Connector and wire harness end structures

Abstract

To alleviate stress acting on a connection part of an electric wire and a terminal when the electric wire is pulled, while dealing with multi-polarization of a connector.SOLUTION: A connector comprises a housing 21, and a cover 24 attached to the housing 21. The housing 21 has a plurality of cavities 25 extending in the fore-and-aft direction and storing terminals 22 connected to terminal parts of electric wires 90, and an electric wire lead-out surface 21F in which rear ends of the plurality of cavities 25 are arranged side by side in the height direction and the width direction and opened. The cover 24 has, behind the electric wire lead-out surface 21F, a back wall part 44 demarcating an electric wire routing space 49 between the electric wire lead-out surface 21F and the back wall part. The back wall part 44 has a lead-through port 46 extending in the width direction and having a flat opening shape, at a position facing a one-end face part 21G on one end in the height direction of the electric wire lead-out surface 21F across the electric wire routing space 49.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector and an end structure of a wire harness.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a flat cable press-connection connector including a housing, a pressing cover, and a strain relief. A press-connection terminal is accommodated in a terminal accommodation chamber of the housing. The press-connection terminal has an exposed portion that is exposed from the terminal accommodation chamber. The flat cable is press-connected to the exposed portion of the press-connection terminal by the pressing cover. The strain relief holds the flat cable in a bent state between the strain relief and the pressing cover.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a press-connection connector including a housing and an outer cover that houses the housing. A wire extending from the housing is drawn upward through a wire extraction window that opens in the upper surface of the rear portion of the outer cover, and is further bent and led out rearward.

[0004] Patent Document 3 discloses a connector including a housing and a pair of wire holding portions attached to the rear end portion of the housing. In each wire holding portion, a pair of upper and lower wire bending portions for bending a wire are provided. In addition, structures in which a wire (including a flat cable) is routed in a bent state within a cover are also disclosed in Patent Document 4 and Patent Document 5.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

[0006] However, when the number of terminal poles increases and a large number of wires are routed at high density inside the cover, it is difficult to apply the technologies disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1-5 as they are. For example, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the wires are bent at a sharp angle inside the cover (between the strain relief and the housing), and because the wire routing path inside the cover is narrow, it is difficult to bend a large number of wires. On the other hand, if, for example, the strain relief structure is omitted and the bending angle of the wires is set to be gentler, when the wires are pulled backward, excessive stress is applied to the connection between the wires and terminals, and there is a problem that the connection state between the wires and terminals cannot be properly maintained.

[0007] Therefore, this disclosure aims to alleviate the stress acting on the connection between the electric wire and the terminal when the electric wire is pulled, while also accommodating the multi-polarization of connectors. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This disclosure comprises a housing and a cover mounted on the housing, wherein the housing extends in the front-rear direction and has a plurality of cavities that accommodate terminals connected to the ends of electric wires, and the rear ends of the plurality of cavities have openings aligned in the height and width directions, and the cover has a back wall portion behind the electric wire outlet portion that partitions a wire routing space between itself and the electric wire outlet portion, and the back wall portion has a flat opening shape of electric wire outlet extending in the width direction at a position opposite to one end portion on one end of the electric wire outlet portion in the height direction, separated by the wire routing space. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to this disclosure, it is possible to accommodate the multi-pin design of connectors while mitigating the stress acting on the connection between the wire and the terminal when the wire is pulled. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the end structure of a wire harness including a connector according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a connector in a mated state with a mating connector. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a magnified plan view of the cover and surrounding area of ​​the connector. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an enlarged side view of the connector cover and its surrounding area. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a rear view of the connector. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a rear view of the housing. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cover from the front. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the first cover from the left rear. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the second cover from the right rear. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] [Description of Embodiments in this Disclosure] First, the embodiments of this disclosure will be listed and described. The connector disclosed herein is (1) It includes a housing and a cover attached to the housing. The housing extends in the front-rear direction and has a plurality of cavities for accommodating terminals connected to the end portions of electric wires, and a wire lead-out surface where the rear ends of the plurality of cavities open side by side in the height direction and the width direction. The cover has a back wall portion behind the wire lead-out surface and partitioning a wire routing space between the cover and the wire lead-out surface. The back wall portion has a flat opening-shaped wire outlet extending in the width direction at a position facing one end surface on one end side in the height direction of the wire lead-out surface with the wire routing space therebetween.

[0012] According to the above configuration, each electric wire drawn from the wire lead-out surface of the housing to the wire routing space can be concentrated in the wire outlet with a flat shape in the width direction and led out rearward from the wire outlet in a dense state. Therefore, a state where each electric wire is difficult to move at the wire outlet can be formed. In particular, each electric wire drawn from the rear end of each cavity opening to the other end surface on the other end side in the height direction of the wire lead-out surface to the wire routing space can be routed in a posture inclined toward the one end side in the height direction toward the wire outlet. As a result, the tensile force when the electric wire is pulled rearward is less likely to reach the connection portion between the electric wire and the terminal, and the connection state between the electric wire and the terminal can be properly maintained.

[0013] (2) Preferably, the cover has a protrusion protruding into the wire routing space and bending the wire routing path formed between the one end surface and the wire outlet toward the other end side in the height direction.

[0014] According to the above configuration, part (the electric wire on the one end side in the height direction) or all of each electric wire drawn from the rear end of each cavity opening to the one end surface to the wire routing space can be bent once toward the other end side in the height direction by the protrusion and routed in a posture inclined toward the one end side in the height direction from the bending position toward the wire outlet. As a result, the tensile force during wire pulling is even less likely to reach the connection portion between the electric wire and the terminal, and the connection state between the electric wire and the terminal can be more reliably maintained.

[0015] (3) The cover has a pair of side wall portions that intersect with the back wall portion and close the end faces on both sides of the cover in the width direction, and a base wall portion that intersects with the pair of side wall portions and close the end face on one side of the cover in the height direction, and the projection is preferably plate-shaped with its plate surface facing in the front-rear direction, with one end in the height direction connected to the base wall portion and both ends in the width direction connected to the corresponding side wall portions.

[0016] With the above configuration, the projection is connected to both the base wall and the side wall, thereby increasing the rigidity of the projection. As a result, it is possible to prevent the projection from breaking or being damaged when the tensile force during the pulling of the electric wires is transmitted to the projection through each electric wire.

[0017] (4) The cover has a first cover and a second cover that are separable from each other, and the wire outlet has a first wire outlet formed in the first cover and a second wire outlet formed in the second cover that communicates with the first wire outlet.

[0018] With the above configuration, the first and second covers can be assembled with each wire in between, and at the same time, the first and second wire outlets can be connected, forming the wire outlets with each wire routed inside. Therefore, the work of attaching the covers to the housing can be easily performed.

[0019] Furthermore, this disclosure is, (5) Preferably, the wire harness end structure comprises a connector as described in any of (1)-(4) above, and a flat harness portion that is positioned behind the cover and opposite the wire outlet, and which bundles together a plurality of wires led out from the wire outlet and has a flattened outer shape in the width direction.

[0020] According to the above configuration, the flat harness section is positioned behind the wire outlet and opposite to the wire outlet, and the outer shape of the flat harness section can be made flat in the width direction corresponding to the opening shape of the wire outlet. As a result, each wire can be led out neatly from the wire outlet to the flat harness section, and unnecessary loads on each wire can be suppressed.

[0021] [Details of the embodiments of this disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples and is intended to be included in the claims, with all modifications in the sense and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0022] <Embodiment 1> As shown in Figure 1, the connector 20 of Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure is provided at the tip of the end structure 10 of the wire harness. The end structure 10 of the wire harness includes a flat harness portion 80 near the connector 20, which includes a plurality of electric wires 90 led out from the connector 20.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the connector 20 comprises a housing 21, a plurality of terminals 22 housed in the housing 21, a lever 23 rotatably supported by the housing 21, and a cover 24 mounted on the housing 21. The housing 21 is matable with the mating connector 100. In the following description, the front-to-back direction refers to the side of the housing 21 and the mating connector 100 that face each other when mated. The up-and-down direction is based on the up-and-down direction in each figure except Figure 4. The up-and-down direction is synonymous with the height direction. The left-to-right direction is based on the left-to-right direction in Figures 4, 6, and 7. The left-to-right direction is synonymous with the width direction. These directions do not necessarily coincide with the direction reference when the connector 20 is mounted on a vehicle or the like.

[0024] (Other connector) As shown in Figure 3, the mating connector 100 comprises a mating housing 120 and a plurality of mating terminals 130 housed in the mating housing 120. The mating housing 120 is made of synthetic resin and has an overall rectangular block shape. The mating terminals 130 are made of conductive metal and are connected to the end portion of the mating wire 150. The mating terminals 130 have a cylindrical terminal connection portion 131.

[0025] (Housing, terminals, and levers) The housing 21 is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, is composed of a plurality of sub-housings 21A and an outer housing 21B that houses each sub-housing 21A. Each sub-housing 21A has a flattened shape in the width direction and is arranged in the outer housing 21B in a stacked state in the vertical direction. As shown in Figures 2 and 7, each sub-housing 21A has a plurality of cavities 25. Each cavity 25 is arranged in a single row in the width direction within the sub-housing 21A. As shown in Figure 3, each sub-housing 21A has an elastically deformable lance 26 that protrudes from the inner wall of each cavity 25.

[0026] Terminal 22 is inserted into the cavity 25 from the rear and temporarily locked by the corresponding lance 26. Terminal 22 is made of conductive metal and, as shown in Figure 3, has a tab 22A that protrudes forward and a barrel portion 22B formed at its rear end and connected to the terminal portion (front end) of the electric wire 90. When the housing 21 and the mating housing 120 are mated, the tab 22A of terminal 22 is inserted into the terminal connection portion 131 of the mating terminal 130, and terminal 22 and the mating terminal 130 are electrically connected.

[0027] As shown in Figure 3, in each sub-housing 21A stacked vertically, the terminal 22 inserted into the cavity 25 of the lower sub-housing 21A is secondarily locked by a retainer portion 27 protruding from the upper sub-housing 21A. The terminal 22 inserted into the cavity 25 of the uppermost sub-housing 21A is secondarily locked by a separate retainer 28 (see Figure 2) mounted on this sub-housing 21A. The retainer portion 27 and the retainer 28 protrude into the cavity 25 through a retainer mounting hole 29 opening on the upper surface of the sub-housing 21A, and lock the corresponding terminal 22.

[0028] As shown in Figure 2, the outer housing 21B is a rectangular tubular casing that penetrates in the front-to-back direction. Each sub-housing 21A is inserted into the outer housing 21B from the rear and held in place. As shown in Figure 3, the outer housing 21B has a fitting space 30 that opens to the front of each sub-housing 21A. The mating housing 120 is inserted into the fitting space 30 of the outer housing 21B and fitted into place. As shown in Figure 7, a pair of support shafts 31 are formed protruding from the outer surfaces of both side walls of the outer housing 21B. Both support shafts 31 rotatably support the lever 23.

[0029] The lever 23 is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in Figure 2, has a pair of opposing arm portions 32 spaced apart in the width direction, and a connecting portion 33 that extends in the width direction and connects the two arm portions 32. Each of the arm portions 32 has an axial hole 34 and a cam groove 35 formed therein. The connecting portion 33 has an elastically deformable elastic locking portion 36 formed therein.

[0030] The lever 23 is rotatable relative to the housing 21 around a pivot shaft 31 fitted into a shaft hole 34, between a temporary locking position (see Figure 1) and a permanent locking position (see Figures 3, 5, and 6). In the temporary locking position, the connecting portion 33 is positioned away from the front end of the outer housing 21B (see Figure 1). During the rotation of the lever 23 from the temporary locking position to the permanent locking position, a cam follower (not shown) formed on the mating housing 120 slides along the groove surface of the cam groove 35, and the fitting of the housing 21 and the mating housing 120 progresses. In the permanent locking position, as shown in Figure 3, the connecting portion 33 is positioned close to the rear end of the outer housing 21B, and the elastic lock portion 36 is locked to the lever lock portion 37 formed on the upper wall of the outer housing 21B. The elastic locking portion 36 engages with the lever locking portion 37, thereby holding the lever 23 in a state where its rotation is restricted by the outer housing 21B, and holding the housing 21 and the mating housing 120 in a fitted state. As shown in Figure 4, the lever locking portion 37 is formed to protrude rearward from the center in the width direction at the rear end of the upper wall of the outer housing 21B, so as to cover the upper wall portion 43 of the cover 24 (described later) from above.

[0031] As shown in Figure 4, a pair of cover lock portions 38 are formed protruding from the outer surface of the upper wall of the outer housing 21B at positions on both sides in the width direction, flanking the lever lock portion 37. Both cover lock portions 38 are claw-shaped and lock the cover 24, restricting its removal from the housing 21. As shown in Figure 7, a pair of cover lock portions 38 are also formed in the width direction on the outer surface of the lower wall of the outer housing 21B. The two cover lock portions 38 formed on the lower wall of the outer housing 21B and the two cover lock portions 38 formed on the upper wall of the outer housing 21B are located at the same position in the width direction of the housing 21.

[0032] As shown in Figures 3 and 7, the rear surface of the housing 21 is arranged along the height and width directions and is configured as a wire exit surface 21F from which each wire 90 is drawn out from the rear end of each cavity 25. The rear ends of each cavity 25 of each stacked sub-housing 21A are aligned in the height and width directions and open in the wire exit surface 21F of the housing 21.

[0033] (cover) The cover 24 is made of synthetic resin, is cap-shaped, and is attached to the rear end of the housing 21 from the rear. As shown in Figure 8, the cover 24 has a pair of side walls 41, a base wall 42, an upper wall 43, and a back wall 44. The side walls 41 are plate-shaped along the height direction and are spaced apart and facing each other in the width direction. The base wall 42 is plate-shaped along the width direction, extends in the width direction and is connected to the lower end of each side wall 41, closing the lower surface of the cover 24 (the end face on one end in the height direction). The upper wall 43 is plate-shaped along the width direction, extends in the width direction and is connected to the upper end of each side wall 41, closing the upper surface of the cover 24 (the end face on the other end in the height direction). The rear wall portion 44 is plate-shaped with its surface facing the front-to-back direction, extends in the height direction, and is connected to the rear ends of each of the side wall portions 41, base wall portion 42, and upper wall portion 43, and as shown in Figure 6, it closes the rear surface of the cover 24 except for the wire outlet 46 which will be described later.

[0034] As shown in Figure 8, the front ends of the side wall portions 41, base wall portion 42, and upper wall portion 43 are configured as rectangular opening ends 24F in a front view of the cover 24. The upper wall portion 43 is shorter in the front-rear direction than the base wall portion 42. As shown in Figure 3, the upper part of the back wall portion 44 is a sloped portion 45 that slopes forward toward the rear end of the upper wall portion 43. The upper part of the rear end of the side wall portion 41 is connected to the sloped portion 45 and slopes forward along the sloped portion 45.

[0035] As shown in Figure 6, a wire outlet 46 is formed through the lower part of the back wall 44. The wire outlet 46 has a horizontally elongated rectangular, flat opening shape that extends in the width direction. Specifically, the wire outlet 46 is formed with a width dimension that is larger than the height dimension, and the back wall Part 44The opening spans the entire width. Both ends of the wire outlet 46 in the width direction are demarcated by the lower part of the rear end of the corresponding side wall portion 41. The wire outlet 46 also opens into the lower part of the back wall portion 44 (the portion below the center in the height direction of the back wall portion 44). The lower end of the wire outlet 46 is demarcated by the rear end of the base wall portion 42 and is positioned along the width direction. As shown in Figure 3, a guide portion 47 is formed at the lower part of the back wall portion 44, above the wire outlet 46, curving backward. As shown in Figure 6, the upper end of the wire outlet 46 is demarcated by the rear end of the guide portion 47 and is positioned along the width direction. The upper end, lower end, and both ends in the width direction of the wire outlet 46 are each positioned at the same location in the front-rear direction and are formed at the rearmost end of the cover 24.

[0036] As shown in Figures 6 and 8, a pair of locking parts 48 are formed at the front ends of the upper wall portion 43 and the base wall portion 42, respectively, spaced apart in the width direction. Each locking part 48 is U-shaped in plan view, protrudes forward from the front ends of the upper wall portion 43 and the base wall portion 42, and is elastically deformable in the vertical direction. Each locking part 48 is engaged with the corresponding cover locking part 38. When each locking part 48 is engaged with the cover locking part 38, the open end 24F of the cover 24 is positioned to contact the outer edge of the wire outlet 46 of the housing 21, and the cover 24 is held in place by the housing 21. As shown in Figure 3, a wire routing space 49 is formed between the wire outlet surface 21F and the back wall portion 44 inside the cover 24. As shown in Figure 5, when the lever 23 is in the locked position, the connecting part 33 of the lever 23 is positioned to be placed facing the upper surface of the upper wall portion 43.

[0037] As shown in Figure 3, the wire outlet 46 is positioned opposite the one end face portion 21G, where the rear end of the lowest cavity 25 opens, on the lower end side of the wire exit surface 21F of the housing 21, separated by a wire routing space 49. The one end face portion 21G is configured on the wire exit surface 21F of the housing 21 in the same height range as the wire outlet 46 (the range from the lower end of the wire exit surface 21F to the dashed line in Figure 3 as the upper limit), with a height dimension corresponding to the height of the wire outlet 46.

[0038] A projection 51 is formed on the front end side of the base wall portion 42, protruding into the wire routing space 49. The projection 51 is plate-shaped, with its plate surface facing the front-rear direction. The projection 51 extends long in the width direction, and both ends in the width direction are connected to the corresponding side wall portion 41. As a result, the projection 51 closes the front end side of the lower end of the wire routing space 49 behind the one end face portion 21G. When the connector 20 is viewed from the rear, the projection 51 can be seen through the wire outlet 46, but the rear ends of the lowest cavities 25 that open into the one end face portion 21G are hidden by the projection 51 and cannot be seen (see Figure 6).

[0039] As shown in Figures 2 and 8, the cover 24 is composed of a first cover 24A and a second cover 24B that are divisible from each other in the width direction. In other words, the cover 24 is constructed by joining the first cover 24A and the second cover 24B from the width direction.

[0040] As shown in Figure 6, the first cover 24A is positioned on the right side (one side in the width direction) when viewed from the rear of the connector 20, and constitutes the right half of the cover 24. The second cover 24B is positioned on the left side (the other side in the width direction) when viewed from the rear of the connector 20, and constitutes the left half of the cover 24. As shown in Figure 9, the first cover 24A has a right side wall portion 41, a first base wall portion 42A which is the right part of the base wall portion 42, a first upper wall portion 43A which is the right part of the upper wall portion 43, and a first back wall portion 44A which is the right part of the back wall portion 44. Each lock portion 48 on the right side is formed on the first cover 24A. The first cover 24A also has a first projection 51A which is the right part of the projection 51, and a first wire outlet 46A which is the right part of the wire outlet 46. As shown in Figure 10, the second cover 24B has a left side wall portion 41, a second base wall portion 42B which is the left part of the base wall portion 42, a second upper wall portion 43B which is the left part of the upper wall portion 43, a second back wall portion 44B which is the left part of the back wall portion 44, a left lock portion 48, a second projection portion 51B which is the left part of the projection portion 51, and a second wire outlet portion 46B which is the right part of the wire outlet portion 46. As shown in Figure 8, the projection portion 51 is divided into a first projection portion 51A and a second projection portion 51B in the widthwise center of the cover 24. Similarly, the wire outlet portion 46 is divided in the widthwise center of the cover 24 while communicating with the first wire outlet portion 46A and the second wire outlet portion 46B.

[0041] As shown in Figure 9, the first cover 24A has a pair of upper and lower first locking portions 53 that project from the first back wall portion 44A to the other side in the width direction, which is the second back wall portion 44B side. Both first locking portions 53 are U-shaped in plan view and are elastically deformable and positioned on the upper part (right side of the inclined surface portion 45) and lower part of the first back wall portion 44A. As shown in Figure 10, the second cover 24B has a pair of upper and lower second locking portions 54 projecting from the outer surface of the second back wall portion 44B that is on the side in the width direction, which is the first back wall portion 44A side. Both second locking portions 54 are claw-shaped and are positioned on the upper part (left side of the inclined surface portion 45) and lower part of the second back wall portion 44B. As shown in Figure 6, both second locking portions 54 are locked to the corresponding first locking portions 53. The first cover 24A and the second cover 24B are integrated by the locking of both second locking parts 54 to both first locking parts 53. Subsequently, the first cover 24A and the second cover 24B are fitted into the housing 21 from the rear and locked in place, holding them in an immovable state.

[0042] (Flat harness section) As shown in Figure 1, the flattened harness section 80 is positioned behind the wire outlet 46 and opposite the wire outlet 46. The flattened harness section 80 has a flattened cross-sectional shape corresponding to the wire outlet 46 and is positioned in the end structure 10 of the wire harness in a range that overlaps with the wire outlet 46 in the height and width directions.

[0043] As shown in Figures 3 and 6, each wire 90 is led out from the wire outlet 46 in a densely stacked state while maintaining the stacking order of the sub-housing 21A that houses each wire 90. Each wire 90 led out from the wire outlet 46 is arranged on a fusion sheet (not shown) for each layer, sandwiched between the fusion sheets from above and below, and formed into a flat harness section 80 that is flattened in the width direction through a fusion process such as ultrasonic fusion or heat fusion. In short, the flat harness section 80 integrates each wire 90 at the end 81 through a fusion process while maintaining the stacked state of each layer. The front-to-back length of the flat harness section 80 is arbitrary and can be determined as appropriate depending on the situation. The flat harness section 80 can also be attached to a mounting surface (not shown).

[0044] (Function of connector and wire harness end structures) During the assembly of the cover 24, the first cover 24A and the second cover 24B are joined from the width direction to each wire 90 exposed between each sub-housing 21A and the flat harness portion 80. The first locking portion 53 and the second locking portion 54 are locked together, and a single cover 24 is formed with each wire 90 inserted inside the first cover 24A and the second cover 24B.

[0045] Next, each sub-housing 21A is inserted into the outer housing 21B from the rear, and the sub-housings 21A are held in a stacked state in the vertical direction within the outer housing 21B. Then, the cover 24 is attached to the outer housing 21B from the rear, and the locking parts 48 and the cover locking parts 38 are locked together, so that the cover 24 is held in place on the housing 21 in an anti-detachment state. After that, the housing 21 is fitted into the mating connector 100 by rotating the lever 23.

[0046] As shown in Figure 3, each electric wire 90 drawn out from the rear end of each cavity 25 in each of the upper and middle sub-housings 21A (in Figure 3, the 3rd to 6th sub-housings 21A from the bottom) extends downward inclined within the wire routing space 49 of the cover 24, reaching the wire outlet 46 which opens on the lower end of the back wall portion 44, and is led out to the rear from the wire outlet 46 while being guided by the outlet guide portion 47. Each electric wire 90 drawn out from the rear end of each cavity 25 in each of the lower sub-housings 21A (in Figure 3, the 1st to 2nd sub-housings 21A from the bottom) is pressed by the protrusion 51 and lifted upward once, then, after overcoming the protrusion 51, extends downward inclined, reaching the wire outlet 46, and is led out to the rear from the wire outlet 46. Here, each wire 90 drawn out from the rear end of each cavity 25 of the lowest sub-housing 21A is pushed up by the upper end of the projection 51, comes into contact with the adjacent wires 90 on the upper side, and becomes curved and deformed at a position corresponding to the projection 51.

[0047] As shown in Figures 3 and 6, each wire 90 is pressed against the upper end (outlet guide portion 47) of the wire outlet 46 of the back wall portion 44, while maintaining the stacked state of each sub-housing 21A, and is tightly bundled together while being biased upward. Then, as shown in Figures 1, 4, and 5, each wire 90 that is led out from the wire outlet 46 of the back wall portion 44 proceeds straight backward and is introduced into the inside of the flat harness portion 80.

[0048] In this embodiment 1, since the locking parts 48 and cover locking parts 38 are arranged in point-symmetrical positions when viewed from the rear of the connector 20, it is also possible to attach the cover 24 to the housing 21 in the opposite orientation to that described above. When the cover 24 is in the opposite orientation, the wire outlet 46 opens to the upper end of the back wall 44, and the one end face 21G is located to the upper end of the wire exit surface 21F, so the wiring configuration of each wire 90 in the wire wiring space 49 is the opposite of that described above.

[0049] According to this embodiment 1, each electric wire 90 is tightly inserted into the electric wire outlet 46 of the back wall portion 44 and further arranged in a bent or inclined state in the electric wire routing space 49 of the cover 24. Therefore, even if a tensile force acts on each electric wire 90 or the flat harness portion 80 extending rearward from the flat harness portion 80, the movement of each electric wire 90 can be restricted at the electric wire outlet 46, and the routing state of each electric wire 90 can be maintained in the electric wire routing space 49. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tensile force from affecting the connection portion between each electric wire 90 and each terminal 22 at the end of each electric wire 90 (the portion connected by the barrel portion 22B). As a result, the connection state between each electric wire 90 and each terminal 22 can be properly maintained. In particular, in this embodiment 1, the movement of each electric wire 90 can be restricted without narrowing or complicating the electric wire routing path inside the cover 24. For this reason, it is possible to accommodate multi-pole connectors.

[0050] Furthermore, since the wire routing path from one end face portion 21G of the wire exit surface 21F of the housing 21 to the wire outlet 46 is bent upward by the projection 51, each wire 90 drawn out from the rear end of each cavity 25 in each sub-housing 21A on the lower side can be inserted into the wire routing space 49 in a bent state. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the tensile force from being applied to the connection portion between each wire 90 and each terminal 22.

[0051] Furthermore, since the lower end of the projection 51 is connected to the base wall 42, and both ends of the projection 51 in the width direction are connected to the corresponding side wall 41, the rigidity of the projection 51 can be increased, preventing the projection 51 from breaking or being damaged when tensile force is applied.

[0052] Furthermore, since the cover 24 is composed of a first cover 24A and a second cover 24B, the first wire outlet 46A and the second wire outlet 46B can be connected at the same time as the first cover 24A and the second cover 24B are assembled with each wire 90 sandwiched in between, and the wire outlet 46 can be formed with each wire 90 routed inside. Therefore, the work of attaching the cover 24 to the housing 21 can be easily performed.

[0053] Furthermore, according to the wire harness end structure 10 of this embodiment 1, a flat harness section 80 is provided at a position behind the cover 24 and facing the wire outlet 46, which bundles together each wire 90 led out from the wire outlet 46. The external shape of the flat harness section 80 is flat in the width direction, corresponding to the opening shape of the wire outlet 46. As a result, each wire 90 can be led out neatly from the wire outlet 46 to the flat harness section 80, and unnecessary loads on each wire 90 can be suppressed. Moreover, the stacked state of each wire 90 can be maintained in the same stacked state as the sub-housing 21A corresponding to each wire 90.

[0054] [Other embodiments of this disclosure] Embodiment 1 disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. In the first embodiment described above, the cover had a projection that protruded into the wire routing space. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the cover does not need to have a projection that protrudes into the wire routing space. In the first embodiment described above, the projection was connected to both the base wall and the side wall. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the projection may be connected to only one of the base wall or the side wall. In the first embodiment described above, the cover was composed of a first cover and a second cover, which were separate from each other. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the cover may be integrally constructed by a flexible hinge connecting the first cover and the second cover. Alternatively, the cover may not have a hinge and may be a single, rigid member as a whole. In the first embodiment described above, the flat harness portion was formed by resin coating each wire led out from the wire outlet into a flattened outer shape in the width direction. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the flat harness portion may be formed by holding each wire led out from the wire outlet into a flattened outer shape in the width direction with clamps, tape, etc. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0055] 10…End structure of wire harness 20… Connector 21… Housing 21A…Sub-housing 21B...Outer Housing 21F…Wire exit side 21G...One end surface part 22... Terminals 22A... Tab 22B... Barrel section 23... Lever 24...cover 24A…First Cover 24B...Second cover 24F…Open end 25... Cavity 26... Lance 27…Retainer part 28…Retainer 29…Retainer mounting hole 30…Matching space 31...Spindle 32...Arm section 33...Connection part 34... Shaft hole 35... Cam groove 36...Elastic locking part 37... Lever lock section 38... Cover lock section 41... Side wall section 42...Base wall part 42A…First base wall part 42B…Second base wall part 43...Top wall part 43A…First upper wall part 43B…Second upper wall part 44...Back wall part 44A…First back wall part 44B…Second back wall part 45…Slope 46... Wire outlet 46A...First wire outlet 46B...Second wire outlet 47…Derivation guide section 48... Rock Club 49…Space for wiring and cable distribution 51… protrusion 51A…1st protrusion 51B…Second protrusion 53...First locking part 54...Second locking section 80... Flat harness section 81...End 90...Electric wire 100...Mutual connector 120... Opponent's Housing 130...Mutual terminal 131...Terminal connection part 150... Opposing power line

Claims

1. It comprises a housing and a cover attached to the housing, The housing extends in the front-to-back direction and has a plurality of cavities that house terminals connected to the ends of electric wires, and the rear ends of the plurality of cavities have openings that are aligned in the height and width directions for electric wire exits. The cover has a back wall portion located behind the wire exit surface that divides the wire routing space between it and the wire exit surface. The back wall portion has a flat, open wire outlet extending in the width direction, located opposite one end surface portion on one end in the height direction of the wire outlet surface, separated by the wire routing space. The cover has a projection that protrudes into the wire routing space and bends the wire routing path formed between the one end surface and the wire outlet towards the other end in the height direction, The projection is plate-shaped with its surface facing the front-rear direction, and is located behind the one end surface. A connector in which, when viewed from the rear, the protrusion is visible from the wire outlet, and the rear end of the cavity opening on one end face is not visible from the wire outlet.

2. The cover has a pair of side wall portions that intersect with the back wall portion and close the end faces on both sides in the width direction of the cover, and a base wall portion that intersects with the pair of side wall portions and close the end face on one end in the height direction of the cover, The connector according to claim 1, wherein the projection has a shape in which one end in the height direction is connected to the base wall and both ends in the width direction are connected to the corresponding side wall.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the cover has a first cover and a second cover that are separable from each other, and the wire outlet has a first wire outlet formed in the first cover and a second wire outlet formed in the second cover that communicates with the first wire outlet.

4. A connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, An end structure for a wire harness, comprising: a flat harness section positioned behind the cover and opposite the wire outlet, which bundles together multiple wires led out from the wire outlet and has a flattened outer shape in the width direction.

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