JPH08250185A - Joint connector and cap therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide improved economy by reducing the number of assembly operations. CONSTITUTION: A female terminal 13 connected to the end of a covered wire 12 is inserted into a connector housing 11 and is locked into place by engagement of an elastic locking piece 17. First an,d second locking projections 21, 22 are formed, respectively, on the upper and lower side wall surfaces of the connector housing 11. A cap 23 is provided with an engaging frame 25, which can be engaged with the first and second locking projections 21, 22 of the connector housing 11. A joint terminal 28 is molded integral with the inside of the cap 23 by insert molding, and an imperfect-insertion detecting piece 30 can advance into a deflection-permitting space 20 in the elastic locking piece 17 of the connector housing 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a joint connector and a joint connector cap, and particularly to rationalize the assembling work.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The following structure is known as a joint connector. A plurality of terminal fittings are inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber of the female connector housing, and these are retained by elastic locking pieces (lances) integrally formed with the female connector housing. On the other hand, on the front end side of the female connector housing, a joint cap is mounted after the terminal fitting is mounted on the connector housing. This joint cap is constructed by mounting a joint terminal on a housing, and by mounting this housing on the female connector housing, each male terminal portion of the joint terminal is connected to the terminal fitting of the female connector housing. .

[0003]

In the above construction, however, in the assembly process, all the terminal fittings are mounted on the female connector housing and then the retainer is mounted to complete the female connector, and then the joint cap is attached. Since it is necessary to attach the joint terminal and fix it, and then to pick up the already completed female connector and joint cap to fit them together, there are many assembly steps, There was a problem that the cost was considerably high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a joint connector and a cap therefor which can reduce the number of assembling steps and reduce the manufacturing cost.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a connector housing having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers for accommodating terminal fittings, a terminal fitting accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber of the connector housing, and a connector housing. Caps that can be attached to the ends of the terminal fittings on the connection end side, and can be held at both the temporary locking position where this cap is fitted to the end of the connector housing and the main locking position where it is fitted deeper than that The locking mechanism and the inner surface of the cap that protrudes toward the connector housing do not interfere with the terminal fitting when the cap is in the temporary locking position, and are in the connected state with the terminal fitting when the cap is in the final locking position. And a joint terminal for commonly connecting the respective terminal fittings (claim 1).

In addition to this structure, when the terminal fitting is inserted into the terminal housing chamber of the connector housing, the terminal fitting is elastically deformed to allow the insertion, and is elastically restored when the terminal fitting is inserted into the normal position. Then, an elastic locking piece that engages with the terminal fitting is provided, and the cap comes into contact with the elastic locking piece of the connector housing that is elastically deformed when the cap is mounted so as to project toward the connector housing. A possible half-insertion detecting piece may be provided (the invention of claim 2).

Further, in the case of this construction, the locking mechanism includes first and second locking projections projecting from the side wall surface of the connector housing and arranged at intervals along the insertion direction of the cap.
The cap includes an engagement frame having an engagement hole integrally formed with the cap so as to be elastically deformable, and the first engagement protrusion is located in the engagement hole of the engagement frame to engage between the engagement protrusions. The cap is held at the temporary locking position by sandwiching the frame, and the cap is held at the main locking position by positioning both the first and second locking projections in the engaging hole. It is possible (the invention of claim 3).

Further, in a joint connector cap to be mounted on a female connector, a cap body which can be mounted on an end portion of a connector housing on the side of a connection end of a terminal fitting, and a cap body provided on the cap body for connecting the cap body to the connector. A locking portion that can be retained at both the temporary locking position that is fitted to the end of the housing and the main locking position that is deeper than that, and a cap that is provided on the inner surface of the cap body so as to project toward the connector housing. When the main body is attached to the connector housing so as to be in the final locking position, the joint terminal is in a connected state with the terminal fitting, and a joint terminal for common connection between the terminal fittings can be provided (claim) Invention of Item 4).

[0009]

In the inventions of claims 1 and 4, the work for completing the joint connector is as follows. A cap is attached to the connector housing in advance, and the cap is held at the temporary locking position to form a unit. Then, these are carried into the insertion stage of the terminal fitting, where the terminal fitting is housed in each terminal housing chamber of the connector housing, and then the cap is pushed into the main locking position. With this, the joint terminal of the cap is connected to the terminal fittings to commonly connect them, and the joint connector is completed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the terminal fitting is prevented from coming off by the elastic locking piece of the connector housing. At this time, as the terminal fitting is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber, the elastic locking piece elastically deforms to allow passage of the terminal fitting, and when the terminal fitting reaches the normal position, it is elastically restored to restore the terminal fitting. However, if it is not inserted until it reaches the normal position, the elastic locking piece cannot be restored while being elastically deformed.

When the cap is mounted after inserting the terminal fittings, the joint terminals of the cap are connected to the terminal fittings so that they are commonly connected, and the half-insertion detecting piece enters and the elastic locking piece is inserted. Make sure that the terminal fitting is fixed to the position where the elastic deformation of the terminal is prevented. If the terminal fitting is in the half-inserted state and the elastic locking piece remains in the elastically deformed state, the half-insertion detecting piece abuts the elastic locking piece when the cap is attached, and Since the insertion is prevented, the half-inserted state of the terminal fitting is detected.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, when the cap is set at the temporary locking position, the first hole is provided in the engaging hole of the engaging frame.
And the second locking projection is positioned outside the engagement hole, and the locking frame is sandwiched between the locking projections. Also, when the cap is set to the final locking position,
Both the first and second locking protrusions are positioned so that the cap is completely prevented from falling off.

[0013]

As described above, according to the inventions of claims 1 and 4, the cap can be set in the connector housing in advance and integrated, and then the operation of inserting the terminal fitting can be performed. The work from the insertion of the terminal fitting to the insertion of the cap into the main locking position can be smoothly performed in a series, the number of work steps can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be greatly reduced. According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the cap is provided with the half-insertion detecting piece, it is possible to reliably detect that the terminal fitting is in the half-inserted state when the cap is attached. Further, according to the invention of claim 3, the cap can be selectively held at the temporary locking position and the main locking position by the combination of the locking frame and the engaging projection, and a reliable holding state is obtained. The effect that can be obtained is obtained.

[0014]

【Example】

<First Embodiment> A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Structure of the Embodiment) In the drawing, 11 is a housing of a female connector, in which a female terminal metal fitting 13 connected to the tip of the covered electric wire 12 is inserted. Since the terminal fitting 13 has the same structure as the conventional one, the explanation will be briefly explained. However, the rear end portion of the terminal fitting 13 is provided with the insulation barrel 14, and the tip portion of the electric wire coating is caulked and fixed. There is. In addition, a wire barrel 15 is formed in the front part thereof to caulk and fix the core portion of the electric wire. Further, in front of the wire barrel 15, a square tubular connection tubular portion 16 is formed. Although not shown in detail in the bottom surface of the connecting tubular portion 16, an opening is formed so that the terminal fitting 13 can be locked by the engagement of an elastic locking piece 17 described later.

The connector housing 11 is integrally molded of a synthetic resin material, and a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 18 for accommodating the terminal fittings 13 are formed in the connector housing 11 to form a rectangular parallelepiped box as a whole. Take shape. In the case of this example, a total of 14 rooms are set, for example, two rooms vertically and seven rooms horizontally. Each terminal accommodating chamber 18 is partitioned into individual chambers by a partition wall 19 and is formed so as to open in both front and rear directions.

Further, in each terminal accommodating chamber 18, an elastic locking piece 17 which can be bent and deformed downward is provided on the bottom surface of the terminal accommodating chamber 1.
It is formed so as to be cantilevered from the middle of 8 toward the front (right side in each drawing), and the bending allowance space 20 is below the tip side thereof. The tip of this elastic locking piece 17 always projects toward the inside (upward) of the terminal accommodating chamber 18, and when the terminal fitting 13 is pushed by the terminal fitting 13, the tip end side retracts downward. As described above, when the terminal fitting 13 is flexibly deformed and its insertion is allowed, and the terminal fitting 13 is inserted into the proper position and fits with the above-mentioned opening, it is elastically returned and engaged there.

On both upper and lower wall surfaces of the connector housing 11, first locking projections 21 are provided near the tip of the connector housing 11, and two first locking projections 21 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the left direction in the drawing. The second locking projection 22 is provided so as to project. These locking projections 21 and 22 are formed as inclined surfaces that become lower on the front side.

On the other hand, on the front side of the connector housing 11, there is provided a cap 23 which can be fitted to the end portion thereof. This is also integrally molded with a synthetic resin material, and the cap body 23a has a rectangular container shape that can be fitted into the connector housing 11. Square-shaped engaging frames 25 having engaging holes 24 are integrally formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the cap main body 23a, and slits 26 are formed on both sides of the engaging frame 25 so that the cap main body 23a is disengaged. It is elastically deformable. The engagement frame 25 is the first and second locking projections 2 of the connector housing 11.
The first locking protrusion 21 is located in the engagement hole 24 of the engagement frame 25 so that the locking mechanism 27 of the cap body 23a is configured together with the first and second locking protrusions 2 and 1.
A temporary locking position with the engagement frame 25 sandwiched between the first and the second,
Both the first and second locking protrusions 21 and 22 are engaged with the engaging hole 2
It is possible to hold the cap main body 23a in the main locking position in which the cap main body 23a is located deeper than the temporary locking position.

A joint terminal 28 shown in FIG. 5 is integrally provided in the cap 23 by insert molding. The joint terminal 28 is formed by bending a metal plate, and has a total of 14 tab portions 2 arranged in two rows that can be inserted into the connection tubular portion 16 of the terminal fitting 13.
9 is fixed in the cap 23 so as to project toward the respective terminal fittings 13 side in the connector housing 11. The protruding length of each tab portion 29 of the joint terminal 28 is such that the tab portion 29 is outside the terminal fitting 13 when the cap 23 is in the temporary locking position and the cap 23 reaches the main locking position. It is set so as to be fitted into the connection tubular portion 16 of the terminal fitting 13.

Further, on the inner surface of the cap body 23a,
Half-insertion detection piece 30 protruding toward the connector housing 11 side
Are integrally molded. The half-insertion detection piece 30 is provided corresponding to each terminal accommodating chamber 18 of the connector housing 11, and a total of 14 two-row projections are provided, the tip of which is inside the bending allowance space 20 of each terminal accommodating chamber 18. It is possible to enter.

(Operation of Embodiment) Next, the assembly procedure of this embodiment will be described. First, the cap 23 is fitted into the connector housing 11, and the engaging frame 25 is set at the temporary locking position located between the first locking projection 21 and the second locking projection 22. In this state, the cap 23 is fixed to the connector housing 11 and can be integrally handled as one component. Further, since the front surface of the connector housing 11 which is largely opened is closed by the cap 23, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering there.

Next, the terminal fittings 13 connected to the electric wires 12 are inserted into the respective terminal accommodating chambers 18 of the connector housing 11. When the terminal fitting 13 is inserted, the elastic locking piece 17 of the connector housing 11 is elastically deformed into the bending allowance space 20, and is restored when it reaches the normal position to restore the terminal fitting 1.
The terminal fitting 13 is prevented from coming off by engaging with the opening of the terminal 3.

When all the terminal fittings 13 are inserted,
Push the cap 23 and push it into the final locking position. As a result, each tab portion 29 of the joint terminal 28 is connected to the terminal fitting 13
It is inserted into the connection tube portion 16 of, and the respective terminal fittings 13 are in a common connection state. At the same time, the half-insertion detection piece 30 of the cap 23 enters into the bending allowance space 20 of the connector housing 11, so that the elastic locking piece 17 is prevented from being bent and deformed toward the bending allowance space 20 side. The engagement piece 17 ensures that the terminal fitting 13 is prevented from coming off.

At this time, if the terminal fitting 13 is in the half-inserted state where it has not reached the proper position, the elastic locking piece 17 is elastically deformed in the bending allowance space 20, so that the cap 23 is set to the main locking position. When attempting to set, the tip of the half insertion detecting piece 30 contacts the elastic locking piece 17 as shown in FIG. 6, and further insertion is blocked. This is the terminal fitting 1
Since it is detected that 3 is in the half-inserted state, it is sufficient to push the terminal fitting 13 to the normal position and then push the cap 23 back to the full locking position.

(Effects of the Embodiment) As described above, according to this embodiment, the cap 23 as the locking mechanism 27 is set in advance on the connector housing 11 and integrated, and then the terminal fitting 1 is formed.
Since it is possible to move to the insertion work of 3, the work from the insertion of the terminal fitting 13 to the insertion of the cap 23 into the main locking position can be smoothly carried out in series. Therefore, not only the reduction of the work man-hours due to the reduction of the number of parts but also the reduction of the work man-hours due to the smoothing of the assembling work greatly contributes to the drastic reduction of the manufacturing cost.

Moreover, the cap 23 has a half insertion detecting piece 3
Since 0 is provided, if the terminal fitting 13 is in the half-inserted state and the elastic locking piece 17 remains in the elastically deformed state, the temporary locking position cap 23 is pushed into the main locking position. Therefore, the half-inserted state of the terminal fitting 13 can be reliably detected. Further, if the cap 23 is pushed into the main locking position with the terminal fitting 13 in the normal position, the half-insertion detection piece 30 enters the bending allowance space 20 of the elastic locking piece 17 to ensure its elastic deformation. Since it is in the state of being blocked, it is possible to reliably prevent the terminal fitting 13 from coming off by so-called double locking. That is, originally, the cap 23 for keeping each terminal fitting 13 in the common connection state
In addition, since the same function as that of the conventional retainer can be exerted, the retainer conventionally required on the connector housing side can be omitted, and the number of parts can be reduced accordingly.

<Second Embodiment> FIGS. 7 to 10 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that the half-insertion detecting piece is omitted and the structure of the locking mechanism is different. Hereinafter, a specific description will be given. In the figure, reference numeral 41 designates a housing of a female connector integrally formed of a synthetic resin material, in which, for example, three terminal accommodating chambers 42 are formed side by side, and a female terminal fitting 44 to which a covered electric wire 43 is connected. Is inserted. Each of the terminal accommodating chambers 42 is opened in the front-rear direction, and an elastic locking piece 45 that can be bent and deformed downward is extended from the middle of the terminal accommodating chamber 42 to the front side (the left side in each drawing) in a cantilever state on the bottom surface portion. When the terminal fitting 44 is inserted into the regular position, it is elastically deformed so that the tip end side retracts downward by being pushed by the terminal fitting 44 when the terminal fitting 44 is inserted, and the insertion is allowed. It is automatically returned to engage with this.

On the upper surface of the connector housing 41, a lock arm 46 having a free end as a tip is provided with a leg 46.
The lock arm 46 is integrally formed with the lock arm 46, and a rectangular engaging hole 47 is formed on the tip side thereof. Note that reference numeral 4
Reference numeral 8 is a waterproof seal, and 49 is a retainer.

On the other hand, on the front side of the connector housing 41, there is provided a cap 50 which can be fitted to the end thereof. This is also molded with a synthetic resin material, and the cap main body 51 has the connector housing 4
1 has a hood shape that can be fitted to the outside. An engagement frame 52 into which the lock arm 46 of the connector housing 41 can enter is formed on the upper surface of the cap body 51.
In the engagement frame 52, first and second engagement claws 53, 54 are provided.
Is projected downward. These engaging claws 53, 54
Together with the lock arm 46 of the connector housing 41 constitute a locking mechanism 60 of the cap body 51, whereby the first engaging claw 53 engages with the engaging hole 47 of the lock arm 46. Lock position (see Fig. 9)
Then, the cap main body 51 can be held at the main locking position (see FIG. 10) in which the second engaging claw 54 is engaged with the lock arm 46 and is fitted deeper than the temporary locking position. There is.

A joint terminal 55 shown in FIG. 7 is integrally provided in the cap 50 by insert molding. The joint terminal 55 is formed by pressing a metal plate, has three tab portions 56 in a horizontal row that can be inserted into the terminal fitting 44, and has a cap 50.
It is integrally provided by insert molding so as to project toward the respective terminal fittings 44 side inside the connector housing 41. The projecting length of each tab portion 29 of the joint terminal 55 is such that the tab portion 29 is outside the terminal fitting 44 when the cap 50 is in the temporary locking position and the cap 50 reaches the main locking position. It is set to fit in the terminal fitting 44.

Next, the assembly procedure of this embodiment will be described. First, the cap 50 is fitted into the connector housing 41, and the lock arm 46 is set to a temporary locking position where the lock arm 46 engages with the first engaging claw 53 of the cap 50. In this state, the cap 50 is fixed to the connector housing 41 and can be integrally handled as one component. Further, since the front surface of the connector housing 41, which is largely opened, is closed by the cap 50, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering here.

Next, the terminal fittings 44 are inserted into the respective terminal accommodating chambers 42 of the connector housing 41. Terminal fitting 44
Of the elastic locking piece 4 of the connector housing 41
5 is elastically deformed, and when it reaches the regular position, it is restored and engages with the opening of the terminal fitting 44 to prevent the terminal fitting 44 from coming off. When all the terminal fittings 44 have been inserted, the cap 50 is pushed and pushed into the main locking position. As a result, the tab portions 56 of the joint terminal 55 are inserted into the terminal fittings 44, and the terminal fittings 44 are in a common connection state.

As described above, according to this embodiment as well, the cap 50 can be set in the connector housing 41 in advance and integrated, and then the operation of inserting the terminal fitting 44 can be performed. The work up to the insertion into the main locking position can be smoothly performed in series.
Therefore, not only the reduction of the work man-hours due to the reduction of the number of parts but also the reduction of the work man-hours due to the smoothing of the assembling work greatly contributes to the drastic reduction of the manufacturing cost.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the following embodiments are possible, for example, and these are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

(1) In the above embodiment, the joint terminal is provided on the cap by insert molding. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the joint terminal may be press-fitted into a preformed cap to be integrated or preformed. The joint terminal may be inserted into the cap to be integrated, and the lid may be attached to the cap to prevent the joint terminal from coming off.

Besides, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described by the above description and the drawings, but can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention with a cap separated.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the cap in a temporarily locked state.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the cap in the final locked state.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a locking mechanism of the same.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a joint terminal of the same.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing the function of the half-insertion detecting piece.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the male and female connectors in a separated state.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the cap in a temporarily locked state.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the cap in the final locked state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 41 ... Connector housing 12, 43 ... Electric wire 13, 44 ... Terminal fitting 17, 45 ... Elastic locking piece 18, 42 ... Terminal accommodating chamber 20 ... Bending allowance space 21, 22 ... First and second locking projections 23, 50 ... Cap 23a, 51 ... Cap main body 27, 60 ... Locking mechanism 28, 55 ... Joint terminal 30 ... Half insertion detecting piece 53 ... First engaging claw 54 ... Second engaging claw 60 ... Locking mechanism

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A connector housing having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers for accommodating terminal fittings, a terminal fitting accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber of the connector housing, and a connection end of the terminal fitting of the connector housing. And a locking mechanism capable of holding the cap at both a temporary locking position where the cap is fitted to the end of the connector housing and a main locking position where the cap is fitted deeper than the temporary locking position. ,
The cap is provided on the inner surface of the cap so as to project toward the connector housing, does not interfere with the terminal fitting when the cap is in the temporary locking position, and is in a connected state with the terminal fitting when the cap is in the final locking position. A joint connector comprising a joint terminal for commonly connecting terminal fittings. 2. The connector housing elastically deforms when a terminal fitting is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber to allow the insertion, and elastically restores when the terminal fitting is inserted into a normal position. And an elastic locking piece that engages with the terminal fitting and is elastically deformed when the cap is attached to the cap so as to project toward the connector housing and the elastically deformed state of the connector housing. The joint connector according to claim 1, further comprising a half-insertion detection piece that can come into contact with the piece. 3. The locking mechanism includes elastically deformable first and second locking projections protruding from a side wall surface of the connector housing and arranged at intervals along the insertion direction of the cap. And an engaging frame having an engaging hole formed integrally with the engaging frame, wherein the first engaging protrusion is located in the engaging hole of the engaging frame, and the engaging frame is positioned between the engaging protrusions. By doing so, the cap is held in the temporary locking position, and both of the first and second locking projections are positioned in the engagement hole, whereby the cap is held in the main locking position. The joint connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. A cap for a joint connector to be mounted on a female connector, wherein a plurality of female terminal fittings are housed in a connector housing in a retaining state, wherein the connector housing has a connection end side of the terminal fitting. The cap body that can be mounted on the end of the connector, and the temporary lock position that is provided on the cap body when the cap body is fitted to the end of the connector housing and the main locking position that is deeper than that. A retaining part that can be held, and is connected to the terminal fitting when the cap body is mounted on the inner surface of the cap body so as to project toward the connector housing so that the cap body is in the main locking position with respect to the connector housing. Is a joint connector cap that includes a joint terminal that commonly connects the respective terminal fittings.