connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that can prevent the fixing member from falling off. [Solution] The connector 10 comprises a housing 11 and terminals housed in the housing 11. A fixing member 100 for fixing to an object to be fixed can be attached to the housing 11. The housing 11 comprises a hood portion 12 having a mating portion into which a mating connector is fitted, and an extension portion 13 extending from the hood portion 12 in an anti-matting direction D2 opposite to the mating direction D1 with respect to the mating connector. The hood portion 12 has a first upper surface 12a. The extension portion 13 has a second upper surface 13a located lower in the height direction D3 than the first upper surface 12a, and a locking projection 16 protruding from the second upper surface 13a, which locks the locking portion of the fixing member 100 toward the anti-matting direction D2. The hood portion 12 has a covering surface 32 capable of covering the side of the locking portion in the mating direction D1 that is locked by the locking projection 16.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] For example, in the connector of Patent Document 1, a fixing member (clip in Patent Document 1) for fixing to a fixing target such as a vehicle body is configured to be attachable to the housing of the connector. The housing of the connector includes a hood portion into which a mating connector is fitted. On the side surface of the hood portion, a locking convex portion to which the locking portion of the fixing member is locked is provided. By locking the locking portion to the locking convex portion, the fixing member is attached to the housing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the connector as described above, for example, when other components around the connector are caught by the locking portion of the fixing member, the locking between the locking portion and the locking convex portion is disengaged, and as a result, the fixing member may fall off.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector capable of suppressing the dropping off of the fixing member.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure comprises a housing and terminals housed in the housing, wherein a fixing member for fixing to an object to be fixed can be attached to the housing, the housing comprising a hood portion having a mating portion into which a mating connector is fitted, and an extension portion extending from the hood portion in a first direction opposite to the mating direction with respect to the mating connector, the hood portion having a first upper surface, the extension portion having a second upper surface located lower in the height direction than the first upper surface, and a locking projection protruding from the second upper surface, into which the locking portion of the fixing member is locked toward the first direction, and the hood portion having a covering surface capable of covering the side of the locking portion in the mating direction that is locked toward the locking projection. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The connector of this disclosure makes it possible to prevent the fixing member from falling off. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a connector with a fixing member attached in one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the connector and fixing member in the same embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the connector in the same embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a plan view of the connector in the same embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Figure 4. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] [Description of Embodiments in this Disclosure] First, the embodiments of this disclosure will be listed and described. The connector disclosed herein is [1] A connector comprising a housing and a terminal housed in the housing, wherein a fixing member for fixing to an object to be fixed can be attached to the housing, the housing comprising a hood portion having a mating portion into which a mating connector is fitted, and an extension portion extending from the hood portion in a first direction opposite to the mating direction with respect to the mating connector, the hood portion having a first upper surface, the extension portion having a second upper surface located lower in the height direction than the first upper surface, and a locking projection protruding from the second upper surface, into which the locking portion of the fixing member is locked toward the first direction, and the hood portion having a covering surface capable of covering the side of the locking portion in the mating direction that is locked toward the locking projection.

[0010] With this configuration, the locking portion of the fixing member, which is engaged with the locking projection, can be covered by the covering surface of the hood portion. As a result, for example, the hood portion with its covering surface prevents the locking portion of the fixing member from becoming entangled with the locking projection due to surrounding components of the connector getting caught, and as a result, it becomes possible to prevent the fixing member from falling off.

[0011] [2] In the above [1], the hood portion may have a recess formed in the first upper surface into which a part of the lock portion fits. With this configuration, the locking portion of the fixing member fits into the recess of the hood, which further suppresses interference between the locking portion and other components. Furthermore, the fixing member can be mounted closer to the hood where the mating connector is fitted. This allows the connector, with the mating connector already fitted, to be stably secured to the object by the fixing member mounted closer to the hood.

[0012] [3] In the above [2], the recess may be provided with a communication hole that communicates with the fitting portion. With this configuration, when the fixing member is attached to the housing, the locking part can be operated through the communication hole from the fitting part of the hood to release the locking part from the locking projection.

[0013] [4] In any of the above [1] to [3], the extension portion extends from the second upper surface and has a holding portion for holding the fixing member, and the position of the upper end surface of the holding portion may be set to be flush with the first upper surface or lower than the first upper surface.

[0014] This configuration makes it possible to reduce the height of the extension portion, including the holding portion. [5] In any of the above [1] to [4], the extension portion may have a mounting hole on the second upper surface to which a retainer for fixing the position of the terminal is attached, and the fixing member may be attached to the housing so as to cover a part of the mounting hole.

[0015] With this configuration, the retainer attached to the mounting hole is held in place by the fixing member, thereby preventing the retainer from moving out of the mounting hole. [Details of the embodiments of this disclosure] Specific examples of the connectors of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, some parts of the configuration may be exaggerated or simplified for the sake of explanation. Also, the dimensional ratios of each part may differ in each drawing. In this specification, "vertical" and "orthogonal" include not only cases where they are strictly vertical or orthogonal, but also cases where they are approximately vertical or orthogonal within the range that produces the function and effect of this embodiment.

[0016] As used herein, "opposite" means that surfaces or members are in a face-to-face position with respect to each other, including not only the case where they are completely in a face-to-face position but also the case where they are partially in a face-to-face position. Also, as used herein, "opposite" includes both the case where a member different from the two parts is interposed between the two parts and the case where nothing is interposed between the two parts. Also, terms such as "first", "second", "third", etc. used herein are merely used to distinguish objects and do not rank the objects. The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is indicated by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0017] (Configuration of Connector 10) As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 10 of the present embodiment includes a housing 11 that is fitted to a mating connector C. The connector 10 is used, for example, in a vehicle. A fixing member 100 for fixing the connector 10 to a fixing target F (see FIG. 5) is attached to the housing 11. The fixing member 100 is, for example, a resin clip. The fixing target F is, for example, a vehicle body panel.

[0018] (Configuration of Housing 11) The housing 11 includes a hood portion 12 and an extension portion 13. The hood portion 12 has a fitting portion 14 into which the mating connector C is fitted. The hood portion 12 is fitted to the mating connector C in the fitting direction D1. That is, the fitting portion 14 opens in the fitting direction D1. In the following description, the direction opposite to the fitting direction D1 is defined as the anti-fitting direction D2. Also, in the following description, the direction toward the fitting direction D1 may be referred to as "front", and the direction toward the anti-fitting direction D2 may be referred to as "rear".

[0019] The hood portion 12 has a first upper surface 12a in the height direction D3 of the connector 10. The first upper surface 12a is, for example, a plane perpendicular to the height direction D3. The height direction D3 is perpendicular to the mating direction D1, the non-mating direction D2, and the width direction D4 of the connector 10. The width direction D4 is perpendicular to the mating direction D1 and the non-mating direction D2. Furthermore, the connector 10 is not necessarily attached to the object F with the upper part of the height direction D3 facing upwards.

[0020] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the extension portion 13 of the housing 11 extends from the hood portion 12 in the opposite fitting direction D2. The extension portion 13 has smaller dimensions in the height direction D3 and width direction D4 than the hood portion 12. The extension portion 13 has a second upper surface 13a in the height direction D3. The second upper surface 13a is, for example, a plane perpendicular to the height direction D3. The second upper surface 13a is lower in the height direction D3 than the first upper surface 12a of the hood portion 12. On the upper surface of the housing 11, a step portion 11a in the height direction D3 is provided between the hood portion 12 and the extension portion 13. A wire outlet portion 15 is provided at the end of the extension portion 13 in the opposite fitting direction D2.

[0021] As shown in Figure 5, terminal T is housed inside the housing 11. Terminal T is connected to a mating terminal (not shown) of a mating connector C that is mated to the mating portion 14 of the hood portion 12. A wire W is connected to terminal T. The wire W is led out from the wire outlet portion 15 of the extension portion 13 toward the outside of the housing 11 in the opposite mating direction D2.

[0022] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the connector 10 and fixing member 100 taken along the 5-5 cross-sectional line in Figure 4. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the connector 10 and fixing member 100 taken along the 6-6 cross-sectional line in Figure 4. Note that in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 6, the illustration of the electric wire W is omitted for the sake of explanation.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the extension 13 has a locking projection 16, a pair of first retaining parts 17, and a mounting hole 18 on its second upper surface 13a. The locking projection 16 protrudes from the second upper surface 13a in the height direction D3. The pair of first retaining parts 17 are rail-shaped and extend along the fitting direction D1. The pair of first retaining parts 17 are arranged to face each other in the width direction D4. The position of the upper end surface 17a of each first retaining part 17 is set, for example, lower than the first upper surface 12a. The locking projection 16 is provided between the pair of first retaining parts 17. The mounting hole 18 is provided on the rear side of the pair of first retaining parts 17.

[0024] (Configuration of retainer 21) The connector 10 includes a retainer 21 that is attached to the housing 11. The retainer 21 is attached to the mounting hole 18 of the extension portion 13. The retainer 21 is a terminal position guarantee member for fixing the position of the terminal T inside the housing 11. The retainer 21 is configured to be movable between a temporary fixing position that allows the terminal T to be inserted into the housing 11 and a permanent fixing position (see Figure 5) that engages with the terminal T inside the housing 11 to fix the position of the terminal T. Figures 2 and 5 show the state in which the retainer 21 is in the permanent fixing position. In this embodiment, the housing 11 is provided with a lance portion 19 (see Figure 5) inside the housing 11 that works in cooperation with the retainer 21 to fix the position of the terminal T.

[0025] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the retainer 21 has a third upper surface 21a in the height direction D3. The third upper surface 21a is, for example, a plane perpendicular to the height direction D3. When the retainer 21 is in its fixed position, the third upper surface 21a and the second upper surface 13a of the extension 13 are flush (i.e., located on the same plane).

[0026] The retainer 21 has a pair of second retaining portions 22 extending from the third upper surface 21a. The pair of second retaining portions 22 are arranged to face each other in the width direction D4. The pair of second retaining portions 22 are rail-shaped, extending along the fitting direction D1, similar to the pair of first retaining portions 17. When the retainer 21 is in its permanent fixed position, the pair of second retaining portions 22 are each located behind the pair of first retaining portions 17. The second retaining portions 22 and the first retaining portions 17, aligned in the fitting direction D1, form a continuous rail in the fitting direction D1. That is, when the retainer 21 is in its permanent fixed position, a retaining rail R is formed by the first retaining portions 17 and the second retaining portions 22, which are continuous in the fitting direction D1.

[0027] (Configuration of the fixing member 100) As shown in Figure 2, the fixing member 100 comprises a fixing portion 101 and a connecting portion 102 provided at the lower part of the fixing portion 101. The fixing portion 101 is fixed to the object to be fixed F (see Figure 6). The connecting portion 102 is connected to the housing 11. More specifically, the connecting portion 102 comprises a pair of guided portions 111 that are guided by a pair of retaining rails R. When the guided portions 111 are inserted through the retaining rails R, the movement of the fixing member 100 in the height direction D3 is restricted by the retaining rails R.

[0028] As shown in Figure 6, the connecting portion 102 has a locking portion 112 extending in the fitting direction D1. The locking portion 112 is a part that can be elastically deformed in the vertical direction. The lower surface of the locking portion 112 is provided with a locking portion 113 that can be locked onto a locking projection 16 of the extension portion 13 (housing 11). The locking portion 113 is locked to the locking projection 16 in the opposite fitting direction D2. This restricts the movement of the connecting portion 102 in the opposite fitting direction D2 so that the fixing member 100 does not come out of the housing 11 in the opposite fitting direction D2. When the fixing member 100 is attached to the housing 11, the fixing member 100 covers the upper part of the center in the width direction D4 of the mounting hole 18 and the retainer 21, respectively.

[0029] (Configuration of the recess 31) As shown in Figures 2 and 6, the hood portion 12 of the housing 11 is provided with a recess 31 recessed in the first upper surface 12a. When the fixing member 100 is attached in the correct position to engage with the locking projection 16, the tip 114 of the locking portion 112 (see Figure 6) in the fitting direction D1 fits into the recess 31. The inner surface of the recess 31 includes a covering surface 32 located on the fitting direction D1 side with respect to the locking projection 16. The covering surface 32 is, for example, a surface perpendicular to the first upper surface 12a of the hood portion 12 and extending downward. When the fixing member 100 is attached to the housing 11, the covering surface 32 faces the locking portion 112 in the opposite fitting direction D2. The covering surface 32 may be in contact with the tip 114 of the locking portion 112, or it may be facing the tip 114 of the locking portion 112 with a slight gap between them. The covering surface 32 covers the side of the locking portion 112 in the fitting direction D1, which is locked to the locking projection 16. The recess 31 covers both sides of the tip portion 114 of the locking portion 112 in the width direction D4. When the fixing member 100 is attached to the housing 11, the upper surface of the locking portion 112 is located below the first upper surface 12a of the hood portion 12 by a height direction D3.

[0030] The recess 31 is provided with a communication hole 33 that communicates with the mating portion 14. When the fixing member 100 is attached to the housing 11, a part of the locking portion 112 is inserted into the interior of the mating portion 14 through the communication hole 33. When disengaging the locking projection 16 from the locking portion 112, the mating connector C is not fitted into the mating portion 14, and the locking portion 112 can be operated through the communication hole 33 using a jig (not shown) inserted into the mating portion 14. On the other hand, when the mating connector C is fitted into the mating portion 14, the locking portion 112 cannot be operated through the mating portion 14 and the communication hole 33. This prevents accidental disengagement of the locking portion 112 from the locking projection 16 when the connector 10 is fitted with the mating connector C.

[0031] (Operation of this embodiment) The operation of this embodiment will be described below. By positioning the retainer 21 in its permanent fixed position, the retainer 21 engages with the terminal T inside the housing 11, fixing the position of the terminal T. When the retainer 21 is in its permanent fixed position, the second holding portion 22 of the retainer 21 and the first holding portion 17 of the extension portion 13 form a holding rail R. Therefore, by positioning the retainer 21 in its permanent fixed position, the connecting portion 102 of the fixing member 100 can be inserted into the holding rail R. In other words, when the retainer 21 is in a temporary fixed position above the permanent fixed position, the second holding portion 22 is shifted in the height direction D3 relative to the first holding portion 17, so the holding rail R is not formed, and the fixing member 100 cannot be assembled to the housing 11. Therefore, it is possible to detect whether or not the retainer 21 has been assembled to its permanent fixed position by determining whether or not the fixing member 100 can be assembled.

[0032] When the retainer 21 is positioned as the permanent fixing position and the connecting portion 102 of the fixing member 100 is inserted into the retaining rail R in the fitting direction D1, the locking portion 113 of the locking portion 112 of the fixing member 100 engages with the locking projection 16 of the extension portion 13. This fixes the fixing member 100 to the housing 11. When the fixing member 100 is attached to the housing 11, the fixing member 100 is positioned above the retainer 21. As a result, the fixing member 100 restricts the retainer 21, which is in the permanent fixing position, from moving upward (towards the temporary fixing position).

[0033] (Effects of this embodiment) The effects of this embodiment will be described below. (1) The extension portion 13 of the housing 11 protrudes from the second upper surface 13a and has a locking projection 16 that locks the locking portion 112 of the fixing member 100 in the opposite fitting direction D2. The hood portion 12 has a covering surface 32 that can cover the side of the locking portion 112 in the fitting direction D1 that is locked to the locking projection 16. With this configuration, the covering surface 32 of the hood portion 12 can cover the locking portion 112 of the fixing member 100 that is locked to the locking projection 16. As a result, for example, peripheral parts of the connector 10 cannot get caught on the locking portion 112 of the fixing member 100 and cause the locking portion 112 to come off the locking projection 16, and as a result, it is possible to prevent the fixing member 100 from falling off.

[0034] (2) The hood portion 12 has a recess 31 formed in the first upper surface 12a into which a part of the lock portion 112 fits. With this configuration, the lock portion 112 of the fixing member 100 fits into the recess 31 of the hood portion 12, which further suppresses interference of other parts with the lock portion 112. In addition, the fixing member 100 can be attached to a position closer to the hood portion 12 into which the mating connector C is fitted. As a result, the connector 10 with the mating connector C fitted can be stably fixed to the object to be fixed F by the fixing member 100 attached to a position closer to the hood portion 12.

[0035] (3) The recess 31 is provided with a communication hole 33 that communicates with the fitting portion 14. With this configuration, when the fixing member 100 is attached to the housing 11, the lock portion 112 can be operated from the fitting portion 14 of the hood portion 12 through the communication hole 33 to release the lock portion 112 from the locking projection 16.

[0036] (4) The extension portion 13 extends from the second upper surface 13a and has a first holding portion 17 that holds the fixing member 100. The position of the upper end surface 17a of the first holding portion 17 is set lower than that of the first upper surface 12a. With this configuration, it is possible to make the extension portion 13, including the first holding portion 17, smaller in the height direction D3.

[0037] (5) The extension portion 13 has a mounting hole 18 on the second upper surface 13a into which a retainer 21 for fixing the position of the terminal T is attached. The fixing member 100 is attached to the housing 11 so as to cover a part of the mounting hole 18. With this configuration, the fixing member 100 holds down the retainer 21 attached to the mounting hole 18, thereby preventing the retainer 21 from moving in the direction of exiting the mounting hole 18 (height direction D3).

[0038] (Other embodiments) The above embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the covering surface 32 is a surface perpendicular to the first upper surface 12a of the hood portion 12, but it is not limited to this, and may be a surface inclined with respect to the first upper surface 12a. In the above embodiment, the upper end surface 17a of the first retaining portion 17 may be configured to be flush with the first upper surface 12a of the hood portion 12. Alternatively, the upper end surface 17a of the first retaining portion 17 may be set to a position higher than the first upper surface 12a of the hood portion 12.

[0040] In the housing 11 of the above embodiment, the communication hole 33 may be omitted from the recess 31. Also, in the housing 11 of the above embodiment, the recess 31 may be omitted. If the recess 31 is omitted, a covering surface located on the fitting direction D1 side with respect to the locking projection 16 may be provided on the stepped portion 11a between the hood portion 12 and the extension portion 13.

[0041] In the connector 10 of the above embodiment, the retainer 21 and components related to the retainer 21, such as the mounting hole 18, may be omitted. The fixing member 100 may be a component other than a resin clip.

[0042] The object F to which the connector 10 is fixed may be a part other than the vehicle body panel. The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects, and the present invention is not limited to these examples. That is, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0043] 10 connectors 11 Housing 11a Stepped section 12. Hood section 12a 1st top surface 13 Extension 13a 2nd top surface 14. Fitting part 15. Wire outlet section 16 Locking projection 17 First holding part (holding part) 17a Upper end surface of the first retaining portion 18 mounting holes 19 Lance Department 21 Retainer 21a 3rd top surface 22 Second holding part 31 Recess 32 Covered surface 33 Communication hole 100 Fixing member 101 Fixed part 102 Connection part 111 Guided part 112 Lock section 113 Locking part 114 Tip of the locking part C (Mating Connector) D1 Fitting direction D2 Anti-mating direction (first direction) D3 Height direction D4 width direction F Fixed target R retaining rail T terminal W electric wire

Claims

1. It comprises a housing and terminals housed in the housing, The housing includes a connector to which a fixing member for fixing to an object to be fixed can be attached, The aforementioned housing is A hood portion having a mating portion into which the mating connector is fitted, The hood portion includes an extension portion that extends in a first direction opposite to the mating direction with respect to the mating connector, The hood portion has a first upper surface, The extension portion has a second upper surface located at a lower position in the height direction than the first upper surface, and a locking projection that protrudes from the second upper surface and engages the locking portion of the fixing member toward the first direction. The hood portion has a covering surface capable of covering the side of the lock portion in the fitting direction that is engaged with the locking projection. connector.

2. The hood portion has a recess formed in the first upper surface into which a part of the lock portion fits. The connector according to claim 1.

3. The recess is provided with a communication hole that communicates with the fitting portion. The connector according to claim 2.

4. The extension portion extends from the second upper surface and has a holding portion for holding the fixing member, The upper end surface of the holding portion is set to be flush with the first upper surface, or lower than the first upper surface. The connector according to claim 1.

5. The extension portion has a mounting hole on the second upper surface to which a retainer for fixing the position of the terminal is attached. The fixing member is attached to the housing so as to cover a portion of the mounting hole. The connector according to claim 1.

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