connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of maintaining electrical connection reliability of a terminal and of preventing deformation of a housing.SOLUTION: A connector 1 comprises: a terminal 3 that has a fitting part 9 extended in a direction of fitting with a partner terminal, and a fixing part 11 extended from the fitting part 9 via a bent part 17 in a direction crossing the fitting part 9 and formed with an insertion hole 21 into which a fastening member 19 is inserted; a nut 5 to which the fastening member 19 inserted into the insertion hole 21 is fastened; and a housing 7 that has a terminal accommodation part 31 for at least accommodating the fitting part 9 and a nut arrangement part 33 where the nut 5 is to be arranged. In the connector 1, the nut 5 is integrally fixed to the nut arrangement part 33, and the nut arrangement part 33 is provided on the housing 7 in a swingable manner in an extending direction of the fitting part 9.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A conventional connector is known that includes a first terminal as a terminal and a first connector housing as a housing (see Patent Document 1). In this connector, the first terminal has a male terminal portion as a mating portion extending in a mating direction with a second terminal as a mating terminal, and a connecting portion as a fixing portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the male terminal portion. An insertion hole is formed in the connecting portion of the first terminal, through which a fastening member such as a bolt is inserted.

[0003] In such a connector, a nut, to which a fastening member inserted through an insertion hole is fastened, is fixed integrally to the first connector housing by insert molding or the like. The first connector housing is provided with a terminal accommodating portion that accommodates at least the male terminal portion of the terminal. The terminal is arranged so that the insertion hole of the connection portion and the fastening hole of the nut coincide with each other when the male terminal portion is accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion. A connection terminal is arranged in the connection portion of the terminal, and is electrically connected to the end portion of the electric wire and has an insertion hole through which the fastening member is inserted. The fastening member is inserted through the insertion hole of the connection portion of the terminal and the insertion hole of the connection terminal, and is fastened to the nut. Fastening the fastening member to the nut electrically connects the terminal and the connection terminal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-57193 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a connector such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, the fitting portions of the terminals can be maintained in place within the terminal accommodating portions by fastening a fastening member to the nut. In such a connector, it is preferable that the fitting portions of the terminals be positioned in the terminal accommodating portions without strongly abutting against the inner surface of the terminal accommodating portion in order to prevent deformation of the housing when the fastening member is fastened to the nut.

[0006] Here, the terminal has an overall L-shape, with the direction of extension of the mating portion intersecting the direction of extension of the fixing portion. By fastening a fastening member to the nut, the fixing portion of the terminal comes into contact with, for example, a connection terminal disposed between the fixing portion and the fastening member, thereby establishing an electrical connection. The contact between the fixing portion of the terminal and the connection terminal is surface-to-surface contact, thereby increasing the contact area and maintaining electrical connection reliability. Therefore, if the bent portion of the terminal is bent precisely at a right angle, when the fastening member is fastened to the nut, the contact surfaces between the fixing portion and the connection terminal are surface-to-surface contact, preventing the mating portion from strongly abutting against the inner surface of the terminal accommodating portion.

[0007] However, the bent portion of the terminal may not be bent precisely at a right angle. When the fastening member is fastened to the nut, if the fixing portion and the connection terminal are in surface contact, the mating portion may abut strongly against the inner surface of the terminal accommodating portion, potentially deforming the housing. On the other hand, if the fastening member is loosened to prevent the mating portion from abutting strongly against the inner surface of the terminal accommodating portion, the contact between the fixing portion and the connection terminal may become unstable, like a line contact, potentially reducing the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can maintain the reliability of electrical connections between the terminals and prevent deformation of the housing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The connector of this embodiment comprises a terminal having an engaging portion extending in the engaging direction with the mating terminal, and a fixing portion extending from the engaging portion via a bent portion in a direction intersecting the engaging portion and having an insertion hole through which a fastening member is inserted, a nut to which the fastening member inserted through the insertion hole is fastened, and a housing having a terminal accommodating portion that accommodates at least the engaging portion and a nut arrangement portion in which the nut is arranged, wherein the nut is fixed integrally with the nut arrangement portion and the nut arrangement portion is provided on the housing so as to be swingable along the extending direction of the engaging portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector that can maintain the reliability of electrical connection of the terminals and prevent deformation of the housing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a top view of the connector according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a terminal of the connector according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The connector according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of explanation and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, a connector 1 according to this embodiment is electrically connected to, for example, a power source mounted on a vehicle. The connector 1 can be mated with a mating connector (not shown) that includes a mating terminal (not shown) having a tab-shaped connecting portion that is electrically connected to, for example, a device mounted on the vehicle. When the mating connector is mated with the connector 1, the mating terminal is electrically connected to a terminal 3 of the connector 1. The connector 1 includes the terminal 3, a nut 5, and a housing 7.

[0014] The terminal 3 is made of a conductive material and includes a fitting portion 9 and a fixing portion 11, and is formed in an L-shape overall.

[0015] The mating portion 9 extends in a box shape along the mating direction of the connector 1 and the mating connector. A contact member 15 having a plurality of contact portions 13 is housed inside the mating portion 9. The contact member 15 is held in contact with the mating portion 9 and is electrically connected to the terminal 3. When the connector 1 and the mating connector are mated, a tab-shaped connecting portion of the mating terminal is inserted into the mating portion 9. The tab-shaped connecting portion inserted into the mating portion 9 comes into contact with the plurality of contact portions 13 of the contact member 15, electrically connecting the terminal 3 and the mating terminal.

[0016] The fixing portion 11 is formed of a single member that is continuous with the fitting portion 9 via a bent portion 17. The bent portion 17 is bent at approximately 90°. Note that the bent portion 17 is bent within a range of 88° to 92° depending on the processing accuracy. The fixing portion 11 extends in a plate shape from the bent portion 17 in a direction intersecting (orthogonal to) the fitting portion 9. An insertion hole 21, through which a fastening member 19 made of a bolt can be inserted, is formed and penetrates the fixing portion 11. The fixing portion 11 comes into contact with a plate-shaped connection terminal 23 that is electrically connected to a power source, for example, thereby electrically connecting the terminal 3 and the connection terminal 23. An insertion hole 25, through which the fastening member 19 can be inserted, is formed and penetrates the connection terminal 23.

[0017] A fastening member 19 is fastened to the nut 5. The fixed portion 11 of the terminal 3 and the connection terminal 23 are positioned between the nut 5 and the head 27 of the fastening member 19 with the insertion holes 21, 25 aligned with each other. A washer 29 is placed between the connection terminal 23 and the head 27 of the fastening member 19. The nut 5 maintains contact between the fixed portion 11 and the connection terminal 23 by fastening the fastening member 19 inserted through the insertion hole 21 of the fixed portion 11 and the insertion hole 25 of the connection terminal 23, thereby maintaining an electrical connection between the terminal 3 and the connection terminal 23. In addition, the nut 5 fixes the terminal 3 to the housing 7 by fastening the fastening member 19.

[0018] The housing 7 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, etc. The housing 7 includes a terminal accommodating portion 31 and a nut placement portion 33.

[0019] The terminal accommodating portion 31 is formed in the shape of a rectangular housing along the mating direction of the connector 1 and the mating connector. One side of the terminal accommodating portion 31 is open so that the mating portion 9 of the terminal 3 can be inserted therein. A locking lance 35 engageable with the mating portion 9 of the terminal 3 is provided inside the terminal accommodating portion 31 in an elastically deformable manner. The locking lance 35 engages with the mating portion 9 of the terminal 3 to prevent the terminal 3 from falling out of the housing 7. The other side of the terminal accommodating portion 31 is provided with an insertion opening 37 into which a tab-shaped connecting portion of the mating terminal is inserted when the connector 1 and the mating connector are mated. A release opening 39 is provided adjacent to the insertion opening 37, into which a tool for elastically deforming the locking lance 35 is inserted. The mating portion 9 of the terminal 3 is placed in the terminal accommodating portion 31 with the terminal 3 fixed to the housing 7. When connector 1 and the mating connector are mated, the tab-shaped connecting portion of the mating terminal is inserted into terminal accommodating portion 31 through insertion opening 37, and the tab-shaped connecting portion fits into mating portion 9. When mating portion 9 fits into the tab-shaped connecting portion, contact portion 13 of contact member 15 comes into contact with the tab-shaped connecting portion, and terminal 3 and the mating terminal are electrically connected.

[0020] The nut placement portion 33 is provided in a nut fixing portion 41 formed in a solid rectangular shape as a single member continuous with the terminal accommodating portion 31 along a direction perpendicular to the mating direction of the connector 1 and the mating connector. The nut 5 is insert-molded into the nut fixing portion 41 when the housing 7 is molded. The portion of the nut fixing portion 41 where the nut 5 is insert-molded has openings on both sides in the thickness direction of the nut 5 so that the fastening member 19 can be fastened to the nut 5.

[0021] The nut arrangement portion 33 is formed in the nut fixing portion 41 by providing a lightening portion 43 formed using multiple dies (not shown) when molding the housing 7. The nut arrangement portion 33 is formed in a circular annular shape by providing the lightening portion 43 in the nut fixing portion 41. The lightening portions 43 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the nut arrangement portion 33, penetrating the nut fixing portion 41 on one side and the other side in the extension direction of the fixing portion 11 of the terminal 3. The remaining portion of the nut fixing portion 41 by providing the lightening portion 43 becomes the connecting portion 45.

[0022] The connecting portion 45 is formed in a shaft shape thinner than the thickness of the nut fixing portion 41 by providing a lightening portion 43 in the nut fixing portion 41. The connecting portion 45 connects the nut arrangement portion 33 to the nut fixing portion 41. The connecting portion 45 is provided so as to be elastically deformable so as to twist around the axis. A pair of connecting portions 45 are arranged at positions that are point-symmetrical with respect to the center of the nut 5. The line connecting the pair of connecting portions 45, 45 is perpendicular to the extension direction of the fixing portion 11 of the terminal 3. Therefore, the nut arrangement portion 33 can swing along the extension direction of the fitting portion 9 of the terminal 3 by the pair of connecting portions 45, 45 elastically deforming so as to twist.

[0023] When the bent portion 17 of the terminal 3 is not bent at a right angle, the nut arrangement portion 33, which is provided so as to be able to swing in this manner, tilts so as to be parallel to the fixed portion 11 of the terminal 3 when the fastening member 19 is fastened to the nut 5. As the nut arrangement portion 33 tilts, the fastening member 19 is fastened to the nut 5 in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the fixed portion 11. Therefore, the fixed portion 11, which is arranged between the nut 5 and the head 27 of the fastening member 19, and the connection terminal 23 are in surface contact, and the reliability of the electrical connection between the terminal 3 and the connection terminal 23 can be maintained.

[0024] On the other hand, the fitting portion 9 of the terminal 3 is arranged in the terminal accommodating portion 31 so as to be parallel to the inner surface of the terminal accommodating portion 31 with the fastening member 19 fastened to the nut 5 of the tilted nut arrangement portion 33. Therefore, the fitting portion 9 does not come into strong contact with the inner surface of the terminal accommodating portion 31, and deformation of the housing 7 can be prevented.

[0025] Such a connector 1 includes a terminal 3 having a mating portion 9 extending in the mating direction with a mating terminal, and a fixing portion 11 extending from the mating portion 9 via a bent portion 17 in a direction intersecting the mating portion 9 and having an insertion hole 21 formed therein through which a fastening member 19 is inserted. The connector also includes a housing 7 having a nut 5 to which the fastening member 19 inserted through the insertion hole 21 is fastened, a terminal accommodating portion 31 that accommodates at least the mating portion 9, and a nut arrangement portion 33 in which the nut 5 is arranged. The nut 5 is fixed integrally with the nut arrangement portion 33. The nut arrangement portion 33 is provided on the housing 7 so as to be swingable along the extension direction of the mating portion 9.

[0026] If the bent portion 17 of the terminal 3 is not bent at a right angle, when the fastening member 19 is fastened to the nut 5, the nut placement portion 33 tilts so as to be parallel to the fixed portion 11 of the terminal 3. As the nut placement portion 33 tilts, the fastening member 19 is fastened to the nut 5 in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the fixed portion 11. As a result, the fixed portion 11, which is disposed between the nut 5 and the fastening member 19, and the connection terminal 23 become parallel, and the fixed portion 11 and the connection terminal 23 come into surface contact with each other, thereby maintaining the reliability of the electrical connection between the terminal 3 and the connection terminal 23.

[0027] The fitting portion 9 of the terminal 3 in which the bent portion 17 is not bent at a right angle does not come into strong contact with the inner surface of the terminal accommodating portion 31 when the fastening member 19 is fastened to the nut 5 of the tilted nut arrangement portion 33. This prevents deformation of the housing 7 due to the strong contact of the fitting portion 9.

[0028] Therefore, in such a connector 1, the reliability of the electrical connection of the terminals 3 can be maintained and deformation of the housing 7 can be prevented.

[0029] Furthermore, by providing a lightening portion 43 on the outer periphery of the housing 7, the nut arrangement portion 33 is provided to be swingable on the housing 7 via the remaining elastically deformable connecting portion 45. Therefore, by providing the lightening portion 43 on the housing 7 and allowing the nut arrangement portion 33 to swing via the remaining connecting portion 45, it is possible to stabilize the swinging of the nut arrangement portion 33 with a simple structure.

[0030] Furthermore, the lightening portion 43 is a hole formed through the nut placement portion 33. Therefore, the connecting portion 45 can be formed thin with a space around it, which facilitates elastic deformation of the connecting portion 45 and stabilizes the swinging of the nut placement portion 33.

[0031] Furthermore, a pair of connecting portions 45 are arranged at positions that are point-symmetrical with respect to the center of the nut 5. Therefore, the connecting portions 45 allow the nut arrangement portion 33 to swing at two points in the circumferential direction of the nut arrangement portion 33, and the swinging of the nut arrangement portion 33 can be stabilized.

[0032] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment.

[0033] For example, in this embodiment, the cutout portion is formed as a hole that penetrates through the cutout portion, but this is not limited to this. For example, if the connecting portion is formed thinner than other portions and is capable of elastic deformation, it does not have to be formed as a hole that penetrates through the cutout portion.

[0034] Furthermore, the nut is fixed integrally to the nut placement portion by insert molding, but this is not limited to this. For example, the nut may be fixed integrally to the nut placement portion by providing an engaging portion that restricts the rotation and movement of the nut. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1 connector 3 terminals 5 Nuts 7. Housing 9. Fitting part 11 Fixed part 17 Bend 19 Fastening members 21 Insertion hole 31 Terminal housing 33 Nut placement section 43 Cutout 45 Connecting part

Claims

1. a terminal having a fitting portion extending in a fitting direction with a mating terminal, and a fixing portion extending from the fitting portion via a bent portion in a direction intersecting the fitting portion and having an insertion hole through which a fastening member is inserted; a nut to which the fastening member inserted through the insertion hole is fastened; a housing having at least a terminal accommodating portion that accommodates the fitting portion and a nut accommodating portion in which the nut is arranged; Equipped with The nut is fixed integrally with the nut placement portion, The nut placement portion is provided on the housing so as to be swingable along the extending direction of the fitting portion.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the nut placement portion is provided on the housing at its outer periphery so as to be swingable relative to the housing via a remaining elastically deformable connecting portion by providing a lightening portion in the housing.

3. The connector according to claim 2 , wherein the recessed portion is a hole formed through the connector.

4. 4. The connector according to claim 2, wherein a pair of the connecting portions are arranged at positions point-symmetrical with respect to the center of the nut.

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