Joint connector

Abstract

To provide a joint connector capable of improving workability in manufacturing a wire harness.SOLUTION: A joint connector 1 connects a circuit of a base sub-wire harness and a circuit of an addition sub-wire harness, and includes a bus bar 3 and a connector housing 2. The connector housing 2 has a plurality of terminal insertion ports 22 and a connector insertion port 23 on the same surface. One terminal portion 31 of the bus bar 3 is accommodated in a space continuous with each terminal insertion port 22 of the connector housing 2, and a plurality of terminal portions 31 are accommodated in a space continuous with the connector insertion port 23. Terminals 42 connected to ends of electric wires 41 constituting a base sub-wire harness are inserted into the plurality of terminal insertion ports 22, respectively. The connector 5 of the addition sub-wire harness is inserted into the connector insertion port 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A wire harness connects various devices mounted on a vehicle, and is made by bundling together multiple electric wires used for power supply and signal transmission, and enabling the multiple electric wires to be connected to each device using connectors, etc. (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Wire harnesses have different part numbers depending on the vehicle specifications and options. There is a production method in which base sub-wire harnesses, which are commonly used even if the part numbers are different, and additional sub-wire harnesses, which are used as options, are produced separately and then assembled on a conveyor jig (joining jig). This production method is called "base-addition production."

[0004] 4 is a schematic diagram of a wire harness 508 obtained by conventional base-addition production. The wire harness 508 is obtained by assembling a base sub-wire harness 506 and an addition sub-wire harness 507.

[0005] The base sub-wire harness 506 includes a plurality of electric wires, connectors 11 to 15 connected to accessories, connectors 62 and 63 connected to other wire harnesses, and a joint connector 501. The joint connector 501 connects the circuit of the base sub-wire harness 506 and the circuit of the addition sub-wire harness 507.

[0006] The addition sub-wiring harness 507 includes a plurality of electric wires, connectors 16 to 19 connected to the auxiliary machinery, a terminal 52 fitted later to the joint connector 501, and a terminal 72 fitted later to the connector 62.

[0007] 5, the joint connector 501 includes a bus bar 3 and a connector housing 502 that houses the bus bar 3. The bus bar 3 has a plurality of terminal portions 31 and a connection portion 32 that connects the terminal portions 31 together. The connector housing 502 has a plurality of terminal insertion openings that are formed on a front surface 521 of the connector housing 502. A terminal portion 31 is housed in each space adjacent to each terminal insertion opening in the connector housing 502.

[0008] Terminals 42 connected to ends of the electric wires 41 constituting the base sub-wire harness 506 and terminals 52 connected to ends of the electric wires 51 constituting the additional sub-wire harness 507 are inserted into the multiple terminal insertion openings of the joint connector 501. These terminals 42, 52 are then fitted to the terminal portions 31 of the bus bar 3. This connects the circuit of the base sub-wire harness 506 and the circuit of the additional sub-wire harness 507.

[0009] When manufacturing the wire harness 508, the base sub-wire harness 506 is routed on a conveyor jig, and then the additional sub-wire harness 507 is routed. After that, the terminals 52 of the additional sub-wire harness 507 are later fitted into the joint connector 501, and the terminals 72 are later fitted into the connector 62. The wire harness 508 is manufactured by such base-addition production. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-068284 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] In the above-described wire harness 508, when the terminals 52 are subsequently fitted into the joint connector 501, the joint connector 501 is removed from the receiver of the conveyor jig, and the terminals 52 are fitted one by one while looking at the cavity drawing of the joint connector 501. This makes the work difficult and increases the likelihood of circuit errors.

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a joint connector that can improve workability during the manufacture of a wire harness. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The present invention provides a joint connector comprising a bus bar and a connector housing that accommodates the bus bar, wherein the bus bar has a plurality of terminal portions and a connection portion that connects the terminal portions together, and the connector housing has a plurality of terminal insertion openings and at least one connector insertion opening, wherein one terminal portion is accommodated in a space following each of the terminal insertion openings in the connector housing, and a plurality of the terminal portions are accommodated in a space following the connector insertion openings in the connector housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a joint connector that can improve workability when manufacturing a wire harness. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a wire harness including a joint connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the joint connector of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the joint connector of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram of a wire harness obtained by conventional base addition production. [Figure 5] 5 is a schematic diagram of a joint connector that constitutes the wire harness of FIG. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] A "joint connector" according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 1, the joint connector 1 of this example is provided on a wire harness 8 obtained by base addition production. The wire harness 8 is to be installed in an automobile, and is obtained by assembling a base sub-wire harness 6 and an addition sub-wire harness 7.

[0018] The base sub-wire harness 6 includes a plurality of electric wires, connectors 11 to 15 connected to automobile accessories, connectors 62 and 63 connected to other wire harnesses, and a joint connector 1. The joint connector 1 in this example connects the circuit of the base sub-wire harness 6 to the circuit of the additional sub-wire harness 7.

[0019] The addition sub-wire harness 7 includes a plurality of electric wires, connectors 16 to 19 connected to auxiliary machinery of the automobile, a connector 5 that is connected to the joint connector 501, and a terminal 72 that is later fitted to the connector 62.

[0020] 2 and 3, the joint connector 1 includes a bus bar 3 and a connector housing 2 that accommodates the bus bar 3. The bus bar 3 may be integrally molded with the connector housing 2 by insert molding, or may be configured to be assembled to the connector housing 2 after molding.

[0021] The busbar 3 is obtained by pressing a metal plate or the like. The busbar 3 has a plurality of terminal portions 31 and a connection portion 32 that connects the terminal portions 31 together. Each terminal portion 31 is formed in the shape of an elongated plate or rod. The plurality of terminal portions 31 protrude in the same direction from the connection portion 32.

[0022] The connector housing 2 is made of insulating synthetic resin. The connector housing 2 has a plurality of terminal insertion openings 22 and a single connector insertion opening 23, which are formed on the front surface 21 of the connector housing 2. A terminal portion 31 is housed in the space adjacent to each terminal insertion opening 22 in the connector housing 2. A plurality of terminal portions 31 (four in this example) are housed in the space adjacent to the connector insertion opening 23 in the connector housing 2.

[0023] Terminals 42 connected to ends of the electric wires 41 constituting the base sub-wire harness 6 are inserted into the multiple terminal insertion openings 22, respectively. These terminals 42 are female. A connector 5 of the additional sub-wire harness 7 is inserted into the connector insertion opening 23. This connector 5 includes multiple (four in this example) terminals 52 connected to ends of the multiple electric wires 51 constituting the additional sub-wire harness 7, respectively, and a connector housing 53 that accommodates these terminals 52. The terminals 52 are female.

[0024] 2, each terminal 42 and each terminal 52 of the connector 5 are fitted to the terminal portion 31 of the bus bar 3. This connects the circuit of the base sub-wire harness 6 and the circuit of the additional sub-wire harness 7. In addition, the terminal 42 is connected to the joint connector 1 when the base sub-wire harness 6 is manufactured.

[0025] When manufacturing the wire harness 8, the base sub-wire harness 6 is arranged on a conveyor jig, and then the additional sub-wire harness 7 is arranged. After that, the connector 5 of the additional sub-wire harness 7 is connected to the joint connector 1, and the terminal 72 is subsequently fitted into the connector 62. The wire harness 8 is manufactured by such base-addition production.

[0026] In this example, the connector 5 of the addition sub-wire harness 7 can be connected to the same surface 21 as the surface 21 where the terminals 42 of the joint connector 1 are inserted, thereby improving workability compared to the conventional method in which the terminals 52 were fitted one by one into the joint connector 501. Also, by grouping multiple terminals 52 together as the connector 5, it is possible to prevent circuit errors from occurring when connecting to the joint connector 1.

[0027] Furthermore, in the case of the conventional addition sub-wire harness 507, there are cases where protection of the terminals 52 is required when the harness is moved between processes. In contrast, in the case of the addition sub-wire harness 7 of this example, the terminals 52 are housed in the connector housing 53 when the harness is moved between processes, so there is no need to protect the terminals 52.

[0028] In the above-described embodiment, the connector housing 2 of the joint connector 1 has a single connector insertion opening 23, but the connector housing of the joint connector of the present invention may have a plurality of connector insertion openings.

[0029] In the above-described embodiment, in consideration of the ease of inserting the connector 5 of the addition sub-wire harness 7 into the connector insertion opening 23, the multiple terminal insertion openings 22 and the connector insertion opening 23 are formed on the same surface of the connector housing 2. However, in the present invention, the terminal insertion openings and the connector insertion openings may be formed on different surfaces of the connector housing.

[0030] The above-described embodiment merely shows a typical form of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In other words, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the gist of the present invention. As long as such modifications still include the configuration of the present invention, they are of course included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1 joint connector 2 Connector housing 3 Bus Bar 6 Base sub-wiring harness 7 Addition sub-wire harness 8 Wire harness 22 Terminal insertion port 23 Connector insertion port 31 Terminal section 32 Connection

Claims

1. A connector housing includes a bus bar and a connector housing that accommodates the bus bar. The bus bar has a plurality of terminal portions and a connection portion that connects the terminal portions to each other, the connector housing has a plurality of terminal insertion openings and at least one connector insertion opening, One terminal portion is accommodated in a space following each of the terminal insertion openings in the connector housing, and a plurality of terminal portions are accommodated in a space following each of the connector insertion openings in the connector housing. A joint connector characterized by:

2. The plurality of terminal insertion openings and the at least one connector insertion opening are formed on the same surface of the connector housing.

2. The joint connector according to claim 1.

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