connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that prevents wrong insertion of fitting connectors into a fitted connector, and is excellent in productivity.SOLUTION: A connector 1 comprises: a plurality of fitting connectors 20 to which a plurality of electric wire bundles 40 are connected, respectively; and a fitted connector 10 that has a storage part 12 into which the plurality of fitting connectors 20 are inserted and stored. The fitting connectors 20 each have a spacer 22 that is assembled in a first intersection direction intersecting a fitting direction to the fitted connector 10. An outer surface shape of the spacer 22 assembled to at least one fitting connector 20 of the plurality of fitting connectors 20 is different from an outer surface shape of the spacers 22 of the other fitting connectors 20. The outer surface shape of the one fitting connector 20 is different from the outer surface shape of the other fitting connectors 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Connectors have been proposed in the past that include a multi-pole male connector and a plurality of low-pole female connectors that mate with the male connector. One conventional connector allows a user to select a desired female connector that corresponds to the intended use of the connector from a group of female connectors, each with a different number of poles, and mate it with the male connector (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This conventional connector is configured so that a detachable partition plate can freely define a housing section into which the desired female connector can be mated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-147960 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Although the conventional connectors described above can freely define a receiving section into which a desired female connector can be mated using a partition plate, the number of parts increases, and the installation of the partition plate requires an increased amount of work. Furthermore, conventional connectors require the preparation of multiple female connectors with different numbers of poles so that the desired female connector can be selected from multiple female connectors, which has led to a tendency for the number of female connector types to increase. As such, conventional connectors have room for improvement from the perspective of productivity.

[0005] In general, connectors (including conventional connectors) that have a multi-pole male connector and a plurality of low-pole female connectors are desired to be configured to prevent erroneous insertion of the female connector into the male connector.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide a connector that prevents erroneous insertion of a mating connector into a mating connector and that is highly productive. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the connector according to the present invention has the following features.

[0008] A connector comprising: a plurality of mating connectors to which a plurality of electric wire bundles are respectively connected; and a mated connector having a housing portion into which the plurality of mating connectors are inserted and housed, The mating connector includes: a spacer that is assembled in a first intersecting direction that intersects with the mating direction of the mated connector; the connector further comprises a plurality of sub-connectors that are arranged adjacent to each other in a second intersecting direction that intersects the fitting direction and the first intersecting direction, and to which the electric wires of the electric wire bundle are respectively connected; The spacer is The sub-connectors are assembled together so as to collectively connect the sub-connectors, At least one of the plurality of mating connectors includes: The outer surface shape of the spacer to be assembled is the same as the outer surface shape of the spacer of the other mating connector. and Unlike The outer surface shape of the one of the mating connectors is different from the outer surface shape of the other of the mating connectors. It is a connector. A connector comprising: a plurality of mating connectors to which a plurality of electric wire bundles are respectively connected; and a mated connector having a housing portion into which the plurality of mating connectors are inserted and housed, The mating connector includes: a spacer assembled in a first intersecting direction intersecting a mating direction with the mated connector, and further comprising a plurality of sub-connectors arranged adjacent to each other in a second intersecting direction intersecting the mating direction and the first intersecting direction, and to which the electric wires of the electric wire bundle are respectively connected; The spacer is assembled to each of the plurality of sub-connectors, At least one of the plurality of mating connectors includes: The outer surface shape of the spacer to be assembled is different from the outer surface shape of the spacer of the other mating connector, The outer surface shape of the one of the mating connectors is different from the outer surface shape of the other of the mating connectors. It is a connector. A connector comprising: a plurality of mating connectors to which a plurality of electric wire bundles are respectively connected; and a mated connector having a receiving portion into which the plurality of mating connectors are inserted and received, wherein the mating connector comprises: a spacer that is assembled in a first intersecting direction that intersects with the mating direction of the mated connector; At least one of the plurality of mating connectors includes: The spacer having the same outer surface shape as the spacer of the other mating connector is assembled in the reversed state in the mating direction, The outer surface shape of the one of the mating connectors is different from the outer surface shape of the other of the mating connectors. It is a connector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The connector according to the present invention will be described below. According to the connector of this configuration, the outer surface shape of the spacer to be assembled in at least one of the multiple mating connectors is different from the outer surface shapes of the spacers of the other mating connectors, so that the one mating connector having a different outer surface shape from the other mating connectors can be easily manufactured. In this way, the connector of this configuration prevents incorrect insertion of the mating connector into the mating connector and is excellent in productivity.

[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 top view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is an exploded top view of a main part of the connector shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. 2 (however, the wire bundle is not shown). [Figure 4] 4 is a front view of the male connector shown in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is a front view of the female connectors shown in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is an exploded front view of the main parts of the plurality of female connectors shown in FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a perspective view of the sub-connector shown in FIG. 6. FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a perspective view of the sub-connector shown in FIG. 7 as viewed from below. [Figure 9]FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of the spacer shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the spacer shown in FIG. 9 as viewed from below. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a view showing a modification of the female connector shown in FIG. 1, and corresponds to FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an exploded front view of a main portion of a female connector in a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the first spacer shown in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the first spacer shown in FIG. 13 as viewed from below. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the second spacer shown in FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the second spacer shown in FIG. 15 as viewed from below. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, a connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 will be described with reference to the drawings. Connector 1 is typically a connector mounted on a vehicle. Note that the "mating connector" of the present invention corresponds to male connector 10, and the "mating connector" of the present invention corresponds to female connector 20.

[0013] For the sake of convenience, the following definitions are used for "front," "rear," "left," "right," "upper," and "lower" as shown in Figures 1 to 16. The "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," and "upper-lower direction" are perpendicular to one another. The front-rear direction corresponds to the "fitting direction" of the present invention. The left-right direction corresponds to the "second intersecting direction" of the present invention. The upper-lower direction corresponds to the "first intersecting direction" of the present invention.

[0014] First Embodiment First, a first embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a connector 1 is configured to include a plurality of (three in this example) female connectors 20 (female connectors 20a to 20c) to which a plurality of (three in this example) electric wire bundles 40 (40a to 40c) are respectively connected, and a male connector 10 to which the plurality of female connectors are fitted. Below, the male connector 10 and the female connector 20 that configure the connector 1 will be described in order.

[0015] Each electric wire bundle 40 is made up of a plurality of electric wires 41. One end of each electric wire 41 is connected to a female terminal (not shown), and the other end is connected to, for example, an instrument panel or an engine floor. However, the connection destination of the other end of each electric wire 41 differs for each electric wire bundle 40. In other words, each electric wire bundle 40 is made up of a group of electric wires 41 having the same connection destination. The electric wire bundle 40 refers to a physical bundling of a plurality of electric wires 41, or a group of electric wires 41 of the same color when the coating or the like of each connection destination is color-coded.

[0016] First, we will explain the male connector 10. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the male connector 10 is composed of male terminals (not shown) and a housing 11 that holds the male terminals. The housing 11 has a generally rectangular tubular shape that is long in the left-right direction and has an opening on the front side, and the tubular hole of this housing 11 forms a storage section 12 into which a plurality of female connectors 20 are inserted and stored.

[0017] Within the accommodating portion 12, a plurality of (seven in this example) protrusions 14 are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction, protruding slightly downward from the upper wall of the housing 11. As a result, within the accommodating portion 12, a plurality of (eight in this example) accommodating chambers 13 are defined between the left wall and the protrusions 14, between adjacent protrusions 14, and between the protrusions 14 and the right wall, each of which accommodates a sub-connector 21 with a spacer 22 assembled thereto. Note that each accommodating chamber 13 has two poles, and therefore the male connector 10 has 16 poles.

[0018] In a predetermined one of the plurality of storage chambers 13, one or two guide grooves 15 extending in the front-rear direction are provided in the bottom wall of the housing 11. When there is one guide groove 15, it is provided in the central region in the left-right direction of the storage chamber 13, and when there are two guide grooves 15, they are provided at both ends in the left-right direction. In this example, the second, fourth, seventh, and eighth storage chambers 13 from the left are provided with one guide groove 15, and the first and fifth storage chambers 13 from the left are provided with two guide grooves 15.

[0019] In this way, the shape of the accommodating chamber 13 is determined by the guide groove 15. That is, the guide groove 15, together with the guide rib 36, serves to guide the insertion of the female connector 20 into the male connector 10, and also serves to prevent erroneous insertion of the female connector 20 into the male connector 10.

[0020] An elastically deformable flexible piece 16 is provided on the upper wall of housing 11. Flexible piece 16 elastically deforms in the vertical direction when female connector 20 is inserted into or removed from male connector 10. A short, downwardly protruding latched portion 17 is provided on the lower end surface of the rear end of flexible piece 16 so as to be positioned within accommodating portion 12. A latched portion 26a of sub-connector 21, which will be described later, latches onto latched portion 17, thereby preventing female connector 20 from being detached from male connector 10.

[0021] Next, the female connector 20 will be described. As shown in Figures 2 to 3 and 5 to 6, the female connector 20 is composed of female terminals (not shown), a sub-connector 21 that holds the female terminals, and spacers 22 (22a to 22c) that are assembled to the sub-connector 21. Specifically, the female connector 20 is composed of a plurality of sub-connectors 21 that are arranged adjacent to each other in the left-right direction and to which the electric wires 41 of the electric wire bundle 40 are respectively connected, and a spacer 22 is assembled along the up-down direction so as to group the plurality of sub-connectors together.

[0022] In this example, female connector 20a is composed of two sub-connectors 21 and a spacer 22a assembled to group the two sub-connectors 21, and the electric wires 41 of electric wire bundle 40a are connected to the sub-connectors 21. Similarly, female connector 20b is composed of three sub-connectors 21 and a spacer 22b assembled to group the three sub-connectors 21, and the electric wires 41 of electric wire bundle 40b are connected to the sub-connectors 21. Similarly, female connector 20c is composed of three sub-connectors 21 and a spacer 22c assembled to group the three sub-connectors 21, and the electric wires 41 of electric wire bundle 40c are connected to the sub-connectors 21.

[0023] Below, the sub-connectors 21 and spacers 22 that make up the female connector 20 will be described in order. The sub-connectors 21 that make up each of the female connectors 20a to 20c are all identical. Furthermore, spacer 22 will be described using spacer 22b as an example. The only difference between the spacers 22a to 22c is the configuration of the guide rib 36; in other respects, they are all configured identically.

[0024] First, we will explain the sub-connector 21. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the sub-connector 21 has a housing 24 that is a generally rectangular pillar that is long in the front-to-rear direction, and terminal accommodating chambers 25 that penetrate the housing 24 in the front-to-rear direction are arranged side by side at a predetermined interval in the up-down direction. In other words, the number of poles in the sub-connector 21 is two.

[0025] A pair of ribs 26 protruding upward is provided on the upper wall of the housing 24. The pair of ribs 26 is provided on both left and right ends of the upper wall of the housing 24, and extends across the entire area of ​​the housing 24 in the front-to-rear direction. The rear ends of the pair of ribs 26 are connected by a locking portion 26a extending in the left-to-right direction. The locking portion 26a is locked to the locked portion 17 of the male connector 10, and functions to prevent the female connector 20 from coming off the male connector 10.

[0026] The lower wall of the housing 24 has a mounting portion 27, to which the spacer 22 is attached, cut out in a central region in the front-rear direction so as to recess upward. The mounting portion 27 has a pair of end faces 28 that are generally U-shaped and recessed inward from both left and right end faces of the housing 24. Each of the pair of end faces 28 is provided with a locking portion 29, which is made up of a lower protrusion 29a that protrudes outward and an upper protrusion 29b that protrudes outward. The locking portion 29 locks with the locking portion 34 of the spacer 22, thereby preventing the spacer 22 from coming off the sub-connector 21.

[0027] Next, the spacer 22b will be described. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the spacer 22b has a plurality of (three in this example) main body portions 30 arranged side by side in the left-right direction. Each main body portion 30 is provided with a communication passage 31 that forms a central region in the front-rear direction of the terminal accommodating chamber 25 below the sub-connector 21.

[0028] A pair of arms 32 extending upward are provided at both left and right ends of each main body 30. One sub-connector 21 is disposed between the pair of arms 32. In other words, the spacer 22b is assembled to the sub-connector 21 so as to group the three sub-connectors 21 together.

[0029] Adjacent main body portions 30 are connected by integrally forming their adjacent arm pieces 32. Specifically, the right arm piece 32 of the left main body portion 30 and the left arm piece 32 of the central main body portion 30 are adjacent to each other, and these arm pieces 32 are integrally formed. This connects the left main body portion 30 and the central main body portion 30. Similarly, the right arm piece 32 of the central main body portion 30 and the left arm piece 32 of the right main body portion 30 are adjacent to each other, and these arm pieces 32 are integrally formed. This connects the central main body portion 30 and the right main body portion 30.

[0030] A groove 33 extending in the up-down direction is provided in each of the pair of arm pieces 32 in the front-to-rear central region of the side surfaces facing each other in the left-right direction. In addition, a locking portion 34 that closes the upper opening of the groove 33 is provided in the arm pieces 32 at both left-to-right ends of the spacer 22b (the left arm piece 32 of the left main body portion 30 and the right arm piece 32 of the right main body portion 30). The locking portion 34 is locked to the locked portion 29 of the sub-connector 21, and functions to prevent the spacer 22 from coming off the sub-connector 21.

[0031] The spacer 22b has a guide rib 36 provided on the main body 30. The guide rib 36 protrudes downward from the lower wall of the main body 30 and extends in the front-rear direction so as to extend rearward beyond the rear end of the main body 30.

[0032] In this example, the central main body 30 is provided with one guide rib 36 in the left-right central region of the bottom wall of the main body 30. The right main body 30 is provided with guide ribs 36 on both left and right ends of the bottom wall of the main body 30. The left main body 30 is not provided with a guide rib 36.

[0033] The guide rib 36 , together with the guide groove 15 , serves to guide the insertion of the female connector 20 into the male connector 10 , and also serves to prevent erroneous insertion of the female connector 20 into the male connector 10 .

[0034] In this way, the spacer 22b is provided with guide ribs 36 so as to correspond to the shape of each of the storage chambers 13. Similarly, the spacers 22a and 22c are also provided with guide ribs 36 so as to correspond to the shape of each of the storage chambers 13. In other words, the outer surface shape of each of the spacers 22a to 22c differs depending on the number and positions of the guide ribs 36. In other words, the outer surface shape of the spacer 22 is determined by the guide ribs 36.

[0035] The spacer 22 is provided with a lance (not shown) and has the function of detecting the insertion state of the female terminal into the terminal receiving chamber 25, similar to known spacers.

[0036] The above describes the sub-connector 21 and spacer 22 that make up female connector 20. Female connector 20 has spacers 22 with different outer surface shapes, and therefore each of female connectors 20a to 20c has a different outer surface shape. In other words, the outer surface shape of female connector 20 is determined by spacer 22.

[0037] When selecting the spacer 22 for the female connector 20 (i.e., when manufacturing the female connector 20), various conditions are required for the spacer 22. In this example, the conditions are that the spacer 22 corresponds to the number of sub-connectors 21 and the shape of the receiving chamber 13 of the male connector 10. The number of sub-connectors 21 corresponds to the number of electric wires 41 in each electric wire bundle 40 (i.e., the number of poles).

[0038] The above has described the male connector 10 and female connector 20 that make up connector 1. To obtain connector 1 consisting of male connector 10 and female connector 20, it is necessary to manufacture the female connector 20, and then insert and accommodate multiple female connectors 20 into the accommodating portion 12 of male connector 10, thereby mating the female connector 20 with the male connector 10. When the female connector 20 is mated with the male connector 10, the male terminal and female terminal are electrically connected. A method for manufacturing connector 1 will now be described.

[0039] First, a plurality of female connectors 20 are manufactured to correspond to the number of wire bundles 40 (the connection destinations). In the manufacturing method of each female connector 20, sub-connectors 21 in the number corresponding to the number of wires 41 (i.e., the number of poles) of each wire bundle 40 are prepared, and spacers 22 corresponding to the number of sub-connectors 21 and the shape of each accommodating chamber 13 are selected.

[0040] Next, the spacer 22 is assembled in the vertical direction so as to group together the prepared sub-connectors 21. The above assembly may involve assembling the sub-connectors 21 together, or may involve assembling them one by one.

[0041] During the above assembly, when the sub-connector 21 and the spacer 22 are brought relatively close to a predetermined position in the vertical direction, the locking portion 34 abuts against the lower protrusion 29a of the sub-connector 21. When they are brought further closer to each other in the vertical direction, the locking portion 34 moves over the lower protrusion 29a and is positioned between the upper protrusion 29b and the lower protrusion 29a. In other words, the locking portion 34 of the spacer 22 is locked with the locked portion 29 of the sub-connector 21, and the spacer 22 is assembled to the sub-connector 21. This completes the assembly of each female connector 20. In the above assembled state, the sub-connectors 21 are arranged adjacent to each other in the left-right direction via the arm piece 32 of the spacer 22.

[0042] Next, the female connector 20 is inserted into the accommodating section 12 of the male connector 10 to a predetermined position. During the above insertion, the sub-connector 21 is inserted into the accommodating chamber 13 provided with the flexible piece 16, and during the insertion, the locking portion 26a of the sub-connector 21 abuts against the locked portion 17 of the flexible piece 16, causing the flexible piece 16 to elastically deform upward. Then, when the sub-connector 21 is inserted to a predetermined position, the flexible piece 16 restores its original shape, and the locking portion 26a is locked into the locked portion 17. This prevents the female connector 20 from coming off the male connector 10.

[0043] When the female connector 20 is inserted to a predetermined position in the accommodating portion 12, the female connector 20 (i.e., each sub-connector 21) is accommodated in the accommodating portion 12 (i.e., each accommodating chamber 13), and the female connector 20 is fitted to the male connector 10. This completes the connector 1. The method for manufacturing the connector 1 has been described above.

[0044] If the total number of poles of the male connector 10 is greater than the total number of poles required (i.e., the total number of electric wires 41), a so-called dummy sub-connector 21 is inserted into the vacant housing chamber 13. The dummy sub-connector 21 is, for example, assembled to the spacer 22 so as to be collectively connected to the sub-connector 21 into which the female terminals are inserted.

[0045] <Actions and Effects> According to the connector 1 of this embodiment, the outer surface shape of the assembled spacer 22 of at least one of the multiple female connectors 20 is different from the outer surface shapes of the spacers 22 of the other female connectors 20, so it is possible to easily manufacture one female connector 20 that has a different outer surface shape from the other female connectors 20. In this way, the connector 1 prevents erroneous insertion of the female connector 20 into the male connector 10 and is highly productive.

[0046] Furthermore, according to the connector 1 of this embodiment, the female connector 20 is made up of a plurality of sub-connectors 21, and the spacer 22 is assembled to the plurality of sub-connectors 21 so as to group the plurality of sub-connectors 21 together. This allows for standardization of the sub-connectors 21.

[0047] Furthermore, according to the connector 1 of this embodiment, even if the number of wire bundles 40 or the shape of the accommodating section 12 (i.e., the accommodating chamber 13) is changed, the female connector 20 can be manufactured by appropriately selecting a corresponding spacer 22 and assembling it to the sub-connector 21 (see, for example, Figure 11).

[0048] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. The only difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is the configuration of the spacer. Specifically, the spacer 22 in the first embodiment is assembled to multiple sub-connectors 21 together (see FIG. 6), whereas the spacers 37 and 38 in the second embodiment are assembled to each of the multiple sub-connectors 21 (see FIG. 12). In other words, in the first embodiment, one female connector 20 is composed of one spacer 22, whereas in the second embodiment, one female connector 20 is composed of multiple spacers 37 and 38. The number of spacers 37 and 38 corresponds to the number of sub-connectors 21. In other respects, the configurations are similar. The spacers 37 and 38 of the second embodiment will be described below.

[0049] 13 and 14, the spacer 37 has a main body 30 provided with a communication passage 31 that defines a front-to-rear central region of the lower terminal accommodating chamber 25 of the sub-connector 21. A pair of arm pieces 32 extending upward are provided at both left and right ends of the main body 30. Groove portions 33 extending vertically are each provided in the front-to-rear central region of the side surfaces facing each other in the left-to-right direction of the pair of arm pieces 32. Furthermore, the pair of arm pieces 32 are provided with locking portions 34 that close the upper openings of the groove portions 33.

[0050] A guide rib 39 that protrudes downward and extends in the front-to-rear direction is provided in the left region of the lower wall of the main body 30. The guide rib 39 extends forward beyond the front end of the main body 30 and rearward beyond the rear end of the main body 30. The guide rib 39 is configured point-symmetrically, which allows it to be used in reverse in the front-to-rear direction depending on the shape of the storage chamber 13.

[0051] As an example, spacer 37a is obtained by inverting spacer 37 in the front-to-rear direction (see FIG. 12). In other words, spacer 37 can accommodate two types of shapes of accommodation chamber 13 by using guide rib 39. In other words, spacer 37 can be standardized by using guide rib 39.

[0052] In this case, the shape of the accommodating chamber 13 of the male connector 10 (that is, the guide groove 15) is configured so that the guide rib 39 can be inserted therein.

[0053] 15 and 16, spacer 38 is not provided with guide ribs 39. Therefore, sub-connector 21 to which spacer 38 is assembled can be accommodated in any of accommodating chambers 13, but from the viewpoint of preventing erroneous insertion of female connector 20 into male connector 10, it is not preferable for sub-connector 21 to be accommodated in accommodating chamber 13 provided with guide grooves 15.

[0054] The spacers 37 and 38 are provided with lances (not shown) and have the function of detecting the insertion state of the female terminal into the terminal receiving chamber 25, similar to known spacers.

[0055] <Actions and Effects> According to the connector 1 of this embodiment, the female connector 20 is made up of a plurality of sub-connectors 21, and the spacers 37, 38 are assembled to each of the plurality of sub-connectors 21. This allows the sub-connectors 21 to be standardized.

[0056] Furthermore, according to the connector 1 of this embodiment, one female connector 20 is assembled with a spacer 37, 37a that has the same outer surface shape as another female connector 20, but is inverted in the front-to-rear direction. In other words, one spacer 37, 37a can be used with two different outer surface shapes: a standard shape and a shape inverted in the front-to-rear direction. This allows for standardization of the spacers 37, 37a.

[0057] <Other forms> 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.

[0058] In the first embodiment, the spacer 22 extends in the front-rear direction so that the guide rib 36 extends rearward beyond the rear end of the main body 30, but may be configured so that it extends forward beyond the front end of the main body 30. This allows the spacer 22 to be used by being inverted in the front-rear direction depending on the shape of the storage chamber 13, and allows the spacer 22 to be standardized.

[0059] 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 (1) comprising a plurality of mating connectors (female connectors 20) to which a plurality of electric wire bundles are respectively connected, and a mated connector (male connector 10) having a housing portion into which the plurality of mating connectors are inserted and housed, The mating connector (female connector 20) is a spacer (22, 37, 38) assembled in a first intersecting direction intersecting with the mating direction of the mated connector; At least one of the plurality of mating connectors includes: the outer surface shape of the spacer to be assembled is different from the outer surface shape of the spacer of another mating connector; The outer surface shape of the one of the mating connectors is different from the outer surface shape of the other of the mating connectors. Connector(1). [2] In the connector (1) described in [1] above, The mating connector (female connector 20) is the sub-connectors (21) are arranged adjacent to each other in a second intersecting direction intersecting the fitting direction and the first intersecting direction, and the electric wires of the electric wire bundle are connected to each other; The spacer (22) is The sub-connectors (21) are assembled together so as to collectively connect the sub-connectors (21). Connector(1). [3] In the connector (1) described in [1] above, The mating connector (female connector 20) is the sub-connectors (21) are arranged adjacent to each other in a second intersecting direction intersecting the fitting direction and the first intersecting direction, and the electric wires of the electric wire bundle are connected to each other; The spacers (37, 38) are Assembled to each of the plurality of sub-connectors (21), Connector(1). [4] In the connector (1) according to any one of the above [1] to [3], The one mating connector (female connector 20) is The spacer (37, 37a) having the same outer surface shape as the other mating connector is assembled in the reversed state in the mating direction. Connector(1). [5] In the connector (1) according to any one of the above [1] to [4], The spacers (22, 37, 38) are The device has a function of detecting the insertion of a terminal connected to the electric wire (41) of the electric wire bundle (40) into the mating connector (female connector 20). Connector(1).

[0060] According to the connector of the configuration [1] above, since the outer surface shape of the spacer to be assembled in at least one of the multiple mating connectors is different from the outer surface shapes of the spacers of the other mating connectors, it is possible to easily manufacture one mating connector having an outer surface shape different from the other mating connectors. In this way, the connector of this configuration prevents incorrect insertion of the mating connector into the mating connector and is excellent in productivity.

[0061] According to the connector of the above configuration [2], the mating connector is made up of multiple sub-connectors, and the spacer is attached to the multiple sub-connectors so as to group the multiple sub-connectors together. This allows for standardization of the sub-connectors.

[0062] According to the connector having the above configuration [3], the mating connector is made up of a plurality of sub-connectors, and the spacer is attached to each of the plurality of sub-connectors, thereby enabling standardization of the sub-connectors.

[0063] According to the connector of the configuration [4] above, a spacer having the same outer surface shape as that of another mating connector is attached to one mating connector in the inverted mating direction. In other words, one spacer can have two different outer surface shapes, one for the standard state and one for the inverted state in the front-to-rear direction. This allows for standardization of spacers.

[0064] According to the connector having the configuration [5] above, it is possible to detect the insertion state of the terminal into the mating connector in the same way as with the known spacer. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1 connector 10 male connector 11. Housing 12 Storage section 13 Containment Room 14 protrusions 15 Guide groove 16 Flexible piece 17 Locked part 20, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e female connector 21 Sub-connector 22, 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e, 37, 37a, 38 Spacer 24 Housing 25 Terminal housing 26 Ribs 26a Locking part 27 Part to be assembled 28 End face 29 Locked part 29a Lower protrusion 29b Upper projection 30 Main body 31 Communication path 32 arm piece 33 Groove 34 Locking part 36,39 Guide rib 39 Guide rib 40,40a,40b,40c wire bundle 41 Electric wire

Claims

1. A connector comprising: a plurality of mating connectors to which a plurality of electric wire bundles are respectively connected; and a mated connector having a housing portion into which the plurality of mating connectors are inserted and housed, The mating connector includes: a spacer that is assembled in a first intersecting direction that intersects with a mating direction with the mated connector, and further comprising a plurality of sub-connectors that are arranged adjacent to each other in a second intersecting direction that intersects with the mating direction and the first intersecting direction, and to which the electric wires of the electric wire bundle are respectively connected; The spacer is The sub-connectors are assembled together so as to collectively connect the sub-connectors, At least one of the plurality of mating connectors includes: The outer surface shape of the spacer to be assembled is different from the outer surface shape of the spacer of the other mating connector, The outer surface shape of the one of the mating connectors is different from the outer surface shape of the other of the mating connectors. connector.

2. A connector comprising: a plurality of mating connectors to which a plurality of wire bundles are respectively connected; and a mated connector having a receiving portion into which the plurality of mating connectors are inserted and received, The mating connector includes: a spacer that is assembled in a first intersecting direction that intersects with the mating direction of the mated connector; and further arranged adjacent to each other in a second intersecting direction intersecting the fitting direction and the first intersecting direction. and a plurality of sub-connectors to which the electric wires of the electric wire bundle are respectively connected, The spacer is assembled to each of the plurality of sub-connectors, At least one of the plurality of mating connectors includes: The outer surface shape of the spacer to be assembled is different from the outer surface shape of the spacer of the other mating connector, The outer surface shape of the one of the mating connectors is different from the outer surface shape of the other of the mating connectors. Ru, connector.

3. A connector comprising a plurality of mating connectors to which a plurality of wire bundles are respectively connected, and a matable connector having a housing portion into which the plurality of mating connectors are inserted and housed, The mating connector includes: a spacer that is assembled in a first intersecting direction that intersects with the mating direction of the mated connector; At least one of the plurality of mating connectors includes: The spacer having the same outer surface shape as the spacer of the other mating connector is assembled in the reversed state in the mating direction, The outer surface shape of the one of the mating connectors is different from the outer surface shape of the other of the mating connectors. connector.

4. In the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The spacer is a function of detecting insertion of a terminal connected to the electric wire of the electric wire bundle into the mating connector; connector.

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