Joint Connector

Abstract

To provide a joint connector that can be reduced in height.SOLUTION: A joint connector 1 comprises connection units 10 that can be connected to each other. One connection unit has a plurality of plate-like conductors 2, 3, 4, and a housing 5 that holds the plurality of conductors. The conductors have linear truck line parts 20, 30, 40 that extend along a first direction X and have first ends and second ends 20b, 30b, 40b, and branch parts that are branched from the trunk line parts toward a second direction Y orthogonal to the first direction. The branch parts have output terminal parts 22, 32, 42 that are connected to terminals of the other connectors. The housing holds the plurality of conductors with the output terminal parts of the plurality of conductors arranged in parallel in the first direction on the same plane. The housing has a first connection part 51 that is arranged on the side of the first ends, and a second connection part 52 that is arranged on the side of the second ends. The first connection part 51 of one housing and the second connection part 52 of the other housing are connected to each other, and thereby the first ends of the conductors and the second ends of the other conductors are connected to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a joint connector. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are joint connectors. Patent Document 1 discloses a joint connector that includes a connector housing and joint terminals that are press-fitted into the connector housing. In the joint connector of Patent Document 1, the joint terminals are attached to the connector housing in four stages. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-19126 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the joint connector of Patent Document 1, the housing that houses the joint terminals tends to be thick. A joint connector with a large thickness is likely to be subject to limitations on its placement location. In addition, a joint connector that houses terminals in a stacked manner has difficulty responding to the trend toward thinner devices that house the joint connector. It is desirable to be able to achieve a low profile in a joint connector.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a joint connector that can be made low-profile. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The joint connector of the present invention comprises connection units that can be connected to each other, and one of the connection units has a plurality of plate-shaped conductors and a housing that holds the plurality of conductors, and the conductors have a straight trunk portion that extends along a first direction and has a first end and a second end, and branch portions that branch off from the trunk portion toward a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the branch portions have output terminal portions that are connected to terminals of another connector, and the housing holds the plurality of conductors with the output terminal portions of the plurality of conductors arranged in parallel in the first direction on the same plane, and the housing has a first connecting portion arranged on the side of the first end and a second connecting portion arranged on the side of the second end, and the first connecting portion of one of the housings is connected to the second connecting portion of the other of the housings, thereby connecting the first end of the conductor to the second end of the other of the conductors. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] In the joint connector according to the present invention, the trunk wires extend in a first direction, the output terminals are arranged in parallel in the first direction on the same plane, and the connecting units to be coupled extend along the first direction. Therefore, the joint connector according to the present invention has the effect of realizing a low profile. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a joint connector according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connection unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conductor according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view of the connection unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the joint connector according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a joint connector according to a first modified example of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A joint connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art or that are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiment] An embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 5. This embodiment relates to a joint connector. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the joint connector according to the embodiment, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the connection unit according to the embodiment, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the conductor according to the embodiment, Fig. 4 is a side view of the connection unit according to the embodiment, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the joint connector according to the embodiment. Fig. 5 shows a VV cross section of Fig. 1.

[0011] The joint connector 1 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile. The joint connector 1 connects, for example, the vehicle's power supply and control device with multiple devices mounted on the vehicle. The joint connector 1 of this embodiment is formed to be thin, so it can be placed in a narrow space. The joint connector 1 may be placed in a vehicle door. In this case, the joint connector 1 can contribute to making the door thinner.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, the joint connector 1 of this embodiment has a connection unit 10 that can be connected to each other. The connection unit 10 has a first conductor 2, a second conductor 3, a third conductor 4, and a housing 5. The housing 5 holds the first conductor 2, the second conductor 3, and the third conductor 4. The housing 5 is molded from, for example, an insulating synthetic resin.

[0013] The housing 5 has a rectangular parallelepiped main body 50 and a first connecting portion 51. The main body 50 holds the first conductors 2, the second conductors 3, and the third conductors 4. The first connecting portion 51 connects two connection units 10 by fitting into the second connecting portion 52 shown in FIG.

[0014] Fig. 3 shows the first conductor 2, the second conductor 3, and the third conductor 4 held by the housing 5. As shown in Fig. 3, the first conductor 2, the second conductor 3, and the third conductor 4 are plate-shaped conductors called bus bars. The first conductor 2, the second conductor 3, and the third conductor 4 are formed from conductive metal plates such as copper or aluminum.

[0015] The first conductor 2 has a trunk portion 20 and a branch portion 21. The trunk portion 20 extends linearly and has a main body 20m, a first end portion 20a, and a second end portion 20b. The main body 20m has a rectangular flat plate shape. The first end portion 20a is connected to one end of the main body 20m in the longitudinal direction, and the second end portion 20b is connected to the other end of the main body 20m in the longitudinal direction. The first end portion 20a and the second end portion 20b are each formed as a terminal. The first end portion 20a is connectable to a terminal 101 of the input-side connector 100 and is connectable to a second end portion 20b of another first conductor 2.

[0016] In the following description, the direction in which the trunk portion 20 extends will be referred to as the "first direction X." The first direction X is the longitudinal direction of the trunk portion 20. The width direction of the trunk portion 20 will be referred to as the "second direction Y." The second direction Y is perpendicular to the first direction X. The direction perpendicular to both the first direction X and the second direction Y will be referred to as the "third direction Z." The third direction Z is the thickness direction of the trunk portion 20.

[0017] The branch portion 21 branches off from the main body 20m along the second direction Y. The illustrated branch portion 21 has a rectangular flat plate shape. The branch portion 21 has a flat plate-shaped output terminal portion 22. The output terminal portion 22 is connectable to a terminal 201 of a mating connector 200.

[0018] The second conductor 3 has a trunk portion 30 and branch portions 31. The trunk portion 30 extends linearly along the first direction X and has a main body 30m, a first end portion 30a, and a second end portion 30b. The main body 30m, the first end portion 30a, and the second end portion 30b have the same configurations as the main body 20m, the first end portion 20a, and the second end portion 20b. The first end portion 30a is connectable to a terminal 102 of the connector 100 and is connectable to a second end portion 30b of another second conductor 3.

[0019] The branch portion 31 branches off from the main body 30m along the second direction Y. The tip of the branch portion 31 has a flat output terminal portion 32. The output terminal portion 32 is connectable to a terminal 202 of the mating connector 200. The branch portion 31 is bent so as to cross the trunk portion 20 at an elevated level. More specifically, the branch portion 31 has a straddling portion 33 that protrudes in the third direction Z. The branch portion 31 is formed so as to ensure a necessary distance between the straddling portion 33 and the trunk portion 20.

[0020] The third conductor 4 has a trunk portion 40 and branch portions 41. The trunk portion 40 extends linearly along the first direction X and has a main body 40m, a first end portion 40a, and a second end portion 40b. The main body 40m, the first end portion 40a, and the second end portion 40b have the same configurations as the main body 20m, the first end portion 20a, and the second end portion 20b. The first end portion 40a is connectable to a terminal 103 of the connector 100 and is connectable to a second end portion 40b of another third conductor 4.

[0021] The branch portion 41 branches off from the main body 40m along the second direction Y. The tip of the branch portion 41 has a flat output terminal portion 42. The output terminal portion 42 is connectable to a terminal 203 of the mating connector 200. The branch portion 41 is bent so as to cross the trunk portions 20, 30 at an elevated level. More specifically, the branch portion 41 has a straddling portion 43 that protrudes in the third direction Z. The branch portion 41 is formed so as to ensure a necessary distance between the straddling portion 43 and the trunk portions 20, 30.

[0022] The housing 5 of this embodiment holds the first conductor 2, the second conductor 3, and the third conductor 4 so that the main bodies 20m, 30m, and 40m and the output terminal portions 22, 32, and 42 are positioned on the same plane. The housing 5 aligns the main bodies 20m, 30m, and 40m in the second direction Y. The housing 5 also aligns the output terminal portions 22, 32, and 42 in the first direction X. The output terminal portions 22, 32, and 42 protrude from the housing 5 along the second direction Y. The housing 5 may have engaging portions that engage with the conductors 2, 3, and 4, and may be in-molded with respect to the conductors 2, 3, and 4.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4 , the first end 20a protrudes from the main body 50 of the housing 5 in the first direction X. Similarly, the first end portions 30a, 40a protrude from the main body 50 in the first direction X. The first connecting portion 51 of the housing 5 has a flat plate shape and protrudes from the main body 50 in the first direction X. The first connecting portion 51 faces the first end portions 20a, 30a, 40a in the third direction Z. That is, the first connecting portion 51 is disposed on the side of the housing 5 that is closer to the first end portions 20a, 30a, 40a. The first connecting portion 51 covers the first end portions 20a, 30a, 40a from one side in the third direction Z, thereby protecting the first end portions 20a, 30a, 40a.

[0024] The first end portion 20a has a protrusion 20c. The protrusion 20c is curved toward the side opposite to the first connecting portion 51. The first end portions 30a, 40a have protrusions 30c, 40c similar to the protrusion 20c.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 50 of the housing 5 has a second connecting portion 52. The second connecting portion 52 is disposed at an end opposite to the first connecting portion 51 in the first direction X. In this embodiment, the second connecting portion 52 is a recess recessed along the first direction X. The cross-sectional shape of the second connecting portion 52 in a cross section perpendicular to the first direction X is rectangular. The second ends 20b, 30b, 40b are exposed to the internal space of the second connecting portion 52.

[0026] 5, two connection units 10 are connected by a first connecting portion 51 and a second connecting portion 52. Here, one connection unit 10 is referred to as a first unit 10A, and the other connection unit 10 is referred to as a second unit 10B. The first connecting portion 51 of the second unit 10B is inserted into and fits into the second connecting portion 52 of the first unit 10A. At this time, the first ends 20a, 30a, 40a of the second unit 10B are inserted into the second connecting portion 52 of the first unit 10A together with the first connecting portion 51.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 5 , the first connecting portion 51 is configured to press the first end 40a of the second unit 10B toward the second end 40b of the first unit 10A. The first end 40a inserted into the second connecting portion 52 comes into contact with the second end 40b and receives a reaction force F1 in the third direction Z. The first connecting portion 51 supports the trunk portion 40 against the reaction force F1 and presses the first end 40a toward the second end 40b. This electrically connects the first end 40a to the second end 40b. Similarly, the first connecting portion 51 connects the first ends 20a and 30a of the second unit 10B to the second ends 20b and 30b of the first unit 10A. That is, in this embodiment, the first connecting portion 51 and the first ends 20a, 30a, and 40a are press-fit into the second connecting portion 52. The first ends 20a, 30a, 40a are housed in the second connecting portion 52 while pressing the second ends 20b, 30b, 40b.

[0028] 5, the first end 40a of the first unit 10A is connected to a terminal 103 of the input-side connector 100. The connector 100 has, for example, a connecting portion 104 similar to the second connecting portion 52. In this case, the first connecting portion 51 is inserted into the connecting portion 104 of the connector 100 to connect the first end 40a to the terminal 103. Similarly, the first connecting portion 51 connects the first ends 20a and 30a to the terminals 101 and 102 of the connector 100.

[0029] The joint connector 1 of this embodiment can also connect three or more connection units 10. Each connection unit 10 is connected in series to the input connector 100. In other words, the connected connection units 10 extend along the first direction X.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 1, the mating connector 200 is connected to the connection unit 10 in the second direction Y. One connector 200 is connected to one connection unit 10. The connector 200 has terminals 201, 202, and 203. The terminals 201, 202, and 203 may be female terminals. The output terminal portions 22, 32, and 42 of the connection unit 10 are connected to the terminals 201, 202, and 203, respectively.

[0031] The joint connector 1 connects an input connector 100 to a plurality of mating connectors 200. For example, if the connector 100 has a power terminal, the joint connector 1 connects this power terminal to the power terminal of each connector 200. In other words, the joint connector 1 distributes power supplied via the connector 100 to the plurality of connectors 200. If the connector 100 has a communication terminal, the joint connector 1 connects this communication terminal to the communication terminal of each connector 200. In other words, the joint connector 1 communicatively connects a communication device connected to the connector 100 to a communication device connected to each connector 200. If the connector 100 has a ground terminal, the joint connector 1 connects this ground terminal to the ground terminal of each connector 200.

[0032] As described above, the joint connector 1 of this embodiment has connection units 10 that can be connected to each other. Each connection unit 10 has a plurality of plate-shaped conductors 2, 3, and 4 and a housing 5 that holds the plurality of conductors 2, 3, and 4. The conductors 2, 3, and 4 have linear trunk portions 20, 30, and 40 that extend along the first direction X, and branch portions 21, 31, and 41. The trunk portions 20, 30, and 40 have first end portions 20a, 30a, and 40a and second end portions 20b, 30b, and 40b. The branch portions 21, 31, and 41 branch off from the trunk portions 20, 30, and 40 in the second direction Y.

[0033] The branches 21, 31, and 41 have output terminal portions 22, 32, and 42 that are connected to terminals 201, 202, and 203 of another connector 200. The housing 5 holds the conductors 2, 3, and 4 with the output terminal portions 22, 32, and 42 of the conductors 2, 3, and 4 aligned in the first direction X on the same plane. The housing 5 has a first connecting portion 51 disposed on the side of the first ends 20a, 30a, and 40a and a second connecting portion 52 disposed on the side of the second ends 20b, 30b, and 40b. The first connecting portion 51 of one housing 5 and the second connecting portion 52 of the other housing 5 connect the first ends 20a, 30a, and 40a of the conductors 2, 3, and 4 to the second ends 20b, 30b, and 40b of the other conductors 2, 3, and 4.

[0034] In the joint connector 1 of this embodiment, the trunk lines 20, 30, 40 extend in the first direction X, and the output terminals 22, 32, 42 are arranged in parallel in the first direction X on the same plane. Furthermore, the connected connection units 10 extend along the first direction X. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the joint connector 1 can be made low-profile.

[0035] In the housing 5 of this embodiment, the trunk portions 20, 30, 40 of the multiple conductors 2, 3, 4 are arranged in parallel in the second direction Y on the same plane. The branch portions 31, 41 of one conductor have spanning portions 33, 43 that straddle the trunk portions of the other conductors. For example, the branch portion 41 of the third conductor 4 has a spanning portion 43 that straddles the trunk portion 20 of the first conductor 2 and the trunk portion 30 of the second conductor 3. With this configuration, it is possible to arrange the trunk portions 20, 30, 40 and the output terminal portions 22, 32, 42 on the same plane while reducing the height of the housing 5.

[0036] The housing 5 of this embodiment has a main body 50 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The first ends 20a, 30a, and 40a of the conductors 2, 3, and 4 protrude from the main body 50. The first connecting portion 51 is a plate-shaped protrusion protruding from the main body 50. The first connecting portion 51 faces the first ends 20a, 30a, and 40a of the conductors 2, 3, and 4. The second connecting portion 52 is a recess formed in the main body 50. The second ends 20b, 30b, and 40b of the conductors 2, 3, and 4 are exposed to the internal space of the second connecting portion 52. The first connecting portion 51 and the second connecting portion 52 are fitted together to connect the first ends 20a, 30a, and 40a of the conductors 2, 3, and 4 to the second ends 20b, 30b, and 40b of the other conductors 2, 3, and 4. This configuration enables the joint connector 1 to have a low profile.

[0037] The number of conductors held by the housing 5 may be two or four or more. The conductors 2, 3, and 4 may be formed by combining multiple metal plates. For example, the second conductor 3 may have a trunk portion 30 and branch portions 31 formed of separate metal plates. In this case, the trunk portion 30 and branch portions 31 are preferably joined by welding or the like.

[0038] One of the first end portion 20a, 30a, 40a and the second end portion 20b, 30b, 40b may have a male terminal shape, and the other may have a female terminal shape. For example, the first end portion 20a, 30a, 40a may be formed as a male terminal, and the second end portion 20b, 30b, 40b may be formed as a female terminal.

[0039] The trunk portions 20, 30, 40 do not have to be arranged on the same plane. For example, the positions of the trunk portions 20, 30, 40 in the third direction Z may be different from each other.

[0040] [First Modification of the Embodiment] A first modified example of the embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a joint connector according to the first modified example of the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the connection units 10 may be coupled while moving relatively in the third direction Z. The second coupling portion 52 shown in FIG. 6 is open toward the third direction Z. The first coupling portion 51 engages with the second coupling portion 52 along the third direction Z. A locking portion 52a that locks the first coupling portion 51 is provided on the wall surface of the second coupling portion 52. It is preferable that the first coupling portion 51 be provided with a locked portion corresponding to the locking portion 52a. The locked portion is, for example, a claw or a recess provided on the side surface of the first coupling portion 51.

[0041] By connecting the first connecting portion 51 and the second connecting portion 52, the first ends 20a, 30a, 40a of the second unit 10B and the second ends 20b, 30b, 40b of the first unit 10A are connected to each other.

[0042] The contents disclosed in the above-described embodiments and modifications can be implemented in appropriate combinations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1: Joint connector 2: first conductor, 3: second conductor, 4: third conductor, 5: housing 10: Connection unit 20: Main line part, 20a: First end part, 20b: Second end part, 20c: Projection part 20m: Main unit 21: Branch portion, 22: Output terminal portion 30: Trunk section, 30a: First end, 30b: Second end, 30m: Main body 31: Branch portion, 32: Output terminal portion, 33: Straddling portion 40: Trunk section, 40a: First end, 40b: Second end, 40m: Main body 41: Branch portion, 42: Output terminal portion, 43: Straddling portion 50: Main body, 51: First connecting part, 52: Second connecting part 100: Connector, 101, 102, 103: Terminal 200: Connector, 201, 202, 203: Terminal X: first direction, Y: second direction, Z: third direction

Claims

1. Connection units that can be connected to each other are provided, One of the connection units has a plurality of plate-shaped conductors and a housing that holds the plurality of conductors, the conductor has a linear trunk portion extending along a first direction and having a plate-shaped first end portion and a plate-shaped second end portion, and branch portions branching from the trunk portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the branch portion has an output terminal portion to be connected to a terminal of another connector, the housing holds the plurality of conductors with the output terminal portions of the plurality of conductors aligned in the first direction on the same plane; the housing has a first connecting portion disposed on the first end side and a second connecting portion disposed on the second end side, the first connecting portion of one of the housings is connected to the second connecting portion of the other of the housings, thereby connecting the first end of the conductor to the second end of the other of the conductors; The housing has a main body in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, the first end protruding from the body; the first connecting portion is a plate-shaped protruding portion protruding from the main body and facing the first ends of the plurality of conductors; the second connecting portion is a recess formed in the main body, the second end portion is exposed to an internal space of the second connecting portion, When the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are fitted together, the first connecting portion presses the first end of the conductor toward the second end of the other conductor, thereby connecting the first end of the conductor to the second end of the other conductor. A joint connector characterized by:

2. the housing aligns the trunk portions of the plurality of conductors in the second direction on the same plane; The branch portion of one of the conductors has a spanning portion spanning the trunk portion of the other conductor. The joint connector according to claim 1 .

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