Connectors and connector units

Abstract

To miniaturize a radial direction and an axial direction at a time of connector fitting while maintaining an assemblability during the connector fitting.SOLUTION: A connector 1 can be fitted to a mating connector 10, and comprises at least one plate-like terminal 2; and a housing 3 that supports the terminal. The housing comprises: a base 30 supporting the terminal; a hood part 31 that is provided so as to project toward the mating connector from the base, and surrounds the terminal provided; and a positioning rib 4 that is extendedly formed toward the mating connector. The pair of positioning ribs 4 is provided to both sides of a plate width direction of the terminal in an internal part of the hood part 31, and a root is continued to the base 30, and a tip end part 4S is provided so as to be projected from the hood part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , , , ,

[0006] , ,

[0007] ,

[0005] , , , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector and a connector unit.

Background Art

[0002] Automobiles are equipped with a variety of electronic devices, and in order to transmit power, control signals, etc. to the electronic devices, wire harnesses are routed. A wire harness includes a plurality of electric wires and a connector, and is connected to an electronic device or another wire harness by fitting this connector to the connector of the electronic device or the connector of another wire harness.

[0003] As a connector used for such a wire harness, a waterproof connector that is bolted to the case of a device mounted on a vehicle is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0004] The conventional waterproof connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is fitted to a mating connector provided in the case of a device, and includes a pair of terminals each connected to each end of a pair of electric wires, and a housing that supports the pair of terminals.

[0005] Each terminal integrally includes a wire connection portion connected to each electric wire and a terminal connection portion connected to a mating terminal of a mating connector.

[0006] The housing has a horizontally long cylindrical shape in the width direction, and is formed by insert molding a pair of terminals arranged in the width direction with a synthetic resin. Further, the housing includes an embedding portion that holds the pair of terminals in a state of being arranged in the width direction, and a pair of cylindrical portions provided in front of the embedding portion. Each cylindrical portion has a rectangular square tube shape in a front view, and is provided so as to individually surround a terminal connection portion that protrudes forward from the embedding portion so as to accommodate the terminal connection portion inside.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-162594 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] Conventional waterproof connectors require that the axial dimensions of each cylindrical section be longer than the axial dimensions of the terminal connection section in order to ensure ease of assembly when mating with the mating connector. However, there is a demand for miniaturization in the axial (or radial) direction when the connector is mated. In other words, there is a demand for miniaturization in the axial (or radial) direction when the connector is mated while ensuring ease of assembly when the connector is mated.

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a connector and connector unit that achieves miniaturization in the radial and axial directions during connector mating while ensuring ease of assembly during connector mating. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To solve the aforementioned problems and achieve the objective, the connector according to the present invention is a connector that can be mated with a mating connector, comprising at least one plate-shaped terminal and a housing that supports the terminal, wherein the housing comprises a base that supports the terminal, a hood portion that protrudes from the base toward the mating connector and surrounds the terminal, and a positioning rib formed that extends toward the mating connector, wherein the positioning rib is provided in pairs on both sides of the terminal in the plate width direction inside the hood portion, the base of which is continuous with the base and the tip portion that protrudes from the hood portion, and the tip of the terminal is positioned between the tip of the hood portion and the tip of the positioning rib Furthermore, the guide rib is provided so as to be able to enter the cylindrical portion of the mating connector, and has a plurality of terminals, and between adjacent terminals, a strip-shaped guide rib having a predetermined width in the vertical direction perpendicular to the plate width direction is provided, the base of the guide rib is continuous with the base and the tip is provided protruding from the hood portion, the upper and lower ends of the guide rib are provided with overhangs that protrude in the plate width direction, the cylindrical portion is located between the upper and lower overhangs in the vertical direction, and the plate surface of the guide rib is in contact with the outer surface of the cylindrical portion. It is characterized by the following: [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the size of the connector in the radial and axial directions while ensuring ease of assembly during connector mating. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a terminal block as a connector according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a plan view showing the terminal block. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing a mating connector that can be fitted to the terminal block. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view showing the terminal block and the mating connector in a mated state. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. This is a perspective view showing a terminal block 1 as a connector according to one embodiment of the present invention. The terminal block 1 is mated with a mating connector 10, which will be described later, to form a terminal block unit 100 (connector unit), and also forms a wire harness that is routed in an automobile or the like.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the terminal block 1 of this embodiment is configured to include three (at least one) first terminals 2 and a housing 3 that supports the first terminals 2.

[0015] In the following, arrows X, Y, and Z are considered to be perpendicular to each other. The front-to-back direction in which terminal block 1 and the mating connector 10 are mated is indicated by "arrow X," the left-to-right direction Y in which the first terminal 2 on terminal block 1 is aligned is indicated by "arrow Y," and the up-and-down direction Z, perpendicular to arrows X and Y, is sometimes indicated by "arrow Z." In addition, among the arrows X, the direction in which the mating connector 10 approaches terminal block 1 is sometimes written as "front X1," and the opposite direction is sometimes written as "rear X2."

[0016] Each first terminal 2 is formed by subjecting a conductive metal plate to pressing or the like, and as shown in FIG. 4, it is configured to have an electrical contact portion 20 that is electrically connected to the second terminal 12 of the mating connector 10. The electrical contact portion 20 is formed in a strip shape, and the three first terminals 2, 2, 2 are provided such that the width directions of the respective electrical contact portions 20 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction Y.

[0017] The housing 3 is made of an insulating synthetic resin. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this housing 3 includes a base 30 that supports the three first terminals 2, 2, 2, a hood portion 31 that protrudes from the base 30 toward the rear X two (mating connector) and surrounds the electrical contact portion 20 of each first terminal 2, a positioning rib 4 that extends toward the rear X two (mating connector), and a guide rib 5 that extends toward the rear X two.

[0018] The base 30 is formed in a plate shape with a predetermined thickness. The base 30 includes a base body 32 where the base of the hood portion 31 described later is located, and a pair of fastening portions 33, 33 that extend and are provided on both sides of the base body 32 in the left-right direction Y for bolt-fastening the base body 32 to the fastening target.

[0019] The electrical contact portions 20 of each first terminal 2 are supported on the base body 32 so as to be arranged in the left-right direction Y.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the hood portion 31 is formed in an elliptical cylindrical shape that is long in the left-right direction Y. Inside this hood portion 31, the three electrical contact portions 20, 20, 20 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction Y. The hood length of this hood portion 31 (the dimension from the base 30 to the tip 31S of the hood portion 31) is formed to be shorter than the axial dimension of each electrical contact portion 20, and the tip portion 20S of each electrical contact portion 20 is provided so as to protrude from the hood portion 31.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the positioning ribs 4 are provided in a pair at both ends in the left-right direction Y of the hood portion 31. That is, a pair of positioning ribs 4, 4 are provided on both sides in the left-right direction Y of the three electrical contact portions 20, 20, 20. Each positioning rib 4 is formed in a strip shape with the base end continuous with the base 30 and the tip 4S extending toward the rear X2. Also, the middle position of each positioning rib 4 is continuously provided at the continuous portion 34 of the hood portion 31. Further, the pair of positioning ribs 4, 4 are provided such that the plate width direction is the vertical direction Z and the plate thickness direction is the left-right direction Y.

[0022] The tips 4S of such a pair of positioning ribs 4, 4 are located at the rearmost end in the terminal block 1 and are configured to first contact the mating connector 10 when mating with the mating connector 10. That is, the pair of positioning ribs 4, 4 are configured to first contact the mating connector 10 and enter the pair of positioning rib entry spaces 14, 14 (described later) of the mating connector 10 when mating with the mating connector 10.

[0023] Furthermore, the pair of positioning ribs 4, 4 sandwich the three terminal accommodating portions 131 between them and enter the pair of positioning rib entry spaces 14, 14 of the mating connector 10, and thus are slidably guided in the connector mating direction X by a guide portion 135 (described later). Also, even if the terminal block 1 falls, the first terminal 2 is protected by the pair of positioning ribs 4, 4.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, two guide ribs 5 are provided in the present embodiment. The two guide ribs 5, 5 are provided between the three electrical contact portions 20, 20, 20 and are configured to enter between the terminal accommodating portions 131 (guide rib entry space 15 described later) adjacent to each other of the mating connector 10. Each guide rib 5 is formed in a strip shape with the base end continuous with the base 30 and the tip 5S extending toward the rear X2. Also, each guide rib 5 is provided such that the plate width direction is the vertical direction Z and the plate thickness direction is the left-right direction Y.

[0025] The tip 5S of each guide rib 5 is located in front of the tip 4S of each positioning rib 4 on the terminal block 1, X1 (towards the base 30), and is positioned approximately at the same location as the tip 20S of each electrical contact portion 20 in the front-rear direction X.

[0026] Each guide rib 5 comprises a strip-shaped guide rib body 50 and a pair of protruding portions 51, 51 that project from both the upper and lower ends of the guide rib body 50 to both sides in the left-right direction Y, and is formed in an I-shape when viewed from the front.

[0027] When such a guide rib 5 enters the guide rib entry space 15 of the mating connector 10, each terminal housing portion 131 is positioned between a pair of protruding portions 51, 51 in the vertical direction Z, and the outer surfaces of adjacent terminal housing portions 131 are in contact with the front and back surfaces of the guide rib body 50, respectively. In other words, when the guide rib 5 enters the guide rib entry space 15 of the mating connector 10, each terminal housing portion 131 is positioned between a pair of protruding portions 51, 51 in the vertical direction Z and the left and right direction Y, and is slidably guided in the connector mating direction X.

[0028] The mating connector 10 is a so-called shielded connector, and as shown in Figure 4, comprises a cylindrical braided conductor (not shown) that covers three electric wires (not shown), a shield shell 11 having a mounting portion (not shown) over which the braided conductor is placed, a mating housing 13 housed inside the shield shell 11 and holding the second terminal 12, and a rear holder (not shown) attached to the rear end (end) of the mating housing 13 to support the three electric wires.

[0029] The mating housing 13 is made of an insulating synthetic resin. This mating housing 13 includes a mating base 130, three terminal housings 131A, 131B, 131C (131) (cylindrical portion) that project forward X1 from the mating base 130 and house each second terminal 12, a mating hood portion 132 that project forward X1 from the mating base 130 and surrounds the three terminal housings 131A, 131B, 131C, and a cylindrical portion (not shown) that is continuous with the rear X2 of the three terminal housings 131A, 131B, 131C and over which the shield shell 11 is placed. A component mounting portion 134 is provided at the rear end of the mating hood portion 132, on which a sealing member 6 (part, shown in Figure 3) is installed.

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, the three terminal housings 131A, 131B, and 131C are each formed in a rectangular tubular shape with an axis extending in the front-rear direction X. A second terminal 12 is housed inside each terminal housing 131, and when the mating connector 10 is mated to the terminal block 1, each first terminal 2 of the terminal block 1 makes electrical contact with the second terminal 12 of each terminal housing 131.

[0031] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the three terminal housing sections 131A, 131B, and 131C are spaced apart from each other, and a guide rib entry space 15 is formed between adjacent terminal housing sections 131A, 131B, and 131C, allowing the guide rib 5 of the terminal block 1 to enter.

[0032] As shown in Figure 3, of the three terminal housings 131A, 131B, and 131C, guide portions 135 are provided on the outer surfaces of terminal housings 131A and 131C located at the ends in the left-right direction Y, which guide each positioning rib 4 in the front-rear direction X (connector mating direction).

[0033] The guide portion 135 comprises a slide portion 135A on the outer surface of each of the terminal housing portions 131A and 131C, and a pair of rail portions 135B, 135B formed convexly on both ends of the slide portion 135A in the vertical direction Z, and is configured so that the positioning rib 4 enters the positioning rib entry space 14 formed by the slide portion 135A and the pair of rail portions 135B, 135B.

[0034] In this type of guide section 135, when the positioning rib 4 of the terminal block 1 enters the positioning rib entry space 14, the positioning rib 4 is positioned between a pair of rail sections 135B, 135B in the vertical direction Z, and the positioning rib 4 is configured to slide on the slide section 135A.

[0035] As shown in Figure 3, the mating hood portion 132 is configured to fit onto the hood portion 31 of the terminal block 1 when the terminal block 1 is mated with the mating connector 10. Here, the axial dimension of the hood portion 31 of the terminal block 1 is formed to be shorter than the axial dimension of the positioning rib 4. As a result, the axial dimension (dimension in the front-rear direction X) when the terminal block 1 and the mating connector 10 are mated is shortened by the amount by which the axial dimension of the hood portion 31 is shortened compared to the conventional technology.

[0036] When such a terminal block 1 is mated with a mating connector 10, as shown in Figure 4, as the mating connector 10 moves forward X1 to approach the terminal block 1, the opening of the mating hood portion 132 located at the front end of the mating housing 13 of the mating connector 10 is brought closer to the terminal block 1. As the movement progresses further, the tips 4S of each positioning rib 4 of the terminal block 1 come into contact with the guide portion 135 of the mating connector 10. The pair of positioning ribs 4, 4 enter the pair of positioning rib entry spaces 14, 14 of the mating connector 10, with three terminal housing portions 131 sandwiched between them. In this way, the terminal block 1 and the mating connector 10 are positioned in the left-right direction Y. Each positioning rib 4 is positioned in the up-down direction Z, located between the pair of rail portions 135B, 135B of each guide portion 135, and is slid on the slide portion 135A to be guided in the connector mating direction X.

[0037] As the mating connector 10 moves further, the tips 5S of each guide rib 5 of the terminal block 1 are inserted into the guide rib entry space 15 located between adjacent terminal housings 131 of the mating connector 10. Each terminal housing 131 is positioned between a pair of protruding portions 51, 51 of each guide rib 5 in the vertical Z direction, and the outer surfaces of the adjacent terminal housings 131 come into contact with the front and back surfaces of the guide rib body 50, respectively. As a result, each terminal housing 131 is positioned in the vertical Z direction and the left and right Y direction between the pair of protruding portions 51, 51, and as the mating connector 10 moves further, each terminal housing 131 is slidably guided in the connector mating direction X by the front and back surfaces of the guide rib body 50.

[0038] As the mating connector 10 moves further, the first terminal 2 comes into contact with the second terminal 12 located inside each terminal housing 131, and as it moves further, each first terminal 2 and each second terminal 12 are electrically connected. After this, the mating connector 10 stops moving when it reaches a predetermined position on the terminal block 1. In this way, the mating connector 10 is mated to the terminal block 1.

[0039] According to the embodiment described above, the positioning ribs 4 are provided in pairs on both sides of the plate width direction of the first terminal 2 (terminal) inside the hood portion 31, with their bases continuous with the base 30 and their tips 4S protruding from the hood portion 31. As a result, the positioning of the terminal block 1 relative to the mating connector 10 is performed by the pair of positioning ribs 4. This suppresses the impact and twisting of the terminal block 1 (connector) relative to the mating connector 10. Furthermore, when the connectors are mated, the pair of positioning ribs 4, 4 enter the positioning rib entry space 14 of the mating connector 10, thereby shortening the tip 31S of the hood portion 31 in the connector mating direction X. Thus, it becomes possible to provide a component mounting portion 134 on the mating connector 10 on the radially outer side of the positioning ribs 4 when the connectors are mated. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the mating connector 10 in the radial and axial directions, while ensuring ease of assembly when the connectors are mated.

[0040] Furthermore, the tip 20S of the first terminal 2 (terminal) is positioned between the tip 31S of the hood portion 31 and the tip 4S of the positioning rib 4. As a result, the positioning rib 4 is used to position the connector relative to the mating connector 10. This makes it possible to achieve a configuration in which the impact and twisting of the connector relative to the mating connector 10 are suppressed.

[0041] Furthermore, multiple first terminals 2 (terminals) are provided, and guide ribs 5 are provided between adjacent first terminals 2 (terminals). The base of the guide rib 5 is continuous with the base 30, and the tip 5S protrudes from the hood portion 31. As a result, the guide rib 5 enters between adjacent terminal housing portions 131 of the mating connector 10, thereby positioning each first terminal 2 in the mating direction of each terminal housing portion 131. This further suppresses the impact and twisting of the connector against the mating connector 10.

[0042] Furthermore, the tip 5S of the guide rib 5 is in the same position as the tip 20S of the first terminal 2 (terminal) in the direction in which the guide rib 5 extends. As a result, the positioning rib 4 and the guide rib 5 are used to position the terminal block 1 (connector) relative to the mating connector 10. This makes it possible to achieve a configuration in which impact and twisting of the terminal block 1 (connector) relative to the mating connector 10 is suppressed.

[0043] Furthermore, the mating connector 10 has a terminal housing portion 131 (cylindrical portion) into which the first terminal 2 (terminal) is inserted, and the outer surface of the terminal housing portion 131 is provided with a guide portion 135 that guides the positioning rib 4 in the connector mating direction X. With this, the positioning rib 4 positions the terminal block 1 (connector) and the mating connector 10, and the guide portion 135 guides it to the back side in the connector mating direction X, thereby further ensuring ease of assembly when the connectors are mated, while also achieving miniaturization in the radial and axial directions when the connectors are mated.

[0044] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and includes other configurations that can achieve the objectives of the present invention, as well as modifications such as those shown below.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the tip 5S of the guide rib 5 is configured to be in the same position as the tip 20S of the first terminal 2 (terminal) in the direction in which the guide rib 5 extends, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The tip 5S of the guide rib 5 may be configured to be located between the tip 20S of the first terminal 2 (terminal) and the tip 4S of the positioning rib 4.

[0046] Furthermore, although the above embodiments described a terminal block as an example of a connector in the claims, the present invention is not limited thereto. The connector may also include terminals and a housing that accommodates the terminals.

[0047] Furthermore, while the best configurations and methods for carrying out the present invention are disclosed in the above description, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, although the present invention is particularly illustrated and described with respect to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the embodiments described above in terms of shape, material, quantity, and other detailed configurations without departing from the scope of the technical idea and objectives of the present invention. Therefore, the limiting descriptions of shape, material, etc. disclosed above are provided as examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention and do not limit the present invention. Accordingly, descriptions of components with some or all of these limitations removed are included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1. Terminal block (connector) 100 Terminal Block Unit (Connector Unit) 2 1st terminal (terminal) 20S terminal tip 3 Housing 30 base 31 Food section 31S Hood tip 4 Positioning ribs 4S Positioning rib tip 5 Guide Ribs 10. Mating connector 131A, 131B, 131C (131) Terminal housing section (cylindrical section) 135 Information Department

Claims

1. A connector that can be mated to a mating connector, At least one plate-shaped terminal, A housing supporting the terminal, The aforementioned housing is The device comprises a base that supports the terminal, a hood portion that protrudes from the base toward the mating connector and surrounds the terminal, and a positioning rib formed that extends toward the mating connector, The positioning ribs are provided in pairs on both sides of the terminal in the width direction within the hood portion, with their bases continuous with the base and their tips protruding from the hood portion. The tip of the terminal is located between the tip of the hood portion and the tip of the positioning rib, and is provided so as to be able to enter the cylindrical portion of the mating connector. Multiple terminals are provided, Between adjacent terminals, a strip-shaped guide rib having a predetermined width in the vertical direction perpendicular to the plate width direction is provided. The guide rib is provided such that its base is continuous with the base and its tip protrudes from the hood portion. The upper and lower ends of the guide rib are each provided with overhangs that protrude in the direction of the plate width. A connector characterized in that the cylindrical portion is positioned between the upper and lower protruding portion in the vertical direction, and the plate surface of the guide rib is in contact with the outer surface of the cylindrical portion.

2. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the tip of the guide rib is located at the same position as the tip of the terminal, or between the tip of the terminal and the tip of the positioning rib, in the direction in which the guide rib extends.

3. A connector unit comprising the connector described in claim 1 and the mating connector that is mated to the connector, The mating connector has the cylindrical portion into which the terminal is inserted, The connector unit is characterized in that the outer surface of the cylindrical portion is provided with a guide portion that guides the positioning rib in the connector fitting direction.

Images