connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that increases the holding force to the terminal fittings while avoiding an increase in size. [Solution] The box portion 61 of the terminal fitting 60 has an inner wall portion 69 that partitions the internal space and an outer wall portion 71 that is arranged to overlap the outer surface of the inner wall portion 69. The outer wall portion 71 has a return portion 87 that covers one end of the first plate portion 72 of the inner wall portion 69 in the width direction. The lance 22 has an inner locking surface 31 that can be locked onto the plate thickness surface of the first plate portion 72, an outer locking surface 32 that can be locked onto the plate thickness surface of the return portion 87, and a tip projection 33 that is arranged alongside the outer locking surface 32 at the other end of the outer locking surface 32 in the width direction, and protrudes forward from the outer locking surface 32, facing the other end of the first plate portion 72 in the width direction from the outside.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] The connector described in Patent Document 1 includes a housing having a cavity (terminal accommodation hole) with a lance (terminal locking lance) protruding therefrom, and a terminal fitting inserted into the cavity and locked to the lance. The terminal fitting has a cylindrical box portion (terminal fitting portion). The box portion has a bottom wall, and the bottom wall has a double-wall structure that overlaps inside and outside. The lance has a locking surface at a position facing the plate thickness surface of the double wall of the bottom wall. Further, the lance protrudes forward from the locking surface and has a tip protrusion facing the outer surface of the outer wall in the double wall. Note that connectors provided with terminal fittings locked to the lance are also disclosed in Patent Documents 2-5.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Patent Document 5

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the case of Patent Document 1, since the locking surface of the lance is locked to the plate thickness surface of the double wall instead of a single wall, the holding force for the terminal fitting can be increased. However, in the case of Patent Document 1, the locking surface and the tip projection are stacked in the height direction, which is the overlapping direction of the double walls. This raised concerns that the lance would become larger in the height direction, and consequently, the connector would become larger in the height direction.

[0005] Therefore, the purpose of this disclosure is to provide a connector that can increase the holding force on terminal fittings while avoiding an increase in size. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector of this disclosure comprises a plate-shaped terminal fitting having a cylindrical box portion and extending in the front-rear direction, and a housing having a cavity capable of housing the terminal fitting and an elastically deformable lance projecting forward from the inner wall of the cavity, wherein the box portion has an inner wall portion that partitions the internal space and an outer wall portion that is arranged to overlap the outer surface of the inner wall portion, the inner wall portion has a first plate portion along a width direction intersecting the overlapping direction of the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion and the front-rear direction, the outer wall portion has a return portion that covers one end of the first plate portion in the width direction, and the lance has an inner locking surface that can lock onto the plate thickness surface of the first plate portion, an outer locking surface that can lock onto the plate thickness surface of the return portion, and a tip projection that is arranged alongside the outer locking surface at the other end of the outer locking surface in the width direction and projects forward from the outer locking surface and faces the other end of the first plate portion in the width direction from the outside. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector that can increase the retention force on terminal fittings while avoiding an increase in size. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a side view of a connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, showing the state in which the terminal fittings are inserted into the cavity of the housing and positioned so as to be lockable to the lance, with the housing side cut away. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a corresponding diagram to Figure 2, showing the state in which a pulling force is applied to the terminal fitting from the rear, causing the lance to be displaced in the reverse direction. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the state shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the front of the terminal fitting, seen from diagonally below. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a front view showing the guide portion formed at the opening edge of the cavity on the front surface of the housing. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the lance protruding into the cavity, seen from the upper right at an oblique angle. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the lance protruding into the cavity, seen from the upper left. [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 plate-shaped terminal fitting having a cylindrical box portion and extending in the front-rear direction, and a housing having a cavity capable of accommodating the terminal fitting and an elastically deformable lance protruding forward from the inner wall of the cavity, wherein the box portion has an inner wall portion that partitions the internal space and an outer wall portion that is arranged to overlap the outer surface of the inner wall portion, the inner wall portion has a first plate portion along a width direction that intersects the overlapping direction of the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion and the front-rear direction, the outer wall portion has a return portion that covers one end of the first plate portion in the width direction, the lance has an inner locking surface that can lock onto the plate thickness surface of the first plate portion, an outer locking surface that can lock onto the plate thickness surface of the return portion, and a tip projection that is arranged alongside the outer locking surface at the other end of the outer locking surface in the width direction and protrudes forward from the outer locking surface and faces the other end of the first plate portion in the width direction from the outside.

[0010] When a pulling force acts on the terminal fitting in the rearward direction, not only is the inner locking surface of the lance locked to the plate thickness surface of the first plate portion, but the outer locking surface of the lance is also locked to the plate thickness surface of the return portion. Therefore, the holding force for the terminal fitting can be increased. Further, when the tip protrusion hits the first plate portion, displacement of the lance in the reverse direction and backward movement of the terminal fitting can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the tip protrusion and the outer locking surface are arranged side by side in the width direction, the lance does not need to be large in the height direction, and thus enlargement of the connector can be avoided.

[0011] (2) The lance has a lance body connected to the inner wall of the cavity and extending in the front-rear direction, and a locking protrusion protruding from the lance body toward the inside of the cavity. The inner locking surface is preferably arranged on the front surface of the locking protrusion, and the outer locking surface and the tip protrusion are preferably arranged side by side in the width direction on the front surface of the lance body.

[0012] Since the inner locking surface is arranged on the front surface of the locking protrusion, a large locking margin with respect to the plate thickness surface of the first plate portion can be ensured. Since the front surface of the lance body has a cutout shape, the return portion can enter the inside of the cutout portion, and the locking state between the lance and the return portion can be stabilized.

[0013] (3) It is preferable that the positions of the center portions in the width direction of the box portion and the locking protrusion coincide inside the cavity.

[0014] Since the locking protrusion is not offset in the width direction with respect to the box portion, the die punching hole portion (the cutting portion 41 shown in the following Embodiment 1, see FIG. 6) for forming the locking protrusion can be appropriately formed at the center portion in the width direction in the guiding shape of the mating terminal fitting formed on the front surface of the housing.

[0015] (4) The box portion preferably has a second plate portion at a position facing the first plate portion, and the second plate portion preferably has an excessive bending restricting portion that bends at the rear end and faces the lance side.

[0016] When a pulling force is applied to the terminal fitting from the rear, the lance will strike the excessive deflection limiting section, thereby suppressing excessive deflection of the lance.

[0017] [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.

[0018] <Embodiment 1> The connector 10 according to Embodiment 1 comprises a housing 20 made of synthetic resin and a terminal fitting 60 made of conductive metal. As shown in Figure 1, the terminal fitting 60 is housed in the housing 20. The housing 20 is fitted into a mating housing (not shown). In the following description, the front-rear direction is defined as the side of the housing 20 that faces the mating connector at the start of mating. 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 in Figures 2 and 3. In Figures 1-3, the front, top, and right sides are indicated by the symbols "X," "Y," and "Z," respectively. The up-down direction and the left-right direction are synonymous with the height direction and width direction, 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).

[0019] (Terminal fittings) The terminal fitting 60 is formed by bending a single metal plate, etc., into an elongated shape in the front-to-back direction, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. The terminal fitting 60 has a box portion 61 on the front side, barrel portions 62 and 63 on the rear side, and a connecting portion 64 between the box portion 61 and the barrel portions 62 and 63. The terminal fitting 60 also has a strip-shaped base portion 65 that extends along its entire length in the front-to-back direction. The base portion 65 constitutes a part of the box portion 61, the connecting portion 64, and the barrel portions 62 and 63, respectively.

[0020] The barrel sections 62 and 63 have a wire barrel section 62 on the front side and an insulation barrel section 63 on the rear side. The wire barrel section 62 is electrically connected by crimping it to the core wire 52 that is exposed when the insulation 51 is removed at the end of the electric wire 50. The insulation barrel section 63 is mechanically connected by crimping it to the insulation 51 at the end of the electric wire 50.

[0021] As shown in Figure 5, the connecting portion 64 has a strip-shaped connecting body portion 66 extending in the front-rear direction, and a pair of side portions 67 that bend downward from both the left and right ends of the connecting body portion 66 and are arranged parallel to each other. The connecting body portion 66 constitutes the intermediate portion of the base portion 65 in the front-rear direction. The rear end of each side portion 67 is connected to the wire barrel portion 62. The front end of each side portion 67 is connected to the fourth plate portion 75 and the sixth plate portion 83, which will be described later. The space below the connecting portion 64 is a receiving space 68 into which the locking projection portion 26 of the lance 22, which will be described later, can enter.

[0022] The box portion 61 is rectangular and, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, has an inner wall portion 69 that partitions the inner space 70, and an outer wall portion 71 that is arranged radially outward of the inner wall portion 69 along the outer surface of the inner wall portion 69. The inner wall portion 69 has a first plate portion 72 arranged in the left-right direction, a second plate portion 73 arranged above the first plate portion 72 and parallel to the first plate portion 72, a third plate portion 74 that extends in the vertical direction and connects to the right ends of the first plate portion 72 and the second plate portion 73, and a fourth plate portion 75 that rises from the left end of the first plate portion 72 and is arranged parallel to the third plate portion 74.

[0023] As shown in Figure 4, the first plate portion 72 has a receiving portion 76 that bulges out toward the inner space 70 in the middle of the front-rear direction. The upper surface of the receiving portion 76 is arranged along the front-rear direction.

[0024] As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 5, the second plate portion 73 protrudes to the left near its rear end and has a fixing portion 78 that enters into a fixing hole 77 formed in the upper left corner of the box portion 61. The second plate portion 73 is shaped to extend forward in a cantilever manner from the fixing hole 77 and has a contact portion 79 that protrudes downward on its front end side, as shown in Figure 4. The second plate portion 73 is elastically deformable in the vertical direction with the fixing hole 77 side, which enters the fixing hole 77, as the pivot point. When the housing 20 is fitted with the mating housing, the male tab 100 of the mating terminal fitting enters from the front between the contact portion 79 of the second plate portion 73 and the receiving portion 76, and the contact portion 79 is electrically connected to the male tab 100 when the second plate portion 73 is elastically deformed.

[0025] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the rear end of the second plate portion 73 is positioned along the inner surface of the connecting body portion 66. The second plate portion 73 has an excessive deflection restricting portion 81 at its rear end that is bent downward and hangs down. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the excessive deflection restricting portion 81 is rectangular in front view and is positioned in the upper right of the inner space 70. The lower end of the excessive deflection restricting portion 81 faces the receiving space 68 above the lower ends of each side portion 67 (see Figure 5).

[0026] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the outer wall portion 71 has a fifth plate portion 82 that extends to the right from the upper end of the fourth plate portion 75 and overlaps the outer surface (upper surface) of the second plate portion 73, a sixth plate portion 83 that extends downward from the right end of the fifth plate portion 82 and overlaps the outer surface (right surface) of the third plate portion 74, and a return portion 87 that bends to the left and extends a short distance from the lower end of the rear end of the sixth plate portion 83.

[0027] As shown in Figure 5, the return portion 87 overlaps the outer surface of the rear end of the first plate portion 72 so as to partially cover the outer surface (bottom surface) of the right end side (one end in the width direction) of the rear end of the first plate portion 72. The rear end surface (thickness surface) of the return portion 87 and the rear end surface (thickness surface) of the first plate portion 72 are positioned side by side in the front-to-back direction (see Figure 4).

[0028] As shown in Figure 5, the outer wall portion 71 has a front plate portion 88 that extends to the left from the lower end of the front end of the sixth plate portion 83 and overlaps with the outer surface of the front end of the first plate portion 72. The sixth plate portion 83 has a projection portion 89 that protrudes downward at a position near the rear end. The projection portion 89 is positioned in front of the return portion 87 and has its plate surface facing left to right. The projection portion 89 can function as a stabilizer that guides the insertion operation of the terminal fitting 60 into the housing 20.

[0029] (housing) As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the housing 20 has a cavity 21 that extends in the front-rear direction. The front and rear ends of the cavity 21 open to the front and rear surfaces of the housing 20, respectively. Although not shown, multiple cavities 21 are formed in the housing 20. Also, although not shown, the housing 20 has a locking arm that engages with the mating housing and holds the housing 20 and the mating housing in a fitted state.

[0030] The housing 20 has a lance 22 that protrudes forward from the lower surface of the inner wall of the cavity 21. The lance 22 is elastically deformable vertically with a base end 23 connected to the lower surface of the inner wall of the cavity 21 as a fulcrum. The cavity 21 has a deflection space 24 below the lance 22 that allows for the elastic displacement of the lance 22.

[0031] The lance 22 has a lance body 25 extending forward from the base end 23, and a locking projection 26 protruding from the upper surface of the lance body 25 into the cavity 21.

[0032] As shown in Figure 6, the upper surface of the lance body 25 has a first pressing surface 27 and a second pressing surface 28 formed at both ends on the left and right sides of the locking projection 26. The first pressing surface 27 and the second pressing surface 28 are arranged along the front-rear direction and are pressed by a jig (not shown) when releasing the locked state of the lance 22.

[0033] As shown in Figure 8, the lance body 25 has a guide slope 29 that cuts out the front end corner at the upper left. The guide slope 29 is connected to the first pressed surface 27 and serves to guide the jig to the first pressed surface 27. The second pressed surface 28 is positioned lower than the first pressed surface 27, as shown in Figure 6, to avoid interference with the projection 89 of the terminal fitting 60. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the rear surface of the locking projection 26 has a sloped shape that inclines forward. The front surface of the locking projection 26 is configured as an inner locking surface 31 capable of locking the rear end surface (thickness surface) of the first plate portion 72 of the terminal fitting 60. The inner locking surface 31 is positioned along the left-right direction and inclined with respect to the up-down direction, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, with its upper end protruding forward. As shown in Figure 6, the inner locking surface 31 has a trapezoidal shape in front view with a wider lower end and is positioned at the center of the lance 22 in the left-right direction.

[0034] As shown in Figure 6, the front surface of the lance body 25 has an outer locking surface 32 capable of locking the rear end surface (thickness surface) of the return portion 87 of the terminal fitting 60. The outer locking surface 32 is continuous with the inner locking surface 31 without any step below it, and is positioned in front of and to the left of the second pressed surface 28. On the front surface of the lance body 25, the outer locking surface 32 is positioned off-center to the right of the center of the lance body 25 in the left-right direction. The left-right dimension (width dimension) of the outer locking surface 32 is smaller than the left-right dimension of the inner locking surface 31. Also, as shown in Figure 1, the upper end of the outer locking surface 32 is inclined forward and is continuous with the inner locking surface 31 at the same inclination angle.

[0035] As shown in Figures 6-8, the lance body 25 has a tip projection 33 that protrudes forward from the outer locking surface 32, located to the left of the outer locking surface 32 and aligned with the outer locking surface 32 in the left-right direction. The tip projection 33 is plate-shaped and is positioned aligned with the outer locking surface 32 in the left-right direction. The tip projection 33 and the outer locking surface 32 are positioned to overlap each other in the vertical direction. Specifically, the outer locking surface 32 is positioned within the vertical formation range of the tip projection 33 in the vertical direction.

[0036] Furthermore, the outer locking surface 32 is positioned to intersect and connect with the right side of the tip projection 33. As shown in Figure 7, the lance body 25 has a notched recess 34 formed by the right side of the tip projection 33 and the outer locking surface 32, which gives it an L-shaped cross-section.

[0037] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the upper surface of the tip projection 33 is an opposing surface 35 that is in contact with the outer surface (lower surface) of the first plate portion 72 of the terminal fitting 60. As shown in Figure 8, the opposing surface 35 of the tip projection 33 intersects with the inner locking surface 31 and is a flat surface that is continuous with respect to the first pressed surface 27 in the front-rear direction without any steps.

[0038] As shown in Figures 1 and 6, the housing 20 has a front wall 37 that closes the front of the cavity 21, leaving the tab insertion hole 36 open. On the front surface of the front wall 37, there is a guide portion 38 that widens in a tapered manner from the opening of the tab insertion hole 36. The guide portion 38 serves to guide the male tab 100 of the mating terminal fitting into the tab insertion hole 36. Although not shown, the male tab 100 is inserted through the tab insertion hole 36 into the inside of the box portion 61 of the terminal fitting 60, which is located in the cavity 21, and connected.

[0039] Furthermore, a mold-cut hole 39 is formed on the front surface of the housing 20, resulting from the withdrawal of a mold (not shown) that forms the lance 22. The mold-cut hole 39 communicates with the deflection space 24 inside the housing 20. As shown in Figure 6, the mold-cut hole 39 includes a cutout portion 41 that cuts out the middle portion in the left-right direction at the lower end of the guide portion 38. The inner locking surface 31 of the locking projection 26 is visible from the front through the cutout portion 41.

[0040] (The function of the connector) The terminal fitting 60 is inserted into the cavity 21 of the housing 20 from the rear with the electric wire 50 connected to the barrel portions 62 and 63. During the insertion process of the terminal fitting 60, the box portion 61 slides along the rear surface of the locking projection 26, and the lance 22 elastically deforms into the deflection space 24. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, when the box portion 61 abuts against the rear surface of the front wall 37 and reaches the position where the insertion operation of the terminal fitting 60 stops (the normal insertion position), the lance 22 elastically returns to its original position, the locking projection 26 enters the receiving space 68, and the inner locking surface 31 of the locking projection 26 is positioned opposite to the rear end surface of the box portion 61 so as to be able to contact it. Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the upper end of the inner locking surface 31 of the locking projection 26 is positioned to be able to contact the rear end surface of the first plate portion 72 in the left-right direction, and the right end of the inner locking surface 31 of the locking projection 26 is positioned to be able to contact the left end of the return portion 87. When the box portion 61 abuts against the rear surface of the front wall 37 and the lance 22 is in its natural state, the outer locking surface 32 is positioned below the return portion 87. The lower end of the excessive deflection restricting portion 81 is positioned to be opposite the upper surface of the locking projection 26.

[0041] In the above state, the electric wire 50 pulled out from the housing 20 may be pulled backward, causing a backward pulling force to act on the terminal fitting 60. When such a pulling force acts, the terminal fitting 60 retracts from the state shown in Figures 1 and 4, reaching a position where the rear end surface of the box portion 61 contacts the inner locking surface 31 of the locking projection 26. If the pulling force continues to act and the terminal fitting 60 retracts further, the rear end surface of the first plate portion 72 slides toward the lower end of the inner locking surface 31, and the lance 22 elastically deforms upward in the reverse direction. As a result, as shown in Figure 3, the rear end surface of the first plate portion 72 is widely locked to the lower end of the inner locking surface 31 along the left-right direction. Then, the return portion 87 enters the inside of the notched recess 34, and the rear end surface of the return portion 87 is locked to the outer locking surface 32. This restricts further retraction of the terminal fitting 60 and prevents the terminal fitting 60 from coming out of the cavity 21. At this time, the opposing surface 35 of the tip projection 33 abuts against the outer surface (lower surface) of the rear end of the first plate portion 72. Furthermore, the upper surface of the locking projection 26 can also abut against the lower end of the excessive deflection restricting portion 81. In this way, the lance 22 abuts against the first plate portion 72 and the excessive deflection restricting portion 81, and the upward displacement of the lance 22 is suppressed, thereby restricting the retraction of the terminal fitting 60. As a result, the terminal fitting 60 is reliably prevented from coming out of the cavity 21.

[0042] As described above, according to this embodiment 1, when a pulling force is applied to the terminal fitting 60 from the rear, the inner locking surface 31 of the lance 22 is locked to the rear end surface of the first plate portion 72, and the outer locking surface 32 of the lance 22 is also locked to the rear end surface of the return portion 87, thereby increasing the holding force on the terminal fitting 60. Furthermore, the tip projection 33 abuts against the outer surface of the first plate portion 72, which reliably prevents the upward displacement of the lance 22 and the retraction of the terminal fitting 60. Moreover, since the tip projection 33 and the outer locking surface 32 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, the lance 22 does not need to be increased in height, and consequently, the size of the connector 10 can be avoided.

[0043] Furthermore, since the inner locking surface 31 is positioned in front of the locking projection 26, a large locking allowance can be secured against the rear end surface of the first plate portion 72. In addition, the return portion 87 fits inside the notched recess 34 of the lance body 25, thereby stabilizing the locking state between the lance 22 and the return portion 87.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment 1, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the left-right centers of the box portion 61 and the locking projection 26 are positioned at the same location in the left-right direction. Therefore, the locking projection 26 is not offset in the left-right direction relative to the box portion 61, and as shown in Figure 6, the cut portion 41 can be formed at the left-right center (intermediate portion) of the lower end of the enticing portion 38. As a result, the enticing portion 38 can properly perform its enticing function for the male tab 100.

[0045] Furthermore, when a pulling force is applied to the terminal fitting 60 from the rear, the lance 22 also abuts against the excessive deflection restricting portion 81, thereby suppressing excessive deflection of the lance 22.

[0046] [Other embodiments of this disclosure] Embodiment 1 disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. In the first embodiment described above, the inner locking surface and the outer locking surface were arranged continuously on the lance without any steps. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the inner contact surface and the outer locking surface may be arranged on the lance with a step in between. In the above embodiment 1, the inner locking surface was positioned at an angle to the front of the locking projection. In contrast, the inner locking surface may be positioned vertically along the front of the locking projection. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0047] 10… Connectors 20… Housing 21... Cavity 22... Lance 23...Proximal end 24...Flexible space 25...Lance body 26… Locking projection 27...First pressed surface 28...Second pressured surface 29... Guiding slope 31…Inner locking surface 32...Outer locking surface 33…Tip protrusion 34... Notched recess 35… Opposite side 36... Tab insertion hole 37...Front wall 38... The luring department 39...Mold hole 41...Resection part 50...Electric wire 51... Covering 52…Core wire 60…Terminal fittings 61...Hakobe 62...Wire barrel section (barrel section) 63...Insulation barrel section (barrel section) 64...Connection part 65...Base 66...Connecting main body 67... Side 68…Receptive space 69...Interior wall section 70...Interior space 71...Outer wall part 72...First plate part 73…Second plate part 74...Third plate part 75…4th plate part 76... Receiving part 77…Fixing hole 78…Fixed part 79... Contact point 81... Excessive deflection regulation section 82...5th plate part 83…6th plate part 87... Return section 88...Front plate part 89...Protruding piece part 100... Male Tab

Claims

1. It comprises a plate-shaped terminal fitting having a cylindrical box portion and extending in the front-rear direction, and a housing having a cavity capable of housing the terminal fitting and an elastically deformable lance protruding forward from the inner wall of the cavity, The box portion has an inner wall portion that partitions the internal space, and an outer wall portion that is arranged to overlap the outer surface of the inner wall portion. The inner wall portion has a first plate portion that is aligned with the width direction intersecting the overlapping direction of the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion and the front-rear direction, The outer wall portion has a return portion that overlaps one end of the first plate portion in the width direction, The aforementioned lance is An inner locking surface that can be locked to the thickness surface of the first plate portion, An outer locking surface that can be locked onto the plate thickness surface of the return portion, A connector having a tip projection positioned alongside the outer locking surface at the other end of the outer locking surface in the width direction, and projecting forward from the outer locking surface, and facing the other end of the first plate portion in the width direction from the outside.

2. The lance comprises a lance body connected to the inner wall of the cavity and extending in the front-rear direction, It has a locking projection that protrudes from the lance body toward the inside of the cavity, The inner locking surface is positioned in front of the locking projection, The connector according to claim 1, wherein the outer locking surface and the tip projection are arranged side by side in the width direction on the front surface of the lance body.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the positions of the centers in the width direction of the box portion and the locking projection portion coincide within the cavity.

4. The box portion has a second plate portion at a position opposite to the first plate portion. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second plate portion has an excessive deflection restricting portion that is bent at its rear end and faces the lance side.

Images