connector

Abstract

This connector allows the tab portion to be made less prone to deformation and does not require the mold to be changed. [Solution] The moving plate 17 has a plate-shaped plate body 61 with its plate surface facing in the front-rear direction inside the hood portion 38, a front projection 69 protruding from the front surface of the plate body 61, and a through hole 68 that penetrates from the plate body 61 to the front projection 69. The plate body 61 is movable inside the hood portion 38 from an initial position to a fitting position, moving backward towards the male fitting surface 46. The female housing 13 has an opening circumferential surface portion 33 at the opening edge of the female cavity 25 on the female fitting surface 32 that widens toward the front projection 69. The front projection 69 is shaped to surround the entire circumference of the through hole 68 on the front side of the plate body 61. The outer surface of the front projection 69 has a slanted surface portion 75 that narrows toward the front and is positioned to follow the opening circumferential surface portion 33 when fitting is complete.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a connector including a first housing and a second housing that can be fitted to each other, and a moving plate assembled to the first housing. The first housing has a cylindrical hood portion that is open forward. The moving plate is held at an initial position inside the hood portion. The second housing fits inside the hood portion. The moving plate moves backward from the initial position during the fitting process of the first housing and the second housing. The moving plate has a plate-shaped plate body. The plate body is arranged with the plate surface facing in the front-rear direction. A plurality of through holes are formed in the plate body so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction.

[0003] The first housing holds a male terminal fitting. The male terminal fitting has a tab portion. When the moving plate is in the initial position, the tip of the tab portion is inserted into the through hole. The tab portion is protected from external foreign matter by the moving plate. Note that connectors provided with a moving plate are also disclosed in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] As described above, increasing the length of the through-hole in the front-to-back direction stabilizes the insertion of the tab into the through-hole, making the tab less prone to deformation. However, if increasing the length of the through-hole in the front-to-back direction changes the shape of the second housing that contacts the plate body, the mold used to form the second housing also needs to be changed, which increases costs.

[0006] Therefore, the purpose of this disclosure is to provide a connector that can make the tab portion less prone to deformation and does not require the mold to be changed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The connectors of this disclosure include a female connector and a male connector that can be mated to each other, the female connector having a female housing having a female cavity and a female mating surface, and a female terminal fitting housed in the female cavity, the male connector having a male housing having a male mating surface, a male terminal fitting held in the male housing, and a moving plate positioned to be movable in the front-rear direction relative to the male housing, the male housing having a cylindrical hood portion that opens to the front, the male mating surface being the back surface of the hood portion, the moving plate having a plate-shaped plate body with its plate surface facing the front-rear direction inside the hood portion, a front projection protruding from the front surface of the plate body facing the female mating surface, and the plate body extending to the front projection The connector has a through hole that extends through it, and the plate body moves backward from the initial position to the mating position within the hood portion as the mating process of the female connector and the male connector approaches the male mating surface, and is positioned to be sandwiched between the female mating surface and the male mating surface when mating is complete, the male terminal fitting has a tab portion that is inserted into the through hole and connected to the female terminal fitting when mating is complete, the female housing has an opening circumferential surface portion that widens toward the front projection at the opening edge of the female cavity on the female mating surface, the front projection has a shape that surrounds the entire circumference of the through hole on the front side of the plate body, and the outer surface of the front projection has a slanted portion that narrows toward the front and is positioned along the opening circumferential surface portion when mating is complete. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector in which the tab portion can be made less prone to deformation and without the need to change the mold. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the male connector in the connector according to this embodiment 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the female connector in the connector according to this embodiment 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a front view of the female connector in the connector according to this embodiment 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a front view of the male connector in the connector according to this embodiment 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a front view of the male frame of the connector according to this embodiment 1. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the moving plate in the connector according to this embodiment 1. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a front view of the moving plate in the connector according to this embodiment 1. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a rear view of the moving plate in the connector according to this embodiment 1. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a side cross-sectional view showing the connector according to this embodiment 1, with the moving plate in its initial position and the female connector shallowly fitted inside the hood portion. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing the connector according to this embodiment 1, in which the moving plate is in the mating position and the female connector is mated to the correct depth inside the hood portion. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] [Description of Embodiments in this Disclosure] First, the embodiments of this disclosure will be listed and described. The connector disclosed herein is (1) A female connector and a male connector that can be mated to each other, the female connector having a female housing having a female cavity and a female mating surface, and a female terminal fitting housed in the female cavity, the male connector having a male housing having a male mating surface, a male terminal fitting held in the male housing, and a moving plate positioned to be movable in the front-rear direction relative to the male housing, the male housing having a cylindrical hood portion that opens to the front, the male mating surface being the back surface of the hood portion, the moving plate having a plate-shaped plate body with its plate surface facing the front-rear direction inside the hood portion, a front projection protruding from the front surface of the plate body that faces the female mating surface, and the plate body extending to the front projection The plate body has a through hole that extends through it, and during the mating process of the female connector and the male connector, the plate body moves backward from the initial position to the mating position, approaching the male mating surface, and is positioned to be sandwiched between the female mating surface and the male mating surface when mating is complete. The male terminal fitting has a tab portion that is inserted into the through hole and connected to the female terminal fitting when mating is complete. The female housing has an opening circumferential surface portion that widens toward the front projection at the opening edge of the female cavity on the female mating surface, the front projection has a shape that surrounds the entire circumference of the through hole on the front side of the plate body, and the outer surface of the front projection has a slanted portion that narrows toward the front and is positioned along the opening circumferential surface portion when mating is complete.

[0011] According to the configuration described in (1) above, the tab portion is protected not only by the plate body but also by the front projection when inserted into the through hole, making it difficult for the tab portion to deform. When the mating of the female and male connectors is completed (when they are mated to a predetermined mating depth), the slanted portion of the front projection is positioned along the opening circumferential surface of the female housing. The opening circumferential surface of the female housing is an existing configuration provided in the female housing to guide the tab portion into the female cavity. Therefore, there is no need to change the shape of the female housing according to the shape of the moving plate, nor is there any need to change the mold used to form the female housing.

[0012] (2) In the connector according to (1) above, it is preferable that a straight hole portion extending along the front-rear direction is provided from the front protrusion to the plate body.

[0013] According to the configuration of (2) above, the stability of the insertion state of the tab portion can be ensured by the straight hole portion, and the tab portion can be made more difficult to deform.

[0014] (3) In the connector according to (2) above, the female cavity has a tab insertion hole extending in the front-rear direction and facing the opening peripheral surface portion, and the tab insertion hole and the through hole are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction so that no step occurs between the inner surfaces of each other when the fitting is completed.

[0015] According to the configuration of (3) above, when the fitting of the female connector and the male connector is completed, the tab portion can be maintained in a state of being arranged straight in the front-rear direction from the through hole to the tab insertion hole. Therefore, further stability of the insertion state of the tab portion can be ensured.

[0016] (4) In the connector according to any one of (1) to (3) above, the plate body has a shape that is long in the left-right direction with respect to the up-down direction, a plurality of through holes are arranged side by side in the up-down and left-right directions in the front view and the rear view of the plate body, and the front protrusion is preferably provided corresponding to each of the through holes arranged side by side in the left-right direction at least in the upper and lower intermediate portions of the plate body among the plurality of through holes.

[0017] According to the configuration of (4) above, the upper and lower intermediate portions of the plate body are thickened by the front protrusion. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the situation where the left and right intermediate portions of the plate body are warped and deformed in a high-temperature environment or the like.

[0018] (5) In the connector according to any one of (1) to (4) above, the moving plate has a rear peripheral surface portion that expands toward the rear surface of the plate body at the rear end opening edge portion of the through hole, and it is preferable that the inclined surface portion of the front protrusion and the rear peripheral surface portion are set to be parallel to each other.

[0019] According to the configuration described in (5) above, the thickness formed between the inclined surface of the front projection and the rear circumferential surface of the plate body can be uniformly formed in the direction of the inclination of the inclined surface, resulting in excellent formability and preventing large stresses from occurring in the inclined surface and the rear circumferential surface.

[0020] [Details of the embodiments of this disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples and is intended to be included in the claims, with all modifications in the sense and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0021] <Embodiment 1> As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the connector 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure comprises a female connector 11 and a male connector 12 that can be mated with each other. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the female connector 11 has a female housing 13 and a plurality of female terminal fittings 14 (only one is shown in Figure 2) housed in the female housing 13. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the male connector 12 has a male housing 15, a plurality of male terminal fittings 16 (only one is shown in Figure 1) housed in the male housing 15, a moving plate 17 movably positioned in the male housing 15, and a lever 18 rotatably supported by the male housing 15. In the following description, the front-rear direction is defined as the direction in which the female connector 11 and the male connector 12 are mated with each other. The up-down direction is based on the up-down direction in each figure. The left-right direction is based on the left-right direction when viewed from the front. In Figures 1 and 2, arrows X, Y, and Z represent the front, right, and up directions, respectively. These directional references are for convenience only and do not necessarily coincide with the directional references when the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like (not shown).

[0022] (Female housing 13 and female terminal fitting 14) The female housing 13 is made of synthetic resin. In this embodiment 1, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the female housing 13 consists of a female frame 19 and a female inner housing 21 housed in the female frame 19. The female frame 19 is a rectangular case shape that is elongated in the left-right direction relative to the vertical direction and is open in the front-rear direction. As shown in Figure 3, a pair of upper and lower female locking parts 22 are formed protruding from the inner surfaces of both the upper and lower sides of the female frame 19. Each female locking part 22 is elastically deformable in the vertical direction. In addition, a pair of left and right housing-side cam pins 23 are formed protruding from the upper and lower intermediate parts on the outer surfaces of both the left and right sides of the female frame 19. Each housing-side cam pin 23 is provided to protrude from the outer surfaces of both the left and right sides of the female frame 19 so as to extend in a rib-like manner in the front-rear direction. Each housing-side cam pin 23 can be inserted into the cam groove 57 of the lever 18, which will be described later, when combined with the plate-side cam pin 65, which will be described later. A pair of left and right release parts 24 are formed protruding from the upper ends of the outer surfaces of both the left and right sides of the female frame 19. Each release unit 24 releases the locking between the initial locking unit 58 of the lever 18 (described later) and the male housing 15 during the mating process of the female connector 11 and the male connector 12.

[0023] The female inner housing 21 is a rectangular block and has a plurality of female cavities 25 extending in the front-rear direction, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. The female terminal fittings 14 are inserted into the corresponding female cavities 25 from the rear of the female inner housing 21 and housed there.

[0024] The female terminal fitting 14 is made of conductive metal and, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, has an elongated cylindrical connecting portion 26 in the front-to-back direction and a female barrel portion 27 that is connected to the rear of the connecting portion 26. As shown in Figure 10, the connecting portion 26 is electrically connected to the male terminal fitting 16 by bringing an elastic contact piece 28 located inside into contact with the tab portion 44 of the male terminal fitting 16, which will be described later. The female barrel portion 27 is crimped to the end of the electric wire 30 to make an electrical and mechanical connection.

[0025] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the female inner housing 21 has a front wall 29 that prevents the female terminal fittings 14 from being inserted. Multiple tab insertion holes 31 are formed in the front wall 29, penetrating in the front-to-back direction. Each tab insertion hole 31 corresponds to the front end of each female cavity 25. The front surface of the front wall 29 of the female inner housing 21 is a female mating surface 32. The female mating surface 32 faces the front surface of the plate body 61 of the moving plate 17, which will be described later, so as to be able to contact it when the female connector 11 and the male connector 12 are mated. As shown in Figure 3, the tab insertion holes 31 of each female cavity 25 open in multiple stages in the vertical direction and in multiple rows in the horizontal direction on the female mating surface 32. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the female mating surface 32 of the female inner housing 21 has multiple opening circumferential surfaces 33 at the opening edges of the tab insertion holes 31 of each female cavity 25. Each opening circumferential surface 33 has a sloping shape that tapers forward, with the forward projection 69 (described later) located at the upper edge, lower edge, and both left and right edges (four sides and the entire circumference), which are the opening edges of each female cavity 25.

[0026] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the female inner housing 21 has a plurality of female locking receivers 34 that can be engaged with each female locking portion 22. The female locking receivers 34 protrude from the left and right intermediate portions on the outer surfaces of both the upper and lower sides of the female inner housing 21. The female inner housing 21 is held inside the female frame 19 in place by engaging each female locking receiver 34 with each female locking portion 22.

[0027] (Male housing 15, male terminal fitting 16, and lever 18) The male housing 15 is made of synthetic resin. In this embodiment 1, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the male housing 15 consists of a male frame 35 and a male inner housing 36 housed in the male frame 35. The male frame 35 is a rectangular case shape that is elongated in the left-right direction relative to the vertical direction, and is open in the front-rear direction. The male frame 35 has a frame body 37 and a hood portion 38 that protrudes forward from the frame body 37.

[0028] As shown in Figure 5, the frame body 37 has a pair of male locking parts 39 on both the upper and lower sides, and multiple pairs of male guide recesses 41 on both the upper and lower sides. Each male guide recess 41 is recessed into the inner surface of both the left and right sides of the frame body 37 so as to extend in a groove-like manner in the front-to-back direction. Each male locking part 39 is projected at intervals in the left-to-right direction from the inner surface of both the upper and lower sides of the male frame 35. Each male locking part 39 is elastically deformable in the vertical direction.

[0029] The male inner housing 36 is a rectangular block and has a plurality of male cavities 42. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the male terminal fitting 16 is inserted into the corresponding male cavity 42 from the rear of the male inner housing 36 and housed there. The male terminal fitting 16 is made of conductive metal and has a cylindrical male terminal body 43, a tab portion 44 protruding forward from the male terminal body 43, and a male barrel portion 45 connected to the rear of the male terminal body 43. The male barrel portion 45 is crimped to the end of the electric wire 40 to make an electrical and mechanical connection.

[0030] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the front surface of the male inner housing 36 is a male mating surface 46. The male mating surface 46 of the male inner housing 36 corresponds to the rear surface of the hood portion 38 and is positioned facing forward. As shown in Figure 10, when the female connector 11 and the male connector 12 are mated (when properly mated to the predetermined mating depth shown in Figure 10), the male mating surface 46 of the male inner housing 36 faces the rear surface of the plate body 61 of the moving plate 17 so as to be able to contact it. Each male cavity 42 has openings on the male mating surface 46 in multiple stages in the vertical direction and multiple rows in the horizontal direction.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, the male inner housing 36 has a plurality of male guide projections 47. Each male guide projection 47 is provided on the outer surfaces of both the left and right sides of the male inner housing 36 so as to extend in a rib-like manner in the front-rear direction. When the male inner housing 36 is inserted into the frame body 37, each male guide projection 47 is fitted into each male guide recess 41. The male inner housing 36 also has a plurality of male lock receiving portions 48 that can be locked into each male lock portion 39. Each male lock receiving portion 48 is provided on the outer surfaces of both the upper and lower sides of the male inner housing 36 (only the one formed on the upper outer surface is shown in Figure 1) at intervals in the left-right direction. The male inner housing 36 is held inside the male frame 35 by fitting each male guide projection 47 into each male guide recess 41 and locking each male lock receiving portion 48 into each male lock portion 39.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the male frame 35 has a pair of left and right notched recesses 49 in the upper and lower intermediate parts of the left and right side walls of the hood portion 38. Each notched recess 49 extends in the front-rear direction and opens to the front of the hood portion 38. As shown in Figure 4, the left and right protruding portions of the peripheral wall portion 62 of the moving plate 17, which will be described later, are fitted into each notched recess 49. As shown in Figure 5, the male frame 35 has a pair of left and right locking recesses 51 located above each notched recess 49 on the left and right side walls of the hood portion 38. Each locking recess 51 is slit-shaped and extends in the front-rear direction (see Figure 1) and opens to the front of the hood portion 38. The initial locking portion 58 of the lever 18 is locked to the inner surface of the locking recess 51 (not shown).

[0033] As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the male frame 35 has a pair of support shafts 52 that protrude outward from the rear ends of the left and right side walls of the hood portion 38. Each support shaft 52 rotatably supports the lever 18. As shown in Figure 1, the male frame 35 has a lever lock portion 53 on the upper wall of the frame body 37. The lever lock portion 53 is provided protruding from the left and right intermediate portions at the rear end of the upper wall of the frame body 37. As shown in Figure 10, the lever 18 can be locked into the lever lock portion 53 in the fitting completion position, which will be described later.

[0034] The lever 18 is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in Figure 1, has an overall gate-like shape. Specifically, the lever 18 has a pair of left and right cam plate portions 54 and an operating portion 55 that extends in the left-right direction and is connected to each cam plate portion 54. The lever 18 has a lock arm 59 in the middle of the operating portion 55. The lever 18 is mounted so as to straddle the male frame 35 from above (see Figure 4). Each cam plate portion 54 has an axial hole 56 into which each support shaft 52 is fitted. Cam grooves 57 are recessed in the inner surface (opposite surfaces) of each cam plate portion 54. In addition, an elastically deformable initial lock portion 58 is formed in each cam plate portion 54.

[0035] With each support shaft 52 fitted into each shaft hole 56, the lever 18 is rotatable around each support shaft 52 between a fitting start position (see Figure 9) and a fitting completion position (see Figure 10) relative to the male frame 35. Each initial locking part 58 engages with the inner surface of each locking recess 51 of the male frame 35, thereby holding the lever 18 in the fitting start position relative to the male housing 15.

[0036] (Moving plate 17) The moving plate 17 is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in Figures 6-8, has a flat plate body 61 with its surface facing in the front-rear direction, and a rectangular tubular peripheral wall portion 62 that protrudes forward from the plate body 61. As shown in Figure 9, when the moving plate 17 is positioned inside the hood portion 38, the plate body 61 is positioned in front of the male fitting surface 46 of the male inner housing 36, and the peripheral wall portion 62 faces the inner circumferential surface of the hood portion 38 so as to be able to contact it.

[0037] The peripheral wall portion 62 has a pair of left and right entry recesses 63 in the upper and lower intermediate portions of both the left and right side walls. Each entry recess 63 extends in the front-rear direction and is open to the front of the peripheral wall portion 62. During the mating process of the female connector 11 and the male connector 12, each housing-side cam pin 23 of the female housing 13 is inserted into each entry recess 63. The peripheral wall portion 62 has a pair of left and right through recesses 64 at the upper ends of both the left and right side walls. Each through recess 64 is slit-shaped and extends in the front-rear direction and is open to the front of the peripheral wall portion 62. As shown in Figure 4, each through recess 64 communicates with each locking recess 51 of the male frame 35 and is positioned to receive each release portion 24 of the female housing 13.

[0038] Furthermore, the peripheral wall portion 62 has a pair of left and right plate-side cam pins 65 behind each introduction recess 63 on the outer surface of the upper and lower intermediate portions of both left and right side walls. Each plate-side cam pin 65 has a circular gate shape when viewed from the side. Each plate-side cam pin 65 has a receiving hole 66 formed through it in the front-rear direction. As shown in Figure 4, the receiving hole 66 of each plate-side cam pin 65 is arranged to communicate with the introduction recess 63. Each housing-side cam pin 23 of the female housing 13 is fitted into each receiving hole 66 through each introduction recess 63 and becomes combined with each plate-side cam pin 65. As shown in Figures 6-8, the upper and lower intermediate portions of both left and right side walls of the peripheral wall portion 62 protrude outward to the left and right relative to the upper and lower ends, and the upper and lower surfaces of these protruding portions have a pair of engaging end faces 67 that extend in the front-rear direction and expand outward to the upper and lower. As shown in Figure 4, each engaging end face 67 faces the upper and lower inner surfaces of each notched recess 49 of the male frame 35 so as to be able to contact them.

[0039] As shown in Figures 6-8, the plate body 61 has a rectangular shape that is elongated in the left-right direction relative to the vertical direction when viewed from the front or rear. Multiple through holes 68 are formed in the plate body 61, penetrating in the front-rear direction (plate thickness direction). The tab portion 44 of the male terminal fitting 16 is inserted into each through hole 68 from the rear (see Figure 4). Each through hole 68 has a rectangular opening shape in cross-section corresponding to the tab portion 44. The through holes 68 are arranged in multiple rows in the vertical direction and multiple columns in the left-right direction in the plate body 61. Each through hole 68 has a straight hole portion 79 that extends linearly from each front projection 69 (described later) to the plate body 61, parallel to the male cavity 42.

[0040] As shown in Figure 7, a fitting recess 77 is recessed in the middle part (excluding the outer periphery) of the front surface of the plate body 61. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the front end of the female inner housing 21, including the female fitting surface 32, is fitted into the fitting recess 77 of the plate body 61 in a positioned state. The moving plate 17 has a plurality of forward projections 69 that protrude forward from the front surface (the back surface of the fitting recess 77) of the plate body 61. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, a straight hole 79 is formed along the entire length of each forward projection 69. In this embodiment 1, the straight hole 79 of the forward projection 69 is longer than the straight hole 79 of the plate body 61. As shown in Figure 7, each forward projection 69 is formed for each corresponding through hole 68. That is, adjacent forward projections 69 are spaced apart from each other. Each forward projection 69 is provided corresponding to all the through holes 68 (including each through hole 68 arranged in the left-right direction in the upper and lower middle section).

[0041] Each front projection 69 surrounds the entire front end (straight hole portion 79) of each through hole 68. As shown in Figure 7, each front projection 69, in a front view, is composed of an upper side portion 71 and a lower side portion 72 extending in the left-right direction, and a left side portion 73 and a right side portion 74 extending in the up-down direction. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, each front projection 69 has a beveled surface portion 75 that tapers towards the front. The beveled surface portion 75 of the upper side portion 71 slopes downward toward the front. The beveled surface portion 75 of the lower side portion 72 slopes upward toward the front. The beveled surface portion 75 of the left side portion 73 slopes slightly to the right toward the front. The beveled surface portion 75 of the right side portion 74 slopes slightly to the left toward the front. The angles of inclination of the beveled surfaces 75 of each side portion 71-74 with respect to the front-rear direction are the same. The inclination angle of the slanted portion 75 with respect to the front-rear direction is the same as or approximately the inclination angle of the opening circumferential surface portion 33 with respect to the front-rear direction. During the mating process of the female connector 11 and the male connector 12 and upon completion of mating, the slanted portion 75 of each front projection 69 can face each other (including clearance) so as to be able to make surface contact with each opening circumferential surface portion 33 of the female housing 13. In addition, as shown in Figure 7, a tip surface portion 78 is formed at the front end of each front projection 69, oriented in the vertical and horizontal directions. The tip surface portion 78 is connected to the front end of the slanted portion 75 and surrounds the outer circumference of the front end of the through hole 68 in a rectangular shape.

[0042] As shown in Figure 8, the moving plate 17 has a rear circumferential surface portion 76 at the rear end opening edge of each through hole 68 connected to each straight hole portion 79. The rear circumferential surface portion 76 is provided in correspondence with each through hole 68 individually, similar to the front projection portion 69. Each rear circumferential surface portion 76 has a sloping shape that tapers towards the rear (rear surface of the plate body 61) at the rear end opening edge of each through hole 68. In this embodiment 1, each rear circumferential surface portion 76 is formed around the entire circumference of the upper edge, lower edge, and both left and right edges (the four sides that constitute the rear end opening edge) of each through hole 68. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the inclination angle of the rear circumferential surface portion 76 with respect to the front-rear direction is the same as or approximately the same inclination angle of the sloping surface portion 75 of the front projection portion 69. The rear circumferential surface portion 76 and the sloping surface portion 75 are set to be parallel to each other. The thickness between the inclined surface 75 and the rear circumferential surface 76 is set to be the same as or slightly less than the thickness of the plate body 61 in the front-rear direction, and to be constant in the direction of inclination of the inclined surface 75 and the rear circumferential surface 76.

[0043] (Function of connector 10) Prior to mating the female connector 11 and the male connector 12, the lever 18 is held in the mating start position relative to the male housing 15. The lever 18 is prevented from rotating to the mating completion position by the locking action of each initial locking part 58 against the inner surface of each locking recess 51. As shown in Figure 9, in the mating start position, the operating part 55 is located on the front end side of the male connector 12, and the entrance to the cam groove 57 faces forward. The moving plate 17 is positioned in its initial position relative to the male housing 15. As shown in Figure 4, the plate-side cam pin 65 enters the entrance to the cam groove 57.

[0044] When the moving plate 17 is in its initial position, the front end of the tab portion 44 of each male terminal fitting 16 is guided into each rear circumferential portion 76 and inserted into each through hole 68. In this embodiment 1, the front end of the tab portion 44 is inserted into the through hole 68 along the front-rear direction, and its tip protrudes forward of the front projection 69 (see Figure 9). In this way, since the front end of the tab portion 44 is inserted not only into the through hole 68 of the plate body 61 but also into the through hole 68 of the front projection 69 (straight hole portion 79), the insertion range into the through hole 68 can be made wider than in the conventional design. Therefore, the stability of the insertion state, such as the insertion posture of the tab portion 44 into the through hole 68, can be ensured, and the tab portion 44 can be kept in a state that is less prone to deformation.

[0045] From the above state, the female connector 11 is inserted into the hood portion 38. As shown in Figure 9, when the female mating surface 32 of the female housing 13 reaches a position where it contacts the front surface of the plate body 61, each front projection 69 is fitted into each opening circumferential surface portion 33 of the female housing 13. At this time, the inclined portion 75 of each front projection 69 is positioned along each opening circumferential surface portion 33 of the female housing 13. Specifically, the inclined portion 75 of each front projection 69 faces each opening circumferential surface portion 33 of the female housing 13 so as to be able to make surface contact. The female mating surface 32 of the female housing 13 also faces the front surface of the plate body 61 so as to be able to make surface contact. Here, the straight hole portion 79 and the tab insertion hole 31 are arranged coaxially in the front-rear direction so that the height positions between their inner surfaces are aligned without any steps. The tip portion of the tab portion 44 enters the tab insertion hole 31 of the female housing 13.

[0046] When the female connector 11 is inserted into the hood portion 38, the housing-side cam pin 23 and the plate-side cam pin 65 of the moving plate 17 combine and are inserted into the entrance of the cam groove 57. Also, each release portion 24 of the female housing 13 is inserted into each through recess 64 of the moving plate 17 and each locking recess 51 of the hood portion 38. Each initial lock portion 58 comes into contact with the release portion 24 and is elastically deformed, releasing its lock from each locking recess 51. As a result, the lever 18 becomes rotatable toward the mating completion position.

[0047] As the lever 18 is rotated toward the mating completion position, the housing-side cam pin 23 and the plate-side cam pin 65, which are in the joined state, move along the groove surface of the cam groove 57. The female connector 11 and the male connector 12 are mated with low mating force by the cam function of the lever 18. As the lever 18 rotates, the female connector 11 and the moving plate 17 move toward the male mating surface 46. During this time, the tab portion 44 is positioned inside the female cavity 25 through the tab insertion hole 31 from the through hole 68 and is inserted into the connection portion 26 of the female terminal fitting 14 housed in the female cavity 25.

[0048] When the lever 18 reaches the mating completion position, the moving plate 17 also reaches the mating position, and the female connector 11 and male connector 12 are properly mated. As shown in Figure 10, when the lever 18 reaches the mating completion position, the operating part 55 is positioned at the rear end of the male connector 12, and the plate-side cam pin 65, together with the housing-side cam pin 23, reaches the far end of the cam groove 57. At this time, the lock arm 59 is locked to the lever lock part 53, thereby holding the lever 18 in the mating completion position relative to the male housing 15.

[0049] As shown in Figure 10, when the moving plate 17 is in the mating position, the plate body 61 is sandwiched in the front-rear direction between the male mating surface 46 of the male housing 15 and the female mating surface 32 of the female housing 13. The front surface of the plate body 61 is in face-to-face contact with the female mating surface 32, and the front surface of the plate body 61 is in face-to-face contact with the male mating surface 46. The tab portion 44 is deeply inserted into the connector portion 26, and the female terminal fitting 14 and the male terminal fitting 16 are electrically connected in the normal state. The front part of the tab portion 44 is in contact with the elastic contact piece 28 of the connector portion 26. The rear part of the tab portion 44 is positioned along the front-rear direction in the range from the straight hole portion 79 of the through hole 68 to the tab insertion hole 31.

[0050] As described above, the connector 10 according to this embodiment 1 comprises a female connector 11 and a male connector 12 that can be mated with each other. The female connector 11 has a female housing 13 having a female cavity 25 and a female mating surface 32, and a female terminal fitting 14 housed in the female cavity 25. The male connector 12 has a male housing 15 having a male mating surface 46, a male terminal fitting 16 held in the male housing 15, and a moving plate 17 that is movably positioned in the front-rear direction relative to the male housing 15. The male housing 15 has a cylindrical hood portion 38 that opens to the front. The male mating surface 46 is configured as the back surface of the hood portion 38. The moving plate 17 has a plate-shaped plate body 61 with its plate surface facing the front-rear direction inside the hood portion 38, a front projection 69 protruding from the front surface of the plate body 61 that faces the female mating surface 32, and a through hole 68 that penetrates from the plate body 61 to the front projection 69.

[0051] The plate body 61 is movable backward within the hood portion 38 from its initial position to the mating position, approaching the male mating surface 46 during the mating process of the female connector 11 and the male connector 12, and is positioned to be sandwiched between the female mating surface 32 and the male mating surface 46 when mating is complete. The male terminal fitting 16 has a tab portion 44 that is inserted into the through hole 68 and connected to the female terminal fitting 14 when mating is complete. The female housing 13 has an opening circumferential surface portion 33 that widens toward the front projection 69 at the opening edge of the female cavity 25 in the female mating surface 32. The front projection 69 is shaped to surround the entire circumference of the through hole 68 on the front side of the plate body 61. The outer surface of the front projection 69 has a slanted surface portion 75 that narrows toward the front and is positioned to follow the opening circumferential surface portion 33 when mating is complete.

[0052] With the above configuration, the tab portion 44 is inserted into the through hole 68 and is protected not only by the plate body 61 but also by the front projection 69, making it difficult for the tab portion 44 to deform. When the female connector 11 and male connector 12 are mated, the slanted portion 75 of the front projection 69 is positioned along the opening peripheral surface 33 of the female housing 13. The opening peripheral surface 33 of the female housing 13 is an existing configuration provided in the female housing 13 to guide the tab portion 44 into the female cavity 25. Therefore, there is no need to change the shape of the female housing 13 according to the shape of the moving plate 17, and there is no need to change the mold used to form the female housing 13. As a result, costs can be kept low.

[0053] In particular, since the through hole 68 has a straight hole portion 79 that extends linearly along the front-rear direction from the front projection 69 to the plate body 61, the stability of the inserted state of the tab portion 44 can be ensured, and the tab portion 44 can be made less prone to deformation.

[0054] In this embodiment 1, the female cavity 25 has a tab insertion hole 31 that extends in the front-rear direction and faces the opening circumferential surface portion 33, and the tab insertion hole 31 and the through hole 68 are coaxially continuous in the front-rear direction so that no step is created between their inner surfaces when fitting is complete. Since the tab portion 44 can be positioned straight in the front-rear direction from the through hole 68 to the tab insertion hole 31 when fitting is complete, further stability of the inserted state of the tab portion 44 can be ensured.

[0055] In this embodiment 1, the plate body 61 has a shape that is elongated in the left-right direction relative to the vertical direction. Multiple through holes 68 are arranged in a row vertically and horizontally in the front and rear views of the plate body 61. Multiple forward protrusions 69 are provided corresponding to each of the through holes 68 arranged horizontally in the upper and lower middle part of the plate body 61, so that, for example, the left and right middle part of the plate body 61 does not warp and deform in a high-temperature environment.

[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment 1, the moving plate 17 has a rear circumferential surface portion 76 that expands toward the rear surface of the plate body 61 at the rear end opening edge of the through hole 68. The inclined surface portion 75 of the front projection 69 and the rear circumferential surface portion 76 are set to be parallel to each other. As a result, the thickness formed between the inclined surface portion 75 of the front projection 69 and the rear circumferential surface portion 76 of the plate body 61 can be formed uniformly in the direction of the inclination of the inclined surface portion 75, resulting in excellent formability and preventing large stresses from being generated in the inclined surface portion 75 and the rear circumferential surface portion 76.

[0057] [Other embodiments of this disclosure] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. In the first embodiment described above, the female housing 13 was configured to be separable into a female frame 19 and a female inner housing 21. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the female housing may be an inseparable, integrated housing structure. In the first embodiment described above, the male housing 15 was configured to be separable into a male frame 35 and a male inner housing 36. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the male housing may be an inseparable, integrated housing structure, comprising a housing body having a female cavity and a hood portion protruding from the housing body. In the first embodiment described above, the multiple front protrusions 69 were provided on the front side of the plate body 61, corresponding to all the through holes 68. In contrast, according to another embodiment, the multiple front protrusions may be provided on the front side of the plate body, corresponding only to the through holes that are aligned horizontally in the upper and lower intermediate portions. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0058] 10… Connectors 11…Female connector 12…Male connector 13…Female Housing 14…Female terminal fittings 15…Male Housing 16...Male terminal fittings 17…Moving Plate 18... Lever 19…Female frame 21…Female Inner Housing 22...Female lock section 23…Housing side cam pin 24...Release section 25…Female Cavity 26...Connection part 27...Female barrel section 28…Elastic contact piece 29...Front wall 30…(wire connected to female terminal fitting) 31... Tab insertion hole 32…Female mating surface 33...Opening peripheral surface part 34...Female lock receiving part 35... Male frame 36... Male Inner Housing 37…Frame body 38…Food Department 39... Male Rock Club 40…(wire connected to male terminal fitting) 41...Male guide recess 42... Male Cavity 43...Male terminal body 44... Tab section 45... Male barrel section 46…Male mating surface 47... Male guide projection 48... Male lock receiver 49... Notched recess 51… Locking recess 52...Spindle 53... Lever lock section 54... Cam plate section 55...Operation unit 56... Shaft hole 57... Cam groove 58...Initial lock section 59... Lock Arm 61...Plate body 62...Peripheral wall part 63…Inlet recess 64... Through recess 65...Campin on the plate side 66…receptor pores 67...Engagement end surface 68…Through hole 69...Front protrusion 71…Upper part 72...Lower part 73... Left side 74...Right-hand side 75... Sloping section 76...Rear circumferential part 77…Matching recess 78…Tip surface part 79...Straight hole

Claims

1. Equipped with female and male connectors that can be mated together, The female connector comprises a female housing having a female cavity and a female mating surface, and a female terminal fitting housed in the female cavity. The male connector comprises a male housing having a male mating surface, a male terminal fitting held in the male housing, and a moving plate positioned to be movable in the front-rear direction relative to the male housing. The male housing has a cylindrical hood portion that opens forward, The aforementioned male fitting surface is the inner surface of the hood portion, The moving plate has a plate-shaped plate body with its surface facing the front-to-back direction inside the hood, a front projection protruding from the front surface of the plate body that faces the female fitting surface, and a through hole that penetrates from the plate body to the front projection. The plate body moves backward through the mating process of the female connector and the male connector, from its initial position to the mating position, approaching the male mating surface, and is positioned to be sandwiched between the female mating surface and the male mating surface when mating is complete. The male terminal fitting has a tab portion that is inserted into the through hole and connected to the female terminal fitting when the mating is complete. The female housing has an opening circumferential surface portion that expands toward the forward projection at the opening edge of the female cavity on the female mating surface, The aforementioned forward projection is shaped to surround the entire circumference of the through hole on the front side of the plate body. The outer surface of the forward projection has a slanted portion that tapers towards the front and is positioned along the opening circumferential surface when the fitting is complete.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the through hole has a straight hole portion that extends in the front-rear direction from the front projection to the plate body.

3. The female cavity has a tab insertion hole that extends in the front-rear direction and faces the opening circumferential surface. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the tab insertion hole and the through hole are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction so that no step is created between their inner surfaces when the fitting is completed.

4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the plate body has a shape that is elongated in the left-right direction with respect to the vertical direction, the through holes are arranged in a plurality of rows in the vertical and left-right directions when viewed from the front and rear of the plate body, and the front projection is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of through holes that are arranged in the left-right direction in at least the middle of the vertical part of the plate body.

5. The moving plate has a rear circumferential portion that widens toward the rear surface of the plate body at the rear end opening edge of the through hole, The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inclined surface portion and the rear circumferential surface portion of the forward projection are set to be parallel to each other.

Images