JPH08148243A - Joint connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To reliably install a joint terminal in right position and direction in a housing. CONSTITUTION: Stabilizers 27 are arranged on a joint terminal 20, and an inserting directional guide groove 17 of the joint terminal 20 is arranged in a housing 10. When the joint terminal 20 is inserted into the housing 10, the stabilizers 27 slide by fitting to the guide groove 17. Therefore, the joint terminal 20 is inserted while being kept in right posture and direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a joint connector having improved mountability of a joint terminal on a housing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a joint connector, a plurality of terminal pieces projecting in opposite directions of a joint terminal provided in a housing are made to face the connection openings at both ends of the housing, and a plurality of mating connectors fitted in the connection openings are connected. When the mating terminal and the terminal piece are connected, only the mating terminals connected to the terminal piece of the same joint terminal are electrically connected.

There is a joint connector in which a housing and a joint terminal which are separately molded in advance are assembled. As a joint connector of this type, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, an elastic retaining piece 86 is formed by cutting and raising the joint terminal 85, and the inside of the housing 80 has both connection ports 8.
There is a structure in which an insertion hole 82 that communicates between the first terminal 81 and the first terminal 81, a stopper 83 that prevents the joint terminal 85 from being excessively inserted, and a retaining engagement portion 84 that can engage the elastic retaining piece 86 are formed. Then, when the joint terminal 85 is inserted into the housing 80 from a predetermined (right side in the drawing) connection port 81 in a predetermined direction, the terminal piece 87 facing the insertion direction penetrates the insertion hole 82 and the connection port on the opposite side. A locking portion 8 facing the inside of 81 and between adjacent terminal pieces 87, 87.
The joint terminal 85 is held at a predetermined mounting position when the elastic retaining piece 86 engages with the retaining engagement portion 84 at the same time when the contact portion 8 contacts the stopper 83.

[0004]

When the joint terminal 85 is mounted as described above, a plurality of terminal pieces 87 are arranged side by side in the connection port 81, but these terminal pieces 87 are connected to the mating terminal (see FIG. In order to fit smoothly with (not shown), all the terminal pieces 87 must be mounted in correct positions and in correct directions. However, in the conventional joint connector, the joint terminal 8 is attached to the housing 80.
Since a means for correctly guiding the insertion direction of No. 5 is not provided, there is a risk that the posture and the insertion direction of the joint terminal 85 may be changed during the insertion.
In particular, when the elastic retaining piece 86 is elastically deformed and slidably contacts the inner wall of the insertion hole 82 immediately before being engaged with the retaining engagement portion 84 when the joint terminal 85 is inserted, when the joint terminal 85 is strongly pushed. There is a high possibility that the posture or insertion direction will shift.

The present invention was created in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to ensure that the joint terminal can be mounted to the housing in the correct position and orientation.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing, which has a pair of connection ports that open in opposite directions at both ends and communicate with each other inside, and a holding part inside, and a holding part. A state in which the terminal piece faces the inside of the pair of connection ports by having the mating engagement part and the terminal piece protruding in opposite directions, and being inserted from the connection port and engaging the engagement part with the holding part. A joint connector comprising a joint terminal mounted in the housing, a stabilizer is formed in the joint terminal, and a guide is formed in the holding portion for engaging the stabilizer slidably in the insertion direction. It will be composed.

The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the guide is formed so as to face both insides of the pair of connection ports.

The invention of claim 3 relates to claim 1 or claim 2.
In the invention, the guide is characterized in that the guide is arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the joint terminal in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the joint terminal.

[0009]

According to the invention of claim 1, when the joint terminal is inserted, the stabilizer engages with the guide and slides along the guide. Therefore, the inserting direction or the posture of the joint terminal is inclined obliquely or laterally displaced. There is nothing to do.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the guide is formed so as to face both of the pair of connection ports, the stabilizer can be used regardless of which of the pair of connection ports the joint terminal is inserted into. Is engaged with the guide.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the stabilizer of the joint terminal is installed in the housing regardless of whether the joint terminal is inserted into the housing in a posture in which it is inverted about an axis parallel to the insertion direction or in a posture in which it is not inverted. Engagement with the guide stabilizes the insertion direction and posture of the joint terminal.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, by engaging the stabilizer with the guide, it is possible to stably maintain the insertion direction and posture of the joint terminal in a correct state. It can be securely mounted in a predetermined position in a correct posture.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the joint terminal is inserted from any one of the pair of connection ports, the joint terminal can be held in a predetermined mounted state. There is no need to look inside and check the connection port that should be inserted, and if you can not insert it for the time being and try to insert it in the connection port on the other side, install the joint terminal. Excellent workability.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the joint terminal can be inserted in any of a posture in which the joint terminal is inverted around an axis parallel to the insertion direction and a posture in which the joint terminal is not inverted. Excellent workability.

[0015]

【Example】

<Example 1> Hereinafter, Example 1 embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described with reference to FIGS. The joint connector of this embodiment includes a housing 10 and a joint terminal 20 mounted in the housing 10.

The housing 10 is made of a non-conductive synthetic resin material and has a cylindrical shape as a whole. The openings at both ends of the housing 10 are connection ports 11, 11 into which mating connectors (not shown) can be fitted, and both the external appearance of the housing 10 and the hollow interior described later are both connection ports 1.
The openings 1 and 11 have symmetrical shapes in the opening direction (hereinafter referred to as the length direction).

A holding portion 13 for holding the joint terminal 20 is provided at an intermediate position between the connection ports 11 and 11 inside the hollow of the housing 10. Holding part 1
3 is formed so as to bridge between the inner side walls of the housing 10 in a direction orthogonal to the length direction thereof with a certain width, and the holding portions 13 having the same configuration are provided in upper and lower two stages. The lower holding portion 13 is supported by a leg portion 13A that rises from the inner bottom surface of the housing 10, and the upper holding portion 13 is supported by a leg portion 13B that rises from the upper surface of the lower holding portion 13.

Each holding portion 13 has a cavity 14 whose inner dimension in the vertical direction is the same as the thickness of the joint terminal 20 and which opens in a slit shape in the direction perpendicular to the length direction of the housing 10. The cavity 14 has a predetermined dimension in the length direction of the housing 10, and is open at both connection ports 11 and 11, so that the joint terminal 2
0 can be inserted.

In the cavity 14, four sets of retaining locking portions 16 are formed with a constant pitch. The four retaining locking portions 16 constitute one set, and the four retaining locking portions 16 in each set are such that the upper surface and the lower surface of the cavity 14 face each other from their slit-shaped opening edges toward the other side. It is formed by notching in the shape of a groove having a constant length in the length direction of 10. Of the four retaining locking portions 16 in each set, two corresponding retaining retaining portions 16 in the lengthwise direction of the housing 10 are not communicated with each other, and the innermost end surface of each retaining retaining portion 16 is of the housing 10. Along with the locking surface 16A that is perpendicular to the length direction, the cavity 14
The two retaining locking portions 16 on the upper surface side and the lower surface side are arranged to face each other. The retaining locking portion 16 not only has a retaining function for preventing the joint terminal 20 from moving in the detaching direction at a predetermined mounting position, but also has a joint terminal 2 at a predetermined mounting position.
It also has the function of a stopper to prevent zero insertion.

Further, in the cavity 14, one set of guide grooves 17 is formed for each of the retaining locking portions 16 of each set. The guide grooves 17 form one set of four rows, and the four guide grooves 17 in each set pass through the upper surface and the lower surface of the cavity 14 from one slit-like opening toward the other opening. Further, they are formed so as to be arranged in parallel on both sides of the retaining locking portion 16. In the guide groove 17, the stabilizer 2 of the joint terminal 20 is provided.
7 is slidably fitted without rattling.

The retaining locking portion 16 and the guide groove 17 are
Both are symmetrical with respect to the shape and arrangement in both the length direction of the housing 10 and the direction perpendicular thereto. This means that the cavity 14 is point-symmetrical in a plane parallel to the upper and lower surfaces of the cavity 14 with respect to an axis in the vertical direction perpendicular thereto. As a result, both connection ports 11
The shape and arrangement of the retaining lock portion 16 and the guide groove 17 are the same when viewed from any of the above.

On the other hand, the joint terminal 20 is made of a conductive metal plate material and has four pairs of terminal pieces 22 protruding in the opposite directions by the same length. The four pairs of terminal pieces 22 include three connecting portions 2 that are perpendicular to the protruding direction.
5, the retaining locking portions 16 are connected to each other in parallel at the same arrangement pitch and are integrated. The joint terminal 20 is mounted by being inserted into the housing 10 through the connection port 11 in a direction parallel to the protruding direction of the terminal piece 22.

In the joint terminal 20, each pair of terminal pieces 22 is cut and raised diagonally along the lengthwise direction of the terminal piece 22 so that the joint piece 20 is in a direction parallel to the plate surface of the terminal piece. Of the elastic stoppers (engagement portions of the present invention) 23 and over-insertion preventing portions (engagement portions of the present invention) 2
4 are formed in pairs. The elastic retaining portions 23 and the excessive insertion preventing portions 24 of each pair are symmetrically arranged in the length direction of the terminal piece 22. As shown in FIG. 4, the elastic retaining portion 23 protrudes to the upper surface side, and the over-insertion preventing portion 2
4 protrudes to the opposite lower surface side, and the elastic stopper portion 23 and the cut-and-press ends 23A and 24A of the over-insertion preventing portion 24 face each other. And both of the cut and raised ends 23
A and 24A are spaced apart from each other such that the locking surfaces 16A of the retaining locking portions 16 and 16 corresponding to each other in the length direction of the housing 10
It is set to be equal to the distance between 16A.

In the joint terminal 20, a set of four stabilizers 27 is provided for each pair of terminal pieces 22.
Is provided. Two stabilizers 27 are arranged for each terminal piece 22 so as to correspond to the elastic retaining portions 23 or the excessive insertion prevention portions 24 on both side edges of the terminal piece 22. Stabilizer 27 is for each terminal piece 2
A part projecting from both side edges of 2 is bent along the side edge toward the upper surface side at one side and the other side at a lower surface side at a right angle so as to project from the upper surface or the lower surface. The method of projecting the stabilizer 27 to both upper and lower surfaces is the same for the four terminal pieces 22 projecting in the same direction. Further, between the pair of terminal pieces 22, one of the two stabilizers 27 formed at the side edge on the same side protrudes to the upper surface side and the other protrudes to the lower surface side. The shape of the stabilizer 27 viewed from the side of the joint terminal 20 is trapezoidal, and both ends in the projecting direction of the terminal piece 22 are inclined parts 27A that are cut off obliquely. Further, the protruding height of the stabilizer 27 is set to the same dimension as the depth of the guide groove 17, and the stabilizer 27 is
Has a thickness (dimension in the width direction of the terminal piece 22) set to be the same as the width of the guide groove 17.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
The terminal piece 22 on the side where the elastic retaining portion 23 is formed
When the joint terminal 20 is inserted into the housing 10 from any one of the two connection ports 11 in a posture in which the front side is directed to the front, the terminal piece 22 on the front side is inserted into the cavity 14.
As shown in FIG. 5, the two stabilizers 27 of each terminal piece 22 on the front side are aligned with the guide groove 17 located at the lower right and the guide groove 17 located at the upper left as shown in FIG. Mating. Further joint terminal 20
Both stabilizers 27 slide while being guided by the guide grooves 17 as the insertion of the guides proceeds. Since the inclined portion 27A is formed at the end of the stabilizer 27,
When sliding, the stabilizer 27 can slide smoothly without the possibility of being caught by the bottom surface of the guide groove 17. After this, each terminal piece 2 on the rear side
The two stabilizers 2 of 2 are the stabilizers 2 on the front side.
7 are fitted in the upper right and lower left guide grooves 17 which are not fitted.

After this, the four stabilizers 27 of the pair of terminal pieces 22 are fitted into the guide grooves 17 and slide. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, since the side surface of the stabilizer 27 is in contact with the side wall surface of the guide groove 17, the joint terminal 20 is inclined or laterally displaced in a plane parallel to the plate surface. Is prevented, and the insertion in the correct direction is continued while maintaining the correct posture toward the predetermined mounting position. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper and lower surfaces of the joint terminal 20 are in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the cavity 14, and the protruding edge of the stabilizer 27 is located on the bottom surface of the guide groove 17 as shown in FIGS. Since they are in contact, the joint terminal 20 does not rattle in the vertical direction.

While the joint terminal 20 is being inserted, the elastic retaining portion 23 of the terminal piece 22 on the front side is
The cavity 1 between the upper and lower retaining locks 16 of the upper and lower retaining locks 16 that are open to the insertion-side connection port 11 and is located between the corresponding retaining locks 16 in the insertion direction.
It passes through the narrow part of 4 while elastically deforming. Further, the excessive insertion prevention portion 24 of the terminal piece 22 on the rear side is provided with the connection port 11 on the insertion side.
Of the upper and lower retaining locks 16 that are open to the bottom, the lower retaining locks 16 are inserted.

When the joint terminal 20 reaches the predetermined mounting position, as shown in FIG. 8, the elastic retaining portion 23 passes through the narrow portion of the cavity 14 and elastically restores to cut the raised end 23A. The excessive insertion preventing portion 2 is engaged with the engagement surface 16A of the removal prevention engagement portion 16 on the side opposite to the insertion side and is engaged with the engagement surface 16A of the removal prevention engagement portion 16 on the insertion side.
The cut-and-raised end 24A of 4 is locked.

The mounting work of the joint terminal 20 is completed by the above. Joint terminal 2 in this state
0 is prevented from coming off by the engagement of the elastic retaining portion 23 with the engagement surface 16A, and the engagement surface 16 of the overinsertion prevention portion 24 is prevented.
The engagement with A prevents over-insertion, and thus holds it in a predetermined mounting position.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the joint terminal 20 is mounted, the stabilizer 27 is fitted into the guide groove 17 and slid to guide the joint terminal 20, so that the joint terminal 27 with respect to the housing 10 is guided. The insertion posture and the insertion direction can be stably maintained in a correct state, and the joint terminal 20 can be reliably attached to a predetermined position in a correct posture.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the inside of the housing 10 is viewed from the two connection ports 11, the disengagement prevention engaging portion 16 and the guide groove 17 are arranged in the same manner, and moreover, the escape prevention engaging portion 16 and the guide groove 17 are arranged. Are symmetrically formed in the length direction of the housing 10, so that the connection port 11 on the side opposite to the above is formed.
Even if the joint terminal 20 is inserted from the above, it can be correctly mounted in the same manner as described above. Therefore, prior to inserting the joint terminal 20, it is not necessary to look into the housing 10 through the connection port 11 and check the connection port 11 to be inserted from the internal shape, and the workability of mounting the joint terminal 20 is eliminated. Is excellent.

The joint terminal 20 of this embodiment is
With respect to the axis parallel to the insertion direction, although the directions of upward and downward projections of the elastic removal preventing portion 23 and the excessive insertion preventing portion 24 are opposite, the arrangement and the shape and arrangement of other members are point-symmetrical. Even if the directions of the protrusions of the elastic stopper portion 23 and the excessive insertion preventing portion 24 are reversed, since the stopper retaining portion 16 is formed symmetrically in the vertical direction, there is no support for their engagement.
Therefore, the joint terminal 20 can be mounted in the normal state even when the joint terminal 20 is turned upside down by reversing the joint terminal 20 about the axis parallel to the insertion direction.

Further, in the joint terminal 20, with respect to the axis parallel to the plate surface and perpendicular to the insertion direction, the arrangement of the elastic stopper portion 23 and the excessive insertion prevention portion 24 is reversed in the front-rear direction (insertion direction). However, the overall shape is point-symmetric. Therefore, the joint terminal 20 can be mounted in a normal state even in a posture in which the shaft is turned upside down and turned upside down and front-back is reversed.

Further, with respect to the axis perpendicular to the plate surface of the joint terminal 20, the arrangement of the elastic stopper portion 23 and the over-insertion preventing portion 24 is reversed, so that the projections thereof are turned upside down as a whole. Although,
The other shapes are point-symmetric. Even if the front and rear arrangements of the elastic stopper portion 23 and the excessive insertion prevention portion 24 and the vertical protruding state are reversed, the stopper retaining portion 16 is formed vertically symmetrical and longitudinally symmetrical. There is no support. Therefore, the joint terminal 20 can be mounted in the normal state even in a posture in which the front and rear and the left and right are reversed by reversing about this axis.

As described above, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to consider the insertion direction and posture of the joint terminal 20. Of course, it is possible to insert the joint terminal 20 from any one of the two connection ports 11 as in the first embodiment. Therefore, in this embodiment, the workability of inserting the joint terminal 20 is extremely high.

Further, in this embodiment, the retaining engagement portion 16 in the housing 10 is formed symmetrically so as to have both the retaining function of the joint terminal 20 and the over-insertion preventing function. As compared with the case where the retaining member and the excessive insertion preventing member are separately formed corresponding to both connection ports 11, space saving is achieved and the housing 10 is downsized.

<Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The second embodiment shows a modification of the joint terminal that can be mounted on the housing 10 of the first embodiment. Since the other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations, and the description of the structure, operation, and effect is omitted.

The joint terminal 30 of the second embodiment is
A stabilizer is not formed on the inner side edge that has two pairs of terminal pieces 32 and is connected to the connecting portion 35 of both side edges of each terminal piece 32, and only the opposite outer side edge is formed. A pair of stabilizers 37 is formed in each.

<Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The joint connector of the present embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in the configuration of the engaging portion between the housing and the joint terminal. Since the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the description of the structure, operation, and effect will be omitted for the same configurations.

In the housing 40, as in the case of the first embodiment, a set of four cavities 44 are formed in the shape of dead ends that open to both connection ports (not shown) and are symmetrically arranged on the upper and lower surfaces of the cavity 44. A retaining lock portion 46 is formed.
In this embodiment, the guide grooves 47 are provided as in the first embodiment, but unlike the first embodiment, the number of the guide grooves 47 is two for each set of the retaining engagement portions 46. That is, as shown in FIG. 10 showing the state viewed from the connection port, the guide groove 47 is formed at the left side position of the upper retaining locking portion 46 and the right side position of the lower retaining locking portion 46. There is. Therefore, when viewed from the same direction, the disposition locking portion 46 and the guide groove 47 are arranged in point symmetry with respect to an axis parallel to the insertion direction of the joint terminal 50. Further, the arrangement viewed from the connection port on the opposite side is symmetrical with respect to FIG.

On the other hand, the joint terminal 50 has a pair of terminal pieces 52, and the elastic retaining portion 5
3 and one over-insertion prevention portion 54 are formed. Further, two stabilizers 57 are formed in total on one side edge of the terminal piece 52 on the elastic retaining portion 53 side and the terminal piece 52 on the over insertion prevention portion 54 side on the side edge opposite to this side edge. Has been done. And both stabilizers 5
The protruding directions of 7 are upside down.

When the joint terminal 50 is mounted in the housing, as shown in FIG. 12, two stabilizers 57 are inserted so that the upward and downward projections thereof are aligned with the guide groove 47. Stabilizer 5
7 is fitted in the guide groove 47. As a result, the joint terminal 50 is inserted while maintaining the correct posture and insertion direction, and is securely held at the predetermined mounting position in the correct posture.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition to the above, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

(1) As a modified example of the first embodiment, the method of projecting the stabilizer in the vertical direction is not limited to that shown in the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be set arbitrarily. As such a joint terminal, for example, all the stabilizers are projected to the upper surface side, or two stabilizers are formed upward on one of the paired terminal pieces and downward on the other terminal piece. It is conceivable that the two stabilizers are formed in the above. Even with such a joint terminal, the housing 1 of the first embodiment
Since the stabilizer can be fitted into the guide groove when it is attached to 0, the joint terminal is maintained in the correct posture and direction.

(2) Although the four stabilizers 27 are formed for the pair of terminal pieces 22 in the first embodiment, the number of stabilizers can be set arbitrarily.
As such a joint terminal, for example, one in which only one of the pair of terminal pieces is provided with two or one stabilizers at its both side edges or one side edge is conceivable.

(3) In the first embodiment, one set of stabilizers 27 is provided for each pair of terminal pieces 22.
In a joint terminal having a plurality of pairs of terminal pieces, it is not always necessary to provide stabilizers for all pairs of terminal pieces, and it is possible to guide the joint terminal even if the stabilizers are provided only for specific pairs of terminal pieces. is there. As such a joint terminal, for example, in the case where there are three or more pairs of terminal pieces, a stabilizer is provided only on two pairs of terminal pieces located at both ends and a stabilizer is not provided on the terminal pieces at intermediate positions. Conceivable.

(5) The present invention can be applied to the case where each joint terminal has a number of terminal pieces other than those in the above-mentioned embodiments, and the joint connector has poles other than those explained in the above-mentioned embodiments. It can also be applied when it is a number.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a housing according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial front view showing an arrangement of a retaining locking portion of a housing and a guide groove.

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view showing the arrangement of the retaining locking portion and the guide groove.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a joint terminal.

[Fig. 5] Partial front view with the joint terminal attached.

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view with a joint terminal attached.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a fitted state of the stabilizer and the guide groove when the joint terminal is mounted.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a locked state of the retaining locking portion, the elastic retaining portion, and the excessive insertion preventing portion when the joint terminal is mounted.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a joint terminal according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a partial front view showing the arrangement of the housing retaining locking portion and the guide groove of the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a joint terminal.

FIG. 12 is a partial front view with the joint terminal attached.

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view of a conventional joint connector.

FIG. 14 is a horizontal sectional view of a conventional joint connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Housing 11 ... Connection port 13 ... Retaining part 17 ... Guide groove (guide) 20 ... Joint terminal 22 ... Terminal piece 23 ... Elastic retaining part (engaging part) 24 ... Overinsertion preventing part (engaging part) 27 ... Stabilizer

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A housing having a pair of connection ports that open in opposite directions at both ends and communicate with each other inside and a holding section inside, and an engaging section engageable with the holding section in opposite directions. And a terminal piece projecting in the housing, and the terminal piece is inserted from the connection port, and the engaging portion is engaged with the holding portion so that the terminal piece faces the inside of the pair of connection ports. A joint connector comprising a joint terminal to be mounted, wherein a stabilizer is formed on the joint terminal, and a guide for engaging the stabilizer slidably in the insertion direction is formed on the holding portion. Is a joint connector. 2. The joint connector according to claim 1, wherein the guide is formed so as to face both of the insides of the pair of connection ports. 3. The guides are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the joint terminal in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the joint terminal.
Alternatively, the joint connector according to claim 2.