connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of holding a terminal with high holding force while securing good assembly workability by suppressing the number of parts.SOLUTION: A connector 100 includes a female terminal 50 connected to an electric wire 51, and a housing 10 having a terminal housing chamber 25 into which the female terminal 50 is inserted and housed. The female terminal 50 includes a lance locking hole 64 formed in the bottom, and a front slit portion 67 formed on the side. The housing 10 includes: a lance 41 formed on a bottom wall portion 21 constituting the bottom surface of the terminal housing chamber 25, and having a lance projection 42 for locking the lance locking hole 64 of the female terminal 50 inserted into the terminal housing chamber 25; and a locking projection 45 formed on a side wall portion 23 and a partition wall portion 24 forming the side surface of the terminal housing chamber 25, and locking the front slit portion 67 of the female terminal 50 inserted into the terminal housing chamber 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes that a female terminal fitting connected to the end of an electric wire is inserted into a terminal insertion hole in a connector housing, and a cylindrical retaining piece provided on the connector housing holds the female terminal fitting in place. It also shows that the cylindrical retaining piece may be provided with a locking protrusion to prevent the female terminal fitting from coming loose.

[0003] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 describes that a crimp terminal accommodated in a terminal accommodating chamber of a housing is locked by a lance formed in the housing and a side spacer that is a separate member attached to the housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-78345 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-199499 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in a structure in which the female terminal fitting is locked only by the tubular retaining piece that acts as a lance, as in the structure described in Patent Document 1, if an external pulling force is inadvertently applied to the electric wire connected to the female terminal fitting, the tubular retaining piece may be damaged or deformed, causing the female terminal fitting to come loose from the connector housing.

[0006] On the other hand, if the crimp terminal is locked with a lance and a side spacer, as in the structure described in Patent Document 2, the holding force of the crimp terminal in the housing can be increased, but the number of parts increases, making assembly work more complicated.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a connector that can hold terminals with high holding force while reducing the number of parts and ensuring good assembly workability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following configuration. A connector comprising a terminal connected to an electric wire and a housing having a terminal accommodating chamber into which the terminal is inserted and accommodated, The terminal is a lance locking hole formed in the bottom; A slit portion formed in a side portion; and The housing includes: a lance formed on a bottom wall portion constituting a bottom surface of the terminal accommodating chamber and having a lance protrusion for engaging the lance engaging hole portion of the terminal inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber; a locking protrusion formed on a wall portion constituting a side surface of the terminal accommodating chamber, the locking protrusion being configured to lock the slit portion of the terminal inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber; and In the direction of inserting the terminal into the terminal receiving chamber, the locking projection is located closer to the terminal than the lance projection. The insertion side of the terminal forward side Located in connector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector that can hold terminals with a high holding force while ensuring good assembly workability by reducing the number of parts.

[0010] The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the following detailed description of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the connector taken along the front-rear direction. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the female terminal as viewed from the bottom side. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the bottom side of the female terminal. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the connector as seen in cross section along the horizontal direction. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the engagement portion between the locking projection and the front slit portion. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the connector according to the first modification, seen in cross section along the horizontal direction. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a connector according to the second modification, seen in cross section along the horizontal direction. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a portion B in FIG. 11 of a connector according to the second modification. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the front-rear direction at the front side of the connector, illustrating how the female terminal is removed from the housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to the present embodiment, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to the present embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the connector along the front-rear direction.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the connector 100 according to this embodiment includes a housing 10 and a female terminal (terminal) 50. The female terminal 50 is connected to an end of an electric wire 51. The connector 100 is fitted into a mating connector (not shown), thereby electrically connecting the female terminal 50 to a male terminal (not shown) of the mating connector.

[0014] The housing 10 is molded from synthetic resin and has a main body 11 and a bulge 12. The main body 11 of the housing 10 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape. The main body 11 has a bottom wall 21, an upper wall 22, two side wall portions (wall portions) 23, and a partition wall portion (wall portion) 24. The bottom wall portion 21 and the upper wall portion 22 are arranged in opposing positions above and below. The side wall portions 23 are connected to both side edges of the bottom wall portion 21 and the upper wall portion 22, and form both side portions of the main body 11. The partition wall portion 24 is arranged between the two side wall portions 23 and connected to the bottom wall portion 21 and the upper wall portion 22.

[0015] As a result, the main body 11 is provided with two terminal accommodating chambers 25 that are partitioned by the bottom wall 21, the top wall 22, the side wall 23, and the partition wall 24 and lined up in the horizontal direction. The terminal accommodating chamber 25 penetrates the main body 11 in the front-to-rear direction, with an insertion hole 26 on the front side and an accommodating opening 27 on the rear side. A female terminal 50 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 25 from the accommodating opening 27 at the rear. This causes the female terminal 50 to be accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 25. Furthermore, a tab (not shown) formed on a male terminal of a mating connector is inserted into the insertion hole 26 of the terminal accommodating chamber 25. This electrically connects the female terminal 50 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 25 to the male terminal of the mating connector.

[0016] The bulge 12 of the housing 10 is molded integrally with one of the side walls 23 of the main body 11, and has a lock arm 31. The lock arm 31 has an arm portion 32 that is connected to the front end of the housing 10 and extends rearward, and this arm portion 32 is formed with a locking claw 33 that protrudes outward. The locking claw 33 of the lock arm 31 locks into a locking hole (not shown) formed in the housing (not shown) of the mating connector, maintaining the mated state with the mating connector.

[0017] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the female terminal as viewed from the bottom side, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the bottom side of the female terminal. 4 and 5, female terminal 50 has a contact portion 52, a wire connection portion 53, and a connecting portion 54. Female terminal 50 is formed from a conductive metal material such as copper or a copper alloy, and is connected to an end of wire 51. Connecting portion 54 is connected to contact portion 52 and wire connection portion 53, thereby connecting contact portion 52 and wire connection portion 53 by connecting portion 54.

[0018] The contact portion 52 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape and has a bottom plate 61, an upper plate 62, and a pair of opposing side plates 63. The side plates 63 are connected to both side edges of the bottom plate 61 and the upper plate 62.

[0019] The bottom plate 61 has a slit 61a extending in the front-rear direction formed in the center portion in the width direction. The bottom plate 61 also has a lance locking hole 64 formed therein. The side plate 63 has a retaining piece 65 formed therein. The retaining piece 65 has a retaining protrusion 66 at its lower edge that protrudes inward of the contact portion 52, thereby forming the retaining piece 65 in an L-shape. The side plate 63 on which the retaining piece 65 is formed has a front slit portion (slit portion) 67 and a rear slit portion (slit portion) 68 on both sides of the retaining piece 65.

[0020] A spring member 71 is disposed within the contact portion 52. The spring member 71 has a front fixed piece 72, a spring piece 73, and a rear fixed piece 74. The front fixed piece 72, the spring piece 73, and the rear fixed piece 74 are connected to one another. The spring piece 73 is disposed between the front fixed piece 72 and the rear fixed piece 74 and protrudes toward the top plate 62 of the contact portion 52. When the spring member 71 is disposed within the contact portion 52, the edges of the front fixed piece 72 and the rear fixed piece 74 are engaged by the retaining protrusions 66 of the retaining piece 65 at both sides of the spring member 71. This holds the spring member 71 within the contact portion 52, pressed against the bottom plate 61 of the contact portion 52. The spring member 71 disposed within the contact portion 52 has its spring piece 73 elastically contacting the tab of a male terminal inserted from the tip side of the contact portion 52. As a result, the tab of the male terminal is sandwiched between the spring piece 73 and the upper plate 62, resulting in electrical continuity, and the female terminal 50 and the male terminal are electrically connected well.

[0021] The electric wire connecting portion 53 has a core wire crimping piece 81 and a covering crimping piece 82. Each of these core wire crimping pieces 81 and covering crimping pieces 82 is formed in pair. The core wire crimping piece 81 is crimped to the core wire 51a of the electric wire 51, thereby electrically connecting the female terminal 50 and the electric wire 51. The covering crimping piece 82 is crimped to the covering 51b of the electric wire 51, thereby ensuring a holding force between the female terminal 50 and the electric wire 51.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3 , the housing 10 has a lance 41. The lance 41 is formed in the bottom wall 21 that defines the terminal accommodating chamber 25. The rear end of the lance 41 of the housing 10 is connected to the bottom wall 21. The lance 41 has a lance protrusion 42 near the front end of the housing 10, and the lance protrusion 42 protrudes into the terminal accommodating chamber 25. The surface of the lance protrusion 42 on the rear side of the housing 10 serves as a guide surface 43. The guide surface 43 is gradually inclined forward in the insertion direction of the female terminal 50 into the terminal accommodating chamber 25, toward the protruding direction of the lance protrusion 42.

[0023] The lance protrusion 42 of this lance 41 engages with a lance locking hole 64 formed in the bottom plate 61 that constitutes the contact portion 52 of the female terminal 50 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 25. As a result, the female terminal 50 is locked by the lance protrusion 42 of the lance 41 and is prevented from coming out of the terminal accommodating chamber 25.

[0024] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the connector as seen in a cross section along the horizontal direction, Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of part A in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a cross section of the engagement portion between the locking protrusion and the front slit portion.

[0025] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, locking protrusions 45 are formed on the housing 10. The locking protrusions 45 are formed on the side wall portion 23 and the partition wall portion 24 that form the terminal accommodating chamber 25. These locking protrusions 45 protrude into the terminal accommodating chamber 25. As shown in Figure 8, the surface of the locking protrusion 45 on the rear side of the housing 10 serves as a guide surface 46. This guide surface 46 is gradually inclined forward in the insertion direction of the female terminal 50 into the terminal accommodating chamber 25, towards the protruding direction of the locking protrusion 45.

[0026] The locking projections 45 formed on the side wall portion 23 and the partition wall portion 24 engage with front slits 67 formed on the side plates 63 that constitute the contact portion 52 of the female terminal 50. As a result, the locking projections 45 lock the both side plates 63 of the female terminal 50, preventing it from slipping out of the terminal accommodating chamber 25.

[0027] Next, the case where the female terminal 50 is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber 25 and received therein will be described. A female terminal 50 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 25 of the housing 10 through the accommodating opening 27. Then, during the insertion process into the terminal accommodating chamber 2, the female terminal 50 comes into contact with and slides over the guide surface 43 of the lance protrusion 42 formed on the lance 41. This causes the lance protrusion 42 to be pushed downward, and the lance 41 is elastically deformed downward.

[0028] When the female terminal 50 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 25, the lance protrusion 42 is positioned at the position of the lance locking hole 64 of the female terminal 50, and the elastically deformed lance 41 returns to its original shape. As a result, the lance protrusion 42 engages with the lance locking hole 64 of the female terminal 50 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 25, and the female terminal 50 is locked by the lance protrusion 42 of the lance 41.

[0029] Furthermore, during the insertion process of the female terminal 50 into the terminal accommodating chamber 25 of the housing 10, the female terminal 50 comes into contact with and slides over the guide surfaces 46 of the locking projections 45 of the side wall portion 23 and the partition wall portion 24. This causes the locking projections 45 to be pushed out to the side, and the side wall portion 23 and the partition wall portion 24 are elastically deformed to the side.

[0030] When the female terminal 50 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 25, the locking projection 45 is positioned in the front slit portion 67 of the female terminal 50, and the elastically deformed side wall portion 23 and the partition wall portion 24 are restored to their original state. As a result, the locking projection 45 engages with the front slit portion 67 of the female terminal 50 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 25, and the female terminal 50 is locked by the locking projection 45 of the side wall portion 23 and the partition wall portion 24.

[0031] In this way, when the female terminal 50 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 25 , it is locked not only by the lance projection 42 of the lance 41 but also by the locking projections 45 of the side wall portion 23 and the partition wall portion 24 .

[0032] As explained above, according to the connector 100 of this embodiment, the female terminal 50 inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 25 of the housing 10 is locked by the lance locking hole 64 formed in the bottom being engaged with the lance protrusion 42 provided on the lance 41 of the housing 10, and is also locked by the front slit 67 formed on the side being engaged with the locking protrusion 45 formed on the side wall portion 23 and partition wall portion 24 that constitute the side surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 25.

[0033] This increases the holding force of the female terminal 50 relative to the housing 10, and prevents the female terminal 50 from coming loose from the housing 10 even if an inadvertent external tensile force is applied to the electric wire 51 to which the female terminal 50 is connected.

[0034] Furthermore, a front slit portion 67 consisting of a gap formed on one side of the retaining piece 65 in order to provide the retaining piece 65 for holding the separate spring member 71 is made to be a slit portion in which the locking protrusion 45 of the housing 10 is locked. Therefore, there is no need to separately form a slit portion in the female terminal 50 itself dedicated to locking the locking protrusion 45 of the housing 10, and the structure of the female terminal is not complicated, thereby reducing the cost of manufacturing the female terminal.

[0035] Next, a modified example of the connector 100 will be described. The same components as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0036] (Variation 1) Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a connector according to Modification 1, seen in a cross section along the horizontal direction. Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of part B in Fig. 9.

[0037] 9 and 10 , in Modification 1, a cavity S is formed in each of the side wall portion 23 and the partition wall portion 24 of the housing 10. These cavity portions S are formed along the front-to-rear direction of the housing 10. The side wall portion 23 is divided by the cavity S into two divided side wall portions (divided wall portions) 23a, and the partition wall portion 24 is divided by the cavity S into two divided partition wall portions (divided wall portions) 24a. As a result, the terminal accommodating chamber 25 is defined by the divided side wall portion 23a on the terminal accommodating chamber 25 side of the side wall portion 23 and the divided partition wall portion 24a of the partition wall portion 24, and the locking protrusion 45 is formed in the divided side wall portion 23a and the divided partition wall portion 24a that define the terminal accommodating chamber 25.

[0038] The divided side wall portion 23a and the divided partition wall portion 24a that define the terminal accommodating chamber 25 have a thin plate thickness in the width direction of the housing 10, making them easily elastically deformable, and the hollow portion S is a space that allows the deformation of the divided side wall portion 23a and the divided partition wall portion 24a when they elastically deform.

[0039] In this first modification, during the insertion process of the female terminal 50 into the terminal accommodating chamber 25 of the housing 10, the female terminal 50 abuts against and slides over the guide surfaces 46 of the locking projections 45 of the divided side wall portion 23a and the divided partition wall portion 24a. This causes the locking projections 45 to be pushed laterally, causing the divided side wall portion 23a and the divided partition wall portion 24a to elastically deform laterally (in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 10 ). At this time, because the plate thickness of the divided side wall portion 23a and the divided partition wall portion 24a in the width direction of the housing 10 is thin, they are easily elastically deformed toward the hollow portion S. Therefore, the insertion force required to insert the female terminal 50 into the terminal accommodating chamber 25 can be reduced.

[0040] (Variation 2) Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a connector according to Modification 2, seen in a cross section along the horizontal direction. Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of the connector according to Modification 2, corresponding to a portion B in Fig. 11. 12 , in Modification 2, the surface of locking projection 45 facing the front of housing 10 serves as slide surface 47. This slide surface 47 is gradually inclined rearward in the insertion direction of female terminal 50 into terminal accommodating chamber 25, toward the protruding direction of locking projection 45.

[0041] In the connector 100, the female terminal 50 may be removed from the terminal accommodating chamber 25 of the housing 10 for maintenance or other purposes. To remove the female terminal 50, as shown in FIG. 13 , first, a lance release tool J is inserted from the front side of the housing 10 to elastically deform the lance 41 downward, thereby releasing the locked state of the female terminal 50 by the lance protrusion 42. Then, in this state, the electric wire 51 is pulled. This moves the female terminal 50 toward the rear of the housing 10 (in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 12 ), and the edge forming the front slit 67 of the female terminal 50 abuts against and slides over the slide surface 47 of the locking protrusion 45. This pushes the locking protrusion 45 out of the terminal accommodating chamber 25. Therefore, the locked state of the female terminal 50 by the locking protrusion 45 is released, and the female terminal 50 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 25 is pulled out.

[0042] Here, in the removal operation for removing the female terminal 50 from the housing 10 having the locking projections 45 without the slide surfaces 47, first, a lance release jig J is inserted from the front side of the housing 10 to elastically deform the lance 41 downward, thereby releasing the state in which the female terminal 50 is locked by the lance projections 42 (see FIG. 13 ). Next, a jig (not shown) is inserted from the front side of the housing 10 along both sides of the female terminal 50 to release the locking of the female terminal 50 by the locking projections 45. Then, in this state, the female terminal 50 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 25 is pulled by pulling the electric wire 51.

[0043] As described above, in variant example 2, the female terminal 50 can be easily pulled out and removed from the terminal accommodating chamber 25 of the housing 10 by releasing the engagement of the female terminal 50 by the lance 41 and pulling the electric wire 51, thereby improving the ease of removing the female terminal 50 compared to when there is an engagement protrusion 45 without a sliding surface 47.

[0044] The slide surface 47 in the second modification may be formed on the locking projection 45 formed on the side wall portion 23 and the partition wall portion 24 that do not have the hollow portion S. In this case as well, by releasing the locking of the female terminal 50 by the lance 41 and pulling the electric wire 51, the female terminal 50 can be easily pulled out and removed from the terminal accommodating chamber 25 of the housing 10, improving the ease of removal work.

[0045] In addition, in the above embodiment, an example was given of the case where the locking protrusion 45 formed on the female terminal 50 engages with the front slit portion 67 of the front slit portion 67 and rear slit portion 68 formed on the female terminal 50, but the position of the locking protrusion 45 may be changed and it may engage with the rear slit portion 68.

[0046] Furthermore, two locking projections 45 that lock both the front slit portion 67 and the rear slit portion 68 of the female terminal 50 may be formed on each of the side wall portion 23 and the partition wall portion 24 .

[0047] Furthermore, a locking projection 45 that engages with at least one of the front slit portion 67 and the rear slit portion 68 may be formed on either the side wall portion 23 or the partition wall portion 24 that define the terminal accommodating chamber 25 .

[0048] In the above embodiment, a structure in which two terminal accommodating chambers 25 are formed in the housing 10 and female terminals 50 are accommodated in these terminal accommodating chambers 25 is exemplified, but a structure in which one terminal accommodating chamber 25 is formed in the housing 10 and female terminals 50 are accommodated therein may also be a structure in which three or more terminal accommodating chambers 25 are formed in the housing 10 and female terminals 50 are accommodated therein.

[0049] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where the female terminals 50 are provided is exemplified, but the present invention is also applicable to a connector in which the housing 10 is provided with male terminals.

[0050] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. Furthermore, the material, shape, size, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary and not limited as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0051] Here, the features of the above-described embodiments of the connector according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [5]. [1] A connector (100) comprising a terminal (female terminal 50) connected to an electric wire (51) and a housing (10) having a terminal accommodating chamber (25) into which the terminal (female terminal 50) is inserted and accommodated, The terminal (female terminal 50) is a lance locking hole (64) formed in the bottom; A slit portion (front slit portion 67) formed on the side portion, and The housing (10) is a lance (41) formed on a bottom wall portion (21) constituting the bottom surface of the terminal accommodating chamber (25), the lance having a lance protrusion (42) for engaging the lance engaging hole portion (64) of the terminal (female terminal 50) inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber (25); a locking projection (45) formed on a wall (side wall 23, partition wall 24) constituting a side surface of the terminal accommodating chamber (25) and configured to lock the slit portion (front slit portion 67) of the terminal (female terminal 50) inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber (25); A connector having:

[0052] According to the connector having the configuration [1] above, the terminal inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber of the housing is locked by the lance protrusion provided on the lance of the housing engaging with the lance locking hole formed in the bottom, and by the locking protrusion formed on the wall portion constituting the side surface of the terminal accommodating chamber engaging with the slit portion formed in the side. This increases the holding force of the terminal relative to the housing, and prevents the terminal from coming out of the housing even if an external pulling force is inadvertently applied to the wire to which the terminal is connected.

[0053] [2] A separate spring member (71) that elastically contacts the mating terminal is disposed inside the terminal (female terminal 50), A side plate (63) of the terminal (female terminal 50) is provided with a holding piece (65) that holds the spring member (71), The connector according to [1], wherein at least one of the gaps formed on both sides of the retaining piece (65) is the slit portion (front slit portion 67) in which the locking protrusion (45) of the housing (10) is locked.

[0054] According to the connector of the configuration [2] above, at least one of the gaps formed on both sides of the retaining piece for providing a retaining piece for holding a separate spring member is made into a slit portion for engaging the locking protrusion of the housing. Therefore, there is no need to separately form a slit portion in the female terminal itself dedicated to engaging the locking protrusion of the housing, and the structure of the female terminal is not complicated, thereby reducing the cost of manufacturing the female terminal.

[0055] [3] The housing (10) has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers (25) into which the terminals (female terminals 50) are inserted and accommodated, The terminal accommodating chamber (25) is partitioned by side walls (23) that form both sides of the housing (10) and a partition wall (24) disposed between the side walls (23), The connector according to [1] or [2], wherein the locking projection (45) is formed on the wall portion consisting of the side wall portion (23) and the partition wall portion (24).

[0056] According to the connector of the configuration [3] above, locking protrusions are formed on the side wall portions that form both sides of the housing and on the partition wall portion arranged between the side wall portions, and these locking protrusions can lock the terminals inserted into the respective terminal accommodating chambers.

[0057] [4] A connector described in any one of [1] to [3], wherein the wall portion (side wall portion 23, partition wall portion 24) is divided into a pair of divided wall portions (divided side wall portion 23a, divided partition wall portion 24a) along the insertion direction of the terminal (female terminal 50) into the terminal accommodating chamber (25).

[0058] According to the connector of the above configuration [4], the wall portion on which the locking protrusion is formed is divided into a pair of partition walls along the insertion direction of the terminal into the terminal accommodating chamber, making the wall thickness thin and allowing for easy elastic deformation. Therefore, when the locking protrusion is pushed out by the terminal during the process of inserting the terminal into the terminal accommodating chamber, the partition walls smoothly elastically deform. This reduces the insertion force required to insert the terminal into the terminal accommodating chamber.

[0059] [5] A connector described in any one of [1] to [5], wherein the locking protrusion (45) has a slide surface (47) that gradually slopes rearward in the direction of insertion of the terminal (female terminal 50) into the terminal accommodating chamber (25) toward the protruding direction.

[0060] According to the connector having the configuration [5] above, by releasing the terminal from the locking lance and pulling the wire, the edge of the slit abuts and slides against the sliding surface of the locking protrusion, which gradually slopes backward in the terminal insertion direction as it protrudes. This allows the locking protrusion to easily slip out of the slit, and the terminal to be pulled out and removed from the terminal receiving chamber. This improves the ease of removing the terminal from the housing for maintenance, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 10. Housing 21 Bottom wall 23 Side wall (wall) 23a Divided side wall part (divided wall part) 24 Partition wall (wall) 24a Partition wall (partition wall) 25 Terminal housing 41 Lance 42 Lance protrusion 45 Locking protrusion 47 Slide surface 50 Female terminal (terminal) 51 Electric wire 63 Side Panel 64 Lance locking hole 65 Holding piece 67 Front slit section (slit section) 68 Rear slit section (slit section) 71 Spring material 100 Connectors

Claims

1. A connector comprising a terminal connected to an electric wire and a housing having a terminal accommodating chamber into which the terminal is inserted and accommodated, The terminal is a lance locking hole formed in the bottom; A slit portion formed in a side portion; and The housing includes: a lance formed on a bottom wall portion constituting a bottom surface of the terminal accommodating chamber and having a lance protrusion for engaging the lance engaging hole portion of the terminal inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber; a locking protrusion formed on a wall portion constituting a side surface of the terminal accommodating chamber, the locking protrusion being configured to lock the slit portion of the terminal inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber; and In the direction of insertion of the terminal into the terminal accommodating chamber, the locking projection is located forward of the lance projection, which is the insertion direction of the terminal. connector.

2. A separate spring member is disposed inside the terminal and elastically contacts the mating terminal, A side plate of the terminal is provided with a holding piece for holding the spring member, a gap formed on the front side of the holding piece in the insertion direction is a front slit portion as the slit portion, and a gap formed on the rear side of the holding piece, which is opposite to the insertion direction of the terminal in the insertion direction, is a rear slit portion, the housing has a front locking projection as the locking projection that locks the front slit portion and a rear locking projection that locks the rear slit portion, In the insertion direction, the front locking projection is located further forward than the lance projection, and the rear locking projection is located further rearward than the lance projection. The connector according to claim 1 .

3. the housing includes a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers into which the terminals are inserted, The terminal accommodating chamber is defined by side walls that define both sides of the housing and a partition wall that is disposed between the side walls, The locking projection is formed on the wall portion consisting of the side wall portion and the partition wall portion. The connector according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The wall portion is divided into a pair of divided wall portions along the direction in which the terminal is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The locking projection has a slide surface that gradually slopes rearward in the direction of insertion of the terminal into the terminal accommodating chamber as it projects. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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