Joint connector

Abstract

To provide a joint connector that can suppress the increase in the number of parts. [Solution] The joint connector 1 comprises a housing 20 including a plurality of conductive terminals 12 and a plurality of cavities 21 that house each of the terminals 12, and a retainer 30 assembled to the housing 20 and locking the terminals 12 housed in the cavities 21. The retainer 30 includes a conductive retainer 30a that is conductive and electrically connects the terminals 12 housed in the cavities 21 while locking them within the cavities 21.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, Patent Document 1 describes a double lock connector. This double lock connector includes a substantially box-shaped housing, contacts arranged in the housing and regulated to a predetermined position by engaging with a part of the housing, and a lock lever inserted into a hole provided on a side surface of the housing, which further regulates the contacts to a predetermined position in addition to engagement. The lock lever is rotatable between an engagement position where a part of the lock lever engages with the contacts to regulate the contacts to a predetermined position and a release position where the contacts are released while being inserted into the hole of the housing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, the double lock connector described in Patent Document 1 above can be considered to realize a joint connector by electrically connecting terminals such as contacts. In this case, it is desired to be configured while suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide a joint connector capable of suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the joint connector according to the present invention comprises a plurality of conductive terminals, a housing including a plurality of cavities that house each of the terminals, and a retainer assembled to the housing and locking the terminals housed in the cavities, wherein the retainer includes a first retainer that is conductive and electrically connects the terminals housed in the cavities while locking them within the cavities. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] In the joint connector according to the present invention, the first retainer that locks the terminals in the cavity can also be used as a joint portion that electrically connects the terminals to each other. As a result, the joint connector can reduce the number of conductive members used as joint portions as in conventional designs, thereby suppressing an increase in the number of parts. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a joint connector according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a joint connector according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the housing configuration according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a wire with terminals according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a retainer according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the terminal configuration according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a joint connector according to a modified embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the contents described in the following embodiments. Furthermore, the components described below include those that can be easily imagined by those skilled in the art, and those that are substantially the same. Moreover, the components described below can be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, or modifications of the components can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0010] [Embodiment] An embodiment of the joint connector 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. The joint connector 1 is incorporated into a wire harness mounted on a vehicle and electrically connects terminal-equipped wires 10 within a housing 20, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. As a result, the joint connector 1 can electrically connect, for example, the vehicle's power supply and control device to multiple devices mounted on the vehicle via terminal-equipped wires 10. Here, the wire harness is, for example, a bundle of multiple wiring materials used for power supply and signal communication to connect each device mounted on the vehicle, and the multiple wiring materials are connected to each device using connectors or the like.

[0011] In the following description, of the three intersecting directions, the first direction will be referred to as the "insertion direction X," the second direction as the "arrangement direction Y," and the third direction as the "height direction Z." Here, the insertion direction X, the arrangement direction Y, and the height direction Z intersect with each other and are typically orthogonal. The insertion direction X is the direction in which the terminal-equipped wire 10 is inserted into the housing 20, and the direction in which the wire 11 extends. The arrangement direction Y is the direction in which each cavity 21 is arranged, and the height direction Z is the direction along the height of the housing 20. Unless otherwise specified, the directions used in the following description refer to the directions when each part is assembled together.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the joint connector 1 comprises a wire 10 with terminals, a housing 20, and a retainer 30.

[0013] The wire with terminal 10 comprises a wire 11 and a terminal 12. The wire 11 is routed through the vehicle and electrically connects various devices. The wire 11 comprises a conductive linear conductor portion and an insulating coating portion that covers the outside of the conductor portion. One end of the conductor portion of the wire 11 is electrically connected to the terminal 12.

[0014] Terminal 12 is a conductive terminal fitting formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape. Although the shape of terminal 12 is simplified in Figure 2 and other figures, each part is formed three-dimensionally as a single piece by various processes such as punching, pressing, and bending, which are applied to the shapes corresponding to each part, such as the electrical connection part 12a and the wire connection part 12b. Terminal 12 is electrically connected to the wire 11 and to the conductive mating terminal 101 (see Figure 6). As shown in Figure 4, terminal 12 is composed of an electrical connection part 12a and a wire connection part 12b.

[0015] The electrical connection portion 12a is the part that is electrically connected to the mating terminal 101. The electrical connection portion 12a is provided on the mating portion 1a of the housing 20 and is electrically connected to the mating terminal 101 of the mating connector 100 when the mating portion 1a is mated to the mating connector 100. The electrical connection portion 12a may have a male terminal shape or a female terminal shape. In this embodiment, the electrical connection portion 12a is shown as having a female terminal shape and is electrically connected to the mating terminal 101 which has a male terminal shape. The electrical connection portion 12a is composed of a pair of contacts 122, 122 formed in the shape of leaf springs, for example, as shown in Figure 6. The pair of contacts 122, 122 are provided facing each other along the height direction Z, and the male mating terminal 101 is inserted between them and electrically connected to the mating terminal 101. Furthermore, the pair of contacts 122, 122 are configured to be electrically connectable to the mating terminal 101 regardless of whether or not the retainer 30 (conductive retainer 30a) is inserted into the gap between the leaf spring 124 and the protrusion 123, as described later.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 4, the wire connection portion 12b is a portion that is electrically connected to the wire 11. The wire connection portion 12b is electrically connected to one end of the conductor portion of the wire 11.

[0017] Here, the terminal 12 is provided with terminal insertion portions 121, 121 between the electrical connection portion 12a and the wire connection portion 12b. The terminal insertion portions 121, 121 are through holes that penetrate the wall portion 125 (see FIG. 4) of the terminal 12 along the arrangement direction Y. The terminal insertion portion 121 is provided, for example, in a terminal 12 formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape, on one wall portion 125 on one side in the arrangement direction Y of the terminal 12 and on the other wall portion 125 on the other side in the arrangement direction Y of the terminal 12. That is, the terminal insertion portions 121, 121 are provided opposite to each other along the arrangement direction Y. The terminal insertion portion 121 is formed in a rectangular shape, and the shape of the through hole thereof is the same as the shape of the rod-shaped portion 31 of the retainer 30 (the cross-sectional shape cut along the direction (insertion direction X and height direction Z) intersecting the arrangement direction Y). Thereby, in a state where the rod-shaped portion 31 of the retainer 30 is inserted through the terminal insertion portion 121, the inner peripheral surface of the terminal insertion portion 121 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rod-shaped portion of the retainer 30. Thereby, when the rod-shaped portion 31 of the retainer 30 is inserted through the terminal insertion portions 121, 121, the terminal 12 is locked to the housing 20 by the retainer 30.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 6, the terminal 12 includes a protruding portion 123 and a leaf spring 124.

[0019] The protruding portion 123 is a convex portion formed to protrude toward the leaf spring 124 in the height direction Z. The leaf spring 124 is an elastic body formed in a leaf spring shape and is elastically deformable toward the protruding portion 123 in the height direction Z. The protruding portion 123 and the leaf spring 124 are provided to face each other in the height direction Z, and a gap is provided between the protruding portion 123 and the leaf spring 124. The rod-shaped portion 31 of the retainer 30 (conductive retainer 30a) inserted into the terminal insertion portions 121, 121 is inserted into this gap. The rod-shaped portion 31 of the retainer 30 (conductive retainer 30a) inserted into the gap is electrically connected to the protruding portion 123 and the leaf spring 124 while being pressed toward the protruding portion 123 by the leaf spring 124. Note that the leaf spring 124 is configured to be able to press the rod-shaped portion 31 toward the protruding portion 123 regardless of whether the mating terminal 101 is inserted between the pair of contact points 122, 122.

[0020] The housing 20 houses a plurality of terminals 12. The housing 20 is formed of an insulating synthetic resin and is configured, for example, in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 20 includes a fitting portion la and a plurality of cavities 21.

[0021] The fitting portion la is a portion that is fitted to the mating connector 100.The fitting portion la is provided on one side of the housing 20 in the insertion direction X (the side opposite to the side where the terminal 12 of the wire 10 with a terminal is inserted). The fitting portion la is configured such that the electrical connection portion 12a of the terminal 12 can be connected to the mating terminal 101 in a state where the terminal 12 of the wire 10 with a terminal is housed in the cavity 21 of the housing 20.

[0022] Each of the multiple cavities 21 is configured to accommodate the terminals 12 of the terminal-equipped wire 10. The multiple cavities 21 are arranged in multiple layers along the height direction Z, with each layer consisting of multiple cavities 21 arranged in the arrangement direction Y. Specifically, the multiple cavities 21 are arranged in three layers along the height direction Z, with each layer consisting of three cavities 21 arranged in the arrangement direction Y. In other words, the multiple cavities 21 are formed in a grid pattern along the arrangement direction Y and the height direction Z. In this example, three cavities 21 are formed along the arrangement direction Y, and three cavities 21 are formed along the height direction Z, for a total of nine cavities 21. When viewed from the insertion direction X, the multiple cavities 21 are formed in a rectangular shape to match the outer shape of the terminals 12 of the terminal-equipped wire 10. Multiple cavities 21 are open on both sides along the insertion direction X, forming a housing space for accommodating the terminals 12 of the terminal-equipped wire 10. The terminals 12 of the terminal-equipped wire 10 are housed in the housing space of the multiple cavities 21 along the insertion direction X.

[0023] Each cavity 21 is configured to include cavity insertion portions 22, 22 that penetrate the wall portion 23 of the cavity 21 along the arrangement direction Y. The cavity insertion portions 22, 22 are through holes, and for example, in a cavity 21 formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the insertion direction X, they are provided in the wall portion 23 on one side of the cavity 21 in the arrangement direction Y and in the wall portion 23 on the other side of the cavity 21 in the arrangement direction Y. That is, the cavity insertion portions 22, 22 are provided opposite each other along the arrangement direction Y. The cavity insertion portions 22 are formed in a rectangular shape, and the shape of their through holes is the same as the shape of the rod-shaped portion 31 of the retainer 30 (the cross-sectional shape when cut along the direction intersecting the arrangement direction Y (insertion direction X and height direction Z)). As a result, when the rod-shaped portion 31 of the retainer 30 is inserted through the cavity insertion portion 22, the inner circumferential surface of the cavity insertion portion 22 is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the rod-shaped portion 31 of the retainer 30. Consequently, when the rod-shaped portion 31 of the retainer 30 is inserted through the cavity insertion portions 22, 22, the terminal 12 is locked to the housing 20 by the retainer 30.

[0024] The retainer 30 is assembled to the housing 20 and locks the terminals 12 housed in the cavity 21. The retainer 30 consists of a conductive retainer 30a as a first retainer and an insulating retainer 30b as a second retainer.

[0025] As shown in Figure 5, the conductive retainer 30a is composed of a rod-shaped portion 31 and a gripping portion 32.

[0026] The rod-shaped portion 31 is the part that is inserted into the terminal 12 housed in the cavity 21. The rod-shaped portion 31 is conductive and is formed in a rod shape along the arrangement direction Y. The rod-shaped portion 31 extends from one side to the other in the arrangement direction Y of the housing 20. For example, the shape of the rod-shaped portion 31 (cross-sectional shape when cut along a direction intersecting the arrangement direction Y (insertion direction X and height direction Z)) is the same shape (rectangular) as the shape of the terminal insertion portion 121 and the cavity insertion portion 22. The tip portion 311 of the rod-shaped portion 31, that is, the tip portion 311 opposite to the gripping portion 32 in the arrangement direction Y, is formed in a tapered shape. In other words, the tip portion 311 of the rod-shaped portion 31 is formed to a point. As a result, the rod-shaped portion 31 can be prevented from colliding with the protruding portion 123 and the leaf spring 124 when inserted into the terminal insertion portion 121 of the terminal 12, thereby allowing it to be smoothly inserted into the gap between the protruding portion 123 and the leaf spring 124. With the terminal 12 housed in the cavity 21, the rod-shaped portion 31 is inserted along the arrangement direction Y into the cavity insertion portion 22 and the terminal insertion portion 121, electrically connecting the terminals 12 locked in each cavity 21 along the arrangement direction Y. In this example, for example, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, with three terminals 12 housed in three cavities 21 along the arrangement direction Y, the rod-shaped portion 31 is inserted along the arrangement direction Y into the cavity insertion portion 22 and the terminal insertion portion 121, electrically connecting the three terminals 12 locked in the three cavities 21.

[0027] The gripping portion 32 is the part that grips the rod-shaped portion 31 when it is inserted into the terminal 12 housed in the cavity 21. The gripping portion 32 is provided at the end of the rod-shaped portion 31 opposite to the tip portion 311. The gripping portion 32 is insulating and extends along the insertion direction X, which intersects with the direction in which the rod-shaped portion 31 extends (arrangement direction Y). Because the gripping portion 32 is insulating, it ensures insulation from the outside and prevents unintended electrical connections. The gripping portion 32 is provided with claws 321, 321. The claws 321, 321 are hooked onto the claw locking portion 22a of the housing 20 and locked in place when the rod-shaped portion 31 is inserted into the cavity insertion portion 22 and the terminal insertion portion 121.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the insulating retainer 30b locks a terminal 12, separate from the terminal 12 locked to the conductive retainer 30a, into the cavity 21. The insulating retainer 30b is formed in the same shape as the conductive retainer 30a and, as shown in Figure 2, comprises a rod-shaped portion 33 and a gripping portion 32.

[0029] The rod-shaped portion 33 is the part that is inserted into the terminal 12 housed in the cavity 21. The rod-shaped portion 33 is insulating and is formed in a rod shape along the arrangement direction Y. The rod-shaped portion 33 extends from one side to the other in the arrangement direction Y of the housing 20. For example, the shape of the rod-shaped portion 33 (cross-sectional shape when cut along a direction intersecting the arrangement direction Y (insertion direction X and height direction Z)) is the same shape (rectangular) as the shape of the terminal insertion portion 121 and the cavity insertion portion 22. With the terminal 12 housed in the cavity 21, the rod-shaped portion 33 is inserted into the cavity insertion portion 22 and the terminal insertion portion 121 along the arrangement direction Y. Multiple terminals 12 locked to the cavity 21 by the rod-shaped portion 33 are not electrically connected to each other because the rod-shaped portion 33 is insulating. Note that in the example shown in Figure 2, the terminal 12 of the wire 10 with a terminal that is secured by the insulating retainer 30b is not shown.

[0030] The gripping portion 32 is provided with claws. The claws are hooked onto the claw locking portion 22a of the housing 20 when the rod-shaped portion 33 is inserted through the cavity insertion portion 22 and the terminal insertion portion 121. The electrical connection portion 12a of the terminal 12, which is locked by the insulating retainer 30b configured as described above, is electrically connected to the mating terminal 101 of the mating connector 100 when the mating portion 1a is mated with the mating connector 100. As a result, the joint connector 1 can electrically connect the wire with terminals 10 that are not electrically conductive to each other with the wire with terminals of the mating connector, and can function as a connector in addition to its joint function. Furthermore, the electrical connection portion 12a of the terminal 12, which is locked by the conductive retainer 30a configured as described above, is electrically connected to the mating terminal 101 of the mating connector 100 when the mating portion 1a is mated with the mating connector 100. As a result, the joint connector 1 can electrically connect the terminal-equipped wires 10 that are electrically conductive with each other to the terminal-equipped wires of the mating connector, and can function as both a joint and a connector. In this way, the joint connector 1 can realize a variety of electrical circuits.

[0031] As described above, the joint connector 1 according to the embodiment comprises a plurality of conductive terminals 12, a housing 20 including a plurality of cavities 21 that house each of the terminals 12, and a retainer 30 assembled to the housing 20 and locking the terminals 12 housed in the cavities 21. The retainer 30 includes a conductive retainer 30a that is conductive and electrically connects the terminals 12 housed in the cavities 21 while locking them within the cavities 21.

[0032] With this configuration, the joint connector 1 can use the conductive retainer 30a that locks the terminals 12 into the cavity 21 as a joint that electrically connects the terminals 12 to each other. As a result, the joint connector 1 can reduce the number of conductive members (e.g., busbars) used as joints, as in conventional designs, thus suppressing an increase in the number of parts. By suppressing the increase in the number of parts, the joint connector 1 can suppress an increase in manufacturing costs and also suppress an increase in size. As a result, the joint connector 1 can improve the flexibility of wire harness layout.

[0033] In the joint connector 1, a plurality of cavities 21 are arranged in a line along the arrangement direction Y. Each cavity 21 includes a cavity insertion portion 22 that penetrates the wall portion 23 of the cavity 21 along the arrangement direction Y. Each terminal 12 includes a terminal insertion portion 121 that penetrates the wall portion 125 of the terminal 12 along the arrangement direction Y. The conductive retainer 30a is formed in a rod shape along the arrangement direction Y and is inserted through the cavity insertion portion 22 and the terminal insertion portion 121 along the arrangement direction Y with the terminal 12 housed in the cavity 21, electrically connecting the terminals 12 locked in each cavity 21. With this configuration, the joint connector 1 can properly lock the terminals 12 in the cavity 21 by the conductive retainer 30a and properly electrically connect the terminals 12 to each other.

[0034] In the joint connector 1, the retainer 30 includes an insulating retainer 30b that has insulating properties and locks a terminal 12 separate from the terminal 12 locked to the conductive retainer 30a into the cavity 21. With this configuration, the joint connector 1 can also function as a connector in which the terminals 12 in the housing 20 are not electrically connected to each other. Furthermore, if the cavity group, which consists of a plurality of cavities 21 arranged along the arrangement direction Y, is arranged in multiple stages along the height direction Z, it is possible to set whether or not to electrically connect the terminals 12 to each other for each stage.

[0035] In the joint connector 1, the housing 20 includes a mating portion 1a that is fitted into the mating connector 100. The multiple terminals 12 are provided on the mating portion 1a and include electrical connection portions 12a that, when fitted into the mating connector 100, are connected to the mating terminals 101 of the mating connector 100. The electrical connection portions 12a of the terminals 12, which are locked by the insulating retainer 30b, are connected to the mating terminals 101. In addition to the joint function of electrically connecting the terminals 12 within the housing 20, the joint connector 1 can also have the function of connecting the terminals 12 of a non-conductively connected wire 10 to the mating terminals 101 of the mating connector 100.

[0036] [Variation] Next, a modified example of the embodiment will be described. In the modified example, components equivalent to those in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their detailed descriptions are omitted. The joint connector 1A shown in Figure 7 differs from the joint connector 1 according to the embodiment in that a plurality of retainers 30A are connected by a gripping portion 32a. The plurality of retainers 30A have rod-shaped portions 31(33) arranged in a line along the height direction Z, which are connected by the gripping portion 32a. As a result, the plurality of retainers 30A can have their rod-shaped portions 31(33) inserted into the cavity insertion portion 22 and the terminal insertion portion 121 at once, improving workability.

[0037] In the above description, an example was given in which the cavity insertion portion 22 is formed as a through-hole penetrating the wall portion 23 of the cavity 21 along the arrangement direction Y, and the terminal insertion portion 121 is formed as a through-hole penetrating the wall portion 125 of the terminal 12 along the arrangement direction Y, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the cavity insertion portion 22 may be formed so that a retainer can be assembled from above the housing 20 along the height direction Z, and the terminal insertion portion 121 may be formed so that it can be locked by a retainer assembled from above the housing 20.

[0038] Although an example of the joint connector 1 being configured to include an insulating retainer 30b has been described, it is not limited to this, and for example, it may be configured not to include the insulating retainer 30b.

[0039] In the example described, the joint connector 1 includes a housing 20 that includes a mating portion 1a that fits into the mating connector 100. However, the example is not limited to this, and for example, the housing 20 may be configured without a mating portion 1a, and the configuration may be specialized in the joint function of electrically connecting the terminals 12 inside the housing 20.

[0040] The joint connector 1 has been described in an example where the conductive retainer 30a electrically connects the terminals 12 in the arrangement direction Y, but it is not limited to this. For example, the terminals 12 in the arrangement direction Y and the terminals 12 in the height direction Z may be electrically connected by electrically connecting the conductive retainers 30a to each other. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0041] 1. Joint Connector 1a Fitting part 12 terminals 12a Electrical connection 121 Terminal insertion section 125 Wall 20 Housing 21 Cavity 22 Cavity insertion section 23 Wall 30 retainers 30a Conductive retainer (first retainer) 30b Insulated retainer (second retainer) 100 mating connector 101 Mating terminal Y-axis orientation

Claims

1. Multiple conductive terminals, A housing including a plurality of cavities that house each of the aforementioned terminals, The housing is assembled to the retainer which locks the terminal housed in the cavity, The joint connector is characterized in that the retainer includes a first retainer which is conductive and electrically connects the terminals housed in the cavity while locking them within the cavity.

2. The aforementioned plurality of cavities are each arranged in a line along the direction of arrangement, Each of the cavities includes a cavity insertion portion that penetrates the wall portion of the cavity along the direction of arrangement, Each of the terminals includes a terminal insertion portion that penetrates the wall portion of the terminal along the direction of arrangement, The joint connector according to claim 1, wherein the first retainer is formed in a rod shape along the arrangement direction, and with the terminals housed in the cavity, it is inserted along the arrangement direction into the cavity insertion portion and the terminal insertion portion, electrically connecting the terminals locked in each cavity.

3. The joint connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the retainer is insulating and includes a second retainer that locks a terminal other than the terminal locked to the first retainer into the cavity.

4. The housing includes a mating portion that is fitted into the mating connector, The plurality of terminals include an electrical connection portion provided in the mating portion and connected to the mating terminal of the mating connector when mated to the mating connector, The joint connector according to claim 3, wherein the electrical connection portion of the terminal locked by the second retainer is connected to the mating terminal.

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