A connector body has a horizontal flat base plate, and vertical partition walls are formed on the flat base plate to form terminal receiving chambers each having an open top or bottom serving as a wire press-fitting opening. Tension-absorbing plates and are pivotally connected to a rear end of the flat base plate through respective hinge portions. The tension-absorbing plate is disposed generally flush with the flat base plate, and the tension-absorbing plate is pivotally movable into an upstanding position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a press-connecting connector receiving 
press-connecting terminals, and more particularly to a strain relief 
structure for bearing tension acting on a wire. 
2. Background 
In a press-connecting connector, a sheathed wire is press-fitted into a 
press-connecting blade of a press-connecting terminal, so that a sheath of 
the wire is cut by the blade, thereby electrically connecting a conductor 
of the wire to the press-connecting terminal. However, although the 
press-connecting connector of such a press-connecting construction is 
excellent form the viewpoint of mass production, it suffers from a problem 
that the press-connected portion is weak against tension applied to the 
wire. 
One example of so-called strain relief structure of such a press-connecting 
connector for bearing tension applied to a wire will now be described with 
reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the 
conventional press-connecting connector, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional 
view of the conventional press-connecting connector having a cover fitted 
thereon. 
Terminal receiving chambers 5 are formed at upper and lower portions of a 
housing 1 of a cubic shape, and are spaced from one another by partition 
walls 3. Each upper terminal receiving chamber 5 is open as at 7 to an 
upper surface of the housing 1 whereas each lower terminal receiving 
chamber 5 is similarly open to a lower surface of the housing 1. The cover 
9 with an open rear end can be fitted onto the outer periphery of the 
housing 1 from the front side of the housing 1. A bridge portion 13 
extends between each side wall 11 of the housing 1 and its adjoining 
partition wall 3, and also a bridge portion 13 is extends between any two 
adjacent ones of the partition walls 13. Wire holder portions 19 each in 
the form of a recess are formed at the rear end of the cover 9, and 
correspond to the bridge portions 13, respectively. The wire holder 
portion 19 cooperates with the associated bridge portion 13 to hold a wire 
17, extending from the terminal receiving chamber 5 through the opening 7, 
therebetween (see FIG. 5). 
In the conventional press-connecting connector of the above construction, 
the wire 17, connected to a press-connecting terminal 21 received in the 
terminal receiving chamber 5, is led out through the opening 17, and then 
the cover 9 is fitted on the housing 1, so that the wire 17 is held 
between the wire holder portion 19, formed at the rear end of the cover 9, 
and the bridge portion 13. The thus held wire 17 is extended rearwardly 
from the housing 1, so that the wire 17 is bent as at 23. This bent 
portion 23 offers a resistance to tension applied to the wire 17, thereby 
reducing the effect of the tension on that portion of the press-connecting 
terminal 21 to which the wire is press-connected. 
Generally, in a press-connecting connector, the wire 17 is press-fitted 
into the press-connecting terminal 21 received in the terminal receiving 
chamber 5, thereby making an electrical connection therebetween. 
However, in the press-connecting connector having the bridge portions 13, 
the wire 17 is grasped by a chuck 25 disposed rearwardly of the bridge 
portion 13, and then is press-fitted into the press-connecting terminal 21 
(received in the terminal receiving chamber 5) through the opening 7, as 
shown in FIG. 6. Therefore, the front end portion of the wire 17 is bent 
or turned about a point P of contact between the wire 17 and the bridge 
portion 13, so that the wire 17 is drawn rearwardly about the point P. As 
a result, as shown in FIG. 7, a press-connecting blade 29 of the 
press-connecting terminal 21 may be deformed during the press-fitting of 
the wire 17 into this blade 29, and also a dimension C of extending of the 
front end portion of the wire 17 from the press-connecting blade 29 may be 
varied, which may result in incomplete press-connection. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an 
object of the invention is to provide a press-connecting connector with a 
strain relief structure in which a wire can be press-fitted into a 
press-connecting terminal without being bent, thereby enhancing the 
efficiency of the press-connecting operation, and also preventing 
incomplete press-connection. 
The above object has been achieved by a press-connecting connector of the 
invention characterized in that a connector body has a horizontal flat 
base plate; vertical partition walls are formed on the flat base plate to 
form terminal receiving chambers each having an open top serving as a wire 
press-fitting opening; and a tension-absorbing plate is pivotally 
connected to a rear end of the flat base plate through a hinge portion, 
the tension-absorbing plate being disposed generally flush with the flat 
base plate, and the tension-absorbing plate being pivotally movable into 
an upstanding position. 
During the time when a wire is press-fitted into each of the terminal 
receiving chambers through the corresponding opening, the 
tension-absorbing plate is held generally flush with the flat base plate, 
and therefore the wire will not interfere with those parts constituting a 
strain relief structure, and hence will not be deformed. Then, after the 
wire is connected to the terminal, the tension-absorbing plate is moved 
into the upstanding position, and is held there, so that the wire is bent 
by this tension-absorbing plate, and tension applied to the wire is borne 
by this bent portion of the wire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A preferred embodiment of a press-connecting connector of the present 
invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of the press-connecting connector 
of the invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the 
press-connecting connector in its assembled condition. 
A connector body 31 has a flat base plate 33 extending horizontally 
centrally of the height of the connector body 31, and the connector body 
31 is divided by this flat base plate 33 into an upper portion and a lower 
portion. Opposite vertical side plates 35 are provided on opposite side 
edges of the flat base plate 33, respectively. A plurality of upstanding 
partition walls 37 are formed on each of upper and lower surfaces of the 
flat base plate 33. A space between the opposite side plates 35 is divided 
by the partition walls 37 into a plurality of terminal receiving chambers 
39. Each of the terminal receiving chambers 39 on the upper surface of the 
flat base plate 33 has an open top or opening 41 for wire press-fitting 
purposes whereas each of the terminal receiving chambers 39 on the lower 
surface of the flat base plate 33 has an open bottom or opening 41 for 
wire press-fitting purposes. A plurality of elastic retaining piece 
portions (lances) 43 are formed on each of upper and lower plates of the 
connector body 31. Projections 45, serving as retaining member for 
retaining an outer cover (described later), are formed on the outer 
surfaces of the opposite side plates 35, respectively. 
As shown in FIG. 2, a press-connecting terminal 47 to be received in the 
terminal receiving chamber 39 includes an electrical contact portion 47a 
at its front end portion, and a rear end of the electrical contact portion 
47a serves as a first retaining portion 47b engageable with the lance 43. 
Provided rearwardly of the first retaining portion 47b is a 
press-connecting portion 47c having a press-connecting blade 47d which 
cuts a sheath of a wire 49 to be electrically connected to a conductor of 
the wire 49. A rear end of the press-connecting portion 47c serves as a 
second retaining portion 47e engageable with a lance 57 formed on the 
outer cover (described later). Formed rearwardly of the second retaining 
portion 47e is a wire holding portion 47f adapted to be wound on the wire 
49 to fix the press-connecting terminal 47 to the wire 49. 
The box-shaped outer cover 51 with an open rear end is removably fitted on 
the outer periphery of the connector body 31, and recesses 55 are formed 
respectively in opposite side walls 53 of the outer cover 51, and are 
engaged with the projections 45, respectively. Namely, the outer cover 51 
is fitted on the connector body 31, so that the recesses 55 are 
retainingly engaged with the projections 45, respectively. A plurality of 
lances 57 are formed on each of upper and lower plates of the outer cover 
51, and when the outer cover 51 is fitted on the connector body 31, each 
of the lances 57 is retainingly engaged with the second retaining portion 
47e of the associated press-connecting terminal 47. Therefore, the 
press-connecting terminal 47 is retained in a double manner by the lance 
43 on the connector body 31 and the lance 57 on the outer cover 51. 
Two tension-absorbing plates 59a and 59b are connected to the rear end of 
the flat base plate 33 through respective thin hinge portions 61. When the 
tension-absorbing plates 59a and 59b are disposed horizontally, these 
plates 59a and 59b lie generally flush with the upper and lower surfaces 
of the flat base plate 33, respectively, so that each of the two plates 
59a and 59b forms, together with the corresponding surface of the flat 
base plate 33, a continuous flat surface. The tension-absorbing plates 59a 
and 59b can be pivotally moved upwardly and downwardly, respectively, into 
a vertical or upstanding condition through the respective hinge portions 
61. Upstanding-purpose projections (fixing means) 63 are formed on 
opposite side edges of each of the tension-absorbing plates 59a and 59b, 
respectively. Fixing holes (fixing means) 65 are formed through the 
opposite side walls of the outer cover 51 at rear end portions thereof. 
The outer cover 51 is fitted on the connector body 31, and in this 
condition when the tension-absorbing plates 59a and 59b are moved into 
their respective upstanding positions, the upstanding-purpose projections 
63 are engaged in the fixing holes 65, respectively. In the upstanding 
condition of the tension-absorbing plates 59a and 59b, a space is formed 
between the inner surface of the rear open end of the outer cover 51 and 
the distal end of each of the tension-absorbing plates 59a and 59b. The 
wire 49 can be led out through this space. 
The press-connecting connector 67 comprises, as main parts, the connector 
body 31, the flat base plate 33, the outer cover 51, the tension-absorbing 
plates 59a and 59b, the hinge portions 61, the upstanding-purpose 
projections 63, and the fixing holes 65. 
Next, the procedure for assembling the press-connecting connector 67 will 
now be described. 
For assembling the press-connecting connector 67, the press-connecting 
terminals 47 are first received in the terminal receiving chambers 39, 
respectively, and the first retaining portion 47b of the press-connecting 
terminal 47 is retained by the lance 43. 
After the press-connecting terminal 47 is thus received in the terminal 
receiving chamber 39, the wire 49 is press-fitted into the terminal 47 
through the opening 41 in the upper side or the lower side of the 
connector body 31, so that the press-connecting blade 47d cuts the sheath 
of the wire 49 to be electrically connected to the conductor of the wire 
49. 
At this time, the tension-absorbing plates 59a and 59b are disposed 
horizontally to lie generally flush with the upper and lower surfaces of 
the flat base plate 33, respectively. 
After the wire 49 is connected to the press-connecting terminal 47, the 
outer cover 51 is fitted on the connector body 31. 
Then, the tension-absorbing plates 59a and 59b are pivotally moved upwardly 
and downwardly, respectively, so that the upstanding-purpose projections 
63 are engaged respectively in the fixing holes 65 in the outer cover 51, 
thereby fixing the tension-absorbing plates 59a and 59b in their 
respective upstanding positions, and also each wire 49 is led out through 
the space between the inner surface of the rear open end of the outer 
cover 51 and the tension-absorbing plate 59a, 59b, thus completing the 
assembling of the press-connecting connector 67. 
A mating connector 69 is fitted onto the thus assembled press-connecting 
connector 67 from the front side of the connector 67, so that the 
press-connecting terminals 47 are electrically connected to respective 
mating terminals. In the press-connecting connector 67 of this 
construction, the tension-absorbing plate 59a, 59b lies generally flush 
with the flat base plate 33 during the time when the wire is press-fitted 
into the terminal through the opening 41, and therefore the wire 49 would 
not interfere with a bridge portion 13 (see FIG. 5) as provided in the 
conventional strain relief structure, and hence will not be deformed. 
After the wire is connected to the terminal, the tension-absorbing plates 
59a and 59b are fixed in their respective upstanding conditions, so that 
the wire 49 is bent as at 71 by the tension-absorbing plate 59a, 59b, and 
this bent portion 71 bears tension applied to the wire 49. 
In the above press-connecting connector 67, the tension-absorbing plates 
59a and 59 are pivotally movable through the respective hinge portions 61, 
and therefore the tension-absorbing plate 59a, 59b will not interfere with 
the wire 49 during the press-fitting of the wire 49 into the terminal, and 
therefore the wire 49 can be press-fitted into the terminal without being 
bent, and besides it is not necessary to insert the tension-absorbing 
plates between the wires after the press-fitting of the wires. As a 
result, in the press-connecting connector with the strain relief 
structure, the efficiency of the press-connecting operation is enhanced, 
and the dimension C (see FIG. 7) of extending of the wire front end is not 
varied, thus preventing incomplete press-connection. 
A modified form of the above press-connecting connector 67 will now be 
described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modified press-connecting 
connector of the invention. 
In the above press-connecting connector 67, the fixing holes 65 are formed 
in the outer cover 51, and the upstanding-purpose projections 63 on the 
tension-absorbing plates 59a and 59b are engaged respectively in the 
fixing holes 65 in the upstanding condition of the tension-absorbing 
plates 59a and 59b. However, such fixing holes 65 may be formed in other 
part than the outer cover 51. 
For example, in the modified connector shown in FIG. 3, opposite side 
plates 73, provided respectively on opposite side edges of a flat base 
plate 33, have a rectangular shape, and fixing holes 75 for engagement 
respectively with the upstanding-purpose projections 63 are formed in the 
side plates 73. With this construction, the type of press-connecting 
connector without the outer cover 51 can achieve a function as described 
above. 
Closure plates 74 are removably attached to a connector body 71 to 
respectively close wire press-fitting openings 72 formed respectively in 
upper and lower surfaces of a connector body 71. Retaining projections 77, 
formed respectively on opposite side edges of the closure plate 74, are 
engaged respectively in recesses 76 formed respectively in the side plates 
73, thereby fixing the closure plate 74 to the connector body 71 against 
displacement. Namely, in this press-connecting connector without the outer 
cover 51, the closure plate 74 prevents press-connecting terminals in 
respective terminal receiving chambers 39 from being exposed, and also 
prevents dust and the like from intruding into the terminal receiving 
chambers 39. 
As described above in detail, in the press-connecting connector of the 
present invention, the connector body has the horizontal flat base plate, 
and the tension-absorbing plates are pivotally connected to the rear end 
of the flat base plate through the respective hinge portions. Each 
tension-absorbing plate is disposed generally flush with the flat base 
plate, and the tension-absorbing plate is pivotally movable into the 
upstanding position. With this construction, during the press-fitting of 
the wire, the wire will not interfere with the tension-absorbing plate, 
and therefore the wire can be press-fitted into the terminal without being 
bent. As a result, in the press-connecting connector with the strain 
relief structure, the efficiency of the wire press-connecting operation is 
enhanced, and also incomplete press-connection can be prevented.