Intermediate connector

Abstract

To provide an intermediate connector excellent in expandability and excellent in degree of freedom of design.SOLUTION: An intermediate connector 1 comprises: a connector 20 having a pair of terminals 22 and a conductor 21 that connects the pair of terminals 22; a holder 10 that includes housing spaces 13 and 14 housing the connector 20; and a cover 30 that is attached to the holder 10 so as to cover the connector 20 housed in the housing spaces 13 and 14. The cover 30 includes a pressure contact body 33 in which a first contact point part 35 having a pressure contact structure which is arranged in the housing spaces 13 and 14 and in contact with the conductor 21 with a pressure so as to be electrically connected to the conductor 21 and a second contact part 36 which is arranged outside the housing spaces 13 and 14 and is electrically connected to an outer conductor 21 are conductively connected. At the time attaching the cover 30 to the holder 10, a pair of fitting parts 2 in each of which each of the pair of terminals 22 is arranged, and which can fit a mating side connector 40 are constructed by the cover 30 and the holder 10, and the first contact part 35 is brought into contact with the conductor 21 with a pressure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an intermediate connector.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, intermediate connectors have been proposed for distributing electric power supplied from an input-side connector connected to a distribution board installed in a building such as a house to a plurality of output-side connectors connected to loads of various electric appliances and the like. This type of intermediate connector is also called a branch box (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the conventional intermediate connector (branch box) described above, a busbar shaped to correspond to the branching path from the input connector to the output connector is housed inside the housing. When the input and output connectors are mated into the intermediate connector, power is transmitted from the input connector to the output connector via this busbar. Due to this structure, conventional intermediate connectors require the manufacture of busbars with a dedicated shape according to the power distribution specifications (in other words, the shape of the branching path, for example, the number of outputs for one input). Furthermore, in conventional intermediate connectors, the busbar is used as a male terminal with a plate-like shape (a so-called tab terminal), which is inserted into a female terminal as the mating terminal (for example, a terminal with a spring-like contact inside a hollow box-shaped part). Generally, it is difficult to process busbars into complex shapes; for example, it is not easy to process a busbar into the shape of the female terminal described above, or into a branching shape corresponding to a complex branching path. Thus, it is considered that there is room for improvement in terms of expandability and design flexibility in conventional intermediate connectors.

[0005] One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide an intermediate connector that offers excellent expandability and design flexibility. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the intermediate connector according to the present invention has the following features:

[0007] A connector having a pair of terminals and a conductor connecting the pair of terminals, A holder having a housing space for housing the aforementioned connecting body, An intermediate connector comprising: a cover attached to the holder so as to cover the connecting body housed in the aforementioned housing space, The aforementioned cover is A pressure contact body has a first contact portion that is arranged within the housing space and has a pressure contact structure that presses into contact with the conductor and electrically connects to the conductor, and a second contact portion that is arranged outside the housing space and electrically connects to an external conductor, the two contact portions being electrically connected. When the cover is attached to the holder, Each of the pair of terminals is arranged so as to form a pair of mating portions into which a mating connector can be fitted, and the cover and the holder form a pair of mating portions, and the first contact portion of the pressure contact body is pressed against the conductor. It must be an intermediate connector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the intermediate connector of the present invention, when the cover is attached to the holder, the first contact portion of the pressure contact body of the cover is pressed against the conductor of the connecting body housed in the housing space of the holder. Furthermore, the cover and holder constitute a pair of mating portions (for example, so-called openings) into which the mating connector can be mated. Each of the pair of mating portions is arranged with each of the pair of terminals connected to the connecting body. As a result, for example, when power is input to one of the pair of terminals, power can be output to the other of the pair of terminals and to the second contact portion of the pressure contact body located outside the housing space. On the other hand, when power is input to the second contact portion of the pressure contact body, power can be output to both of the pair of terminals. In other words, power distribution via the intermediate connector is possible. Furthermore, compared to busbars used in conventional intermediate connectors, the connecting body in the holder can use terminals of any structure (for example, the male and female terminals described above), and if flexible wires are used as conductors, complex branching paths can be easily realized. That is, the design freedom of the intermediate connector can be improved. Furthermore, by connecting the conductor of a similar connector housed in a similar holder to the second contact portion of the connector located outside the housing space, for example, multiple connectors housed in different holders can be continuously connected via a pressure contact. In other words, the expandability of the intermediate connector can be improved. Therefore, the intermediate connector of this configuration offers excellent expandability and design flexibility.

[0009] The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by referring to the attached drawings and reading through the embodiments for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments"). [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an intermediate connector and a mating connector that is mated to the intermediate connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the intermediate connector shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the intermediate connector shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the connector (external connector) shown in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of BB in Figure 2. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows the area around the mating portion of the intermediate connector and the mating portion of the mating connector in the AA cross-section of Figure 1. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the terminal wires inside the mating connector that connects to the intermediate connector shown in Figure 1. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows an example of how intermediate connectors are used in the wiring of buildings such as houses. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a diagram corresponding to Figure 6, showing an intermediate connector according to a modified example and a mating connector that is mated to the intermediate connector. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, an intermediate connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The intermediate connector 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is typically placed in the space behind an outlet 60 installed in a building such as a house, as shown in Figure 8. The intermediate connector 1 is used with an input-side connector 40A (see Figure 1) connected to a distribution board 50 installed in the building, and an output-side connector 40B (see Figure 1) connected to an outlet 60 (i.e., loads such as various electrical appliances connected to the outlet 60), mated together, and performs the function of distributing power supplied from the input-side connector 40A to the output-side connector 40B. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the input-side connector 40A and the output-side connector 40B, each of them may be referred to as the "receiving-side connector 40".

[0012] For the sake of clarity, the terms "front," "back," "up," "down," "left," and "right" are defined below as shown in Figures 1 to 6. The "front-back direction," "up-down direction," and "left-right direction" are orthogonal to each other. The front-back direction coincides with the mating direction between the mating portion 2 of the intermediate connector 1 (see Figure 1) and the mating connector 40. The components constituting the intermediate connector will be described in order below.

[0013] As shown in Figure 3, the intermediate connector 1 comprises a holder 10, a connecting body 20 housed in the holder 10, a cover 30 attached to the holder 10, an external holder 10A stacked on top of the cover 30, an external connecting body 20A housed in the external holder 10A, and an external cover 30A attached to the external holder 10A. The following describes each component constituting the intermediate connector 1 in order.

[0014] First, the holder 10 will be described. The holder 10 is a resin molded product, and as shown in FIG. 3, has an elongated substantially rectangular box shape that opens upward and extends in the front-rear direction. The holder 10 integrally includes a wire accommodating portion 11 and a pair of front and rear terminal accommodating portions 12 positioned in front of and behind the wire accommodating portion 11. In the wire accommodating portion 11, three wire accommodating spaces 13 are partitioned and formed so as to be arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. Each wire accommodating space 13 is a space that is recessed downward, opens upward, and extends in the front-rear direction. In each of the pair of front and rear terminal accommodating portions 12, three terminal accommodating spaces 14 corresponding to the three wire accommodating spaces 13 are partitioned and formed so as to be arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. Each terminal accommodating space 14 is a space that is recessed downward, opens upward, and extends in the front-rear direction. In each terminal accommodating space 14, the inner side in the front-rear direction communicates with the corresponding wire accommodating space 13 in the front-rear direction, and the outer side in the front-rear direction opens to communicate with the outside. That is, a so-called opening is formed. A pair of left and right locking holes recessed downward is formed on the upper surface of a portion near the boundary between each of the pair of front and rear terminal accommodating portions 12 and the wire accommodating portion 11.

[0015] Next, the connecting body 20 will be described. In this example, as shown in FIG. 4, the connecting body 20 includes an electric wire 21 and a pair of female terminals 22 connected to both ends of the electric wire 21. The female terminal 22 has a structure in which a spring contact is provided in a hollow box-shaped portion 26. However, instead of the female terminal 22, a male terminal (a so-called tab terminal, which is a terminal having a rectangular plate-shaped contact portion that is inserted into the box-shaped portion 26 of the female terminal described above and contacts the spring contact) may be used. For example, as in the example shown in FIG. 9, the female terminal 22 is accommodated in the input connector 40A connected to the distribution board 50, and this prevents accidental exposure of the female terminal 22 to the outside and contact of an operator's fingertip or the like with the terminal (so-called accidental finger contact). From this point of view, the female terminal 22 may be surrounded and accommodated except for an opening (a so-called front opening, see also the opening 3 shown in FIG. 2) that receives the tab portion 45 of the male terminal 42 which is the mating terminal. In the case of this example, the male terminal 42 is used for the external connector 20A.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 4, the electric wire 21 is composed of a conductor core wire 23 and a coating 24 covering the outer circumference of the conductor core wire 23, and has flexibility that allows easy bending. The metal female terminal 22 integrally includes a wire connecting portion 25 crimped to the conductor core wire 23 exposed after the coating 24 is removed at the end portion of the electric wire 21, and a box-shaped portion 26. The box-shaped portion 26 has a shape into which a tab portion 45 (see FIG. 6) of a male terminal 42 (described later) belonging to a mating connector 40 can be inserted. Since the connecting body 20 described above and the external connecting body 20A (see FIG. 3) have the same structure (a structure in which a pair of female terminals 22 are connected to both ends of the electric wire 21), description of the external connecting body 20A is omitted hereinafter.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, each of the three connecting bodies 20 is accommodated in the holder 10 such that the electric wire 21 is accommodated in the corresponding electric wire accommodating space 13, and the pair of front and rear female terminals 22 are accommodated in the corresponding pair of front and rear terminal accommodating spaces 14.

[0018] Next, the cover 30 will be described. The cover 30 is a resin molded body, and as shown in FIG. 3, has an elongated substantially rectangular plate shape extending in the front-rear direction. The cover 30 integrally includes a central cover portion 31 and a pair of front and rear end cover portions 32 located in front of and behind the central cover portion 31. The central cover portion 31 covers the upper opening of the electric wire accommodating portion 11 of the holder 10, and the pair of front and rear end cover portions 32 function to cover the upper openings of the pair of front and rear terminal accommodating portions 12. Three pairs (six pieces) of metal press-contact bodies 33 corresponding to the three electric wires 21 accommodated in the holder 10 are integrated with the central cover portion 31 by press-fitting, insert molding or the like. Therefore, the central cover portion 31 has a larger plate thickness and its upper end surface is located at a higher position than the pair of front and rear end cover portions 32.

[0019] Each pressure contact body 33 integrated into the central cover portion 31, as shown in Figures 3, 5, and 6, integrally comprises a connecting portion 34 embedded in the central cover portion 31, a pair of front and rear pressure contact portions 35 located below the connecting portion 34 and exposed to the outside below the central cover portion 31, and a pair of front and rear pressure contact portions 36 located above the connecting portion 34 and exposed to the outside above the central cover portion 31. The multiple pressure contact bodies 33 are arranged and fixed in the central cover portion 31 such that the left-right position of each pressure contact body 33 coincides with the left-right position of the corresponding electric wire 21 among the three electric wires 21 housed in the holder 10 (and external holder 10A).

[0020] On the lower surface of each of the front and rear end cover portions 32 near the boundary with the central cover portion 31, a pair of downwardly projecting locking protrusions 37 are formed on the left and right sides, corresponding to a pair of left and right locking holes 15 of the holder 10. At the four corners of the upper surface of the central cover portion 31, downwardly recessed locking holes 38 are formed.

[0021] The cover 30 is attached to the holder 10 such that the central cover portion 31 covers the upper opening of the wire housing portion 11 of the holder 10, the pair of front and rear end cover portions 32 cover the upper openings of the front and rear terminal housing portions 12, and the multiple (four) locking protrusions 37 of the cover 30 are inserted into the multiple (four) locking holes 15 of the holder 10. When the cover 30 is attached to the holder 10, each of the multiple pressure contact portions 35 exposed below the cover 30 is pressed against the corresponding wire 21 of the three wires 21 housed in the holder 10 (see Figures 5 and 6). This pressure contact is achieved when the pair of left and right pressure contact blades 35a (see Figure 5) of the pressure contact portion 35 cut through the insulation 24 of the wire 21 and press against the conductor core wire 23 of the wire 21 (see Figure 5). This pressure contact connects each of the multiple pressure contact bodies 33 integrated into the cover 30 to a corresponding connector 20 housed in the holder 10. Once the cover 30 is attached to the holder 10, a well-known locking structure (not shown) prevents the cover 30 from separating upward from the holder 10. For example, such a locking structure involves engaging a locking claw provided on the outer wall of the holder 10 with a locking hole provided on the outer wall of the cover 30.

[0022] When the cover 30 is attached to the holder 10, the pair of front and rear terminal housing portions 12 of the holder 10 and the pair of front and rear end cover portions 32 of the cover 30 are combined to form a pair of roughly rectangular cylindrical fitting portions 2 (including openings 3) extending in the front-to-back direction, as shown in Figure 2. Inside each fitting portion 2, three female terminals 22 of the connecting body 20 are arranged in the left-to-right direction, and at its extended end (outer end in the front-to-back direction), three openings 3 are defined so as to be arranged in the left-to-right direction, each communicating with one of the three female terminals 22. The fitting portion 2 has a shape that allows it to be inserted into the hood portion 44 (see Figures 1 and 6) of the male housing 41, which will be described later and belongs to the mating connector 40.

[0023] Next, the external holder 10A will be described. The external holder 10A shown in Figure 3 has the same structure as the holder 10, except that four downwardly protruding locking protrusions 16 are formed on the lower surface of the wire housing section 11 corresponding to the four locking holes 38 of the cover 30, and a slit (not shown) for inserting a plurality of pressure contact sections 36 exposed above the cover 30 is formed on the lower surface of the wire housing section 11. In the external holder 10A, three external connectors 20A are housed side by side in the left-right direction, as shown in Figure 3, similar to how three connectors 20 are housed in the holder 10.

[0024] The external holder 10A is stacked on top of the cover 30 such that the wire housing portion 11 of the external holder 10A rests on the upper surface of the central cover portion 31 of the cover 30, and that the multiple (four) locking protrusions 16 of the external holder 10A are inserted into the multiple (four) locking holes 38 of the cover 30. When the external holder 10A is stacked on top of the cover 30, each of the multiple pressure contact portions 36 exposed above the cover 30 is inserted through the slit and pressure-contacted with the corresponding wire 21 of the three external connectors 20A housed in the external holder 10A (see Figures 5 and 6). This pressure contact is achieved when the pair of left and right pressure contact blades 36a (see Figure 5) of the pressure contact portion 36 cut through the insulation 24 of the wire 21 and press-contact the conductor core 23 of the wire 21 (see Figure 5). This pressure contact allows each of the multiple pressure contact bodies 33 integrated into the cover 30 to be electrically connected to the corresponding external connector 20A housed in the external holder 10A. When the external holder 10A is fully stacked on the cover 30, a well-known locking structure (not shown) similar to the one described above prevents the external holder 10A from separating upward from the cover 30. Thus, when the external holder 10A is stacked on top of the cover 30 attached to the holder 10, each of the three connector bodies 20 housed in the holder 10 is electrically connected via the corresponding pressure contact body 33 to the corresponding external connector 20A among the three external connector bodies 20A housed in the external holder 10A.

[0025] Next, the outer cover 30A will be described. The outer cover 30A shown in Figure 3 has the same structure as the cover 30, except that a central cover portion 39 is used instead of the central cover portion 31. Unlike the central cover portion 31, the central cover portion 39 does not have multiple pressure contact bodies 33 integrated into it. For this reason, the plate thickness of the central cover portion 39 is the same as the plate thickness of the pair of front and rear end cover portions 32 located in front of and behind the central cover portion 39.

[0026] The external cover 30A is attached to the external holder 10A such that the central cover portion 39 of the external cover 30A covers the upper opening of the wire housing portion 11 of the external holder 10A, the pair of front and rear end cover portions 32 of the external cover 30A cover the upper openings of the pair of front and rear terminal housing portions 12 of the external holder 10A, and the multiple (four) locking protrusions 37 of the external cover 30A are inserted into the multiple (four) locking holes 15 of the external holder 10A. When the external cover 30A is attached to the external holder 10A, upward separation of the external cover 30A from the external holder 10A is prevented by a well-known locking structure (not shown) similar to the one described above.

[0027] When the external cover 30A is attached to the external holder 10A, the pair of front and rear terminal housing portions 12 of the external holder 10A and the pair of front and rear end cover portions 32 of the external cover 30A are combined to form a pair of roughly rectangular cylindrical fitting portions 2 extending in the front-to-back direction, as shown in Figure 2. The fitting portion 2 formed by the combination of the external holder 10A and the external cover 30A has the same structure as the fitting portion 2 formed by the combination of the holder 10 and the cover 30 described above. That is, inside each fitting portion 2, three female terminals 22 of the external connector 20A are arranged in the left-to-right direction, and at its extended end (outer end in the front-to-back direction), three openings 3 communicating with each of the three female terminals 22 are defined in the left-to-right direction. The components constituting the intermediate connector 1 have been described above.

[0028] The intermediate connector 1 shown in Figure 2 is thus completed. The intermediate connector 1 shown in Figure 2 has a pair of mating parts 2 extending in the front-to-back direction at two locations in the vertical direction (i.e., a total of four mating parts 2). The corresponding female terminals 22 located inside all (four) mating parts 2 of the intermediate connector 1 are electrically connected to each other. The mating part 2 of the intermediate connector 1 can be mated to the mating connector 40.

[0029] As shown in Figures 1, 6, and 7, the mating connector 40 consists of a resin male housing 41, three male terminals 42 housed in the male housing 41, and a cable 43 connected to the three male terminals 42. The three male terminals 42 are housed in the male housing 41 so as to be aligned in the left-right direction, corresponding to the three openings 3 arranged in the left-right direction of the mating portion 2. The tab portions 45 (rectangular flat tip portions) of the three male terminals 42 are located within the hood portion 44 of the male housing 41. As shown in Figure 7, the cable 43 is a flat cable (so-called VVF cable) in which a sheath 43a covers the outer circumference of three electric wires 43b arranged in a line in the left-right direction. At the end of the cable 43, the sheath 43a is removed, and a male terminal 42 is connected to each of the exposed ends of the three electric wires 43b. A tab portion 45 is provided at the front end of the male terminal 42. As shown in Figure 9, when the male terminal 42 is positioned in the mating portion 2, the female terminal 22 will be housed in the mating connector 40.

[0030] The mating connector 40 is mated with the mating portion 2 by inserting the mating portion 2 into the hood portion 44 of the male housing 41 (see Figure 6). When the mating connector 40 and the mating portion 2 are mated, the tab portions 45 of each male terminal 42 belonging to the mating connector 40 are inserted into the box-shaped portion 26 of the corresponding female terminal 22 through the corresponding opening 3 of the mating portion 2, thereby electrically connecting the corresponding male terminal 42 (i.e., the cable 43) and female terminal 22. More specifically, the tab portion 45 of the male terminal 42 is inserted into the box-shaped portion 26 of the female terminal 22, and the tab portion 45 makes contact with a spring-shaped contact (not shown) provided inside the box-shaped portion 26, thereby electrically connecting the male terminal 42 and the female terminal 22. Furthermore, the locking projection 51 provided on the upper surface of the mating portion 2 and the locking portion (not shown) provided on the male housing 41 engage with each other, maintaining the mating connector 40 in a state where it is fitted into the mating portion 2.

[0031] In the example shown in Figure 1, of the four mating parts 2, the front and lower mating part 2 is fitted with an input-side connector 40A connected to a distribution board 50 installed in the building, and the front and upper mating part 2 is fitted with an output-side connector 40B connected to an outlet 60 (i.e., loads such as various electrical appliances connected to the outlet 60) installed in the building. As a result, the intermediate connector 1 performs the function of distributing the power from the distribution board 50 supplied by the input-side connector 40A to the output-side connector 40B. In addition, in the example shown in Figure 1, a mating connector 40 may also be fitted to one or both of the two rear mating parts 2. As a result, the intermediate connector 1 performs the function of distributing the power from the distribution board 50 supplied by the input-side connector 40A to one or two mating connectors 40 in addition to the output-side connector 40B.

[0032] <Effects and Actions> As described above, according to the intermediate connector 1 of this embodiment, when the cover 30 is attached to the holder 10, the pressure contact portion 35 of the pressure contact body 33 of the cover 30 is pressure-contacted to the wire 21 of the connecting body 20 housed in the housing space (wire housing space 13 and terminal housing space 14) of the holder 10. Furthermore, the cover 30 and the holder 10 form a pair of mating portions 2 into which the mating connector 40 can be fitted. Each of the pair of mating portions 2 is provided with each of the pair of female terminals 22 connected to the connecting body 20. As a result, for example, when power is input to one of the pair of female terminals 22, power can be output to the other of the pair of female terminals 22 and to the pressure contact portion 36 of the pressure contact body 33 located outside the housing space. Similarly, when power is input to the pressure contact portion 36 of the pressure contact body 33, power can be output to both of the pair of female terminals 22. In other words, power distribution via the intermediate connector 1 is possible. Furthermore, compared to the busbars used in the intermediate connector described above, the connector 20 inside the holder 10 can be fitted with terminals of any structure (for example, the male and female terminals described above), and complex power distribution is easy if flexible wires 21 are used as conductors. In other words, it offers excellent design flexibility. Moreover, by connecting the wires 21 of the external connector 20A housed in the external holder 10A to the pressure contact portion 36 of the pressure contact body 33 located outside the housing space, as in this embodiment, multiple external connectors 20 and 20A housed in external holders 10 and 10A can be connected in a continuous manner. In other words, it offers excellent expandability. Therefore, the intermediate connector 1 according to this embodiment is excellent in both expandability and design flexibility.

[0033] Furthermore, the pressure contact portion 36 of the pressure contact body 33 located outside the housing space has the same pressure contact structure as the pressure contact portion 35 and is pressure-contacted to the electric wire 21 of the external connector 20A. Therefore, the electric wire 21 of the external connector 20A can be easily connected to the pressure contact portion 36.

[0034] Furthermore, the connector 20 can be housed in the holder 10, the external connector 20A can be housed in the external holder 10A, and the connector 20 and the external connector 20A can be connected by the pressure contact 33 provided on the cover 30. This allows the intermediate connector 1 to be expanded without excessively increasing the number of parts.

[0035] <Other forms> It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified, improved, etc. as appropriate. Furthermore, the material, shape, dimensions, number, placement, etc. of each component in the embodiments described above are arbitrary and not limited as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0036] For example, in the above embodiment, a female terminal 22 is provided on the connector 20 (external connector 20A) housed in the holder 10 (external holder 10A), and a male terminal 42 is provided on the mating connector 40. In contrast, as shown in Figure 9, a male terminal 42 may be provided on the connector 20 (external connector 20A) housed in the holder 10 (external holder 10A), and a female terminal 22 may be provided on the mating connector 40. More specifically, the mating connector 40 is fitted into the front and upper mating portion 2 in Figure 9. The mating connector 40 houses three female terminals 22, which are arranged in the left-right direction, corresponding to three male terminals 42 arranged in the left-right direction of the mating portion 2. The tab portions 45 of the three male terminals 42 are located within the hood portion 44 of the mating portion 2. The mating connector 40 is fitted to the mating portion 2 by being inserted into the hood portion 44 of the mating portion 2. When the mating connector 40 and the mating portion 2 are mated, the tab portion 45 of the corresponding male terminal 42 of the mating portion 2 is inserted into the box-shaped portion 26 of each female terminal 22 belonging to the mating connector 40, thereby electrically connecting the corresponding male terminal 42 and female terminal 22. Furthermore, the locking projection 51 provided on the upper surface of the mating connector 40 and the locking portion (not shown) provided on the mating portion 2 engage, maintaining the state in which the mating connector 40 is mated to the mating portion 2. In the example shown in Figure 9, the male terminal 42 is provided on the front and upper mating portion 2, but the male terminal 42 may also be provided on other mating portions 2 (for example, the front and lower mating portion 2).

[0037] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an intermediate connector 1 is formed by placing only one "laminated body" consisting of a cover 30 and an external holder 10A stacked on top of the cover 30 between the holder 10 at the lowest position and the external cover 30A at the uppermost position. This provides a pair of front-to-back mating portions 2 extending in the front-to-back direction at two locations in the vertical direction, and the corresponding female terminals 22 located inside all (four) mating portions 2 are electrically connected to each other. In contrast, N (N: an integer of 2 or more) "laminated bodies" may be stacked vertically between the holder 10 at the lowest position and the external cover 30A at the uppermost position. In this case, an intermediate connector 1 is formed that has a pair of front-to-back mating portions 2 extending in the front-to-back direction at (N+1) locations in the vertical direction, and the corresponding female terminals 22 located inside all (2 × (N+1)) mating portions 2 are electrically connected to each other. Furthermore, the intermediate connector 1 may be formed so that multiple units of the holder 10 and cover 30 are lined up in the left-to-right direction. In other words, the number of power distributions by the intermediate connector 1 can be increased. Furthermore, when two or more "laminated structures" are stacked vertically, in order to avoid interference between the pressure contacts 33 fixed to the vertically adjacent covers 30, the front-to-back positions for fixing the pressure contacts 33 to the vertically adjacent covers 30 must be different.

[0038] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, because the wire 21 of the connector 20 (external connector 20A) extends linearly in the front-to-back direction within the holder 10 (external holder 10A), the pair of front and rear female terminals 22 (i.e., the pair of front and rear mating parts 2) of the connector 20 are also arranged to extend in the front-to-back direction. In contrast, the intermediate connector 1 can also be configured such that, by bending the wire 21 of the connector 20 (external connector 20A) into an L-shape within the holder 10 (external holder 10A), one of the pair of female terminals 22 (i.e., the pair of mating parts 2) of the connector 20 extends in the left-to-right direction.

[0039] Herein, the features of the embodiments of the intermediate connector 1 according to the present invention described above are briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [3].

[0040] [1] A connector (20) having a pair of terminals (22) and a conductor (21) connecting the pair of terminals (22), A holder (10) having a housing space (13, 14) for housing the connecting body (20), An intermediate connector (1) comprising: a cover (30) attached to the holder (10) so as to cover the connecting body (20) housed in the aforementioned housing spaces (13, 14), The aforementioned cover (30) is A pressure contact body (33) has a pressure contact structure that includes a first contact portion (35) which is located within the housing space (13, 14) and presses into contact with the conductor (21) to electrically connect to the conductor (21), and a second contact portion (36) which is located outside the housing space (13, 14) and electrically connects to the outer conductor (21), and these two contact portions are electrically connected. When the cover (30) is attached to the holder (10), Each of the pair of terminals (22) is arranged in a pair of mating portions (2) into which a mating connector (40) can be fitted, which are formed by the cover (30) and the holder (10), and the first contact portion (35) of the pressure contact body (33) is pressed against the conductor (21). Intermediate connector (1).

[0041] In the intermediate connector with the configuration described in [1] above, the cover is attached to the holder, causing the first contact portion of the pressure contact body on the cover to be pressed against the conductor of the connector housed in the housing space of the holder. Furthermore, the cover and holder form a pair of mating portions (for example, so-called openings) into which the mating connector can be mated. Each of the pair of mating portions is arranged with each of the pair of terminals connected to the connector. This allows, for example, when power is input to one of the pair of terminals, power to be output to the other of the pair of terminals and to the second contact portion of the pressure contact body located outside the housing space. Conversely, when power is input to the second contact portion of the pressure contact body, power can be output to both of the pair of terminals. In other words, power distribution via the intermediate connector is possible. Furthermore, compared to busbars used in conventional intermediate connectors, the connector in the holder can use terminals of any structure (for example, the male and female terminals described above), and if flexible wires are used as conductors, complex branching paths can be easily realized. That is, the design freedom of the intermediate connector can be improved. Furthermore, by connecting the conductor of a similar connector housed in a similar holder to the second contact portion of the connector located outside the housing space, for example, multiple connectors housed in different holders can be continuously connected via a pressure contact. In other words, the expandability of the intermediate connector can be improved. Therefore, the intermediate connector of this configuration offers excellent expandability and design flexibility.

[0042] [2] In the intermediate connector (1) described in [1] above, The second contact portion (36) of the pressure contact body (33) is Having the aforementioned pressure contact structure, it will be in pressure contact with the outer conductor (21), Intermediate connector (1).

[0043] According to the intermediate connector configuration described in [2] above, the second contact portion of the pressure contact body located outside the holder's housing space has the same pressure contact structure as the first contact portion and is pressed against the outer conductor. Therefore, the connection of the outer conductor to the second contact portion can be easily made.

[0044] [3] The intermediate connector (1) described in [1] above, An external connector (20A) having an external conductor (21) to which the second contact portion (36) of the pressure contact body (33) is pressure-contacted, and a pair of external terminals (22) attached to the external conductor (21), An external holder (10A) that houses the external connector (20A), The external holder (10A) is further comprising an external cover (30A) attached to the external holder (10A) so as to cover the external connector (20A) housed in the external holder (10A), Intermediate connector (1).

[0045] According to the intermediate connector configuration described in [3] above, a unit consisting of a connector, holder, and cover can be electrically connected to a unit consisting of an external connector, external holder, and external cover via a pressure contact. This allows for easy expansion of branch routes using intermediate connectors without excessively increasing or complicating the number of components constituting the intermediate connector. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] 1 Intermediate connector 2. Fitting part 10 holders 10A External Holder 13. Cable accommodation space (accommodation space) 14 Terminal housing space (housing space) 20 connectors 20A External Connector 21. Electric wires (conductors, outer conductors) 22 Female terminals (terminals) 30 Cover 30A External Cover 33 Pressure-welded body 35. Pressure contact area (first contact area) 36. Pressure contact area (second contact area) 40. Mating connector

Claims

1. A connector having a pair of terminals and a conductor connecting the pair of terminals, A holder having a housing space for housing the aforementioned connecting body, An intermediate connector comprising: a cover attached to the holder so as to cover the connecting body housed in the aforementioned housing space, The aforementioned cover is A pressure contact body has a first contact portion that is arranged within the housing space and has a pressure contact structure that presses into contact with the conductor and electrically connects to the conductor, and a second contact portion that is arranged outside the housing space and electrically connects to an external conductor, the two contact portions being electrically connected. When the cover is attached to the holder, Each of the pair of terminals is arranged so that a mating portion capable of mating with the mating connector is formed by the cover and the holder, and the first contact portion of the pressure contact body is pressed against the conductor. Intermediate connector.

2. In the intermediate connector according to claim 1, The second contact portion of the pressure contact body is Having the aforementioned pressure contact structure, which will be in pressure contact with the outer conductor, Intermediate connector.

3. An intermediate connector according to claim 1, An external connector having the external conductor to which the second contact portion of the pressure contact body is pressure-contacted, and a pair of external terminals attached to the external conductor, An external holder for housing the external connector, The system further comprises an external cover attached to the external holder so as to cover the external connector housed in the external holder, Intermediate connector.

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