JP7439472B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates to connectors.

Patent Document 1 discloses a joint connector in which a plurality of terminals are housed in a housing. In this type of connector, it is possible to form a plurality of cavity towers that individually protrude from the housing, and change the structure to accommodate a terminal in each cavity tower. In this case, a slit will be formed between two adjacent cavity towers.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-102371

After molding the above-mentioned housing with a mold, there is a possibility that the connecting portion may be bent and deformed during the cooling process of the housing removed from the mold. When the connecting portion is deformed, the pair of cavity towers may approach each other, the slit may become narrower, and the wall portion of the mating connector may not be able to enter between the cavity towers.

The connector of the present disclosure was completed based on the above circumstances, and aims to maintain a pair of cavity towers in an appropriate positional relationship.

The connector of the present disclosure includes:
a pair of housing members molded as separate parts;
a pair of cavity towers that individually protrude from the base end portions of the pair of housing members;
and a terminal fitting accommodated in the cavity tower,
A connecting portion that connects the pair of housing members by fitting into each other is formed at the base end portions of the pair of housing members,
By fitting the connecting portions together, the pair of cavity towers are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other.

According to the present disclosure, a pair of cavity towers can be maintained in an appropriate positional relationship.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first housing member and the second housing member are combined. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a separated state of the first housing member and the second housing member. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state in which the connector is fitted with a mating connector. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 3.

[Description of embodiments of the present disclosure]
First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.
The connector of the present disclosure includes:
(1) A pair of housing members molded as separate parts, a pair of cavity towers that individually protrude from base ends of the pair of housing members, and a terminal fitting accommodated in the cavity tower. , connecting portions that connect the pair of housing members by fitting each other are formed at the base end portions of the pair of housing members, and by fitting the connecting portions together, the pair of cavity towers are connected to each other. are arranged so that they are spaced apart from each other.

According to the configuration of the present disclosure, the connecting portion that connects the pair of cavity towers is not molded as a single part, but is individually integrated into the pair of housing members that are molded as separate parts. It is formed in a morphological state. Therefore, the amount of deformation of each connecting portion during the cooling process after molding is kept relatively small. Thereby, when the connecting portions are fitted together, the pair of cavity towers can be maintained in an appropriate positional relationship.

(2) It is preferable that the connecting portions are fitted together by relative displacement in parallel to the length direction of the cavity tower. According to this configuration, the portion where the connecting portions come into sliding contact with each other serves as a guide along the length direction of the cavity tower, so that the inclination of the cavity towers is suppressed.

(3) In (2), a lock portion and a stopper are formed on one of the housing members, and the lock portion is configured to connect the one housing member with the stopper when the cavity tower is fitted into the mating housing. Preferably, the mating housing is locked in a state where separation is restricted, and the stopper restricts relative displacement of the other housing member with respect to the one housing member in a direction away from the mating housing. According to this configuration, when one housing member is locked in the fitted state with the mating housing by the locking portion, the other housing member is also held in the fitted state with the mating housing. Since there is no need to form a lock portion on the other housing member, the shape of the other housing member can be simplified.

(4) An insertion opening for the terminal fitting is formed in the end face of the cavity tower on the proximal end side, and the connecting portion is located closer to the cavity tower than the end face of the cavity tower on the proximal end side. Preferably, they protrude in opposite directions. According to this configuration, the connecting portion is arranged to protrude between the insertion port of one cavity tower and the insertion port of the other cavity tower, so that the terminal fitting in one cavity tower and the terminal fitting in the other cavity tower are connected to each other. It is possible to secure a long creepage distance between the terminal fitting inside the cavity tower.

(5) In (4), it is preferable that the housing member is formed with a reinforcing portion that is continuous with the end surface on the base end side of the cavity tower and the side surface of the connecting portion. According to this configuration, since deformation of the connecting portion can be prevented by the reinforcing portion, it is possible to prevent the positional relationship of the cavity tower from becoming inappropriate due to deformation of the connecting portion.

[Details of embodiments of the present disclosure]
[Example 1]
A first embodiment embodying the connector F of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is indicated by the scope of the claims, and is intended to include all changes within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims. In the first embodiment, the lower side in FIGS. 1 to 4 is defined as the distal end side, and the upper side is defined as the proximal end side. Regarding the left and right directions, the directions that appear in FIGS. 2 and 3 are defined as left and right.

The connector F of this embodiment includes one connector housing 10 and a plurality of female terminal fittings 22. The connector housing 10 includes a first housing member 11 made of synthetic resin, which is molded by a mold (not shown), and a second housing member 23, which is made of synthetic resin, which is molded by a mold (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, the first housing member 11 and the second housing member 23 are separate and independent parts. The first housing member 11 and the second housing member 23 constitute the connector housing 10 by being combined in a positional relationship in which they are arranged side by side.

The first housing member 11 includes a first cavity tower 12, a first connecting portion 14, a pair of first reinforcing portions 19 (see FIG. 3), and a lock arm 20. The first cavity tower 12 extends in a cantilevered manner from the base end 11P (upper end in FIGS. 1 to 4) of the first housing member 11 toward the tip 11T (lower end in FIGS. 1 to 4). be. A pair of first terminal accommodating chambers (not shown), which are cavities for accommodating the terminal fittings 22, are formed inside the first cavity tower 12. The first terminal accommodating chamber extends in an elongated manner from the base end to the tip end of the first cavity tower 12. The direction in which the pair of first terminal accommodating chambers are lined up is a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first housing member 11 and the second housing member 23 are lined up. At the end surface of the first cavity tower 12 on the base end 11P side, that is, on the back surface 12R of the first cavity tower 12, the base end of the first terminal accommodating chamber opens as a first insertion port 13.

The first connecting portion 14 is formed at the base end portion 11P of the first housing member 11. The first connecting portion 14 protrudes from the back surface 12R of the first cavity tower 12 toward the side opposite to the tip portion 11T of the first cavity tower 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the first connecting portion 14 includes a first wall portion 15, one retaining projection 16, and a pair of guide portions 17. The first wall portion 15 extends along a surface of the first cavity tower 12 that faces the second housing member 23 . The retaining protrusion 16 protrudes from the surface of the first wall portion 15 on the side facing the second housing member 23 .

The pair of guide parts 17, like the retaining protrusions 16, are arranged on the surface of the first wall part 15 on the second housing member 23 side. The pair of guide portions 17 are spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the direction in which the pair of first insertion ports 13 are lined up. A retaining protrusion 16 is arranged between the pair of guide parts 17. The pair of guide portions 17 have guide grooves 18 parallel to the extending direction of the first cavity tower 12 . The guide groove 18 has a shape in which mutually opposing surfaces are recessed. The end portions of the pair of guide portions 17 on the tip portion 11T side function as a stopper 17S.

The pair of first reinforcing parts 19 (only one first reinforcing part 19 is shown in FIG. 3) have a right triangular plate shape, and are arranged at intervals in the same direction as the first insertion openings 13. I'm here. The pair of first reinforcing portions 19 are located between the side surface of the first wall portion 15 opposite to the second housing member 23 and the pair of first insertion ports 13 on the back surface 12R of the first cavity tower 12. It is connected to The first reinforcing portion 19 prevents the first wall portion 15 from tilting toward the rear surface 12R of the first cavity tower 12 and from tilting away from the rear surface 12R. The first reinforcing portion 19 maintains a constant positional relationship between the first cavity tower 12 and the first connecting portion 14.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lock arm 20 is a portion that locks the connector housing 10 and the mating housing 40 in a fitted state when the connector housing 10 and the mating housing 40 are fitted together. In other words, the lock arm 20 has the role of restricting the connector housing 10 from separating toward the base end 11P with respect to the mating housing 40. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a lock protrusion 21 is formed on the lock arm 20. As shown in FIGS.

The second housing member 23 includes a second cavity tower 24 , a second connecting portion 26 , and a pair of second reinforcing portions 34 . The second cavity tower 24 extends in a cantilevered manner from the base end 23P (upper end in FIGS. 1 to 4) of the second housing member 23 toward the tip 23T (lower end in FIGS. 1 to 4). It is. A pair of second terminal accommodating chambers (not shown), which are cavities for accommodating the terminal fittings 22, are formed inside the second cavity tower 24. The second terminal accommodating chamber extends in an elongated manner from the base end to the distal end of the second cavity tower 24. The direction in which the pair of second terminal accommodating chambers are lined up is a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first housing member 11 and the second housing member 23 are lined up. At the end surface of the second cavity tower 24 on the base end 23P side, that is, on the back surface 24R of the second cavity tower 24, the base end of the second terminal accommodating chamber opens as a second insertion port 25.

The second connecting portion 26 is formed at the base end portion 23P of the second housing member 23, as shown in FIG. The second connecting portion 26 protrudes from the rear surface 24R of the second cavity tower 24 toward the side opposite to the tip portion 23T of the second cavity tower 24. The second connecting portion 26 includes a second wall portion 27 , a pair of support portions 28 , a pair of guide ribs 29 , a beam portion 31 , and one elastic locking piece 32 . The second wall portion 27 extends along the surface of the second cavity tower 24 that faces the first housing member 11 .

The pair of support parts 28 are parts for ensuring a clearance between the first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24 when the first housing member 11 and the second housing member 23 are combined. The pair of support portions 28 protrude from the surface of the second wall portion 27 on the first housing member 11 side. The pair of support portions 28 extend parallel to the direction in which the second cavity tower 24 extends, and are spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the direction in which the pair of second terminal accommodating chambers are lined up.

The pair of guide ribs 29 protrude from the protruding edges of the pair of support parts 28 in directions opposite to the guide ribs 29 on the other side. An abutting portion 30 that is continuous with the second wall portion 27 is formed at the tip side end of both ends in the extending direction of the pair of guide ribs 29 . The beam portion 31 connects the proximal end portions of the pair of support portions 28 to each other. The elastic locking piece 32 extends from the beam portion 31 toward the tip side of the second cavity tower 24 and has an extended end connected to the second wall portion 27 . A locking protrusion 33 is formed on the surface of the elastic locking piece 32 facing the first housing member 11 . The elastic locking piece 32 is disposed between the pair of support parts 28 and can be elastically deformed in a direction opposite to the protruding direction of the locking protrusion 33, that is, in a direction toward the second wall part 27. be.

The pair of second reinforcing portions 34 have a right triangular plate shape and are arranged at intervals in the same direction as the direction in which the second insertion ports 25 are arranged. The pair of second reinforcing portions 34 are located between the side surface of the second wall portion 27 opposite to the first housing member 11 and the pair of second insertion ports 25 on the back surface 24R of the second cavity tower 24. It is connected to The second reinforcing portion 34 prevents the second wall portion 27 from tilting toward the rear surface 24R of the second cavity tower 24 and from tilting away from the rear surface 12R. The second reinforcing portion 34 maintains a constant positional relationship between the second cavity tower 24 and the second connecting portion 26.

Next, a procedure for assembling the first housing member 11 and the second housing member 23 will be explained. During assembly, the first housing member 11 and the second housing member 23 are left and right opposed to each other with the first connecting portion 14 being located closer to the proximal end 11P than the second connecting portion 26. From this state, the distal end of the guide groove 18 of the first connecting portion 14 is fitted into the proximal end of the guide rib 29 of the second connecting portion 26, and the first connecting portion 14 is connected to the second connecting portion. Slide it toward the distal end with respect to the section 26. At this time, since the inner surface of the guide groove 18 and the outer surface of the guide rib 29 come into sliding contact, both the housing members 11 and 23 move in parallel while maintaining a constant posture without inclination. The relative displacement direction of both housing members 11 and 23 at this time is the extending direction of both cavity towers 12 and 24, that is, the direction parallel to the length direction of both cavity towers 12 and 24.

In the process of sliding both housing members 11 and 23, the retaining projection 16 interferes with the locking projection 33, so that the elastic locking piece 32 is elastically deformed. When both the housing members 11 and 23 are properly assembled, the retaining protrusion 16 passes through the locking protrusion 33, so the elastic retaining piece 32 returns elastically, and the retaining protrusion 16 moves against the retaining protrusion 33. and lock from the tip side. This locking prevents the second housing member 23 from displacing relative to the first housing member 11 toward the distal end. When both the housing members 11 and 23 are in the properly assembled state, the abutting portion 30 of the second connecting portion 26 abuts against the stopper 17S of the first connecting portion 14 from the tip side. This contact prevents the second housing member 23 from displacing relative to the first housing member 11 toward the proximal end. As a result of the above, both housing members 11 and 23 are maintained in the combined state.

When both the housing members 11 and 23 are combined, the first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24 are parallel to each other, and are aligned laterally with a space 35 between them. The first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24 are connected via the first connecting portion 14 and the second connecting portion 26 in a connected state. Therefore, the first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24 cantilever from the assembled and integrated first connecting part 14 and second connecting part 26 toward the tip ends 11T and 23T side by side. It stands out in a shape.

The mating connector M to which the connector F of the first embodiment is fitted includes a mating housing 40 and a plurality of mating terminals 43, as shown in FIG. The mating housing 40 includes a terminal holding member 41 and a rectangular cylindrical hood portion 42 extending from the terminal holding member 41 toward the front side (upper side in FIGS. 3 and 4). The terminal holding member 41 accommodates a terminal main body portion 44 of a male mating terminal 43 . A partition wall 48 is formed inside the hood 42 to partition the space inside the hood 42 into two left and right fitting spaces 47 . A tab 45 at the tip of the mating terminal 43 projects from the terminal holding member 41 into the hood portion 42 . A lock hole 46 is formed in a part of the outer wall portion of the hood portion 42 .

When fitting the connector F of the first embodiment to the mating connector M, both cavity towers 12 and 24 of the connector housing 10 are inserted into the hood portion 42. At this time, the first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24 are individually housed in two fitting spaces 47 partitioned by the partition wall 48 . The partition wall portion 48 is fitted into the separation space 35 between the first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24 .

In the process of fitting the connector housing 10 into the hood part 42, the lock protrusion 21 interferes with the wall of the hood part 42, so that the lock arm 20 is elastically deformed. When the connector housing 10 is fitted into the proper position within the hood portion 42, the lock arm 20 is elastically returned and the lock protrusion 21 is fitted into the lock hole 46. The fitting between the lock protrusion 21 and the lock hole 46 prevents the connector housing 10 and the mating housing 40 from being separated from each other, and the connector F and the mating connector M are locked in the fitted state (see FIG. 4).

The lock arm 20 that locks the connector housing 10 and the mating housing 40 in a fitted state is formed only in the first cavity tower 12 of the first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24. However, due to the abutting action between the abutting portion 30 and the stopper 17S, the second cavity tower 24 moves in the direction in which it separates from the mating housing 40 with respect to the first cavity tower 12, that is, the proximal end 11P of the connector housing 10; Relative displacement toward the 23P side is restricted. Therefore, even if the lock arm 20 that locks the connector housing 10 and the mating housing 40 in the fitted state is formed only on the first cavity tower 12, both the first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24 It is maintained in a state where separation is restricted from the counterpart housing 40.

The connector F of the first embodiment includes a first housing member 11 and a second housing member 23, which are a pair of housings that are molded as separate parts. From the proximal ends 11P and 23P of the first housing member 11 and the second housing member 23, a pair of cavity towers, the first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24, individually protrude toward the distal ends 11T and 23T. There is. Terminal fittings 22 are housed in the first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24, respectively.

A first connecting portion 14 is formed at the base end 11P of the first housing member 11, and a second connecting portion 26 is formed at the base end 23P of the second housing member 23. The first connecting portion 14 and the second connecting portion 26 connect the first housing member 11 and the second housing member 23 by fitting into each other. By fitting the first connecting portion 14 and the second connecting portion 26, the first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24 are arranged side by side with a separation space 35 in between.

The first connecting part 14 and the second connecting part 26 that connect the first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24 are not molded as a single part, but are molded as separate parts. The first housing member 11 and the second housing member 23 are individually formed. Therefore, the amount of deformation of each connecting portion 14, 26 during the cooling process after molding is kept relatively small. Thereby, the first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24 can be maintained in an appropriate positional relationship in a state where the first coupling part 14 and the second coupling part 26 are fitted together.

The first connecting portion 14 and the second connecting portion 26 are fitted together by relative displacement in parallel to the length direction of the first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24. According to this configuration, the portion where the first connecting portion 14 and the second connecting portion 26 come into sliding contact, that is, the guide portion 17 and the guide rib 29, is a guide along the length direction of the first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24. functions as This guide function suppresses inclination between the first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24.

A lock arm 20 functioning as a lock portion and a stopper 17S are formed in the first housing member 11. The lock arm 20 locks the first housing member 11 and the mating housing 40 in a state where separation is restricted when the first cavity tower 12 is fitted into the mating housing 40. The stopper 17S restricts relative displacement of the second housing member 23 with respect to the first housing member 11 in the direction away from the mating housing 40. According to this configuration, when the first housing member 11 is locked in the fitted state with the mating housing 40 by the lock arm 20, the second housing member 23 is also held in the fitted state with the mating housing 40. Since it is not necessary to form the lock arm 20 on the second housing member 23, the shape of the second housing member 23 can be simplified.

A first insertion opening 13 for inserting the terminal fitting 22 into the first cavity tower 12 is formed in the back surface 12R, which is the end surface of the first cavity tower 12 on the proximal end 11P side. A second insertion opening 25 for inserting the terminal fitting 22 into the second cavity tower 24 is formed in the rear surface 24R, which is the end surface on the proximal end 23P side of the second cavity tower 24. The first connecting portion 14 protrudes from the back surface 12R of the first cavity tower 12 in the direction opposite to the first cavity tower 12. The second connecting portion 26 protrudes from the rear surface 24R of the second cavity tower 24 in the direction opposite to the second cavity tower 24.

According to this configuration, the first connecting portion 14 and the second connecting portion 26 protrude between the first insertion port 13 of the first cavity tower 12 and the second insertion port 25 of the second cavity tower 24. will be placed in Thereby, it is possible to ensure a long creepage distance between the terminal fittings 22 in the first cavity tower 12 and the terminal fittings 22 in the second cavity tower 24.

A first reinforcing portion 19 is formed in the first housing member 11 and is continuous with the back surface 12R of the first cavity tower 12 and the side surface of the first wall portion 15 of the first connecting portion 14. A second reinforcing portion 34 is formed in the second housing member 23 and is continuous with the back surface 24R of the second cavity tower 24 and the side surface of the second wall portion 27 of the second connecting portion 26. According to this configuration, deformation of the first connecting portion 14 can be prevented by the first reinforcing portion 19, and deformation of the second connecting portion 26 can be prevented by the second reinforcing portion 34. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the positional relationship between the first cavity tower 12 and the second cavity tower 24 from becoming inappropriate due to deformation of the first connecting portion 14 or the second connecting portion 26.

[Other Examples]
The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawings, but is indicated by the claims. The present invention includes meanings equivalent to the scope of the claims and all changes within the scope of the claims, and is intended to include the following embodiments.
In the first embodiment described above, the connecting parts are fitted together by relatively displacing each other in parallel to the length direction of the cavity tower, but the connecting parts are fitted together by relatively displacing each other in a direction intersecting the length direction of the cavity tower. It may also be fitted by
In Example 1 above, the lock portion was formed only on the first housing member (one housing member), but the lock portion was formed on both the first housing member (one housing member) and the second housing member (the other housing member). It is also possible to form a section.
In the first embodiment, the housing member has a reinforcing portion that is continuous with the end surface on the proximal side of the cavity tower and the side surface of the connecting portion, but the housing member may not have the reinforcing portion.
In the first embodiment, one connector is constituted by a pair of housing members, but one connector may further include another housing member having a cavity tower in addition to the pair of housing members.
In the first embodiment, the connecting portion protrudes from the proximal end face of the cavity tower in the direction opposite to the cavity tower, but the connecting portion is formed within the lengthwise range of the cavity tower. It's okay.
In the first embodiment, the lock portion of the first housing member is an elastically deformable lock arm, but the lock portion may be in a form that is not elastically deformable.

F... Connector M... Mating connector 10... Connector housing 11... First housing member (one housing member)
11P: Base end portion of the first housing member 11T: Tip end portion 12 of the first housing member...first cavity tower (cavity tower)
12R: Back side of the first cavity tower 13...first insertion port (insertion port)
14...First connecting part (connecting part)
15...First wall part 16...Removal prevention protrusion 17...Guide part 17S: Stopper 18...Guide groove 19...First reinforcement part (reinforcement part)
20...Lock arm (lock part)
21...Lock protrusion 22...Terminal fitting 23...Second housing member (other housing member)
23P: Base end portion of the second housing member 23T: Tip end portion 24 of the second housing member...second cavity tower (cavity tower)
24R: Back side of the second cavity tower 25...Second insertion port (insertion port)
26...Second connecting part (connecting part)
27...Second wall part 28...Support part 29...Guide rib 30...Abutment part 31...Beam part 32...Elastic locking piece 33...Latching protrusion 34...Second reinforcement part (reinforcement part)
35...Separate space 40...Mating party housing 41...Terminal holding member 42...Hood part 43...Mating party terminal 44...Terminal body part 45...Tab 46...Lock hole 47...Fitting space 48...Partition wall part

Claims (3)

a pair of housing members molded as separate parts;
a pair of cavity towers that individually protrude from the base end portions of the pair of housing members;
and a terminal fitting accommodated in the cavity tower,
A connecting portion that connects the pair of housing members by fitting into each other is formed at the base end portions of the pair of housing members,
By fitting the connecting portions together, the pair of cavity towers are arranged side by side with a separation space between them;
An insertion opening for the terminal fitting is formed on the end surface of the base end side of the cavity tower,
The connecting portion protrudes from an end surface of the cavity tower on the proximal end side in a direction opposite to the cavity tower,
A connector in which a reinforcing portion is formed in the housing member and is continuous with an end surface on the proximal end side of the cavity tower and a side surface of the connecting portion . The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portions are fitted together by relative displacement in parallel to the length direction of the cavity tower. A lock portion and a stopper are formed on one of the housing members,
The locking portion locks the one housing member and the mating housing in a state where separation is restricted when the cavity tower is fitted into the mating housing,
3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the stopper restricts relative displacement of the other housing member with respect to the one housing member in a direction away from the mating housing.

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