 from the first recess 19. The insertion hole 21 may be formed in the rib main body 16 at a position opposite the position of the rib reinforcement 17, rather than at the position where it is formed in this embodiment. A hook portion 22c of a removal jig 22, described later, is inserted into the insertion hole 21 when the male front holder 4 is released from the final engagement state to the provisional engagement state. The insertion hole 21 has a generally rectangular shape when viewed in the vertical direction Y.

[0034] Furthermore, the insertion hole 21 does not necessarily have to be formed at a position adjacent to the rib reinforcement portion 17 and the base portion 15 in the rib main body portion 16, but may be formed at any position adjacent to the rib reinforcement portion 17 in the rib main body portion 16.

[0035] 1 and 2, instead of forming the insertion holes 21 in the rib main body 16 as described above, the insertion holes 21 may be formed in the rib reinforcement 17 at positions adjacent to the rib main body 16. In this case, it is desirable to form the insertion holes 21 in the rib reinforcement 17 at positions adjacent to the rib main body 16 and the base 15.

[0036] A female housing having a plurality of female terminals (not shown) is fitted to the male housing 3 with the male front holder 4 attached. The first male terminal 1 and the second male terminal 2 provided on the male housing 3 are then electrically connected to the corresponding female terminals on the female housing.

[0037] The removal jig 22 is a jig used by an operator to remove the male front holder 4 when releasing the male front holder 4 from the fully locked state shown in FIG. 2 to a provisionally locked state (see FIG. 5). The removal jig 22 includes a gripping portion 22a and a removal portion 22b. The gripping portion 22a is shaped like a roughly hexagonal column and is the portion that an operator grasps when releasing the male front holder 4. The removal portion 22b has a hook portion 22c formed by bending the tip of an elongated cylindrical metal member into an L-shape. The hook portion 22c is hooked into the insertion hole 21 of the rib main body portion 16 and is used to remove the male front holder 4 in the removal direction Z. As shown in FIG. 2, the length of the hook portion 22c in the vertical direction Y is greater than the protruding height of the rib reinforcement portion 17 in the vertical direction Y.

[0038] Next, a method for releasing the male front holder 4 from the fully locked state to the provisionally locked state will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. This release operation is carried out when the connector with holder is shipped or repaired.

[0039] 3, an operator (not shown) inserts the removal jig 22 toward the insertion hole 21 along the insertion direction T of the removal jig 22. During this insertion, the operator inserts the removal jig 22 along the insertion direction T while bringing the portion of the outer periphery of the hook portion 22c on the rib reinforcement portion 17 side into contact with the side surface 17a, of both side surfaces 17a, 17b of the rib reinforcement portion 17 in the longitudinal direction X, that is adjacent to the insertion hole 21.

[0040] Then, the removal jig 22 is inserted in the insertion direction T until the hook portion 22c abuts against the base portion 15 of the male front holder 4, and then the removal jig 22 is moved downward in the up-down direction Y. By this movement, the hook portion 22c is inserted into the insertion hole 21 of the rib main body portion 16, as shown in FIG.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 4, after the hook portion 22c is inserted, the removal jig 22 is moved along the removal direction Z, so that the hook portion 22c is hooked onto the inner wall 21a of the insertion hole 21.

[0042] 5, the male front holder 4 is placed in a provisionally locked state by pulling out the removal jig 22 in the removal direction Z. In this provisionally locked state, the protrusion 18 of the male front holder 4 is located outside the recess 6b of the male housing 3, and further, the surface 15d of the base 15 of the male front holder 4 is spaced apart from the inner surface 6a of the base wall 6 of the male housing 3.

[0043] In addition, when the insertion hole 21 is not formed in the rib main body portion 16 but is formed in the rib reinforcement portion 17 at a position adjacent to the rib main body portion 16 and the base portion 15, the hook portion 22c of the extraction jig 22 is parallel to the rib main body portion 16 and the end of the hook portion 22c is positioned facing the rib reinforcement portion 17, and the hook portion 22c is guided along the insertion direction T while contacting the upper surface 16a of the rib main body portion 16, and then the hook portion 22c is inserted toward the insertion hole 21.

[0044] As described above, in this embodiment, the male front holder 4 has the rib main body portion 16 that protrudes from the base portion 15 toward the open end 5a of the holder accommodating portion 5, and the rib reinforcing portion 17 that protrudes from the rib main body portion 16 and extends from the base portion 15 to the tip 16b of the rib main body portion 16. Furthermore, an insertion hole 21 is formed in the rib main body portion 16 at a position adjacent to the rib reinforcing portion 17. Therefore, when releasing the male front holder 4 from the fully locked state to the provisionally locked state, an operator inserts the removal jig 22 along the insertion direction T while bringing the outer periphery of the hook portion 22c of the removal jig 22 into contact with the side surface 17a of the rib reinforcing portion 17, and the removal jig 22 is stably guided toward the insertion hole 21. Therefore, the pull-out portion 22b and the hook portion 22c are less likely to come into contact with the first tab 1a of the first male terminal 1 and the second tab 2a of the second male terminal 2 that protrude into the holder accommodating portion 5, thereby suppressing damage to these first tab 1a and second tab 2a.

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the insertion hole 21 is formed at a position of the rib main body 16 adjacent to the base 15, i.e., at the root portion of the rib main body 16. As described above, the insertion hole 21 is also located adjacent to the rib reinforcing portion 17 and is formed in the most rigid portion near the base 15, the rib main body 16, and the rib reinforcing portion 17. When releasing the male front holder 4 from the fully locked state to the provisionally locked state, the removal jig 22 must be pulled out with a relatively strong force while the hook portion 22c is hooked on the inner wall 21a of the insertion hole 21. Therefore, a large force also acts on the inner wall 21a of the insertion hole 21. Therefore, by forming the insertion hole 21 in the root portion of the rib main body 16, which is the most rigid portion, as in this embodiment, damage to the rib main body 16 by the removal jig 22 can be suppressed.

[0046] Furthermore, if the insertion hole 21 is located adjacent to the base 15 of the rib main body 16, the hook portion 22c of the extraction jig 22 can be easily inserted into the insertion hole 21 simply by abutting the hook portion 22c against the base 15 and moving the hook portion 22c downward while following the base 15. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1...First male terminal 2...Second male terminal 3···Male housing 4 Male front holder 5. Holder accommodation section 15...Base 16 Rib body 17 Rib reinforcement 21 Insertion hole 22 Pull-out jig 22c Hook part

Claims

1. a cylindrical housing having a holder accommodating portion and terminals protruding into the holder accommodating portion; a holder that is inserted into the holder accommodating portion and can be engaged with a wall portion of the holder accommodating portion located on the opposite side to an open end of the holder accommodating portion, the holder having a base portion formed with a hole portion through which the terminal is inserted; Equipped with the holder has a rib main body portion that protrudes from the base portion toward the open end side of the holder accommodating portion, and a rib reinforcing portion that protrudes from an upper surface of the rib main body portion and extends from the base portion to a tip end of the rib main body portion, an insertion hole is formed in a position of the rib main body portion adjacent to the rib reinforcing portion, or in a position of the rib reinforcing portion adjacent to the rib main body portion; a hook portion provided at a tip end of a jig that moves the holder relative to the housing is inserted into the insertion hole; Connector with holder.

2. 2. The connector with holder according to claim 1, wherein the insertion hole is formed in the rib main body at a position adjacent to the base.

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