connector

Abstract

To ensure that a terminal fitting can make a good connection with a mating terminal.SOLUTION: A connector 10 includes a housing 20, a terminal fitting 30 housed in a cavity 21 of the housing 20, and a front section 50 that is mounted on the front side of the housing 20. The front portion 50 has an elastic portion 55 that presses the terminal fitting 30 and clamps the terminal fitting 30 between a wall portion 21B of the cavity 21 opposite the front portion 50 and itself.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] The connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes terminal fittings, a housing that houses the terminal fittings, and a retainer movably assembled to the housing. The retainer is movable between a temporary locking position where it does not interfere with the terminal fittings, and a full locking position where it prevents the terminal fittings from coming loose. Patent Documents 2 to 4 also disclose connectors with a similar configuration. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-129111 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2010-277763 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2003-22864 A [Patent Document 4] JP 2010-186612 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the connectors shown in Patent Documents 1 to 4, if the housing does not have a wall for supporting the front end of the box portion of the terminal fitting, the terminal fitting will tilt, making it difficult to connect with the mating terminal.

[0005] In view of this, the present disclosure provides a technique for enabling a terminal fitting to be satisfactorily connected to a mating terminal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure comprises: Housing and a terminal metal fitting accommodated in a cavity of the housing; a front portion attached to a front side of the housing, The front portion has an elastic portion that presses against the terminal metal fitting and sandwiches the terminal metal fitting between itself and the opposing wall portion of the cavity. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the terminal fitting can be satisfactorily connected to the mating terminal. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the retainer as viewed from the rear side. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector when the retainer is in the temporary locking position. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector when the retainer is in the full locking position. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the elastic portion and its periphery in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 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) Housing; a terminal metal fitting accommodated in a cavity of the housing; a front portion attached to a front side of the housing, The front portion has an elastic portion that presses against the terminal metal fitting and sandwiches the terminal metal fitting between itself and the opposing wall portion of the cavity. According to the configuration of the present disclosure, the elastic portion can press the terminal fitting against the wall portion of the cavity, and the terminal fitting can be prevented from being tilted (prying state) when connected to a mating terminal.

[0010] (2) It is preferable that the front portion is movable between a temporary locking position and a full locking position relative to the housing, and the elastic portion presses the terminal fitting in the direction of movement of the front portion from the temporary locking position to the full locking position. According to this configuration, the front portion only needs to be configured so that the elastic portion presses against the terminal metal fitting in the movement direction, that is, so that the elastic portion faces the terminal metal fitting in the movement direction, thereby simplifying the structure.

[0011] (3) It is preferable that a retainer body portion is formed rearward of the front portion and integrally connected to the front portion, the housing has a mounting groove in which the retainer body portion is disposed, and the retainer body portion has a slip-out prevention portion capable of engaging with the terminal fitting. According to this configuration, the number of parts can be reduced compared to when the front portion and the retainer body are separate bodies.

[0012] (4) It is preferable that the housing has a lance that prevents the terminal fitting housed in the cavity from slipping out rearward, the front portion has a front main body portion, and the elastic portion protrudes rearward from the front main body portion forward of the lance and is inclined in contact with the terminal fitting so as to approach the lance the further rearward it goes. According to this configuration, the elastic portion applies a pressing force to the terminal that includes a component directed toward the rear side (the lance side), so that the terminal is sandwiched between the elastic portion and the lance in the front-rear direction, thereby preventing the terminal from rattling in the front-rear direction.

[0013] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] [Example 1] A first embodiment of a terminal fitting according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 10. In this first embodiment, the up-down direction is defined as the direction shown in Figures 1 to 10, as it is, as the upper and lower directions. The left and right directions shown in Figures 1 and 2, and Figures 4 to 6 are defined as the front and rear, respectively. The left and right directions are defined as the direction behind and the direction nearer, respectively, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and Figures 4 to 6.

[0014] (Connector configuration) 1 and 2, the connector 10 of the first embodiment includes a housing 20, female terminal fittings 30, and a retainer 40. The housing 20 accommodates the terminal fittings 30. The housing 20 is fitted into a mating housing (not shown) of a mating connector (not shown), whereby the terminal fittings 30 and the mating terminal fittings (not shown) are connected to each other.

[0015] (Housing configuration) The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the housing 20 has a plurality of cavities 21 into which the terminal fittings 30 can be inserted. The cavities 21 are divided into three sections, upper and lower, and arranged in parallel in the left-right direction. The cavities 21 penetrate the housing 20 in the front-rear direction. When the housing 20 is mated with a mating housing, the tabs of the mating terminal fittings enter into each of the cavities 21.

[0016] 4, the housing 20 is provided with an elastically deformable lance 21A that protrudes into the cavity 21. The lance 21A prevents the terminal fitting 30 accommodated in the cavity 21 from slipping out rearward.

[0017] 1, a lock arm 22 extends rearward in a cantilever shape from the upper side of the housing 20. The lock arm 22 is deflectable in the up-down direction (height direction).

[0018] 2 and 4, the housing 20 has a mounting groove 23 in which a retainer body 60 (described later) is disposed. The mounting groove 23 opens downward near the center of the housing 20 in the front-rear direction. The mounting groove 23 is provided so as to communicate with each of the cavities 21. The mounting groove 23 also opens to both the left and right sides of the housing 20.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, recesses 24 recessed inward in the left-right direction (toward the cavity 21) are provided on both the left and right sides of the housing 20 at positions adjacent to the front side of the mounting groove 23. Although only the recess 24 on the right side is shown in FIG. 2, the recess 24 on the left side has a similar configuration. The recess 24 is provided with a first locked portion 25 and a second locked portion 26. The first locked portion 25 and the second locked portion 26 are claw-shaped and protrude outward in the left-right direction. The first locked portion 25 is provided on the upper end side of the recess 24. The second locked portion 26 is provided above the first locked portion 25 at a distance.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 2, on both the left and right sides of the housing 20, side walls 27 are provided that protrude forward, in front of the first locked portion 25 and the second locked portion 26. An opening 28 that is recessed rearward is provided at the upper end of the side wall 27. The opening 28 is also open in the left-right direction. As shown in Fig. 7, a third locked portion 29 that protrudes inward in the left-right direction (towards the other side wall 27) is provided on part of the wall below the opening 28.

[0021] (Terminal metal fitting configuration) As shown in FIG. 4, the terminal fitting 30 has an elongated shape in the front-rear direction as a whole. The terminal fitting 30 has a box portion 31 and a crimping portion 32. The box portion 31 constitutes the front portion of the terminal fitting 30. The box portion 31 is in the shape of a square tube. A protruding portion 33 protruding downward is provided at the front end of the box portion 31. The protruding portion 33 is formed by deforming a part of the lower wall portion (lower plate portion 31A) constituting the box portion 31. The protruding portion 33 is provided at a portion closer to the left side of the lower plate portion 31A. As shown in FIG. 6, a chamfered portion 31B is provided at the front end of the lower plate portion 31A. The chamfered portion 31B is inclined downward toward the rear. As shown in FIG. 4, the crimping portion 32 is crimped and connected to the end portion of the electric wire 35. The electric wire 35 is drawn out from the cavity 21 to the rear of the housing 20.

[0022] (Retainer configuration) The retainer 40 is made of synthetic resin. The retainer 40 is vertically movable with respect to the housing 20 between a provisional locking position (see FIG. 4) and a full locking position (see FIG. 5). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the retainer 40 has a front portion 50, a retainer body portion 60 disposed rearward of the front portion 50, and a pair of side walls 70 disposed between the front portion 50 and the retainer body portion 60. The retainer body portion 60 is integrally connected to the front portion 50 via the pair of side walls 70.

[0023] The front portion 50 is in the form of a rectangular plate. As shown in Fig. 1, the front portion 50 is attached to the front side of the housing 20. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the front portion 50 has a plurality of through holes 51. The through holes 51 are arranged in three upper and lower rows in the left-right direction. When the retainer 40 is in the full locking position, the through holes 51 are located in front of the cavity 21 and communicate with the cavity 21. The front portion of the through holes 51 is shaped to open forward, allowing the mating terminal fitting to be guided into the cavity 21.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 3, the front portion 50 has a front main body portion 52 and a plurality of protrusions 53. The front main body portion 52 is a rectangular plate. The plurality of protrusions 53 protrude rearward from the rear surface of the front main body portion 52. The plurality of protrusions 53 are elongated in the up-down direction and are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. In the front main body portion 52, a through hole 51 is provided between adjacent protrusions 53.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 3, the protrusions 53 at both left and right ends (referred to as protrusions 53A) are provided with ribs 54 that protrude outward in the left and right direction (the opposite side to the other protrusion 53A). As shown in Figs. 3 and 7, the rib 54 is provided with a first locking portion 54A and an edge portion 54B. The first locking portion 54A protrudes outward in the left and right direction (the opposite side to the other rib 54). The edge portion 54B is long in the up and down direction and is provided below the first locking portion 54A at a distance.

[0026] As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the front portion 50 has a plurality of elastic portions 55. The elastic portions 55 are rib-shaped and protrude rearward from the rear surface of the front main body portion 52. The elastic portions 55 are strip-shaped and wide in the left-right direction. The elastic portions 55 protrude in the front-rear direction within the formation range of the protrusions 53. Each elastic portion 55 is provided in the front main body portion 52 in correspondence with each through hole 51. The elastic portions 55 are provided below the through holes 51 and at a position toward the right between the adjacent protrusions 53.

[0027] As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, when the retainer 40 is in the full locking position, the elastic portion 55 presses the terminal fitting 30 and sandwiches the terminal fitting 30 between the wall surface portion 21B of the cavity 21 facing the elastic portion 55. The wall surface portion 21B constitutes the upper wall of the cavity 21. The box portion 31 of the terminal fitting 30 protrudes forward from the wall surface portion 21B of the cavity 21. The elastic portion 55 contacts the chamfered portion 31B (the portion on the right side of the protruding portion 33 on the lower plate portion 31A) of the box portion 31. The elastic portion 55 presses the chamfered portion 31B rearward and upward (toward the wall surface portion 21B). In this way, the elastic portion 55 can press the terminal fitting 30 against the wall surface portion 21B of the cavity 21, and the terminal fitting 30 can be prevented from being tilted (prying state) when connected to a mating terminal.

[0028] The retainer body 60 is inserted into the mounting groove 23 of the housing 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the retainer body 60 has a plurality of openings 61. The openings 61 are arranged in two rows, one above the other, in the left-right direction. Each opening 61 communicates with each of the cavities 21 in the lower two rows. The retainer body 60 also has a plurality of slip-out prevention portions 62. Each slip-out prevention portion 62 protrudes from the lower surface of each opening 61 and from a position above each opening 61 on the upper surface of the retainer body 60. As shown in FIG. 5, the slip-out prevention portion 62 engages the rear end of the box portion 31 of the terminal fitting 30.

[0029] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a portion of the side wall portion 70 that is connected to the front portion 50 is provided with a downwardly recessed slit 71. A portion of the side wall portion 70 rearward of the slit 71 constitutes a side wall main body portion 72. The side wall main body portion 72 is elastically deformable in the left-right direction. As shown in Figures 3 and 9, a second locking portion 73 is provided on the inner surface of the side wall main body portion 72. The second locking portion 73 is shaped like a rib that extends in the front-rear direction at the upper end of the inner surface of the side wall main body portion 72.

[0030] (Connector Function) The retainer 40 is assembled to the housing 20 from below. When the retainer 40 reaches the provisionally locked position, as shown in FIG. 1, the front portion 50 is disposed between the pair of side walls 27. As shown in FIG. 7, the first locking portion 54A and edge portion 54B of the rib 54 are disposed below the third locked portion 29. The first locking portion 54A comes into contact with the third locked portion 29 from below, thereby restricting the retainer 40 from moving from the provisionally locked position to the fully locked position. As shown in FIG. 9, the second locking portion 73 is disposed between the first locked portion 25 and the second locked portion 26. The second locking portion 73 comes into contact with the first locked portion 29 from above. 1 Locked part 2 5 By hitting against the retainer 40, the retainer 40 is prevented from slipping out downward from the provisionally locked position.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 4, in the provisional locking position, the slip-out prevention portion 62 of the retainer body 60 is retracted to a position that allows the terminal fitting 30 to be inserted into the cavity 21. The terminal fitting 30 is inserted into the cavity 21 from the rear while connected to an end of the electric wire 35. During the insertion process of the terminal fitting 30, the lance 21A comes into contact with the box portion 31 and is elastically deformed. When the terminal fitting 30 is properly inserted into the cavity 21, the lance 21A elastically returns to its original position and is locked to the rear end of the box portion 31. This prevents the terminal fitting 30 from slipping out rearward. The elastic portion 55 is spaced below the terminal fitting 30.

[0032] Next, the retainer 40 is pressed upward. When an upward pressing force is applied to the retainer 40, the first locking portion 54A of the rib 54 presses the third locked portion 29, causing the side wall 27 to elastically deform outward in the left-right direction. The first locking portion 54A is released from the locked state with the third locked portion 29, and the side wall 27 elastically returns to its original position, as shown in FIG. 8. The third locked portion 29 abuts against the first locking portion 54A from below, thereby restricting the movement of the retainer 40 from the full locking position to the partial locking position.

[0033] Furthermore, when an upward pressing force is applied to the retainer 40, the second locking portion 73 is pressed against the second locked portion 26, causing the side wall main body portion 72 to elastically deform outward in the left-right direction. The second locking portion 73 is released from the locked state with the second locked portion 26, and the side wall main body portion 72 elastically returns to its original position, as shown in Fig. 10. The second locked portion 26 comes into contact with the second locking portion 73 from below, thereby restricting the retainer 40 from moving from the fully locked position to the partially locked position.

[0034] 5, when the retainer 40 reaches the full locking position, the fall-out prevention portion 62 is located behind the box portion 31 at the full locking position and locks the rear end of the box portion 31. This secondarily prevents the terminal fitting 30 from falling out rearward.

[0035] 6, the elastic portion 55 presses against the terminal fitting 30 to sandwich the terminal fitting 30 between itself and the opposing wall surface portion 21B of the cavity 21. The elastic portion 55 presses against the terminal fitting 30 in the movement direction (upward) of the front portion 50 from the temporary locking position to the full locking position. Therefore, the front portion 50 only needs to be configured so that the elastic portion 55 presses against the terminal fitting 30 in the movement direction, i.e., so that the elastic portion 55 faces the terminal fitting 30 in the movement direction, simplifying the structure.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 6, the elastic portion 55 is pressed by the chamfered portion 31B and deforms downward. At this time, the upper surface of the elastic portion 55 is in surface contact with the chamfered portion 31B, and the elastic portion 55 is inclined downward toward the rear. In this manner, the elastic portion 55 is in contact with the terminal fitting 30 in front of the lance 21A, and is inclined so as to approach the lance 21A as it goes rearward. Therefore, the elastic portion 55 applies a pressing force to the terminal fitting 30 that includes a component toward the rear side (the lance 21A side). As a result, the terminal fitting 30 is sandwiched between the elastic portion 55 and the lance 21A in the front-rear direction, so that rattling of the terminal fitting 30 in the front-rear direction can be restricted.

[0037] (Effects of Example 1) In the connector 10 of the first embodiment, the front portion 50 has an elastic portion 55 that presses the terminal fitting 30 to sandwich the terminal fitting 30 between the front portion 50 and the opposing wall portion 21B of the cavity 21. This allows the terminal fitting 30 to be pressed against the wall portion 21B of the cavity 21 by the elastic portion 55, and prevents the terminal fitting 30 from being tilted (prying state) when connected to a mating terminal.

[0038] Furthermore, the elastic portion 55 presses the terminal fitting 30 in the direction of movement of the front portion 50 from the temporary locking position to the full locking position. This simplifies the structure of the front portion 50, since it is only necessary to configure the front portion 50 so that the elastic portion 55 presses against the terminal fitting 30 in the moving direction, i.e., so that the elastic portion 55 faces the terminal fitting 30 in the moving direction.

[0039] Furthermore, a retainer body 60 is formed behind the front portion 50 and is integrally connected to the front portion 50. This allows the number of parts to be reduced compared to when the front portion 50 and the retainer body 60 are formed separately.

[0040] Furthermore, the elastic portion 55 protrudes rearward from the front body portion 52 forward of the lance 21A and is in contact with the terminal fitting 30 at an angle such that the further rearward it goes, the closer it is to the lance 21A. As a result, the elastic portion 55 applies a pressing force to the terminal fitting 30 that includes a component directed toward the rear side (the lance 21A side). As a result, the terminal fitting 30 is sandwiched in the front-rear direction between the elastic portion 55 and the lance 21A, so that rattling of the terminal fitting 30 in the front-rear direction can be restricted.

[0041] [Other Examples] The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawings, but is indicated by the claims. The present invention includes all modifications within the scope of the claims and the meaning equivalent to the claims, and is intended to include the following embodiments. In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the housing 20 is provided with three cavities 21 arranged vertically, but it may be provided with one or two or other stages. In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the front portion 50 and the retainer body portion 60 are integrally connected, but they may be configured as separate bodies and each may be independently movable with respect to the housing 20 . In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the elastic portion 55 is in the shape of a strip, but it may be in another shape, such as a cylindrical shape, as long as it is configured to be elastically deformable. In the above-described first embodiment, the elastic portion 55 is configured to contact the chamfered portion 31B of the lower plate portion 31A of the terminal fitting 30, but it may be configured to contact from below the lower plate portion 31A that does not have the chamfered portion 31B. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 10…Connector 20. Housing 21…Cavity 21A…Lance 21B…Wall part 22...Lock arm 23...Mounting groove 24…Recess 25...First locked part 26…Second locked part 27...Side wall 28…Opening 29...Third locked part 30...Terminal fitting 31...Hakobe 31A…Lower plate part 31B…Beveled part 32…Crimping part 33...Protruding part 35...Electric wire 40…Retainer 50…Front section 51...Through hole 52…Front body 53…Convex part 53A…Convex parts on both left and right ends 54…Rib 54A…First locking part 54B…Edge 55...Elastic part 60…Retainer body 61...Opening hole 62…Removal prevention section 70…Side wall 71...Slit 72...Side wall main body 73...Second locking part

Claims

1. Housing and a terminal metal fitting accommodated in a cavity of the housing; a front portion attached to a front side of the housing, the front portion has an elastic portion that presses against the terminal metal fitting and sandwiches the terminal metal fitting between the front portion and an opposing wall surface of the cavity, the front portion is movable relative to the housing between a partial locking position and a full locking position, The elastic portion presses the terminal metal fitting in a direction in which the front portion moves from the temporary locking position to the full locking position.

2. Housing and a terminal metal fitting accommodated in a cavity of the housing; a front portion attached to a front side of the housing, the front portion has an elastic portion that presses against the terminal metal fitting and sandwiches the terminal metal fitting between the front portion and an opposing wall surface of the cavity, the housing has a lance for restricting the terminal metal fitting housed in the cavity from slipping out rearward, The elastic portion applies a pressing force including a component directed toward the rear side to the terminal metal fitting forward of the lance, and the terminal metal fitting is sandwiched in the front-rear direction between the elastic portion and the lance.

3. A retainer body portion is formed at the rear of the front portion and is integrally connected to the front portion, the housing has a mounting groove in which the retainer body is disposed, 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the retainer body has a fall-off prevention portion capable of being engaged with the terminal fitting.

4. the housing has a lance for restricting the terminal metal fitting housed in the cavity from slipping out rearward, The front portion has a front main body portion, 4. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic portion protrudes rearward from the front body portion forward of the lance and contacts the terminal fitting at an incline so as to approach the lance as it goes rearward.

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