JPS61218081A - Connector having double retainer construction of terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an improvement in a terminal locking structure of a connector in which a terminal is accommodated in a terminal accommodating chamber of a connector housing.

[Conventional technology]

As shown in FIG. 5, a conventional locking structure for preventing terminals from coming off later includes a flexible locking arm C extending forward from an upper wall bt of a terminal accommodating chamber of a connector housing a. Generally, the locking recess C1 at the tip is engaged with the shoulder d of the terminal d (male terminal in the illustrated example).

However, a space V is left above the flexible locking arm C and on both left and right sides for insertion of the terminal d and for cutting out the mold during plastic molding. Therefore, when the electric wire is pulled, the locking arm C may be deformed by a relatively weak force as shown in FIG. 6(a), and the terminal d may come off. In particular, when the connector is small, the strength of the locking arms C is reduced, so the holding force is reduced, deformation occurs in the left and right direction, and terminals are more likely to come off.

Furthermore, when attaching a terminal, due to carelessness or the like, the work may be stopped in an incomplete state as shown in FIG. 6(b), and the terminal may be left unattended without being noticed, which may also cause the terminal to come off.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, prevent deformation and damage of the flexible locking arm, and prevent incomplete insertion of the terminal, thereby reliably locking the terminal and ensuring stable electrical connection. The goal is to provide a connector that can do this.

Structure of the Invention [Means for Solving the Problems] The connector having a double locking structure for terminals of the present invention has a window in the outer peripheral wall of the connector housing facing the flexible locking arm as described above. The present invention is characterized in that a rear holder is mounted through this window, which includes a member that restricts displacement of the flexible locking arm in the upward and left-right directions, and has means for locking with the connector housing.

The above-mentioned carrier holder only needs to be locked so that it does not easily come off when attached to the housing, and it can be connected to the housing by a hinge connection or the like, or it can be used separately as a completely separate component.

[For production]

When the rear holder is attached, the member that restricts the upward and horizontal displacement of the flexible locking arm closes the space S above and on both left and right sides of the flexible locking arm. As a result, even if the wire is pulled, the locking arm will not be deformed or damaged, so there is no risk of the terminal coming out.In addition, the rear holder itself engages with the terminal, so the terminal cannot be pulled out. Can be double locked. Furthermore, by attaching the rear holder, even if the terminal is in an incompletely inserted position, it will be pushed to the correct position and move forward, so it will always engage with the flexible locking arm.
No more terminals falling out.

[Implementation (N) Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

In Figures 1 to 3, A indicates a female connector;
The connector housing l has a housing 2 for receiving a male connector (not shown) in the front half, and a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 4 formed in upper and lower stages in the rear half with a central partition plate 3 in between. The chamber 4 has a locking recess 5a at its tip from its upper wall 4a.
A flexible locking arm 5 is provided in a protruding manner.

The above configuration is the same as the conventional one, but in the present invention, a window 6 is provided in the outer circumferential wall (earth wall 4a) of the rear half of the housing 1 facing the flexible locking arm 5 of each terminal accommodating chamber 4. A rear holder 7 having a locking means for locking with the housing 1 is attached through the window 6 so as to be freely attached.

That is, the rear holder 7 has a configuration in which a plurality of pairs of plate members 10 are provided protruding from the lower surface of the holder base plate 8, each pair of plate members 10 facing a convex member 9 corresponding to each flexible locking arm 5.

The convex member 9 restricts the upward displacement of the locking arm 5, and only needs to have a protruding length that allows the lower end surface 9a to come into contact with the upper surface of the locking arm 5 when the rear holder 7 is attached. The cross-sectional shape can be arbitrarily selected, such as semicircular, rectangular, or protruding. Further, the plate member 10 is for regulating the displacement of the locking arm 5 in the left-right direction, and its distal end portion has a horizontal terminal locking portion 10a that is substantially perpendicular and engages with the shoulder portion d1 of the male terminal described above. A vertical locking portion 10c that engages with the window 6 is formed at the rear end portion of the terminal pressing portion 10b.

Further, in this embodiment, the holder substrate 8 is openably and closably connected to both sides of the housing 1 by hinges 13 at both left and right ends thereof via a rigid upper arm portion 11 and a flexible long lower arm portion 12. Then, on the opposite side of the holder board 8 from the convex member 9, a hook-shaped locking piece 14 is provided below the tip.
A locking arm 14 with a is connected. Note that 15 is a rear holder operation plate, which is attached in the case of a multi-pole connector as shown in the figure.

Next, mounting of the rear holder 7 will be explained.

First, after inserting the male terminal d into the terminal accommodating chamber 4, as shown in FIG. Push the locking arm 14 in the direction of the arrow g with the locking piece 1
4a to the housing 1.

By the above operation, even if the male terminal d is not locked by the flexible locking arm 5 and is in an incompletely inserted state, the terminal locking portion 10a of the plate member 10 pushes the male terminal d forward. , is always locked by a flexible locking arm 5, as shown in FIG.

At the same time, the spaces (V) above and on both left and right sides of the flexible locking arm 5 are closed by the convex member 9 and the plate member 10, so that the displacement of the locking arm 5 is regulated and its deformation and breakage are prevented. It disappears. Furthermore, the male terminal d is connected to the terminal locking portion 1 of the plate member 10.
Since it also engages with the terminal pressing portion 10b and the terminal pressing portion 10b, it is doubly locked together with the locking arm 5.

In addition, the mounted arm holder 7 is attached to the upper and lower arm portions 11.1.
2 and the locking arm 14, and is prevented from floating forward or backward. Furthermore, even if a tensile force parallel to the housing outer peripheral wall is applied to the rear holder 7, the locking portion 10
c engages with the window 6 and acts as a stopper, so there is no risk of the lock being released.

Incidentally, the rear holder 7 can be removed by following the above procedure in reverse.

The above description has been given of an example of a multi-pole connector in which the connector A has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers in two stages, upper and lower. However, in the case of a single-pole connector or a male connector to which a female terminal is attached, the rear holder 7 can be modified as appropriate. The same can be applied.

Further, the rear holder 7 may be formed as a separate member without being hinged to the housing 1 as described above, or may be made so that it cannot be taken out once it is attached, and for this purpose, known locking means can be used.

Effects of the Invention As explained above, the connector of the present invention prevents incomplete insertion of the terminal by attaching the rear holder, and restricts upward and horizontal displacement of the flexible locking arm after the terminal is attached. Therefore, there is no risk of the terminal coming off due to deformation or breakage of the locking arm, and a stable electrical connection can always be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention with the rear holder 7 open, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main parts, FIG. 3 is a half-sectional view of the rear holder 7 in the closed state, and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional connector, and FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B) are explanatory views of its use. A... Connector, 1... Connector no. 1 housing, 4
...Terminal accommodation chamber, 5...Flexible locking arm, 6...Window, 7...Rear holder, 8...Holder board, 9...
Convex member, 10... Plate member, 11... Upper arm portion, 12.
...lower arm, 13...hinge, 14...locking arm, 1
4a...Lock piece.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a connector in which a flexible locking arm extending forward is provided protrudingly in the terminal receiving chamber of the connector housing, and the flexible locking arm is engaged with the terminal to prevent it from being pulled out later, the outer periphery of the connector housing A window is provided in the wall facing the flexible locking arm, and a member is provided for regulating upward and horizontal displacement of the flexible locking arm through the window, and a locking means for locking the flexible locking arm with the connector housing is provided. A connector having a double locking structure for terminals, characterized in that a rear holder is attached thereto.