connector

Abstract

To downsize while preventing erroneous insertion.SOLUTION: A connector comprises: a female terminal fitting 50 which is inserted into a terminal housing chamber 12 from the rear of a housing body 11; and a terminal holding member 30 which is fitted to cover a front surface of the housing body 11 and holds the female terminal fitting 50 inside the terminal housing chamber 12 in a manner retained at the front. The housing body 11 is provided with a lance 17 which is elastically deformed in an insertion process of the female terminal fitting 50 so as to prevent detachment of the female terminal fitting 50 that has been inserted into the terminal housing chamber 12. The terminal holding member 30 has: a jig insertion hole 40 into which a jig 60 is inserted; a tab insertion hole 37 into which a tab 71 of a male terminal fitting 70 is inserted; and a guide surface 38 which guides the tab 71 into the tab insertion hole 37. The tab insertion hole 37 and the jig insertion hole 40 are arranged so as to be aligned each other in the width direction intersecting an elastic deformation direction of the lance 17.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to connectors. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a connector in which a terminal attached to the connector housing is stopped at the front by a front holder attached to the front end of the connector housing. The terminal attached to the connector housing is prevented from being removed by an elastically deformable lance. The front holder is formed with a hole for inserting a mating terminal and a hole for inserting a jig rod. The opening edge of the hole for inserting the mating terminal on the front surface of the front holder is formed with a tapered guide surface for guiding the mating terminal into the hole. When the terminal fitting is to be removed from the connector housing, the lance is elastically deformed so as to be removed from the terminal by a jig inserted into the hole for inserting the jig. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-297816 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above connector, the hole for inserting the mating terminal and the hole for inserting the jig bar are arranged so as to be aligned in the same direction as the elastic deformation direction of the lance. In order to reduce the size of this connector in the elastic deformation direction of the lance, the hole for inserting the jig may be arranged so as to be close to the hole for inserting the mating terminal, and a part of the opening area of ​​the hole for inserting the jig may be arranged so as to overlap with the guide surface. However, if a part of the guide surface is cut out by the hole for inserting the jig, there is a risk that the mating terminal may be erroneously inserted into the hole for inserting the jig. As a countermeasure against this, it is conceivable to narrow the opening area of ​​the hole for inserting the jig so that the hole for inserting the jig does not overlap with the guide surface. However, when the hole for inserting the jig is narrowed, the jig must be made thinner, and therefore, taking into account the strength of the jig, there is a limit to how much the opening area of ​​the hole for inserting the jig can be reduced. Therefore, it is not possible to reduce the size of the connector while preventing the erroneous insertion of the mating terminal.

[0005] The connector of the present disclosure has been completed in light of the above circumstances, and has an object to achieve miniaturization while preventing erroneous insertion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure comprises: a housing body having a terminal receiving chamber; a female terminal fitting inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber from the rear of the housing body; a terminal holding member attached to the housing body so as to cover a front surface of the housing body and holding the female terminal fittings in the terminal accommodating chambers in a front stop state, The housing body is formed with a lance that elastically deforms due to interference with the female terminal metal fitting during the insertion process of the female terminal metal fitting and prevents the female terminal metal fitting inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber from falling out, The terminal holding member includes: a jig insertion hole into which a jig for separating the lance from the female terminal fitting is inserted; a tab insertion hole into which a tab of a male terminal is inserted from the front of the terminal holding member; a guide surface for guiding the tab into the tab insertion hole, The tab insertion hole and the jig insertion hole are arranged to be aligned in a width direction intersecting with the elastic deformation direction of the lance. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to achieve miniaturization while preventing erroneous insertion. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a terminal holding member is attached to a full locking position in a connector according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the terminal holding member is attached at a provisionally retained position. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the housing is separated into a housing main body and a terminal holding member. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view, partly cut away, showing the shape of the lance. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view taken along the tab insertion hole, showing a state in which the terminal holding member is in the provisionally-retained position. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the terminal holding member is in the provisionally-retained position, taken along the jig insertion hole. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view taken along the jig insertion hole, showing a state in which the terminal holding member is in the provisionally-retained position and the lance is elastically deformed by the jig. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view taken along the tab insertion hole and showing the terminal holding member in a fully locked position. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view showing the terminal holding member in the final locking position, taken along the jig insertion hole. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional plan view. [Figure 11]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a state in which the jig is inserted into the jig insertion hole. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a front view of the terminal holding member. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional plan view of the terminal holding member. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the jig. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a plan view of the jig. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a front view of the jig. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The connector of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A housing body having a terminal accommodating chamber, a female terminal fitting inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber from the rear of the housing body, and a terminal holding member attached to the housing body so as to cover the front of the housing body and holding the female terminal fitting in the terminal accommodating chamber in a front-stop state, the housing body is formed with a lance that elastically deforms due to interference with the female terminal fitting during the insertion process of the female terminal fitting and prevents the female terminal fitting inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber from being pulled out, the terminal holding member is formed with a tool insertion hole into which a tool for releasing the lance from the female terminal fitting is inserted, a tab insertion hole into which a tab of a male terminal fitting is inserted from the front of the terminal holding member, and a guide surface for guiding the tab into the tab insertion hole, the tab insertion hole and the tool insertion hole are arranged to be aligned in a width direction intersecting with a direction of elastic deformation of the lance. According to the configuration of the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the size of the lance in the direction of elastic deformation without arranging the tool insertion hole so as to overlap the guide surface of the tab insertion hole. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tab from being erroneously inserted into the jig insertion hole while reducing the size of the lance in the direction of elastic deformation. (2) The terminal holding member preferably has a retaining portion for preventing the female terminal fitting from moving rearward in the terminal accommodating chamber. With this configuration, the number of parts can be reduced compared to a case in which a dedicated member for retaining the female terminal fitting is provided separately from the terminal holding member.

[0010] (3) The lance is formed with a jig abutment portion for abutting the jig, the terminal holding member is movable between a provisional locking position that allows the female terminal fitting to be inserted and a full locking position that prevents the female terminal fitting from being removed, and when the terminal holding member is in the full locking position, the jig insertion hole is preferably located at a position spaced apart from the jig abutment portion in a front view of the terminal holding member from the front. With this configuration, when the terminal holding member is in the full locking position, it is possible to prevent the lance from being flexed accidentally even if a jig is inserted into the jig insertion hole.

[0011] (4) The lance is preferably formed with a jig abutment portion for abutting the jig, and the jig abutment portion is preferably disposed in an area outward from an outer surface of the female terminal fitting in the width direction. With this configuration, when the jig comes into contact with the jig abutment portion, interference between the jig and the female terminal fitting can be prevented.

[0012] (5) It is preferable that the lance is formed with a jig abutment portion for abutting the jig, the jig insertion hole is formed with a guide surface, and in a plan view of the terminal holding member seen in the same direction as the elastic deformation direction of the lance, the guide surface is inclined with respect to the insertion direction of the tab in the tab insertion hole. According to this configuration, by inserting the jig into the jig insertion hole while aligning it with the guide surface, the jig can be abutted against the jig abutment portion at an angle, so that even if the jig and the jig abutment portion have a narrow shape, the jig can be reliably abutted against the jig abutment portion.

[0013] In (6) and (5), it is preferable that the guide surface is formed on the inner surface of the pair of inner surfaces facing each other in the width direction in the jig insertion hole, the inner surface being farther from the tab insertion hole. With this configuration, it is possible to ensure a large thickness of the partition wall between the jig insertion hole for one terminal accommodating chamber and the tab insertion hole for the other terminal accommodating chamber, of the terminal accommodating chambers adjacent in the width direction.

[0014] (7) In (5) or (6), it is preferable that the jig insertion hole has a straight surface that faces the guide surface in the width direction and is parallel to the insertion direction of the tab in the tab insertion hole. With this configuration, the terminal holding member can be molded by a mold that opens the jig insertion hole in a direction parallel to the insertion direction of the tab into the tab insertion hole.

[0015] (8) In any of (5) to (7), it is preferable that a front end of the guide surface is located outboard of an outer edge of the lance in the width direction. With this configuration, a large inclination angle of the guide surface with respect to the insertion direction of the tab in the tab insertion hole is ensured, so that the jig can be more reliably applied to the jig abutment portion.

[0016] (9) It is preferable that the widthwise opening dimension at the rear end of the jig insertion hole is smaller than the widthwise opening dimension at the front end of the jig insertion hole. According to this configuration, the jig can be stopped at the front by the difference in the widthwise opening dimension at the front and rear ends of the jig insertion hole.

[0017] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] [Example 1] A connector according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 16. The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is shown by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. In this first embodiment, the front-rear direction is defined as the positive direction of the X-axis in Figs. 1 to 11, 13 to 15. The left-right direction is defined as the positive direction of the Y-axis in Figs. 1 to 4, 10 to 16. The left-right direction and the width direction are used synonymously. The up-down direction is defined as the positive direction of the Z-axis in Figs. 1 to 9, 12, 14, 16.

[0018] 1 to 3, the connector of the present disclosure includes one connector housing 10 and a plurality of female terminal fittings 50. The connector housing 10 is configured by assembling one housing main body 11 and one terminal holding member 30.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 12 are formed in the housing body 11. Each terminal accommodating chamber 12 is an elongated space in the front-rear direction and is open to both the front and rear surfaces of the housing body 11. The plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 12 are arranged so as to be aligned in the left-right direction (width direction). The housing body 11 is formed with an accommodating space 13 that opens to the lower surface of the housing body 11. The accommodating space 13 communicates with the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 12. As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of guide grooves 14 are formed on both left and right side edges on the front surface of the housing body 11. A temporary locking retaining portion 15 and a full locking retaining portion 16 are formed at the upper end of the guide groove 14.

[0020] As shown in Figs. 4 to 11, a lance 17 is formed in the terminal accommodating chamber 12. The lance 17 extends forward in a cantilever shape along a lower wall portion constituting the terminal accommodating chamber 12. The lance 17 is always maintained in a retaining position (retaining posture). The lance 17 can be elastically displaced to a retaining release position (retaining release posture) with the rear end of the lance 17 as a fulcrum. When the lance 17 is elastically displaced to the retaining release position, the front end of the lance 17 is located below the retaining position (in a direction away from the terminal accommodating chamber 12). The lance 17 is elastically deformed in the up-down direction.

[0021] The lance 17 has a lance body 18 and a primary locking portion 19. The lance body 18 is plate-shaped with its thickness oriented in the up-down direction, and extends forward from the lower wall. The primary locking portion 19 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the front end of the lance body 18. The primary locking portion 19 is disposed in the center of the lance body 18 in the left-right direction. The portion of the lance body 18 to the left of the primary locking portion 19 functions as a jig contact portion 20. As shown in Figs. 4, 6, 7, and 9, a guide inclined surface 21 is formed on the upper surface of the front end of the jig contact portion 20, which is inclined so as to gradually increase in height toward the rear. The jig contact portion 20 including the guide inclined surface 21 is a portion that receives a downward pressing force (in the direction of releasing the retention) from the jig 60.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the terminal holding member 30 has a front wall 31, a pair of left and right side wall portions 32, and a retaining portion 33. In a front view of the terminal holding member 30 seen from the front, the front wall 31 is generally rectangular. The pair of side wall portions 32 extend rearward from lower ends of both left and right side edges of the front wall 31. The retaining portion 33 is disposed so as to connect the rear ends of the left and right side wall portions 32 to each other, and generally forms a rectangular parallelepiped. When the terminal holding member 30 is assembled to the housing main body 11, the front wall 31 is disposed so as to overlap the front surface of the housing main body 11, the left and right side wall portions 32 are disposed so as to overlap both left and right outer surfaces of the housing main body 11, and the retaining portion 33 is accommodated in the accommodation space 13.

[0023] The terminal holding member 30 attached to the housing body 11 is movable relative to the housing body 11 between a temporary locking position (see Figs. 2, 5-7) and a full locking position (see Figs. 1, 8, 9) above the temporary locking position. The direction of movement between the temporary locking position and the full locking position is parallel to the front surface of the housing body 11 and the front wall 31. As shown in Fig. 3, a pair of guide ribs 34 extending in the up-down direction are formed on both left and right side edges of the front wall 31. A holding protrusion 35 is formed on the upper end of the guide rib 34. The holding protrusion 35 fits into the temporary locking holding portion 15, thereby holding the terminal holding member 30 at the temporary locking position. The holding protrusion 35 fits into the full locking holding portion 16, thereby holding the terminal holding member 30 at the full locking position.

[0024] The retaining portion 33 has a plurality of secondary locking portions 36 that individually face each terminal accommodating chamber 12. When the terminal holding member 30 is in the temporary locking position, the entire retaining portion 33, including the secondary locking portions 36, is located outside the terminal accommodating chamber 12. Therefore, during the process of inserting the female terminal fitting 50, which will be described later, into the terminal accommodating chamber 12, the female terminal fitting 50 does not interfere with the retaining portion 33 (secondary locking portions 36). When the terminal holding member 30 has moved to the full locking position, the secondary locking portions 36 of the retaining portion 33 advance into the terminal accommodating chamber 12 (into the insertion path of the female terminal fitting 50).

[0025] The front wall portion 31 has a front stop function for preventing the female terminal fittings 50 inserted into the terminal accommodating chambers 12 from slipping out to the front surface of the housing body 11. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the front wall portion 31 is formed with a plurality of tab insertion holes 37 and a plurality of jig insertion holes 40. The tab insertion holes 37 and the jig insertion holes 40 each have a shape that penetrates the front wall portion 31 in the front-rear direction. One tab insertion hole 37 and one jig insertion hole 40 located to the left of the tab insertion hole 37 constitute a pair of insertion portions 41 corresponding to one terminal accommodating chamber 12.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 12, the opening shape of the tab insertion hole 37 in a front view is a square having two sides in the up-down direction and two sides in the left-right direction. The tab insertion hole 37 has a size and shape that positions the tab 71 of the male terminal fitting 70 in the up-down and left-right directions. A tapered guide surface 38 that individually surrounds each tab insertion hole 37 is formed on the front surface of the front wall portion 31. The guide surface 38 is composed of four trapezoidal inclined surfaces. The four inclined surfaces are flat surfaces that are inclined so as to gradually widen from the front ends of the four inner surfaces of the tab insertion hole 37 to the front surface of the front wall portion 31.

[0027] In one set of insertion portions 41, the jig insertion hole 40 is disposed so as not to overlap with the tab insertion hole 37 and the guide surface 38. In other words, the jig insertion hole 40 is disposed at a position further leftwardly offset from the left end of the guide surface 38. The tab insertion hole 37 and the jig insertion hole 40 corresponding to one terminal accommodating chamber 12 have a common opening area in the up-down direction.

[0028] Even when the terminal holding member 30 moves between the temporary locking position and the full locking position, the left-right positions of the tab insertion hole 37 and the jig insertion hole 40 do not change. The tab insertion hole 37 is arranged so as to overlap with the formation area of ​​the terminal accommodating chamber 12 in the left-right direction. When the terminal holding member 30 is in the temporary locking position, the tab insertion hole 37 is arranged so as to be downwardly out of the formation area of ​​the terminal accommodating chamber 12 and to overlap with the lance 17 in the up-down direction. When the terminal holding member 30 is in the full locking position, the tab insertion hole 37 is arranged so as to overlap with the formation area of ​​the terminal accommodating chamber 12 in the up-down direction and to be located above the entire lance 17 including the primary locking portion 19.

[0029] Whether the terminal holding member 30 is in the temporary locking position or the full locking position, the jig insertion hole 40 is positioned such that the entire opening area of ​​the jig insertion hole 40 is offset to the left from the formation area of ​​the terminal accommodating chamber 12. When the terminal holding member 30 is in the temporary locking position, the jig insertion hole 40 is positioned such that the opening area of ​​the jig insertion hole 40 overlaps in the vertical direction with the formation area of ​​the jig contact portion 20 of the lance 17. When the terminal holding member 30 is in the full locking position, the jig insertion hole 40 is positioned such that the opening area of ​​the jig insertion hole 40 is offset upward from the formation area of ​​the entire lance 17, including the jig contact portion 20.

[0030] The opening shape of the jig insertion hole 40 in the front view is a vertically long rectangle having two sides in the up-down direction and two pieces in the left-right direction. The heights of the upper and lower faces of the inner surface of the jig insertion hole 40 are constant throughout the entire jig insertion hole 40. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, a straight surface 42 is formed in the entire area of ​​the right face of the inner surface of the jig insertion hole 40. The straight surface 42 is a flat surface parallel to the insertion direction (front-rear direction) of the tab 71 into the tab insertion hole 37 and the extension direction of the lance 17 in a plan view of the terminal holding member 30 seen from above. The entire straight surface 42 is located within the range of the formation area of ​​the jig contact portion 20 in the left-right direction. In other words, the straight surface 42 is located to the left of the primary locking portion 19 of the lance 17 and to the right of the left edge of the jig contact portion 20.

[0031] A guide surface 43 is formed on the entire area of ​​the left surface of the inner surface of the jig insertion hole 40. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the guide surface 43 is a plane inclined with respect to the insertion direction (front-rear direction) of the tab 71 into the tab insertion hole 37 and the extension direction (front-rear direction) of the lance 17 in a plan view. The entire guide surface 43 is located to the left of the left edge of the jig contact portion 20. The front end of the guide surface 43 is located to the left of the rear end of the guide surface 43. The opening width dimension in the left-right direction at the front end of the jig insertion hole 40 is larger than the opening width in the left-right direction at the rear end of the jig insertion hole 40. The guide surface 43 guides the jig 60 inserted into the jig insertion hole 40 from the front of the front wall portion 31 diagonally rearward to the right. As shown in Fig. 13, the shape of the jig insertion hole 40 in a plan view is an unequal trapezoid with the opening width WF at the front end larger than the opening width WR at the rear end.

[0032] As shown in Figs. 14 to 16, the jig 60 is a single part having a knob portion 61 and a release portion 62 that protrudes from the knob portion 61 in an elongated manner. The release portion 62 has a tapered portion 63 and a pressing portion 64. The tapered portion 63 is connected to the knob portion 61 and protrudes from the knob portion 61. The tapered portion 63 has a trapezoidal shape that gradually narrows in the protruding direction in a plan view. The shape and size of the tapered portion 63 in a plan view are the same as the shape and size of the jig insertion hole 40 in a plan view. The pressing portion 64 protrudes further from the protruding end of the tapered portion 63. As shown in Fig. 15, the pressing portion 64 has a shape in a plan view that extends in a straight line with a constant width. The left side surface of the tapered portion 63 and the left side surface of the pressing portion 64 are connected to each other in a flush manner to form one elongated plane. A right side surface 63R of the tapered portion 63 and a right side surface 64R of the pressing portion 64 are connected to each other at an obtuse angle θ (an angle slightly smaller than 180°).

[0033] The upper surface of the releasing portion 62 is a flat surface of a constant height over the entirety of the releasing portion 62. A pressing inclined surface 65 inclined with respect to the length direction of the releasing portion 62 is formed on the lower surface of the front end of the pressing portion 64. The pressing inclined surface 65 is inclined so as to gradually increase in height from the knob portion 61 side toward the tip side of the releasing portion 62. In other words, the thickness of the pressing portion 64 is inclined so as to gradually decrease in thickness from the knob portion 61 side toward the tip side of the releasing portion 62. The thickness dimension (height dimension) of the region of the releasing portion 62 where the pressing inclined surface 65 is not formed is the same as the height dimension of the jig insertion hole 40, so is slightly smaller than that dimension.

[0034] Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 1, the female terminal fitting 50 has an elongated shape in the front-rear direction as a whole. A square tube portion 51 is formed at the front end of the female terminal fitting 50, and a crimping portion 52 is formed at the rear end of the female terminal fitting 50. The crimping portion 52 of the female terminal fitting 50 is fixed to the front end of an electric wire 55 so as to be conductive. A locking hole 53 for primary locking is formed in the lower surface of the square tube portion 51. The rear end of the square tube portion 51 functions as a stepped locking portion 54 for secondary locking.

[0035] Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment 1 will be described. When the female terminal fitting 50 is attached to the connector housing 10, the terminal holding member 30 is held in the provisionally locked position. In this state, the female terminal fitting 50 is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber 12 from the rear of the connector housing 10. During the insertion process, the square tube portion 51 interferes with the primary locking portion 19, so that the lance 17 elastically deforms downward to the retention release position. When the female terminal fitting 50 reaches the correct insertion position, the front end of the female terminal fitting 50 abuts against the front wall portion 31, so that the female terminal fitting 50 is held in a front stop state. When the female terminal fitting 50 is inserted to the correct position, the lance 17 elastically returns to the retention position, and the primary locking portion 19 is locked in the locking hole 53. This locking action keeps the female terminal fitting 50 in a locked state in which its movement backward is restricted. As a result, the female terminal fitting 50 is in a primarily locked state by the lance 17.

[0036] Thereafter, the terminal holding member 30 is moved from the temporary locking position to the full locking position. When the terminal holding member 30 is moved to the full locking position, the secondary locking portion 36 of the terminal holding member 30 advances into the terminal accommodating chamber 12 and locks with the stepped locking portion 54 of the female terminal fitting 50 from behind. This locking action holds the female terminal fitting 50 in a secondary locked state in which it is securely prevented from being removed. When the terminal holding member 30 is in the full locking position, the tab insertion hole 37 is aligned in the front-to-rear direction at the same height as the square tube portion 51 in the terminal accommodating chamber 12. This completes the attachment of the female terminal fitting 50 to the connector housing 10.

[0037] After the female terminal fittings 50 are attached to the connector housing 10, the tabs 71 of the male terminal fittings 70 are inserted into the tab insertion holes 37 from the front of the connector housing 10 and elastically contact the elastic contact pieces inside the rectangular tube portions 51. A guide surface 38 that is inclined with respect to the insertion direction of the tab 71 is formed forward of the front end of the tab insertion hole 37. Even if the tab 71 is misaligned in the vertical or horizontal direction, the tab 71 is reliably guided into the tab insertion hole 37 by the guide surface 38 and is reliably connected to the female terminal fittings 50.

[0038] When the female terminal fittings 50 are removed from the connector housing 10, the terminal holding member 30 is moved from the full locking position to the provisional locking position. This causes the secondary locking portion to disengage from the stepped locking portion 54 of the female terminal fittings 50, and the secondary locking by the elastic holding piece is released. When the elastic holding piece is moved to the provisional locking position, the jig insertion hole 40 is positioned at the same height as the jig abutment portion 20 of the lance 17. In this state, the release portion 62 of the jig 60 is inserted into the jig insertion hole 40 from the front of the front wall portion 31. The jig 60 does not displace relative to the jig insertion hole 40 in the vertical direction. When the insertion of the jig 60 progresses and the pressing inclined surface 65 begins to slide against the guiding inclined surface 21 of the lance 17, the inclination of both inclined surfaces 21, 65 pushes the lance 17 down from the removal position to the removal release position.

[0039] In the process of inserting the jig 60, the jig 60 may tilt left and right and may be displaced relative to the jig insertion hole 40. However, by sliding the left side surface of the release portion 62 against the guide surface 43 while it is in close contact with the guide surface 43, the position and orientation of the jig 60 in the left and right directions can be stabilized. The jig 60 guided by the guide surface 43 advances from the diagonally left front to the diagonally right rear of the lance 17. The direction of movement of the jig 60 at this time is diagonal to the jig contact portion 20 that is elongated in the front-rear direction.

[0040] When almost the entire tapered portion 63 is housed within the jig insertion hole 40, it is no longer possible to insert the jig 60 any further. This completes the operation of the jig 60. At this time, since the lance 17 has been displaced to the removal release position, the primary locking portion 19 of the lance 17 disengages downward from the locking hole 53 of the female terminal fitting 50, and the primary lock by the lance 17 is released. This enables the female terminal fitting 50 to be removed rearward, so that the electric wire 55 can then be grasped and the female terminal fitting 50 can be removed rearward from the terminal accommodating chamber 12.

[0041] The connector of the first embodiment has a housing body 11 having a terminal accommodating chamber 12, a female terminal fitting 50 inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 12 from the rear of the housing body 11, and a terminal holding member 30. The terminal holding member 30 is attached to the housing body 11 so as to cover the front surface of the housing body 11. The terminal holding member 30 holds the female terminal fitting 50 inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 12 in a front-stop state. The housing body 11 is formed with a lance 17 which elastically deforms due to interference with the female terminal fitting 50 during the insertion process of the female terminal fitting 50. The lance 17 prevents the female terminal fitting 50 inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 12 from falling out.

[0042] The terminal holding member 30 is formed with a tab insertion hole 37 and a jig insertion hole 40. A tab 71 of a male terminal fitting 70 is inserted into the tab insertion hole 37 from the front of the terminal holding member 30. A jig 60 for separating the lance 17 from the female terminal fitting 50 is inserted into the jig insertion hole 40. The terminal holding member 30 is formed with a guide surface 38 arranged to surround the tab insertion hole 37 in a front view. The guide surface 38 guides the tab 71 into the tab insertion hole 37. The tab insertion hole 37 and the jig insertion hole 40 are arranged to be aligned in a width direction intersecting with the elastic deformation direction of the lance 17.

[0043] According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the size of the lance 17 in the elastic deformation direction (vertical direction) even if the jig insertion hole 40 is not positioned so as to overlap the guide surface 38. Because the opening area of ​​the jig insertion hole 40 does not overlap the guide surface 38, the guide surface 38 is not cut away by the jig insertion hole 40. Therefore, according to the connector of this embodiment 1, it is possible to reduce the size of the lance 17 in the elastic deformation direction while preventing erroneous insertion of the tab 71 into the jig insertion hole 40.

[0044] The terminal holding member 30 has a retaining portion 33 that prevents the female terminal fittings 50 from moving backward in the terminal accommodating chambers 12. With this configuration, the number of parts can be reduced compared to the case where a dedicated member for retaining the female terminal fittings 50 is provided separately from the terminal holding member 30.

[0045] The lance 17 is formed with a jig contact portion 20 against which the jig 60 is contacted. The terminal holding member 30 is movable between a temporary locking position that allows the female terminal fitting 50 to be inserted and a full locking position that prevents the female terminal fitting 50 from being removed. When the terminal holding member 30 is in the full locking position, the jig insertion hole 40 is disposed at a position spaced upward from the jig contact portion 20 in a front view of the terminal holding member 30 from the front. With this configuration, when the terminal holding member 30 is in the full locking position, it is possible to prevent the lance 17 from being erroneously deflected even if the jig 60 is inserted into the jig insertion hole 40.

[0046] In the width direction, the jig contact portion 20 is disposed in an area to the left (outside) of the left outer surface of the female terminal fitting 50. With this configuration, when the jig 60 comes into contact with the jig contact portion 20, interference between the jig 60 and the female terminal fitting 50 can be prevented.

[0047] A guide surface 43 is formed in the jig insertion hole 40. In a plan view of the terminal holding member 30 seen in the same direction as the elastic deformation direction of the lance 17, the guide surface 43 is inclined with respect to the insertion direction of the tab 71 in the tab insertion hole 37. According to this configuration, by inserting the jig 60 into the jig insertion hole 40 while aligning the jig 60 along the guide surface 43, the jig 60 can be inclined against the jig contact portion 20. Therefore, even if the jig 60 and the jig contact portion 20 have a narrow shape, the jig 60 can be reliably in contact with the jig contact portion 20.

[0048] 10 and 13, the guide surface 43 is formed only on the left inner surface 40S, which is farther from the tab insertion hole 37, of the pair of left and right inner surfaces 40S facing each other in the width direction of the jig insertion hole 40. Both left and right inner surfaces 40S are part of the inner surface of the jig insertion hole 40. With this configuration, it is possible to ensure a large thickness of the partition portion 45 between the jig insertion hole 40 for one terminal accommodating chamber 12 and the tab insertion hole 37 for the other terminal accommodating chamber 12, of the terminal accommodating chambers 12 adjacent to each other in the width direction (see FIGS. 10, 11 and 13).

[0049] The jig insertion hole 40 has a straight surface 42 that faces the guide surface 43 in the width direction. The straight surface 42 is parallel to the insertion direction of the tab 71 in the tab insertion hole 37. According to this configuration, the terminal holding member 30 can be molded by using a mold that opens the jig insertion hole 40 in the direction parallel to the insertion direction of the tab 71 into the tab insertion hole 37.

[0050] The front end of the guide surface 43 is located, in the width direction, outside (to the left) of the left outer edge of the lance 17. With this configuration, a large inclination angle of the guide surface 43 with respect to the insertion direction of the tab 71 in the tab insertion hole 37 is ensured, so that the jig 60 can be more reliably applied to the jig application portion 20.

[0051] The widthwise opening dimension at the rear end of the jig insertion hole 40 is smaller than the widthwise opening dimension at the front end of the jig insertion hole 40. According to this configuration, the jig 60 can be stopped at the front due to the difference in the widthwise opening dimension at the front and rear ends of the jig insertion hole 40.

[0052] [Other Examples] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but is indicated by the claims. The present invention includes the equivalent meaning of the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims, including the following embodiments. The terminal holding member may be a component that does not have a retaining portion. The jig insertion hole may be disposed at a position where the jig abutment portion can be seen in a front view when the terminal holding member is in the full locking position. The guide surface may be formed on one of a pair of inner surfaces facing each other in the width direction of the jig insertion hole, the inner surface being closer to the tab insertion hole. The jig insertion hole may have a shape that does not have a guide surface. The jig insertion hole may have a shape that does not have a straight surface. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 10…Connector housing 11…Housing body 12...Terminal chamber 13. Containment space 14...Guide groove 15...Temporary locking retaining portion 16...Holding part for main locking 17…Lance 18…Lance body 19...Primary locking part 20…Jig contact part 21…Guiding slope 30...Terminal holding member 31...Front wall part 32…Side wall 33…Retaining part 34…Guide rib 35...Retaining protrusion 36...Secondary locking part 37…Tab insertion hole 38…Guidance surface 40...Jig insertion hole 40S…Inner surface of jig insertion hole 41…Insertion part 42...Straight surface 43...Guide surface 45...Bulkhead part 50...Female terminal fitting 51...Square tube part 52… Crimping section 53...Latching hole 54...Step-shaped locking portion 55...Electric wire 60…Jig 61...Knob 62…Release section 63...Tapered section 64…Pressing part 65...Inclined surface for pressing 70...Male terminal fitting 71…Tab

Claims

1. a housing body having a terminal receiving chamber; a female terminal fitting inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber from the rear of the housing body; a terminal holding member attached to the housing body so as to cover a front surface of the housing body and holding the female terminal fittings in the terminal accommodating chambers in a front stop state, The housing body is formed with a lance that elastically deforms due to interference with the female terminal metal fitting during the insertion process of the female terminal metal fitting and prevents the female terminal metal fitting inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber from falling out, The terminal holding member includes: a jig insertion hole into which a jig for separating the lance from the female terminal fitting is inserted; a tab insertion hole into which a tab of a male terminal is inserted from the front of the terminal holding member; a guide surface for guiding the tab into the tab insertion hole, The tab insertion hole and the jig insertion hole are arranged to be aligned in a width direction intersecting with a direction of elastic deformation of the lance, The lance is formed with a jig contact portion for contacting the jig, A guide surface is formed in the jig insertion hole, The guide surface is formed on an inner surface of a pair of inner surfaces facing each other in the width direction in the jig insertion hole that is farther from the tab insertion hole, A connector in which, in a plan view of the terminal holding member seen in the same direction as the elastic deformation direction of the lance, the guide surface is inclined with respect to the insertion direction of the tab in the tab insertion hole.

2. A housing body having a terminal accommodating chamber; a female terminal fitting inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber from the rear of the housing body; a terminal holding member attached to the housing body so as to cover a front surface of the housing body and holding the female terminal fittings in the terminal accommodating chambers in a front stop state, The housing body is formed with a lance that elastically deforms due to interference with the female terminal metal fitting during the insertion process of the female terminal metal fitting and prevents the female terminal metal fitting inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber from falling out, The terminal holding member includes: a jig insertion hole into which a jig for separating the lance from the female terminal fitting is inserted; a tab insertion hole into which a tab of a male terminal is inserted from the front of the terminal holding member; a guide surface for guiding the tab into the tab insertion hole, The tab insertion hole and the jig insertion hole are arranged to be aligned in a width direction intersecting with a direction of elastic deformation of the lance, The lance is formed with a jig contact portion for contacting the jig, A guide surface is formed in the jig insertion hole, When the terminal holding member is viewed in a plan view in the same direction as the elastic deformation direction of the lance, the guide surface is inclined with respect to an insertion direction of the tab in the tab insertion hole, The connector has a straight surface formed in the jig insertion hole that faces the guide surface in the width direction and is parallel to the insertion direction of the tab in the tab insertion hole.

3. The lance is formed with a jig contact portion for contacting the jig, the terminal holding member is movable between a provisional locking position that allows insertion of the female terminal fitting and a full locking position that prevents the female terminal fitting from being removed, A connector as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein when the terminal holding member is in the main engagement position, the jig insertion hole is positioned at a position spaced apart from the jig contact portion when viewed from the front of the terminal holding member.

4. The lance is formed with a jig contact portion for contacting the jig, 4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the jig abutment portion is disposed in an area outward from an outer surface of the female terminal fitting in the width direction.

5. A connector described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the terminal retaining member has a removal prevention portion that prevents the female terminal fitting in the terminal accommodating chamber from moving rearward.

6. A connector described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the front end of the guide surface is located outside the outer edge of the lance in the width direction.

7. A connector described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the widthwise opening dimension at the rear end of the jig insertion hole is smaller than the widthwise opening dimension at the front end of the jig insertion hole.

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