JP5115933B2 - Flat harness connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a flat such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) or a flexible flat cable (FFC) in which a plurality of conductors of a wire harness mounted on an automobile or the like are arranged in a plane. The present invention relates to a flat harness connector used in a harness.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, flat harnesses having a structure in which a plurality of conductors are arranged side by side in a plane are widely used among wire harnesses mounted on automobiles and the like. When connecting flat harnesses having such a structure or connecting a flat harness and another electrical connecting member (for example, a connector), a flat harness connector is usually used.

  In general, such a flat harness connector is desired to have a structure that can be manufactured at low cost and is not easily affected by external force. For example, the connector has the following configuration. That is, in the flat harness connector described in Patent Document 1, the child housing has a terminal support portion, and the terminal support portion supports the connection terminal in a state where the distal end portion and the base end portion protrude outward. A lid portion is provided on the base end side of the terminal support portion via a hinge so as to be opened and closed. The lid body covers the connection portion between the terminal portion of the flat harness and the base end portion of the connection terminal from both sides in the connection direction. Hold it.

  However, in the flat harness connector described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, for example, there is a disclosure about a technique relating to waterproofing at a connection portion between the connector housing and the flat harness, but an external force such as a pulling force on the flat harness attached to the connector. There is no disclosure of a so-called tension relaxation mechanism that suppresses the influence of the above as much as possible. For this reason, there is a problem that the flat harness is easily affected by external force and the reliability of the mechanical strength is not so high.

Then, what was described in patent document 2 was developed as what implement | achieved the tension relaxation mechanism which suppresses the influence of the external force of a flat harness as much as possible. This is a flat harness connector that can reduce the influence of external force on the connection part between the flat harness and the connection terminal as much as possible, and can improve the reliability of mechanical strength at a low cost. A flat harness having a structure in which an insulating coating is provided around each conductor, a plurality of connection terminals respectively connected to the plurality of conductors of the flat harness, and a connector housing to which the plurality of connection terminals are mounted; And a retainer with which the connector housing engages, wherein the plurality of connection terminals are formed on the distal end side and connectable to the counterpart connection terminal, and are formed on the proximal end side and connected to the conductor. A conductor connecting portion and a connecting portion for connecting between the connecting portion and the conductor connecting portion. A fitting portion that fits into the housing, a plurality of terminal insertion holes that pass through the connection portion from a proximal end side of the fitting portion, and a connecting portion that is formed on a proximal end side of the plurality of terminal insertion holes. And a shelf-like terminal support part that supports the conductor connection part and the connection part of the conductor and the terminal part of the flat harness, and the retainer is connected to the terminal support part with the flat harness. The terminal portion is engaged with the connector housing with the terminal portion sandwiched in the thickness direction.
JP 2005-347143 A JP 2005-190717 A

  The retainer of Patent Document 2 has a structure that engages with a connector housing in a state in which the terminal portion of the flat harness is sandwiched between the terminal support portion of the connector housing in the thickness direction thereof, and the base of the fitting portion of the connector housing. The structure is integrally formed so as to be engageable with the connector housing via a hinge portion formed on the end side. The retainer and the connector housing are engaged with the plurality of engaging claws formed at the side end portion of the retainer and the plurality of engaging claws formed at the side end portion of the terminal support portion of the connector housing. This is done by engaging the mating engaging protrusions. Further, a terminal fixing portion for holding the terminal portion of the flat harness in the thickness direction at the terminal support portion and fixing the terminal housing to the connector housing when the retainer is completely engaged with the connector housing is formed on the end surface facing the connector housing. It is what. The terminal fixing portion is composed of a fitting projection formed on the retainer and a fitting hole formed in the terminal support portion of the connector housing, and the fitting projection (plural) is an insertion hole formed in the flat harness. It fits into a fitting hole part (plurality) through a part.

In the one disclosed in Patent Document 2, when the flat harness is set in the connector housing, the position of the insertion hole portion opened in the flat harness is merely matched with the fitting hole portion of the housing, and positioning is performed. Since there was no means, the flat harness had to be positioned by hand so that the fitting projection of the retainer could pass through the insertion hole, and workability was poor. At this time, if the positions of the fitting protrusion and the insertion hole do not match, the flat harness may be sandwiched between the retainer and the housing, and the flat harness may be damaged. In addition, the conventional retainer also becomes a cover of the connector housing, and if the cover is damaged by an external force or the like, the function of the support portion of the flat harness terminal is lost, and the connection portion between the terminal and the flat harness is also adversely affected. There was also a risk of receiving it.
As known techniques similar to Patent Document 2, those described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-273418 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-186706 are also known. These are related to the prior application of the applicant of the present application, and do not engage the flat harness with the housing by the engagement between the projection and the hole, but provide a groove in the housing, and the retainer fitting portion in this groove When fitting, the flat harness is sandwiched in a curved state. When the force that pulls the flat harness is applied, the curved part of the flat harness will stretch and the fitting part will rise from the groove. And Such a force is a force for releasing the fitting state between the fitting portion and the groove, and it is necessary to increase the fitting force in order to counter such a force. This also necessitates a reduction in size.

  Therefore, the present invention can position the flat harness from when the flat harness is set in the connector housing, eliminates the risk of biting the flat harness when the cap is fitted, and has excellent workability, and further has terminals. The lid member that protects and holds the part and the one that performs the retainer function are separated, and even if the lid member is damaged, the influence of external force on the connection part between the flat harness and the connection terminal can be suppressed. An object of the present invention is to provide a flat harness connector.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a flat harness having a structure in which a plurality of conductors are arranged side by side and an insulating coating is provided around each conductor, and the plurality of conductors of the flat harness, In a flat harness connector comprising a plurality of connection terminals to be connected, a connector housing to which the plurality of connection terminals are mounted, and a lid member integrally formed to be engageable with the connector housing via a hinge portion A lid member that holds the connection terminal in a closed state and a cap that is juxtaposed with the lid member and engages the connector housing are provided separately, and a plurality of fitting protrusions are provided on the portion of the connector housing that supports the flat harness terminal portion. A plurality of fitting holes formed in the flat harness terminal portion are fitted into these fitting projections, and the cap is attached to the connector housing. It said and as adjacent the back side of the fitting projections than the top portion of the fitting projection is obtained by forming a protrusion on the cap to extend downwardly when engaged.

  According to the present invention, a flat harness having a structure in which a plurality of conductors are arranged side by side and an insulating coating is provided around each conductor, and a plurality of connections connected to the plurality of conductors of the flat harness, respectively. Connected in a closed state in a flat harness connector that includes a terminal, a connector housing to which the plurality of connection terminals are mounted, and a lid member that is integrally formed to be engageable with the connector housing via a hinge portion. A lid member that holds the terminal and a cap that is juxtaposed with the lid member and engages the connector housing are separately provided, and a plurality of fitting protrusions are provided on the portion of the connector housing that supports the flat harness terminal portion, and these fittings are provided. When the plurality of fitting holes formed in the flat harness terminal portion are fitted in the protrusion and the cap is engaged with the connector housing, Since the formation of the protruding piece on the cap to extend downward from the top of the and the fitting projection as adjacent to the rear side of the fitting protrusions, almost no influence of an external force to the connection portion between the connection and the flat harness terminal. When the flat harness is set in the connector housing, the flat harness fitting hole is fitted into the fitting protrusion formed in the connector housing for positioning, and then the cap is engaged when the cap is engaged with the connector housing. The piece prevents the flat harness from being disengaged, but the cap does not bite the flat harness, and the lid is opened and the connection terminal is attached to the connector housing, ensuring that the flat harness is attached to the connector housing. And it can be done quickly. Also, the lid member may be damaged when the male housing is inserted into or pulled out from the female housing. Even if the lid member is cracked, the cap protrusion separate from the lid member is fitted to the connector housing. It functions as a retainer in cooperation with the protrusion, the connection part is protected, the disconnection and deformation of the circuit of the flat harness is prevented, the contact between the connection terminal and the circuit is loaded, and the contact resistance is also prevented from changing. .

  Further, in the case where the peripheral wall according to claim 2 is provided on the cap and the rib is formed together with the projecting piece, and the rib extends downward from the top of the fitting projection, the projecting piece, the fitting projection and the peripheral wall are alternately arranged. The flat harness can be securely held in the housing by preventing the flat harness from being lifted and restricting its movement against the tensile force. Moreover, since the rib does not step on the flat harness as described in claim 3, even when a tensile force acts on the flat harness, the flat harness is not rubbed and damaged at the lower end of the rib.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a flat harness 1 in which a plurality of conductors X (see FIG. 6) are arranged side by side and an insulating coating (not shown) is provided around each conductor, and the conductors X of the flat harness 1 A plurality of connection terminals 2 (see FIG. 3) to be connected to each other, a connector housing 3 to which the plurality of connection terminals 2 are mounted, and a connector housing 3 via a hinge portion 4B are integrally formed so as to be freely engageable. A lid member 4 and a cap 5 juxtaposed with the lid member 4 and engaging with the connector housing 3 are shown. A terminal portion of the flat harness 1 is supported by a saucer portion 3A extending ahead of the end of the lid member 4 of the connector housing 3, and a plurality of fitting protrusions 6 (four in the drawing) are provided on the saucer portion 3A. It is. These fitting protrusions 6 include a fitting hole 7 (see FIG. 2) formed in the terminal portion of the flat harness 1 and a fitting hole 9 in a reinforcing member 8 (see FIG. 2) placed on the flat harness 1. (See FIG. 2). In the state shown in FIG. 1, even if the flat harness 1 is pulled out from the connector housing 3, the fitting hole 7 is fitted into the fitting projection 6, so that the tensile force is It does not reach the connection part A. In addition, the lock part 13 for the cap 5 to engage is provided in the both sides of the saucer part 3A.

  In FIG. 2, the connector housing 3 is formed with an accommodating portion 3 </ b> C partitioned by a partition wall 3 </ b> B in order to attach each connection terminal 2 to a portion covered with the lid member 4. The connection terminal 2 is slid on the tray portion 3A to be accommodated in these accommodating portions 3C. At this time, by opening the lid member 4 at the hinge portion 4B, the connection terminal 2 can be attached easily and smoothly. That is, the connecting terminal 2 connected to the flat harness 1 with the lid member 4 opened is slid into the accommodating chamber 3C between the partition walls 3B, and then the fitting hole 7 of the flat harness 1 is inserted into the receiving portion 3A of the connector housing 3. The flat harness 1 can be positioned by being fitted into the fitting protrusions 6 formed in the above.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the connection terminal 2 is accommodated in the accommodation chamber 3 </ b> C, the fitting holes 7 and 9 are fitted into the fitting projections 6, and the flat harness 1 is set in the connector housing 3. From this state, the lid member 4 is closed and the connection terminal 2 is pressed. The lid member 4 is provided with an engaging leg 4 A, and the engaging leg 4 A is engaged with the connector housing 3. The two engaging legs 4A bend inward at the time of engagement, and the hook at the tip engages with the connector housing 3, and when releasing the engagement, the leg 4A is bent inward to open the lid member 4. be able to.

  4 shows a state in which the cap 5 is engaged with the connector housing 3 from the state of FIG. 1, and the front and back of the cap 5 are covered with the fitting protrusions 6 of the connector housing 3 on the inlet side and the left and right ends of the flat harness 1. Left and right peripheral walls 10 are provided. Further, the peripheral wall 10 extends downward from the top of the fitting protrusion 6. A protruding piece 11 (see FIG. 5) extending downward is provided inside the cap 5 in the same manner as the peripheral wall 10. The peripheral wall 10 and the projecting piece 11 constitute a rib, and the lower end portion of the rib extends below the top of the fitting projecting part 6, and the projecting piece 11 and the entrance are arranged on the rear side so as to surround the fitting projection 6. The peripheral wall 10 is arranged on the side and the left and right. When the cap 5 is fitted into the connector housing 3, the peripheral wall 10 of the cap 5 and the lower ends of the projecting pieces 11 do not step on (press) the reinforcing material 8, and lightly touch or are in close proximity. ing. In a state where the rib does not step on the flat harness 1, when a pulling force is applied to the flat harness 1, the fitting holes 7 and 9 of the flat harness 1 do not get over the fitting protrusion 6, so that the fitting is released and the flat harness 1 Will not be pulled out. The flat harness 1 is engaged with the connector housing 3 by fitting the fitting projection 6 and the fitting hole 7, and the engagement state is maintained (prevented from coming off). It may be only. Furthermore, since the peripheral wall 10 of the cap 5 is also present, the caps 5 are alternately arranged in the order of the projecting pieces 11 → the fitting protrusions 6 → the peripheral wall 10 from the back side in the connector housing 3 toward the inlet side. The movement of the flat harness 1 in the connector housing 3 is restricted by the ribs (projections 11 and the peripheral wall 10) extending downward from the top of the protrusion 6, and the front-rear fitting protrusion 6 and the fitting holes 7, 9 are There is no disengagement.

  The cap 5 is formed with a pair of engaging pieces 11 for engaging with the connector housing 3 on the right and left sides thereof, and these engaging pieces 11 are notched at the center 12 as shown in FIGS. The two engaging pieces 11 have elasticity that opens outward or returns to the original state. These engagement pieces 11 engage with lock portions 13 formed on both sides of the tray portion 3 </ b> A of the connector housing 3. That is, the lock portion 13 is formed in an L shape in cross section, and the engagement is performed when the connecting portion 11 </ b> A that defines the notch 12 of the engagement piece 11 contacts the bottom of the lock portion 13. At this time, both ends on the rear side of the cap 5 are in contact with the column portion 3D of the tray portion 3A, and both ends on the front side of the engagement piece 11 are in contact with the small column portion 3E of the tray portion 3A. The cap 5 is securely engaged with the connector housing 3 as long as it does not open to the outside and disengage from the lock portion 13. Since the cap 5 is not directly sandwiched with the flatness 1 as in the conventional example, even if an external force is applied to the flat harness 1, this force does not reach the cap 5, and the cap 5 may be damaged. Even if the cap 5 is cracked, the engagement of the flat harness 1 engaged with the connector housing 3 is not adversely affected. Furthermore, the fact that the lid member 4 and the cap 5 are separate can separate the functions of the fixing portion of the connection terminal 2 and the fixing portion of the flat harness 1, and eliminate the possibility of losing both functions as much as possible. Can do. Moreover, in order to confirm the presence or absence of the incorrect insertion of the connection terminal 2, if the cover member 4 is opened, it can confirm immediately.

  FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the connector housing 3 assembled as shown in FIG. 4, shows a state in which the reinforcing plate 8 is pressed by the projecting pieces 11 of the cap 5 and the lower ends of the peripheral wall 10, and the projecting pieces 11. And the state where the lower end of the surrounding wall 10 is extended below rather than the top face of the fitting protrusion 6 is shown.

  FIG. 6 shows a perspective view immediately before fitting the female connector to the male connector 20 when the female connector is configured with the flat harness 1 having the connection terminals 2 set in the connector housing 3. FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a state where the male and female are fitted from the state of FIG.

  The shape of the fitting protrusion 6 is formed in an oblong shape that is long in the front-rear direction, and the flat harness 1 at the place of the fitting hole 7 fitted into the fitting protrusion 6 against the pull of the flat harness 1. Is firmly prevented from breaking. Moreover, since the fitting protrusion 6 is long in the front-rear direction, the strength of the protrusion itself is higher than that of a protrusion such as a round pin having a small diameter. A protrusion such as a round pin may be easily lost due to an external force. If the protrusion is lost, the pulling force on the flat harness 1 may reach the connection portion of the connection terminal 2, which may cause inconvenience. The fitting projection 6 in the present application has a size in the front-rear direction with respect to the size in the width direction of about 1 (width): 2 (front-rear length) to about 1: 3.

  As the reinforcing plate 8, a hard metal thin plate, a resin plate, or the like can be used. Even if the protruding piece 11 of the cap 5 is strongly pressed against the reinforcing plate 8, the flat harness 1 is not adversely affected. . The projecting piece 11 may be a partition plate that is continuous in the width direction, or may be projections that are scattered in the width direction.

The perspective view before attaching a cap. The perspective view just before setting a connection terminal in a connector housing. The perspective view of the state which set the connection terminal to the housing. The perspective view of the state which attached the cap. Sectional drawing. The perspective view just before fitting a female housing to a male housing. The perspective view of a male-female fitting state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flat harness 2 Connection terminal 3 Connector housing 4 Lid member 5 Cap 6 Fitting protrusion 7 Fitting hole 8 Reinforcement material 9 Fitting hole 11 Protrusion piece A Connection part

Claims (5)

A flat harness having a structure in which a plurality of conductors are arranged side by side and an insulating coating is provided around each conductor, a plurality of connection terminals respectively connected to the plurality of conductors of the flat harness, In a flat harness connector comprising a connector housing to which a connection terminal is mounted, and a lid member integrally formed so as to be engageable with the connector housing via a hinge portion,
A lid member that holds the connection terminal in a closed state and a cap that is juxtaposed with the lid member and engages with the connector housing are provided separately.
A plurality of fitting protrusions are provided on the portion of the connector housing that supports the flat harness terminal portion,
A plurality of fitting holes formed in the flat harness terminal portion fit into these fitting protrusions,
For a flat harness characterized in that when the cap is engaged with the connector housing, a protrusion is formed on the cap so as to be adjacent to the back side of the fitting protrusion and to extend below the top of the fitting protrusion. connector.   On the flat harness inlet side of the cap engaged with the connector housing, on both the left and right sides, front, rear, left and right peripheral walls are provided so as to cover the fitting protrusions of the connector housing, and the peripheral walls are provided below the top of the fitting protrusions. 2. The flat harness connector according to claim 1, wherein the flat harness is prevented from being lifted by being extended to prevent the flat harness from coming off.   The lower end of the rib of the cap composed of the projecting piece and the peripheral wall is configured to maintain a height position where the flat harness is not stepped on when the cap is engaged, and to prevent the flat harness from being lifted and pulled out. The flat harness connector according to claim 2, wherein the connector is a flat harness connector.   4. The flat harness connector according to claim 1, wherein the fitting protrusion is an oval type having a length in the front-rear direction of 2 to 3 times a length in the width direction. 5. .   The hard reinforcement material in which the fitting hole which overlaps the fitting hole of the said flat harness terminal part, and fits into a fitting protrusion was formed was mounted in the flat harness terminal part. The flat harness connector as described in the item.

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