Connector

A terminal receiving member 4 of a connector 1 is attached to a housing 3 to cover an outer surface of the housing 3, with lances 41 inserted in insertion holes 31 of the housing 3. A detection portion 41a of each lance 41 inserted in the insertion hole 31 is received in a connection portion receiving portion 21 of a terminal receiving chamber 2. A lance position detection member 5 is mounted on the housing 3 to cover an outer surface of the terminal retaining member 4. The lance position detection member 5 includes housing retaining projections 51 engaged respectively in detection member retaining grooves 35, and lance position detection projections 52 each received between a retaining member retaining portion 34 and a partition wall 33. The lance position detection member 5 is slidable in such a manner that the upward movement of the lance position detection member 5 is limited by engagement of each housing retaining projection 51 with a side surface of the detection member retaining groove 35.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a connector provided with a detection member for detecting an insertion position of a terminal within a terminal receiving chamber formed in a housing.

2. Description of the Related Art

One conventional connector of the type described is disclosed in Patent Literature 1 mentioned below. This connector includes a housing having a terminal receiving chamber extending in a forward-rearward direction, and guide grooves are formed respectively in side walls of the terminal receiving chamber, and extend in the forward-rearward direction, and further vertical grooves are formed respectively in these side walls, and extend in an upward-downward direction in intersecting relation to the respective guide grooves. A terminal to be received in the terminal receiving chamber has tongue-like stabilizers extending laterally respectively from opposite sides thereof. A retainer is inserted into the housing from an insertion port formed through a bottom wall of the housing, and a retaining portion and a guide projection of the retainer are disposed in each vertical groove, and are arranged in the upward-downward direction. A gap between the retaining portion and the guide projection is disposed at an intersection portion where the guide groove and the vertical groove intersect each other.

When the terminal is disposed in a proper position within the terminal receiving chamber, each stabilizer is retracted from the intersection portion at which the vertical groove and the guide groove intersect each other. Therefore, the retainer can be pushed into the housing while moving each retaining portion into an upper portion of the vertical groove, and therefore can be completely retained. On the other hand, when the terminal is not disposed in the proper position, each stabilizer is located at the intersection portion at which the vertical groove and the guide groove intersect each other, and the movement of the retaining portion into the upper portion of the vertical groove is prevented by this stabilizer, so that the retainer can not be pushed into the housing, and therefore the retainer remains projected outwardly from the housing, that is, is kept in its provisionally-retained position.

A connector disclosed in Patent Literature 2 mentioned below has reception chambers which are open respectively to side faces of terminal receiving chambers and also are open to a front face of the housing. When a terminal is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber to contact a lance, the lance is elastically bent into the reception chamber to allow the terminal to enter the terminal receiving chamber, and when the terminal is received in a proper position within the terminal receiving chamber, the bent lance is restored to be retracted from the reception chamber. A retainer is attached to the front face of the housing to which the reception chambers are open. More specifically, limitation plates of the retainer are inserted respectively into the reception chambers through openings in the front face of the housing, and by doing so, the retainer is attached to the housing.

When the terminal is not located in the proper position within the terminal receiving chamber, with the lance bent into the reception chamber, the insertion of the limitation plate into the reception chamber is limited or prevented, so that the retainer can not be completely retainingly engaged with the housing. Therefore, the retainer projects outwardly from the housing, and remains in a provisionally-retained condition relative to the housing. On the other hand, when each terminal is located in the proper position within the terminal receiving chamber, with the lance not bent into the reception chamber, the retainer can be brought into completely-retaining engagement with the housing.

In each of the above conventional connectors, the retainer for confirming the received condition of the terminal is so designed as to be moved perpendicularly relative to the wall surface of the housing, and the retainer in its provisionally-retained condition projects outwardly from the housing, and therefore there was a high possibility that the connector was deformed or damaged when an external force was applied to the projecting retainer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of this invention to provide a connector which will not be deformed or damaged by an external force.

The above object has been achieved by a connector of the present invention characterized in that the connector comprises a housing having an opening through which a terminal receiving chamber is exposed to the exterior, a lance which projects into the terminal receiving chamber and is disposed flush with a wall surface having the opening before the insertion of a terminal into the terminal receiving chamber, and is retracted from the terminal receiving chamber to project from the wall surface when the lance is pressed by the terminal inserted into the terminal receiving chamber, and a detection member which is mounted on the housing to cover the lance so as to move along the wall surface of the housing having the opening, the movement of the detection member being limited by the lance projecting from the wall surface.

Furthermore, the connector of the invention is characterized in that the lance is formed on a terminal retaining member which is separate from the housing and the detection member, and the lance is exposed to the interior of the terminal receiving chamber through the opening.

Furthermore, the connector of the invention is characterized in that the housing or the terminal retaining member has an abutment portion disposed in a path of movement of the detection member, and an engagement portion is formed on the detection member, and can be retained by the abutment portion.

In the present invention, each lance for abutting engagement with the terminal within the terminal receiving chamber is covered with the detection member, and will not project outwardly from the connector, and therefore deformation and damage of the connector due to an external force can be prevented.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.FIG. 1is an exploded perspective view of a connector1of this embodiment as seen from the front side.FIG. 2is a exploded perspective view of the connector1as seen from the rear side.FIG. 3is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector1. The upper, lower, front, rear, right and left sides used in the following description are defined on the basis of the accompanying drawings, and these are defined merely for description purposes, and may, of course, be different from those of an actual connector of the invention.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the connector1comprises a housing3having terminal receiving chambers2, a terminal retaining member4attached to the housing3to retain terminals T received respectively in the terminal receiving chambers2, and a lance position detection member5for detecting the retaining engagement of the terminal retaining member4with the terminals T.

The terminal receiving chambers2are open to a rear face of the housing3. As shown inFIG. 2, each terminal T to be received in the housing3has a front half portion serving as a connection portion T1of a generally square tubular shape, and a rear half portion serving as a press-clamping portion T2for being press-clamped to an end portion of a wire. The terminal receiving chamber2has a square cross-section, and a rear end portion of the terminal receiving chamber2is larger in cross-sectional area than a front end portion thereof. The front end portion of the terminal receiving chamber2defines a connection portion receiving portion21for receiving the connection portion T1, and the rear end portion thereof defines a press-clamping portion receiving portion22for receiving the press-clamping portion T2. A connection hole23is formed in a front end of the connection portion receiving portion21, and is formed through a front wall of the housing3.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, two insertion (intrusion) holes31each in the form of a rectangular opening is formed through an upper wall3aof the housing3, and extend between front and rear end portions thereof. As shown inFIG. 3, the two insertion holes31are formed through the upper wall3a, and correspond respectively to the two terminal receiving chambers2, and each insertion hole31extends between a rear end portion of the connection portion receiving portion21of the terminal receiving chamber2and a front end portion of the press-clamping portion receiving portion22, so that the interior of the terminal receiving chamber2is exposed to the outside of the housing3. The distance L1between the front end of the connection portion receiving portion21and a front edge of the insertion hole31is generally equal to a length L2(seeFIG. 5) of the connection portion T1of the terminal T.

A movement limitation wall32is formed on the upper wall3a, and is disposed forwardly of the insertion holes31, and is spaced a predetermined distance from the front edges of the insertion holes31. The movement limitation wall32serves to limit the movement of the lance position detection member5, and extends in a direction (right-left direction) of the width of the upper wall3aof the housing3as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. A partition wall33is formed on that portion of the upper wall3a(of the housing3) disposed between is the two insertion holes31. This partition wall33extends upwardly from the upper surface of the upper wall3a.

A pair of retaining member retaining portions34are formed respectively at opposite (right and left) side faces of the housing3, and extend along the insertion holes31from a rear surface of the movement limitation wall32to a rear end portion of the insertion hole31. Each retaining member retaining portion34of a generally rectangular block shape is formed in a bulged manner on each side wall3bof the housing3, and extends from a generally vertically-central portion of the side wall3bto a side edge portion of the upper surface3a. As shown inFIG. 2, retaining portions34aproject rearwardly respectively from rear ends of upper edge portions of the two retaining member retaining portions34. As shown inFIG. 1, detection member retaining grooves35are formed respectively in the opposite side walls3bof the housing3, and are disposed close respectively to lower surfaces of the retaining member retaining portions34. The detection member retaining grooves35extend in the forward-rearward direction (of the housing3) respectively along the lower surfaces of the retaining member retaining portions34. A detection member retaining projection35ais formed at a central portion of each detection member retaining groove35. The detection member retaining projections35aare formed respectively on bottom surfaces of the two detection member retaining grooves35, and project respectively in right and left directions.

A retaining member retaining portion36is formed at the rear end of the housing3, and extends upwardly from the upper wall3a. The retaining member retaining portion36extends along the rear edge of the upper wall3a, that is, in the direction (the right-left direction) of the width of the upper wall3a, and a retaining hole36ais formed through a widthwise-central portion of the retaining member retaining portion36. The retaining hole36ais formed in a proximal end portion of the retaining member retaining portion36.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the terminal retaining member4includes an upper wall4ain the form of a rectangular flat plate, and a pair of side walls4bextending downwardly respectively from opposite (right and left) side edges of the upper wall4a, and further a pair of lances41are formed on and extend forwardly from a front end portion of the terminal retaining member4. The upper wall4ahas a length generally equal to the distance between the rear surface of the retaining portion34aof each retaining member retaining portion34of the housing3and the front surface of the retaining member retaining portion36. The distance between inner surfaces of the right and left side walls4bis generally equal to the width of the upper wall3aof the rear end portion of the housing3.

A housing retaining portion42is formed on and projects rearwardly from a widthwise-central portion of a rear edge of the upper wall4a. Laterally-projecting piece portions43project laterally respectively from rear ends of the right and left side walls4b. Each laterally-projecting piece portion43extends laterally in a curved manner from the rear end of the side wall4bsuch that its rear surface is disposed rearwardly of the rear edge of the upper wall4a. Housing retaining portions44are formed on and project forwardly from front ends of the two side walls4b, respectively, each housing retaining portion44being disposed at a generally vertically-central portion of the front end of the side wall4b.

The pair of lances41extend forwardly from an inner surface of the front end portion of the upper wall4a, and are disposed parallel to each other as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. As shown inFIG. 3, the lance41has an intermediate portion which extends from its rear end portion to its central portion (in the forward-rearward direction) and is generally equal in thickness to the upper wall3adisposed at the rear side of the insertion holes31of the housing3, and a lower surface of its front end portion is slanting downwardly, and is disposed at a level lower than a lower surface of its rear end portion. The front end portion of the lance41serves as a detection portion41afor detecting an insertion position of the terminal T within the terminal receiving chamber2. A front surface of the detection portion41aextends from its lower edge to its vertically-central portion generally perpendicularly to the inner surface of the upper wall4a, and then is slanting rearwardly to its upper edge. As shown inFIG. 3, an upper surface of that portion of the lance41extending rearwardly from the detection portion41afirst extends to the central portion (in the forward-rearward direction) of the lance in parallel relation to the upper surface of the upper wall4a, and then is slanting upwardly to the front end of the upper wall4a.

The terminal retaining member4is attached to the housing3with the lances41received (or inserted) respectively in the pair of insertion holes31in the upper wall3aof the housing3such that the upper wall4aand the side walls4bcover the upper wall3aand side walls3bof the housing3, respectively. When the terminal retaining member4is thus attached to the housing3, front edges of the side walls4babut respectively against the rear surfaces of the retaining portions34aof the retaining member retaining portions34, and the housing retaining portions44aformed respectively on the opposite side walls4bare retainingly engaged respectively with lower surfaces of the retaining portions34a, and the rear edge of the upper wall4aabuts against the front surface of the retaining member retaining portion36, and the housing retaining portion42formed on the upper wall4ais retainingly engaged in the retaining hole36aof the retaining member retaining portion36, and therefore the terminal retaining member4is fixed to the housing3. The detection portion41aof each lance41(inserted in the insertion hole31) is received in the connection portion receiving portion21of the terminal receiving chamber2, and the upper surface of each lance41lies flush with the upper surface3aof the housing3as shown inFIG. 3.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the lance position detection member5has a shape generally similar to the shape of the terminal retaining member4, and front half portions (front end portions) of opposite (right and left) side walls5bof the lance position detection member5extend downwardly beyond rear half portions (rear end portions) thereof. A housing retaining projection51is formed on the front end portion of each side wall5bextending downwardly beyond the rear end portion thereof. A pair of lance position detection projections52are formed on a front end portion of an upper wall5a. The lance position detection projections52are juxtaposed to each other along a front edge of the upper wall5a, and each lance position detection projection52has a generally square block shape, and projects inwardly from an inner surface of the upper wall5a.

The lance position detection member5is attached to the housing3such that the upper wall5aand side walls5bcover the upper wall4a, side walls4band lances41of the terminal retaining member4and the retaining member retaining portions34of the housing3. When the lance position detection member5is thus mounted on the housing3, its upper surface5ais disposed flush with the upper ends (or edges) of the movement limitation wall32and retaining member retaining portion36of the housing3(that is, the upper end surfaces of the housing3) or disposed at a level lower than the upper ends of the movement limitation wall32and retaining member retaining portion36. The lower edge of the front end portion of each side wall5b(extending downwardly beyond the rear end portion thereof) is disposed at a level below the lower end of the retaining member retaining portion34, and the housing retaining projections51are received respectively in the detection member retaining grooves35. The pair of lance position detection projections52formed at the front end portion of the upper wall5aare received respectively in spaces each formed between the partition wall33and a respective one of the retaining member retaining portions34of the housing3. The lance position detection member5is mounted on the housing3to cover the upper wall4aand side walls4bof the terminal retaining member4, and is slidable in the forward-rearward direction of the housing3in such a manner that the upward movement of the lance position detection member5is prevented by the housing retaining projections51each engaged with a side surface of the detection member retaining groove35.

Next, description will be made of the operations of the terminal retaining member4and lance position detection member5effected when detecting the insertion position of each terminal T in the terminal receiving chamber2.FIGS. 4A and 4Bare views of the connector1, showing a provisionally-retained condition of the lance position detection member5, andFIG. 4Ais the perspective view as seen from the rear side, andFIG. 4Bis the horizontal cross-sectional view.FIGS. 5A to 5Care views explanatory of the relation between the detection operation of the terminal retaining member and the lance position detection member5and the insertion position of the terminal T, andFIG. 5Ais the cross-sectional view showing a condition before the insertion, andFIG. 5Bis the cross-sectional view showing a condition during the insertion, andFIG. 5Cis the cross-sectional view showing a condition after the insertion.FIGS. 6A and 6Bare views of the connector1, showing a completely-retained condition of the lance position detection member5, andFIG. 6Ais the perspective view as seen from the rear side, andFIG. 6Bare the horizontal cross-sectional view.

Before each terminal T is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber2, the lance position detection member5is moved to the provisionally-retained position (where this detection member5is disposed near to the front end of the housing3) as shown inFIG. 4. In this condition, the front end surface of the lance position detection member5abuts against the rear surface of the movement limitation wall32, and the lance position detection projections52overlies that portion of the upper wall3adisposed forwardly of the insertion holes31as shown inFIG. 5A. Also, a lower end portion of the detection portion41aof each lance41of the terminal retaining member4is inserted or received in the terminal receiving chamber2. Furthermore, each housing retaining projection51received in the detection member retaining groove35is disposed forwardly of the detection member retaining projection35aas shown inFIG. 4B.

In this condition, when the terminal T is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber2from the rear side of the housing3as indicated by an arrow inFIG. 4A, the connection portion T1of the terminal T passes through the press-clamping portion receiving portion21into the connection portion receiving portion22, and is brought into abutting engagement with the slanting lower surface of the detection portion41aof the lance41. As shown inFIG. 5B, the detection portion41acontacted at its lower surface with the connection portion T1of the terminal T is displaced (or bent) upwardly as the connection portion T1advances. The detection portion41aof the upwardly-bent lance41is retracted from the terminal receiving chamber2, and is received in a reception space53formed by the rear surface of the lance position detection projection52of the lance position detection member5and the upper wall5aextending rearwardly from the lance position detection projection52, and as a result the detection portion41aallows the connection portion T1to move deeper into the connection portion receiving portion21. The front surface of the detection portion41a(of the lance41) received in the reception space53is opposed to the rear surface of the lance position detection projection52of the lance position detection member5. Therefore, even when trying to move the lance position detection member5rearward, the lance position detection projection52abuts against the detection portion41aof the lance41, thereby limiting or preventing the movement of the lance position detection member5.

When the terminal T is further inserted into the terminal receiving chamber2until the front surface of the connection portion T1is brought into abutting contact with the front surface of the connection portion receiving portion21, so that the connection portion T1is moved generally out of registry with the insertion hole31as shown inFIG. 5C, the detection portion41ais moved from the reception space53into the insertion hole31. The detection portion41areceived in the insertion hole31is retainingly engaged at its front surface with the rear surface of the connection portion T1. As a result, the terminal T is positioned within the terminal receiving chamber2. Also, the lance position detection projection52of the lance position detection member5can move over the insertion hole31, and the limitation of the movement of the lance position detection member5is canceled. In this condition, when the lance position detection member5is moved toward the rear end of the housing3as indicated by an arrow inFIG. 5C, the housing retaining projection51of each side wall5bof the lance position detection member5is moved rearward in the detection member retaining groove35, and therefore is brought into abutting engagement with the detection member retaining projection35aof the housing3, and then slides past this detection member retaining projection35aas shown inFIG. 6B. As a result, the lance position detection member5is moved to the completely-retained position (where this detection member5is disposed near to the rear end of the housing3). By confirming the rearward movement of the lance position detection member5or the abutting engagement of each housing retaining projection51with the detection member retaining projection35a, it can be confirmed that each terminal T has been inserted into the terminal receiving chamber2until the front surface of the connection portion T1has abutted against the front surface of the connection portion receiving portion21.

In the connector1of the above embodiment, the movement of the detection portion41aof the lance41in accordance with the movement of the terminal T in the terminal receiving chamber2is detected by the lance position detection member5moving along the upper surface4aof the terminal retaining member4. Therefore, the lance position detection member5, when receiving an external force, is much less liable to be moved between the provisionally-retained position and the completely-retained position. Therefore, an erroneous action of the lance position detection member5due to the external force can be prevented. And besides, the lance position detection member5, together with the terminal retaining member4, covers the housing3, and the lance position detection member5does not project from the end surfaces of the connector1, and therefore the erroneous action of the lance position detection member5due to the external force can be effectively prevented.

Furthermore, in the connector1of the above embodiment, each lance41for detecting the insertion of the terminal T into the terminal receiving chamber2is cover with the lance position detection member5, and the detection portion41adisplaced upwardly upon contact with the terminal T is received in the reception space53formed by the lance position detection projection52and the upper wall5aof the lance position detection member5, and will not project outwardly from the lance position detection member5. Therefore, the deformation and damage of the lance41and its neighboring members as a result of application of an external force to the lance41can be prevented, and namely the deformation and damage of the connector1can be prevented.

Furthermore, in the connector1of the above embodiment, the amount of movement of the lance position detection member5between the provisionally-retained position and the completely-retained position is determined according to the mounting positions of the movement limitation wall32and the retaining member retaining portion36and the length (in the forward-rearward direction) of the lance position detection member5, and therefore the amount of movement of the lance position detection member5can be freely determined without being restricted by the mounting positions of the portions of the connector1, etc. And besides, the lance41, when moved to the outside of the insertion hole31upon insertion of the terminal T into the terminal receiving chamber2, is received in the reception space53between the lance position detection member5and the housing3, and the lance position detection member5, while always kept laid on the terminal retaining member4, slides, and therefore as compared with the case where the lance position detection member5is slid in such a manner that the entire surface of the terminal retaining member4for detecting the insertion/removal of each terminal T is always exposed to the exterior so as to avoid interference of the lance position detection member with the terminal retaining member4, the size of the connector1in the forward-rearward direction can be reduced by an amount corresponding to the amount of overlapping of the lance position detection member5with the terminal retaining member4.

Furthermore, in the connector1of the above embodiment, the lances41are formed on the terminal retaining member4which is separate from the housing3. Therefore, in contrast with the case where the lances41are formed integrally on the housing3, the lances41can be increased in size without imposing any limitation on the structure of a mold, and the positioning of each terminal T and the detection of the insertion position of the terminal can be effected while keeping the amount of bending of the lance41to a low level. Therefore, the retaining of the terminal T and the lance position detection projection52by each lance41will not be canceled by an external force acting on the terminal T and the lance position detection projection52, and the positioning of each terminal T and the detection of the insertion position of the terminal within the terminal receiving chamber2can be positively effected, using only the lance41. Therefore, as compared with the case where the positioning of the terminal T within the terminal receiving chamber2and the detection of the insertion position of the terminal T within the terminal receiving chamber2are effected respectively by the use of different members, the overall size of the connector1can be made smaller, and the production cost can be reduced. And besides, merely by canceling the retaining of the terminal T by the lance41, the terminal T can be removed from the terminal receiving chamber2, and therefore the operation for removing the terminal T as well as the operation for exchanging the terminal T can be carried out easily.

In the above embodiment, the lances41are formed on the terminal retaining member4interposed between the housing3and the lance position detection member5, and are separate from the housing3. However, the lances41may be formed integrally on the housing3. Further, in the above embodiment, the upper portion of the front surface of the detection portion41aof the lance41is slanting rearwardly so as to avoid the retaining engagement of the detection portion41awith the lance position detection projection52of the lance position detection member5. However, if the detection portion41a, when retainingly engaged with the terminal T, is not retainingly engaged with the lance position detection projection52, the upper portion of the front surface of the detection portion41adoes not always need to be slanting rearwardly, and the detection portion41amay have, for example, a square block shape.

In the above embodiment, the housing3has the two terminal receiving chambers2, and therefore the terminal retaining member4has the two lances41. However, the number of the lances41of the terminal retaining member4can be suitably changed according to the number of the terminal receiving chambers2of the housing3. Furthermore, the lance41can have any suitable shape in so far as the lance41projects into the terminal receiving chamber2through the insertion hole31, with its upper surface disposed flush with the upper surface3aof the housing3, and can be forced out of the insertion hole31by the terminal T moving in the terminal receiving chamber2, so as to limit the movement of the lance position detection member5.

The lance position detection member5can have any suitable shape in so far as it is mounted on the housing3to cover the lances41, and can move along the wall surface of the housing3, and the movement of the lance position detection member5is limited by the lances41moved outwardly from the respective insertion holes31. In the above embodiment, although the lance position detection member5has a generally U-shaped cross-section, it does not always need to have such a U-shaped cross-section. Furthermore, the lance position detection member5may be provided for each terminal receiving chamber2or for a plurality of terminal receiving chambers2. Furthermore, there can be provided a construction in which the movement of the lance position detection member5from a provisionally-retained position (at the rear end side of the housing3) to a completely-retained position (at the front end side of the housing3) is limited by the lances41.