connector

Abstract

The present invention provides a connector that allows for a longer creepage distance between terminal sections while keeping the overall size down. [Solution] The connector 10 comprises an upper housing 12 having a first mating portion, a lower housing 14 having a second mating portion that fits into the first mating portion, and a plurality of terminal portions sandwiched between the first mating portion and the second mating portion. The first mating portion has a plurality of first partition portions that fit between the plurality of terminal portions. The second mating portion has a plurality of second partition portions that fit between the plurality of terminal portions. The first partition portions and the second partition portions are positioned overlapping between a pair of terminal portions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector in which a terminal portion is sandwiched between an upper housing and a lower housing.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a connector including a lower housing having a plurality of terminal accommodation grooves partitioned by partition walls, a plurality of terminal fittings individually accommodated in the plurality of terminal accommodation grooves, and an upper housing assembled to the lower housing so as to close an opening of the terminal accommodation groove. A groove portion for accommodating a protruding end portion of the partition wall is formed in the upper housing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, it is preferable that the creepage distance between terminal fittings can be made longer. If the protruding end portion of the partition wall is enlarged, the creepage distance between terminal fittings becomes longer, but the entire connector becomes larger.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can increase the creepage distance between terminal portions while suppressing an increase in size.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, a connector according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a first housing having a first mating portion, a second housing having a second mating portion that fits into the first mating portion, and a plurality of terminal portions sandwiched between the first mating portion and the second mating portion. The first mating portion has a plurality of first partition portions that fit between the plurality of terminal portions. The second mating portion has a plurality of second partition portions that fit between the plurality of terminal portions. The first partition portions and the second partition portions are positioned overlapping between a pair of terminal portions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector that can increase the creepage distance between terminals while suppressing an increase in size. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the connector in the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the upper housing, seen from below. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the lower housing, seen from above. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of line segment AA of the connector shown in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the connector 10 in the embodiment. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the upper housing 12 seen from below. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lower housing 14 seen from above. The connector 10 is installed in an in-vehicle device such as an ECU, and allows for the connection of multiple wires.

[0010] The connector 10 comprises an upper housing 12, a lower housing 14, and a terminal section described later. The upper housing 12 and the lower housing 14 face each other in the vertical direction and hold the conductive terminal section in between. The connector 10 has a plurality of parallel ports 16. Therefore, the upper housing 12 and the lower housing 14 have a structure that insulates the terminal sections that are respectively located in the plurality of ports 16.

[0011] Furthermore, the configuration in which the connector 10 is used is not limited to an arrangement where the upper housing 12 is on top and the lower housing 14 is on the bottom; for example, the orientation may be reversed, and the ports 16 may be arranged vertically.

[0012] The upper housing 12 shown in Figure 2 has a locking portion 20, an engaging portion 22, and a first fitting portion 24. The locking portion 20 is formed in the shape of a hole on both sides of the upper housing 12 and locks into the lower housing 14. The engaging portion 22 is formed in the shape of a claw on both sides of the upper housing 12 and engages with the lower housing 14.

[0013] Multiple first mating portions 24 are formed in a row on the inner surface of the upper housing 12. The first mating portions 24 extend along each terminal portion and are formed as protrusions. Note that the first mating portions 24 and second mating portions 30 shown in Figures 2 and 3 are simplified, and further details will be described later.

[0014] The lower housing 14 shown in Figure 3 has ports 16, locking portions 26, engaging portions 28, and a second fitting portion 30. Multiple ports 16 open on the front of the lower housing 14 and are arranged in parallel. The locking portions 26 are formed in a claw shape on both sides of the lower housing 14 and lock into the locking portions 20.

[0015] The engaged portion 28 is formed in a stepped shape on both sides of the lower housing 14 and engages with the engaging portion 22. Multiple second fitting portions 30 are formed side by side on the inner surface of the lower housing 14. The second fitting portions 30 extend along each terminal portion and are formed as protrusions. The second fitting portions 30 fit into the first fitting portion 24 to accommodate each terminal portion.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of the connector 10 shown in FIG. 1. The first fitting portion 24 and the second fitting portion 30 are fitted side by side in the lateral direction. The lateral direction is perpendicular to the vertical direction. The terminal portion 50 is sandwiched between the first fitting portion 24 and the second fitting portion 30.

[0017] A method of assembling the connector 10 will be described. With the lower housing 14 placed, a plurality of terminal portions 50 are placed on the lower housing 14 so as to engage with the second fitting portion 30. Next, the upper housing 12 is pushed in from above, and the first fitting portion 24 enters between the second fitting portion 30 and the terminal portion 50. Thereby, the assembly process of the connector 10 is completed.

[0018] The first fitting portion 24 has a base portion 32, a tapered surface 34, a locking claw 36, a first step 38, and a first partition portion 40. The width of the base portion 32 is formed wider than the width of the first partition portion 40 and is set to approximately half of the width of the terminal portion 50.

[0019] The first partition portion 40 hangs down from the base portion 32 and extends in the vertical direction. The first partition portion 40 enters between the plurality of terminal portions 50. The first partition portion 40 extends beyond the terminal portion 50 toward the lower housing side in the vertical direction and extends below the terminal portion 50. Thereby, the creepage distance between the terminal portions 50 can be configured to be long.

[0020] The tapered surface 34 is formed on one side surface of the first partition portion 40 on the tip side of the first partition portion 40 and is inclined so that the width becomes narrower toward the tip. The tip of the first partition portion 40 is the same as the lower end. The tapered surface 34 makes it easier for the first fitting portion 24 to be inserted between the second fitting portion 30 and the terminal portion 50.

[0021] The locking claw 36 is formed on one side surface of the first partition portion 40 and is formed continuously with the tapered surface 34. The locking claw 36 catches on the lower edge of the terminal portion 50. Thereby, the movement of the first fitting portion 24 away from the terminal portion 50 can be restricted.

[0022] The first step difference 38 is formed on the other side surface of the first partition portion 40 and is located on the opposite side of the side surface where the tapered surface 34 and the locking claw 36 are formed. The first step difference 38 is located in the middle of the first partition portion 40. The first step difference 38 is arranged at a position overlapping with the terminal portion 50 in the lateral direction.

[0023] The second fitting portion 30 has a second partition portion 42, an overhanging portion 44, and a second step difference 4664. The second partition portion 42 stands on the inner surface of the lower housing 14. The second partition portion 42 enters between the plurality of terminal portions 50. The first partition portion 40 and the second partition portion 42 are located overlapping between a pair of terminal portions 50. Thereby, even if the upper housing 12 and the lower housing 14 are not enlarged, the creepage distance between the terminal portions 50 can be made sufficiently long.

[0024] The second partition portion 42 extends beyond the terminal portion 50 toward the upper housing 12 side and extends above the terminal portion 50. Thereby, the creepage distance between the terminal portions 50 can be configured to be long.

[0025] The overhanging portion 44 projects laterally at the tip side of the second partition portion 42. The overhanging portion 44 projects to approximately half the position of the terminal portion 50 in the lateral direction. The overhanging portion 44 sandwiches the terminal portion 50 between the inner surface of the lower housing 14. The overhanging portion 44 increases the creepage distance between the terminal portions 50. Also, the second fitting portion 30 can hold the terminal portion 50.

[0026] The second step difference 46 is formed on one side surface of the second partition portion 42 and is located in the middle of the second partition portion 44. The second step difference 46 engages with the first step difference 38 of the first fitting portion 24. The first step difference 38 and the second step difference 46 are formed along the direction in which the upper housing 12 and the lower housing 14 face each other, that is, the vertical direction, and engage with each other. Thereby, the first fitting portion 24 and the second fitting portion 30 can be made difficult to separate in the vertical direction.

[0027] As described above, the present disclosure has been described based on the embodiments. The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is also possible to make various design changes and other modifications based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0028] In the embodiment, the first fitting portion 24 is shown to have a tapered surface 34 and a locking claw 36, but the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the second fitting portion 30 may also have a tapered surface 34 and a locking claw 36, and the shape of the first fitting portion 24 may be provided on the lower housing 14, and the shape of the second fitting portion 30 may be provided on the upper housing 12. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0029] 10 Connector, 12 Upper housing, 14 Lower housing, 16 Port, 20 Locking part, 22 Engaging part, 24 First mating part, 26 Locked part, 28 Engaged part, 30 Second mating part, 32 Base part, 34 Tapered surface, 36 Locking claw, 38 First step, 40 First partition part, 42 Second partition part, 44 Protruding part, 46 Second step, 50 Terminal part.

Claims

1. A first housing having a first fitting portion, A second housing having a second fitting portion that fits into the first fitting portion, It comprises a plurality of terminal portions sandwiched between the first mating portion and the second mating portion, The first fitting portion has a plurality of first partition portions that fit between the plurality of terminal portions, The second fitting portion has a plurality of second partitions that fit between the plurality of terminal portions, A connector characterized in that the first partition and the second partition are positioned overlapping between a pair of terminal portions.

2. The first partition wall extends beyond the terminal portion toward the second housing side, The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the second partition extends beyond the terminal portion toward the first housing side.

3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one of the first partition wall portion and the second partition wall portion has a tapered portion that becomes narrower towards the tip.

4. A locking claw is formed on one of the first partition wall portion and the second partition wall portion, connected to the tapered portion. The connector according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking claw catches on the terminal portion.

5. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first partition and the second partition are formed along directions intersecting the opposing directions of the first housing and the second housing, and have steps that engage with each other.

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