connector

Abstract

To provide a connector which enables improvement of design flexibility of a connection terminal.SOLUTION: A connector 10 includes: a housing 11; a connection terminal 12 disposed at an inner side of the housing 11; and an attachment terminal 13 attached to the housing 11. The connection terminal 12 has a cylindrical box part 28. The attachment terminal 13 has a contact part 48 which contacts with an outer surface of the box part 28 and is electrically connected to the connection terminal 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a housing that holds a bus bar and another connector that houses a plurality of connection terminals. The housing has a connector fitting chamber. The bus bar has a branch terminal portion that protrudes into the connector fitting chamber. The other connector is fitted into the connector fitting chamber of the housing. The connection terminal has a tubular connection portion (hereinafter referred to as a "box portion") that is connected to the branch terminal portion. A contact piece that comes into contact with the branch terminal portion is provided inside the box portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-149934 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of Patent Document 1, the inside of the box is shaped so that the branch terminal can be positioned and inserted, and further, the contact piece is designed to be positioned opposite the inserted branch terminal, which limits the shape of the inside of the box and, in turn, limits the degree of freedom in designing the connection terminal.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that allows for improved freedom in designing connection terminals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure comprises a housing, a connection terminal arranged inside the housing, and an attachment terminal attached to the housing, wherein the connection terminal has a cylindrical box portion, and the attachment terminal has a contact portion that contacts the outer surface of the box portion and is electrically connected to the connection terminal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector that allows for improved freedom in design of connection terminals. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector in a mated state. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the contact portion of the attachment terminal is electrically connected to the connection terminal. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the housing. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the housing. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front view of the branch portion side of the attachment terminal. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a front view of the main body side of the attachment terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[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 device comprising a housing, a connection terminal arranged inside the housing, and an attachment terminal attached to the housing, wherein the connection terminal has a cylindrical box portion, and the attachment terminal has a contact portion that contacts the outer surface of the box portion and is electrically connected to the connection terminal. According to the above configuration, the contact portion of the attachment terminal contacts the outer surface of the box portion of the connection terminal, allowing the inner shape of the box portion to be freely designed without restrictions. As a result, the degree of freedom in designing the connection terminal can be improved. For example, a general-purpose female terminal can be used as the connection terminal. Alternatively, the connection terminal can be a simple one that does not have a contact piece on the inner surface of the box portion.

[0010] (2) The contact portion may have a pair of clamping pieces that clamp the box portion. According to the above configuration, the contact portion can be kept in good contact with the outer surface of the box portion, and the reliability of the connection can be ensured.

[0011] (3) The contact portion has a connecting portion that connects the pair of clamping pieces, and when the direction in which the pair of clamping pieces clamp the box portion is defined as the height direction, the connecting portion is preferably formed to extend in the height direction. According to the above configuration, the height of the box portion can be utilized to easily form the folded-back connecting portion.

[0012] (4) A lance for engaging the connection terminal is provided inside the housing, and a die-cut hole for opening the lance so that it can be seen is provided on the end face of the housing, and one of the pair of clamping pieces is preferably positioned inside the die-cut hole. According to the above configuration, the mold-out hole formed by removing the mold for molding the lance can be used as a space for positioning the clamping piece inside the housing, thereby simplifying the structure of the housing. Furthermore, since there is no need to provide a dedicated insertion hole for passing the clamping pieces through the end face of the housing, it is easier to ensure the rigidity of the end face of the housing, and it is possible to accommodate a reduction in the size of the housing.

[0013] (5) The mounting terminal may have a flat plate-shaped holding portion continuing from the contact portion, and the housing may have a slit for positioning the holding portion. According to the above-described configuration, there is no need to provide a cylindrical guide such as a hood on the attachment terminal side to guide the fitting with the housing, and even if a cylindrical guide is provided, the structure can be simplified.

[0014] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Specific examples of embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0015] This embodiment illustrates a connector 10 provided at a branch point of a vehicle's electrical conduction path. The connector 10 includes a housing 11, a plurality of connection terminals 12 accommodated in the housing 11, and an attachment terminal 13 fitted into the housing 11. In this embodiment, the attachment terminal 13 is a ground terminal that is electrically connected to each connection terminal 12 inside the housing 11 and electrically connected to the vehicle body outside the housing 11. In the following detailed structural description, the front side refers to the side where the attachment terminal 13 is attached to the housing 11. The up-down direction is synonymous with the height direction and is based on the up-down direction in each drawing except for FIG. 5. The left-right direction is synonymous with the width direction and is based on the left-right direction in FIGS. 1 and 2. The symbols F, B, U, D, L, and R in the drawings indicate the front, rear, upper, lower, left, and right sides, respectively. These directions are defined merely for convenience of explanation and do not limit the manner of use.

[0016] The housing 11 is made of synthetic resin and has a flat rectangular shape in plan view as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The housing 11 has a plurality of cavities 14 as shown in Figure 6. The cavities 14 are arranged in a line on the left and right inside the housing 11.

[0017] The housing 11 has a plurality of lances 15. As shown in FIG. 3, each lance 15 protrudes rearward from the underside of each cavity 14 and is elastically deformable up and down. An end wall 16 is formed on the rear surface of the housing 11. A plurality of die-cut holes 17 penetrate the end wall 16, resulting from the removal of the mold used to form each lance 15. Each die-cut hole 17 is positioned rearward and opposite each lance 15. As shown in FIG. 4, each lance 15 can be seen from behind through each die-cut hole 17. The rear surface of each cavity 14 is closed by the end wall 16 except for each die-cut hole 17.

[0018] A slit 18 is formed in the upper portion of the housing 11 along the width direction. The slit 18 opens toward the rear of the housing 11. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the lower surface of the slit 18 is closed by a closing wall 19. The closing wall 19 separates the slit 18 from each of the cavities 14. Both side surfaces of the slit 18 are closed by left and right side walls 21. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper surface of the slit 18 is closed by left and right guide walls 22, a mounting wall 23, and a locking portion 24. The guide wall 22 protrudes inward in the width direction from the upper portions of the side walls 21. The mounting wall 23 spans between the front portions of the left and right guide walls 22. The locking portion 24 protrudes rearward from the center of the mounting wall 23. The upper surfaces of the guide wall 22, the mounting wall 23, and the locking portion 24 are arranged flat and without any steps. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a claw-shaped locking projection 25 is formed at the tip of the locking portion 24 so as to project downward.

[0019] 5, a plurality of openings 26 are formed at the rear of the closing wall 19 in the upper part of the housing 11. Each opening 26 opens to a corresponding cavity 14 in a rectangular shape in plan view in the upper part of the housing 11 and communicates with each cavity 14. The housing 11 has a rib 27 extending in the front-to-rear direction on one side wall 21A of both side walls 21.

[0020] The connection terminal 12 is formed from a conductive metal plate. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the connection terminal 12 has a box portion 28 and an open-barrel-shaped barrel portion 29 connected to the front of the box portion 28. The barrel portion 29 is crimped and connected to the end portion of the electric wire W1. The box portion 28 has a rectangular cylindrical shape with a closed front surface and a hollow structure with no contact pieces or the like formed inside. A lance hole 66 is formed through the bottom wall of the box portion 28.

[0021] The attachment terminal 13 is also formed from a conductive metal plate. As shown in Fig. 1, the attachment terminal 13 has a main body 31, a branch portion 32, and a base 33. The base 33 is shaped like a flat plate extending in the front-rear and left-right directions, and has an attachment piece 34 at its rear edge that bends rearward. The attachment piece 34 is fixed to the vehicle body.

[0022] The branch portion 32 and the main body portion 31 are arranged side by side. As shown in FIG. 7 , the branch portion 32 has a base portion 35, a lower plate portion 36, an upper plate portion 37, a horizontal plate portion 38, and multiple connecting pieces 39. The base portion 35 is an upright plate rising from the right side of the front edge of the base portion 33 in FIG. 1. The lower plate portion 36 is a flat plate that protrudes forward from the upper portion of the base portion 35 and has portions that protrude on both the left and right sides. The upper plate portion 37 is also a flat plate that faces the lower plate portion 36 above and in parallel with the lower plate portion 36. The horizontal plate portion 38 is connected to the right edges of the upper plate portion 37 and the lower plate portion 36, respectively.

[0023] The multiple connection pieces 39 are tab-shaped and protrude forward from the front edges of the upper plate portion 37 and the lower plate portion 36. The connection pieces 39 are arranged side by side on the left and right sides of the front edges of the upper plate portion 37 and the lower plate portion 36.

[0024] 1 and 2, a female housing 41 is fitted from the front into branched portion 32. Female housing 41 is made of synthetic resin, has a flat rectangular shape in a plan view, and is slightly larger than housing 11.

[0025] A pair of upper and lower mounting grooves 42 open on the rear surface of the female housing 41. The upper plate portion 37 and the lower plate portion 36 are inserted into the pair of upper and lower mounting grooves 42 from the rear. A plurality of female terminal fittings (not shown) are inserted into the female housing 41 from the front. Each female terminal fitting faces the pair of upper and lower mounting grooves 42, and a connecting piece 39 is inserted into the inside of each female terminal fitting, thereby electrically connecting to the branch portion 32. Each female terminal fitting is electrically connected to an end portion of a respective electric wire W2. As shown in FIG. 2, each electric wire W2 is drawn forward from the front surface of the female housing 41.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1 and 8, the main body 31 has a root portion 43, a bottom plate portion 44, one side plate portion 45, the other side plate portion 46, a connecting portion 47, a contact portion 48, and a holding portion 49.

[0027] The root portion 43 has a standing plate shape that rises from the front edge of the base portion 33 on the left side in Fig. 1. The bottom plate portion 44 has a rectangular flat plate shape in a plan view, and has portions that protrude forward from the upper part of the root portion 43 and extend out on both the left and right sides. The bottom plate portion 44 is positioned one step higher than the base portion 33 via the root portion 43.

[0028] The one side plate portion 45 rises from the left side of the bottom plate portion 44 in Fig. 1 and has a vertical and front-to-rear plate shape. A step 51 is formed in the upper edge of the one side plate portion 45 as shown in Fig. 1. Of the upper edges of the one side plate portion 45, a rear upper edge behind the step 51 is positioned one step lower than a front upper edge in front of the step 51.

[0029] The other side plate portion 46 is shaped to rise from the right side of the bottom plate portion 44 in Figure 1 and has an upright plate shape along the up-down and front-rear directions. The other side plate portion 46 is formed to have a height lower than that of the one side plate portion 45.

[0030] The connecting portion 47 is bent and extends from the upper rear edge of the one side plate portion 45 toward the other side plate portion 46 (to the right in FIG. 1 ). The connecting portion 47 is interposed between the one side plate portion 45 and the contact portion 48 to connect them together.

[0031] As shown in Figures 3 and 8, the contact portion 48 has upper and lower clamping pieces 52, 53 and a connecting portion 54 connecting the clamping pieces 52, 53. As shown in Figure 8, the upper clamping piece 52 extends continuously from the connecting portion 47 toward the other side plate portion 46, and has its other side edge positioned further to one side than the other side plate portion 46 in the left-right direction. The upper clamping piece 52 has a flat plate shape that extends in the left-right and front-rear directions, and has a portion that protrudes forward from the connecting portion 47. The upper clamping piece 52 has rigidity that prevents it from being elastically deformed.

[0032] The lower clamping piece 53 is disposed below and facing the upper clamping piece 52. The lower clamping piece 53 has a band plate portion 55 extending in the left-right direction and a plurality of resilient contact portions 56 protruding forward from the front edge of the band plate portion 55. The resilient contact portions 56 are disposed side by side on the left and right sides of the front edge of the band plate portion 55. Each resilient contact portion 56 is resilient and deformable up and down with the front edge of the band plate portion 55 serving as a fulcrum. When in its natural state without elastic deformation, each resilient contact portion 56 is inclined upward and forward from the front edge of the band plate portion 55, and bends downward from a contact portion 57 located at the upper end toward the tip side.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 3, the connecting portion 54 extends vertically as a whole between the rear portions of the clamping pieces 52, 53 and is folded back into a U-shape. As shown in Fig. 8, the width of the connecting portion 54 is the same as the width of each of the clamping pieces 52, 53. The extension length (vertical dimension) of the connecting portion 54 is the same as the vertical separation distance between the clamping pieces 52, 53, and corresponds to the vertical dimension of the box portion 28 of the terminal fitting.

[0034] As shown in Figures 3 and 8, the holding portion 49 has a relay portion 58 that slopes upward from the upper clamping piece 52 toward the front, and a holding main body portion 59 that is arranged along the front-rear direction from the front end of the relay portion 58 toward the front. The holding portion 49 has a bulge portion 61 in the left-right center that extends in the front-rear direction from the relay portion 58 to the holding main body portion 59. As shown in Figure 8, the bulge portion 61 has a trapezoidal bent shape when viewed from the front, and its upper wall is arranged flat. As shown in Figure 1, a lock hole 62 that is rectangular in plan view is opened and formed in the upper wall of the bulge portion 61.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 3, the holding body 59 is fitted into the slit 18 of the housing 11. With the holding body 59 fitted into the slit 18, the locking projection 25 of the locking portion 24 fits into the locking hole 62 of the bulging portion 61 so as to be able to be locked. A plurality of protrusions 63 are provided side by side on the left and right sides of the base 33 in a portion extending from one side (the left side in Fig. 1) of the base 33 to the rear part of the bottom plate 44, and in a portion extending from the other side (the right side in Fig. 1) of the base 33 to the rear part of the lower plate 36.

[0036] Next, the fitting structure and operation of this embodiment will be described. 2, a female housing 41 is fitted to the branched portion 32 of the attachment terminal 13. Each connecting piece 39 of the branched portion 32 is electrically connected to each female terminal fitting. A connection terminal 12 is inserted into each cavity 14 of the housing 11. As shown in Fig. 3, a lance 15 fits into a lance hole 66 of the connection terminal 12, and the connection terminal 12 is locked by the lance 15, thereby being primarily prevented from coming out of the cavity 14. The connection terminal 12 is also locked by a retainer 64 attached to the housing 11, thereby being secondarily prevented from coming out of the cavity 14. The front surface, which is the closed surface, of the box portion 28 of the connection terminal 12 is locked against the end wall 16 of the housing 11, and the top surface is exposed upward from the opening 26.

[0037] 2, the housing 11 is fitted to the main body 31 of the attachment terminal 13. Before fitting with the housing 11, each resilient contact portion 56 of the main body 31 is covered from above by the upper clamping piece 52 and the holding portion 49, covered from below by the bottom plate portion 44, and covered on both the left and right sides by the one side plate portion 45 and the other side plate portion 46. In other words, each resilient contact portion 56 is protected on all four sides before fitting with the housing 11.

[0038] During the process of fitting the main body 31 to the housing 11, the holding main body 59 is fitted into the inside of the housing 11, surrounded by the closing wall 19, the left and right side walls 21, and the guide wall 22, thereby guiding the fitting operation of the main body 31. The locking portion 24 of the housing 11 slides on the upper surface of the upper wall of the bulging portion 61 and elastically deforms during the fitting process.

[0039] When the main body 31 is properly fitted into the housing 11, the locking portion 24 elastically returns to its original position, and the engaging projection 25 fits into the locking hole 62, as shown in Fig. 3. This maintains the attachment terminal 13 fitted into the housing 11. Furthermore, when the main body 31 is properly fitted into the housing 11, the relay portion 58 faces the rear edge of the closing wall 19, and the holding main body 59 is positioned within the slit 18 between the bridging wall 23 and the closing wall 19. The housing 11 is supported by the bottom plate 44 and is sandwiched in the width direction between the one side plate 45 and the other side plate 46.

[0040] 3, when the main body 31 is properly fitted into the housing 11, the upper clamping pieces 52 cover the rear openings of the cavities 14 and contact the upper surface of the box portion 28 of each connection terminal 12 through the openings 26. The resilient contact portions 56 of the lower clamping pieces 53 face into the cavities 14 through the die-cut holes 17, bringing the contact portions 57 into contact with the lower surface of the box portion 28 of each connection terminal 12. The resilient contact portions 56 are in contact with the box portion 28 and are elastically deformed. In this way, the contact portion 48 of the attachment terminal 13 contacts the outer surface of the box portion 28 with the box portion 28 sandwiched between the clamping pieces 52, 53, and is electrically connected to the connection terminal 12.

[0041] As described above, according to this embodiment, the contact portion 48 of the attachment terminal 13 contacts the outer surface of the box portion 28 of the connection terminal 12, so the shape of the inside of the box portion 28 can be freely designed without restrictions. As a result, the degree of freedom in designing the connection terminal 12 can be improved. In this embodiment, the connection terminal 12 has a simple shape with no contact piece on the inside of the box portion 28. This allows for cost reduction.

[0042] Furthermore, since each clamping piece 52, 53 contacts the box part 28 while clamping the box part 28, the connection state between the mounting terminal 13 and the connection terminal 12 can be maintained even under vibration, for example, thereby improving the reliability of the connection.

[0043] Furthermore, since the connecting portion 54 extends in the same height direction as the clamping direction of the clamping pieces 52, 53 relative to the box portion 28, the folded shape of the connecting portion 54 can be easily formed without difficulty by utilizing the height of the box portion 28.

[0044] Furthermore, the die-cut holes 17 formed in the end walls 16 of the housing 11 during molding of the lances 15 serve as insertion holes for the lower clamping pieces 53, eliminating the need to provide dedicated insertion holes in the end walls 16. As a result, it becomes easier to ensure the rigidity of the end walls 16 of the housing 11, and the housing 11 can be made smaller.

[0045] Furthermore, the retaining portion 49 of the mounting terminal 13 is positioned and held in the slit 18 of the housing 11, and the mounting terminal 13 does not have a cylindrical guide such as a hood to guide the fitting with the housing 11, so the mounting terminal 13 can have a simple structure.

[0046] [Another embodiment of the present disclosure] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. In the above embodiment, the connection terminal has a hollow box portion, but in another embodiment, the connection terminal may be a general-purpose female terminal fitting having a contact piece or the like inside the box portion. In the above embodiment, the mounting terminal is not provided with a cylindrical guide for guiding the mating operation with the housing. However, in other embodiments, the mounting terminal may be provided with a cylindrical guide. However, if the holding portion can be positioned in the slit to perform the guiding function, the cylindrical guide can have a simple structure. In the above embodiment, the contact portion of the attachment terminal has a structure in which the box portion is sandwiched between the upper clamping piece and the resilient contact portion. However, in another embodiment, the contact portion of the attachment terminal may have a structure in which only the resilient contact portion contacts the box portion without having an upper clamping piece. In the above embodiment, each resilient contact portion of the attachment terminal is provided for each connection terminal so as to contact the box portion of each connection terminal individually. However, in another embodiment, each resilient contact portion of the attachment terminal may be provided corresponding to a plurality of connection terminals so as to contact the box portions of the plurality of connection terminals collectively. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 10...Connector 11. Housing 12...Connection terminal 13...Attachment terminal 14...Cavity 15...Lance 16...End wall 17...Die-cut hole 18...Slit 19...Closed wall 21...Side wall 21A...One side wall 22...Guide wall 23…Erection wall 24...Rock section 25…Latching protrusion 26...Opening 27...Ribs 28...Hakobe 29...Barrel section 31...Main body 32...Branch 33...Base 34...Mounting piece 35...Base 36…Lower plate part 37...Upper plate 38…Horizontal plate part 39...Connecting piece 41...Female housing 42...Installation groove 43...Base 44…Bottom plate part 45...One side plate part 46...Other side plate part 47...Connecting part 48...Contact part 49...Holding part 51...Step 52...Upper clamping piece 53...Lower clamping piece 54...Connection part 55...Strip plate part 56...Elastic contact part 57...Contact point 58...Relay section 59...Holding body part 61...bulge 62...Lock hole 63...Protrusion section 64...Retainer 66...Lance hole W1,W2…Electric wire

Claims

1. Housing and a connection terminal disposed inside the housing; a mounting terminal mounted on the housing, The connection terminal has a cylindrical box portion, The mounting terminal has a contact portion that contacts the outer surface of the box portion and is electrically connected to the connection terminal, a bottom plate portion that supports the housing, one side plate portion and the other side plate portion that rise from both sides of the bottom plate portion in the width direction and sandwich the housing in the width direction, and a connecting portion that connects the contact portion and the one side plate portion.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the contact portion has a pair of clamping pieces that clamp the box portion.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the contact portion has a connecting portion that connects the pair of clamping pieces, and when the direction in which the pair of clamping pieces clamp the box portion is defined as the height direction, the connecting portion is formed to extend in the height direction.

4. A lance for locking the connection terminal is provided inside the housing, A die-cut hole is provided on an end surface of the housing to allow the lance to be viewed.

4. The connector according to claim 2, wherein one of the pair of clamping pieces is disposed inside the die-cut hole.

5. The attachment terminal has a flat-plate-shaped holding portion that is continuous with the contact portion, The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the housing has a slit for positioning the holding portion.

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