JP2010287463A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the shape of a connector housing. <P>SOLUTION: A short-circuit terminal 40 holds a short-circuit state for short-circuiting a pair of terminal fittings 24 in a state where both connector housings 10 and 20 are separated and semi-fitted to each other. When both the connector housing 10 and 20 reach a normal fitted state, a lock arm 12 is elastically returned to a locking position, whereby the short-circuit terminal 40 is displaced to a short-circuit release state for releasing the short-circuit of the pair of terminal fittings 24. The lock arm 12 includes a release section 15 which directly contacts with the short-circuit terminal 40, when the lock arm 12 is elastically returned to the locking position, to displace the short-circuit terminal 40 into the short-circuit release state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector.

  For example, in a connector constituting a driving circuit of an automobile airbag, when the circuit is opened by removing two connector housings constituting the connector, a connector housing on the airbag side is provided to prevent malfunction of the airbag. The structure which short-circuits the terminal metal fittings provided in is employ | adopted.

  As a connector having such a short-circuit function, there is one described in Patent Document 1. In this connector, the first connector housing is provided with a pair of terminal fittings and a short-circuit terminal for short-circuiting both the first terminal fittings, and the second connector housing can be elastically bent when the two connector housings are locked in the fitted state. The lock arm is formed.

  In a state where both connector housings are detached, the pair of terminal fittings are held in a short-circuited state by the short-circuit terminals. Also, in the process of fitting the two connector housings, when the two connector housings are in a half-fitted state that does not reach normal fitting, the lock arm elastically bends to the unlocked position, so the short circuit terminal shorts the two terminal fittings. Kept in a state. When both connector housings reach the proper mating state, the lock arm is elastically returned to the lock position, and the short-circuit terminal is disengaged from the both-terminal metal fittings in conjunction with the elastic return operation of the lock arm. Be made. Thereby, both terminal metal fittings are released from the short circuit state.

JP-A-8-250226

  In the above connector, an arm portion that can be elastically bent is formed in the first connector housing so as to correspond to the short-circuit terminal. When the lock arm is elastically restored, the lock arm pushes the arm portion, and the arm portion serves as a short-circuit terminal. It is designed to move to the short-circuit release position. As described above, in the above connector, since the arm portion is interposed between the lock arm and the short-circuit terminal, there is a problem that the shape of the first connector housing is complicated.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to simplify the shape of a connector housing.

  As means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that the first connector housing, the elastically deformable lock arm formed on the first connector housing, and the first connector housing can be fitted. A second connector housing, a pair of terminal fittings provided in the second connector housing, a short-circuit state provided in the second connector housing to short-circuit the pair of terminal fittings, and a short-circuit between the pair of terminal fittings is released A short-circuit terminal capable of displacement between the short-circuit release state and the two connector housings in a state in which the two connector housings are detached, and the short-circuit terminal maintains a short-circuit state in which the pair of terminal fittings are short-circuited. In the process of fitting the housing, when the two connector housings are in a half-fitted state that does not reach normal fitting, the lock arm is locked. When the two connector housings reach a normal fitting state, the lock arm elastically returns to the lock position. Accordingly, in the connector in which the short-circuit terminal is displaced to a short-circuit release state that cancels the short-circuit of the pair of terminal fittings, the lock arm includes the lock arm when the lock arm elastically returns to the lock position. It is characterized in that a release portion is formed that directly contacts the short-circuit terminal and displaces the short-circuit terminal to a short-circuit release state.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the short-circuit terminal can be individually connected to the pair of terminal metal fittings, and is configured by two short-circuit metal fittings that always maintain contact with each other. And when the lock arm is elastically returned to the locked position, at least one of the short-circuit fittings is elastically displaced by the release portion, whereby the pair of short-circuit fittings are separated from each other. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the terminal fitting is attached to the second connector housing from the rear, and the short-circuit fitting contacts the terminal fitting. The terminal contact portion is characterized in that it is formed in a form that cantilevered forward from the attachment portion to the second connector housing.

<Invention of Claim 1>
Since the elastic return operation of the lock arm is directly transmitted from the lock arm to the short-circuit terminal, the shape of the connector housing is smaller than when a transmission means such as an arm is interposed between the lock arm and the short-circuit terminal. Simplification can be achieved.

<Invention of Claim 2>
When the short-circuit terminal is a single component and the entire short-circuit terminal is displaced when the short-circuit is released, a space to be secured for displacing the short-circuit terminal is increased, and there is a concern about an increase in size of the connector. In that respect, in the present invention, the short-circuit terminal is constituted by two short-circuit fittings, and only at least one of the short-circuit fittings is displaced, so that the space required for the displacement operation for releasing the short-circuit is small.

<Invention of Claim 3>
When the terminal fitting is attached to the second connector housing with the short-circuit fitting attached to the second connector housing, the terminal fitting portion and the terminal contact portion extending direction are substantially the same, so the terminal contact portion is No deformation is caused by contact with the terminal fitting.

Sectional drawing showing the state which both the connector housings fit normally in Embodiment 1. Sectional view showing the half-fitted state of both connector housings Sectional view of the second connector housing Sectional view of the second connector housing Top view of first connector housing Front view of first connector housing Front view of second connector housing Front view showing the positional relationship between the short-circuit terminal and male terminal fitting Top view of fixed side short circuit bracket Front view of fixed side short-circuit bracket Top view of movable short-circuit bracket Front view of movable short-circuit bracket

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The connector of the present embodiment includes a first connector housing 10 and a second connector housing 20 that can be fitted to each other.

  The first connector housing 10 is made of synthetic resin and has a block shape as a whole. A pair of female terminal fittings 11 is accommodated in the first connector housing 10. A lock arm 12 is integrally formed on the first connector housing 10 along the upper surface thereof. The lock arm 12 has a plate shape as a whole, and is supported on the upper surface of the first connector housing 10 via a substantially central support portion 13 in the front-rear direction. The lock arm 12 is always held at a lock position (see FIG. 1) parallel to the upper surface of the first connector housing 10, but the front end side is upward (in a direction away from the first connector housing 10). It can be elastically bent like a seesaw to a lock release position (see FIG. 2) whose posture is inclined obliquely so as to be displaced.

  A lock hole 14 is formed at a position close to the front end of the lock arm 12 so as to penetrate the lock arm 12 up and down. Similarly, at a position near the front end of the lock arm 12, a release portion 15 is formed that protrudes downward from the lower surface thereof. The lock hole 14 and the release portion 15 are disposed at positions shifted laterally from the center position in the width direction of the lock arm 12, in other words, the lock hole 14 and the release portion 15 are arranged in the width direction (left-right direction). Has been placed. The lock hole 14 and the release portion 15 are disposed so as to correspond to the front end portion of the first connector housing 10 in the front-rear direction (a direction parallel to the fitting direction of the two connector housings 10 and 20). A short-circuit working space 16 is formed at the front end of the first connector housing 10 in a form in which the upper surface is cut away. The short-circuit working space 16 is also opened on the front end surface of the first connector housing 10. In the short-circuit working space 16, the operation of displacing the short-circuit terminal 40 between the short-circuit state and the short-circuit release state is performed by the release portion 15 of the lock arm 12.

  The second connector housing 20 is made of synthetic resin, and is formed integrally with a terminal holding portion 21 and a hood portion 22 that protrudes forward from the outer peripheral edge of the front end of the terminal holding portion 21 in a cylindrical shape. A pair of left and right cavities 23H and 23L are formed in the terminal holding portion 21, and male terminal fittings 24 (terminal fittings which are constituent elements of the present invention) are inserted into the cavities 23H and 23L from the rear. A tab at the front end of each male terminal fitting 24 protrudes from the front end surface of the terminal holding portion 21 and is surrounded by the hood portion 22. The pair of cavities 23H and 23L are formed at different heights, and therefore the pair of male terminal fittings 24 inserted into the cavities 23H and 23L have different heights.

  In addition, an accommodation space 25 that is open to the front end surface of the terminal holding portion 21 is formed above the cavities 23 </ b> H and 23 </ b> L in the second connector housing 20. The accommodating space 25 is composed of a pair of individual spaces 26 </ b> H and 26 </ b> L having a height difference and one shared space 27. The pair of individual spaces 26H and 26L are located above the pair of cavities 23H and 23L, and communicate with the cavities 23H and 23L individually. The shared space 27 is disposed between the pair of individual spaces 26H and 26L and communicates with both the individual spaces 26H and 26L. A pair of upper and lower mounting holes 28 </ b> H and 28 </ b> L having a horizontally long slit shape and a height difference are formed at the rear end of the accommodation space 25.

  A lock protrusion 29 that protrudes upward is formed on the upper surface wall of the hood portion 22. The lock protrusion 29 interferes with the front end of the lock arm 12 in the process of fitting the two connector housings 10 and 20, and when the two connector housings 10 and 20 are properly fitted, The lock hole 14 is locked. Similarly, a cutout portion 30 is formed on the upper surface wall of the hood portion 22 so as to be cut out backward from the front end edge thereof. The notch 30 communicates the inside and the outside of the hood part 22 and corresponds to the release part 15 of the lock arm 12 in the width direction.

  The second connector housing 20 is formed with a protective wall 31 that surrounds the space above the upper wall of the hood portion 22. A space surrounded by the protective wall 31 and the upper surface wall of the hood portion 22 is a lock working space 32 that penetrates in the front-rear direction. In this lock working space 32, the locking projection 29 and the locking arm 12 are engaged and disengaged. Further, the short-circuit working space 16 and the lock working space 32 communicate with each other through the notch 30 in the fitting process of both the connector housings 10 and 20 and the state in which both the connector housings 10 and 20 are properly fitted. ing.

  A short-circuit terminal 40 is attached to the second connector housing 20. The short-circuit terminal 40 is composed of two short-circuit fittings 41F and 41M including a fixed-side short-circuit fitting 41F that is a separate part from the male terminal fitting 24 and a movable-side short-circuit fitting 41M that is also a separate part from the male terminal fitting 24. It is configured.

  The fixed-side short-circuit bracket 41F includes a plate-shaped attachment portion 42 in which a retaining piece 43 is formed, a fixed-side contact portion 44F in a form that cantilevered forward from the attachment portion 42, and forward from the attachment portion 42. It is comprised from the contact part 45 for terminals of the form extended in the cantilever form. The fixed contact portion 44F is flush with the mounting portion 42 and extends linearly in parallel with the fitting direction of the connector housings 10 and 20. The terminal contact portion 45 is disposed so as to be aligned with the fixed-side contact portion 44F in the width direction, and is disposed at a position lower than the fixed-side contact portion 44F (position close to the male terminal fitting 24). The extending direction of the terminal contact portion 45 is oblique to the fitting direction of the connector housings 10 and 20 and the insertion direction of the male terminal fitting 24 into the cavities 23H and 23L. A terminal contact portion 46 is formed at the extended end of the terminal contact portion 45.

  The movable-side short-circuit bracket 41M includes a plate-like attachment portion 42 on which a retaining piece 43 is formed, a movable-side contact portion 44M in a form that cantilevered forward from the attachment portion 42, and forward from the attachment portion 42. It is comprised from the contact part 45 for terminals of the form extended in the cantilever form. The terminal contact portion 45 is arranged so as to be aligned with the movable side contact portion 44M in the width direction, and is arranged at a position lower than the movable side contact portion 44M (position close to the male terminal fitting 24). The extending direction of the terminal contact portion 45 is oblique to the fitting direction of the connector housings 10 and 20 and the insertion direction of the male terminal fitting 24 into the cavities 23H and 23L. A terminal contact portion 46 is formed at the extended end of the terminal contact portion 45.

  The movable contact portion 44M extends obliquely upward from the attachment portion 42 in a state where it is not attached to the second connector housing 20. A short-circuit contact portion 47 is formed on the extended end portion (front end portion) of the movable contact portion 44M so as to protrude upward. Similarly, a pressed portion 48 extending forward from the short-circuit contact portion 47 is formed at the extending end of the movable contact portion 44M. The pressed portion 48 is one step higher than the portion where the short-circuit contact portion 47 is formed.

  The fixed-side short-circuit fitting 41F is attached to the second connector housing 20 in advance before the male terminal fitting 24. At the time of attachment, the fixed-side short-circuit fitting 41F is inserted into the accommodating space 25, the attachment portion 42 is inserted into the attachment hole 28H on the higher side, and the retaining piece 43 is locked to the inner wall of the attachment hole 28H. The connector housing 20 is attached.

  In a state in which the fixed-side short-circuit bracket 41F is attached, the fixed-side contact portion 44F is disposed in the shared space 27 in the accommodation space 25, and comes into contact with or approaches the ceiling surface of the shared space 27 from below. It is arrange | positioned in the state which faced from. The front end portion of the fixed contact portion 44F projects into the cutout portion 30 and is exposed to the outer surface side (upper side) of the hood portion 22. Further, the terminal contact portion 45 is disposed in the high-side individual space 26H, and advances into the high-side cavity 23H among the pair of cavities 23H and 23L having a height difference.

  The movable-side short-circuit bracket 41M is attached to the second connector housing 20 in advance before the male terminal bracket 24, like the fixed-side short-circuit bracket 41F. When mounting, the movable-side short-circuit bracket 41M is inserted into the accommodating space 25, and the mounting portion 42 is inserted into the lower mounting hole 28L, and the retaining piece 43 is locked to the inner wall of the mounting hole 28L. Is attached to the second connector housing 20.

  In a state in which the movable-side short-circuit bracket 41M is attached, the movable-side contact portion 44M is disposed in the shared space 27 in the accommodation space 25 and is disposed at the same position as the fixed-side contact portion 44F in the width direction. The movable contact portion 44M is positioned below the fixed contact portion 44F, and the short-circuit contact portion 47 is in elastic contact with the lower surface of the front end portion of the fixed contact portion 44F. At this time, the movable side contact portion 44M is elastically bent downward (in a direction substantially parallel to the displacement direction of the release portion 15 when the lock arm 12 is elastically bent) compared to the free state, and therefore, due to its elastic restoring force, A predetermined contact pressure is secured at the short-circuit contact portion 47.

  Further, the pressed portion 48 of the movable side contact portion 44M is disposed further forward than the front end of the fixed side contact portion 44F and above the front end portion of the fixed side contact portion 44F (side closer to the lock arm 12). In the cutout portion 30, the outer surface side (upper side) of the hood portion 22 is exposed. Further, the terminal contact portion is disposed in the low-side individual space 26H and advances into the low-side cavity 23L.

  After the fixed-side short-circuit fitting 41F and the movable-side short-circuit fitting 41M are attached to the second connector housing 20, the male terminal fitting 24 is inserted into the cavities 23H and 23L from the rear. In the process of inserting the male terminal fitting 24, the upper surface of the male terminal fitting 24 and the terminal contact portion 46 of the terminal contact portion 45 are in sliding contact. At this time, since the mounting direction of the male terminal fitting 24 and the extending direction of the terminal contact portion 45 are substantially the same direction, the terminal contact portion 45 is deformed by contact with the male terminal fitting 24. There is no.

  In a state in which the pair of male terminal fittings 24 are normally inserted, the fixed short-circuit fitting 41F and the movable short-circuit fitting 41M are in contact with each male terminal fitting 24 so as to be individually conductive, and the movable short-circuit fitting 41M and the fixed short-circuit fitting are connected. It is in contact with 41F so as to be conductive. That is, the short circuit terminal 40 is in a short circuit state. Therefore, in a state where the connector housings 10 and 20 are not fitted (separated), the pair of male terminal fittings 24 are short-circuited via the short-circuit terminals 40 (the movable-side short-circuit fitting 41M and the fixed-side short-circuit fitting 41F). Retained.

  When fitting both the connector housings 10 and 20, the first connector housing 10 is inserted into the hood portion 22. In the process of fitting, as shown in FIG. 2, the front end of the lock arm 12 interferes with the lock protrusion 29, so that the lock arm 12 is elastically bent to the unlocked position. At this time, since the release portion 15 is displaced to a position higher than the pressed portion 48, the pressed portion 48 is not in contact with the fixed side even if the fitting proceeds until the release portion 15 is positioned directly above the pressed portion 48. The state of elastic contact with the portion 44F is maintained. In this way, even when the connector housings 10 and 20 are in a half-fitted state that does not reach a normal fitting state, the short-circuited terminal 40 maintains a short-circuited state, so that a pair of male terminals is provided as in the case of not being fitted. The metal fitting 24 is held in a short circuit state via the short circuit terminal 40.

  When both the connector housings 10 and 20 reach the proper fitting state, as shown in FIG. 1, the front end portion of the lock arm 12 finishes passing through the lock projection 29, so that the lock arm 12 has its own elasticity. The elastic force returns to the locked position by the restoring force. As a result, the lock hole 14 is engaged with the lock protrusion 29, and thus the normally fitted connector housings 10 and 20 are locked in the disengagement restricted state by this engagement action.

  As both the connector housings 10 and 20 are properly fitted and the lock arm 12 is elastically restored, the release portion 15 is displaced downward and presses the upper surface of the pressed portion 48. Thereby, the pressed part 48 is displaced downward integrally with the release part 15, and the short-circuit contact part 47 of the movable side contact part 44M is separated from the lower surface of the fixed side contact part 44F. That is, the movable side contact portion 44M and the fixed side contact portion 44F that have been in contact with each other so as to overlap each other are brought into a non-conduction state.

  Thus, the short-circuit state of the pair of male terminal fittings 24 is released by the short-circuit terminal 40 being displaced from the short-circuit state to the short-circuit release state. It should be noted that when the short circuit is released, the movable-side short-circuit fitting 41M only elastically bends, and the fixed-side short-circuit fitting 41F hardly deforms. The short-circuit metal fitting 41M and the fixed-side short-circuit metal fitting 41F are kept in contact with the corresponding male terminal metal fittings 24, respectively.

  Further, when the two connector housings 10 and 20 in the fitted state are detached, the release operation portion 17 at the rear end portion of the lock arm 12 is pushed and elastically bent to the lock release position. As a result, the lock hole 14 is disengaged from the lock projection 29, and the locked state of the two connector housings 10 and 20 is released. Just pull away.

  Further, when the lock arm 12 is elastically bent, the release portion 15 is displaced upward, and the pressing action from above on the pressed portion 48 is released, so that the movable side contact portion 44M is elastically restored upward and short-circuited. The contact portion 47 elastically contacts the lower surface of the fixed side contact portion 44F. Thereby, since the short circuit terminal 40 is displaced from a short circuit cancellation | release state to a short circuit state, a pair of male terminal metal fitting 24 will be in a short circuit state. After the two connector housings 10 and 20 are separated from each other, the release portion 15 of the lock arm 12 is separated to a distance at which it cannot contact the short-circuit terminal 40. Even if the hand is released from the lock arm 12, the pair of male terminal fittings 24 is held in a short-circuited state.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the lock arm 12 is formed with the release portion 15 that directly contacts the short-circuit terminal 40 and displaces the short-circuit terminal 40 to the short-circuit release state when the lock arm 12 is elastically returned to the lock position. did. Thus, the elastic return operation of the lock arm 12 is directly transmitted from the lock arm 12 to the short-circuit terminal 40. Therefore, when a transmission means such as an arm portion is interposed between the lock arm 12 and the short-circuit terminal 40. In comparison, the shape of the connector housings 10 and 20 can be simplified.

  Further, when the short-circuit terminal is a single component and the entire short-circuit terminal is displaced when the short-circuit is released, the space to be secured for displacing the short-circuit terminal becomes large, and there is a concern about an increase in size of the connector. In view of this point, in the present embodiment, the short-circuit terminal 40 is configured by two short-circuit fittings 41F and 41M that can be individually connected to the pair of male terminal fittings 24 and always keep contact with each other. When 12 is elastically returned to the lock position, the movable-side short-circuit bracket 41M is elastically displaced by the release portion 15 so that the pair of short-circuit brackets 41F and 41M are separated from each other. Thus, according to the present embodiment, when releasing the short circuit, the entire short-circuit terminal 40 is not displaced, but only a part of the short-circuit terminal 40 (the movable-side contact portion 44M of the movable-side short-circuit fitting 41M). Therefore, the space required for the displacement operation for releasing the short circuit can be reduced.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the above embodiment, the female terminal fitting is attached to the first connector housing in which the lock arm is formed, and the male terminal fitting is attached to the second connector housing in which the short-circuit terminal is provided. A male terminal fitting may be attached to one connector housing, and a female terminal fitting may be attached to the second connector housing on the short-circuit terminal side.
(2) In the above embodiment, as a form in which the short circuit by the short terminal is released, only one of the two short-circuit fittings is elastically displaced and separated from the other short-circuit fitting, but this is not limitative. Alternatively, both short-circuit fittings may be elastically displaced and separated from each other.
(3) In the above embodiment, when the short-circuit by the short-circuit terminal is released, the two short-circuit fittings are both kept in contact with the terminal fitting. You may make it cancel | release a short circuit by separating | separating from a terminal metal fitting.
(4) In the above embodiment, the two short-circuit fittings constituting the short-circuit terminal are separate parts from the terminal fitting, but at least one of the short-circuit fittings may be formed integrally with the terminal fitting. Good.
(5) In the above embodiment, the short-circuit terminal is constituted by two short-circuit fittings, but the short-circuit terminal may be a single component. In this case, the form in which the short circuit by the short terminal is released may be either the form in which the short terminal is separated from the pair of terminal fittings or the form in which the short circuit terminal is separated from only one of the terminal fittings.
(6) In the above embodiment, the displacement direction of the short-circuit fitting when the short-circuit is released is substantially the same as the displacement direction when the lock arm is elastically restored. However, the displacement direction of the short-circuit fitting is relative to the displacement direction of the lock arm. The crossing direction may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... 1st connector housing 12 ... Lock arm 15 ... Release | release part 20 ... 2nd connector housing 24 ... Male terminal metal fitting (terminal metal fitting)
40 ... Short-circuit terminal 41F ... Fixed-side terminal fitting 41M ... Movable-side short-circuit fitting 42 ... Mounting portion 45 ... Terminal contact portion

Claims (3)

A first connector housing;
An elastically deflectable lock arm formed in the first connector housing;
A second connector housing matable with the first connector housing;
A pair of terminal fittings provided in the second connector housing;
A short-circuit terminal provided in the second connector housing and capable of being displaced between a short-circuit state in which the pair of terminal fittings are short-circuited and a short-circuit release state in which the short-circuit of the pair of terminal fittings is released;
In a state where both the connector housings are detached, the short-circuit terminal maintains a short-circuit state in which the pair of terminal fittings are short-circuited,
In the process of fitting the two connector housings, in a half-fitted state where the two connector housings do not reach normal fitting, the lock arm is elastically bent to the unlocked position, and the short-circuit terminals are the pair of terminal fittings. Hold the short-circuit state to short-circuit,
When the two connector housings reach a normal fitting state, the lock arm is elastically returned to the lock position, so that the short-circuit terminal is displaced to a short-circuit release state that releases the short-circuit between the pair of terminal fittings. Connector
The connector, wherein the lock arm is formed with a release portion that directly contacts the short-circuit terminal and displaces the short-circuit terminal to a short-circuit release state when the lock arm elastically returns to the lock position. The short-circuit terminal can be individually conducted with the pair of terminal metal fittings, and is constituted by two short-circuit metal fittings that are always kept in contact with each other.
The pair of short-circuit brackets are separated from each other when at least one of the short-circuit brackets is elastically displaced by the release portion when the lock arm is elastically returned to the lock position. The connector according to 1. The terminal fitting is adapted to be attached to the second connector housing from the rear,
The short-circuit metal fitting is characterized in that a terminal contact portion that contacts the terminal metal fitting is formed in a form that cantilevered forward from an attachment portion to the second connector housing. 2. The connector according to 2.

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