Connector with moving plate having partition between terminals to prevent short-circuit

A housing (10) includes a housing body (11) and a receptacle (12) projecting forward from the housing body (11). The housing body (11) includes first cavities (13) into which first male terminals (70) are inserted, and second cavities (14) into which second male terminals (80) are inserted. Each second male terminal (80) includes a second tab (82) longer than a first tab (72) of each first male terminal (70). Recesses (23) are provided on a front surface (17) of the housing body (11) around openings of the second cavities (14) and are recessed farther rearward than areas around openings of the first cavities (13). A moving plate (40) is movable from an initial position to a connection position in the receptacle (12). The moving plate (40) has interpolar partitioning portions (52) configured to partition between the adjacent second tabs (82) by entering the recesses (23) at the connection position.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a connector.

Related Art

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-115461 discloses a connector with a block-shaped terminal accommodating portion, a tubular receptacle projecting forward from the terminal accommodating portion and a moving plate arranged in the receptacle and configured to move from an initial position to an end position by being pressed by a mating female housing. The terminal accommodating portion and the receptacle constitute an integral male housing. The terminal accommodating portion has cavities to accommodate male terminals, and tabs of the male terminals project into the receptacle. The moving plate includes a plate body for covering the terminal accommodating portion from the front, and positioning holes penetrate the plate body for receiving and positioning the tabs. The tabs project farther forward from the positioning holes as the moving plate moves toward the end position and thus the tabs connected to mating female terminals. The moving plate maintains the tabs in a predetermined posture in the receptacle.

The tabs of the male terminals may differ in length. In this situation, a recess has been formed in the front surface of the terminal accommodating portion and the long tabs project from the back surface of the recess to reduce positional deviations of the tips of the tabs. However, a clearance is formed between the plate body and the back surface of the recess when the moving plate reaches the end position and the plate body faces contacts the front surface of the terminal accommodating portion. Thus, exposed areas of the adjacent long male terminals may be shorted to each other via the clearance.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-115461 fits interpolar blocking portions into fitting recesses on the front surface of the terminal accommodating portion. However, the interpolar blocking portions are provided on the mating female housing and the tabs do not project from the back surfaces of the fitting recesses. Thus, even with this approach, adjacent long male terminals still may be shorted to each other.

The invention was completed on the basis of the above situation and aims to provide a connector capable of avoiding a short circuit of adjacent male terminals when there are male terminals of different lengths.

SUMMARY

The invention relates to a connector with first male terminals each including a first tab, second male terminals each including a second tab. The second tabs are longer than the first tabs. The connector further includes a housing body with an array of adjacent first cavities for accommodating the first male terminals, and an array of adjacent second cavities for accommodating the second male terminals. Front ends of each first cavity and each second cavity are open at a front surface of the housing body. A tubular receptacle projects forward from the housing body and is configured to surround the first and second tabs projecting forward from the front surface. A mating housing can fit into the receptacle. The connector further has a moving plate with a plate body to cover the front surface from the front in the receptacle. The plate body has first and second holes through which the respective first and second tabs are inserted. The moving plate is configured to move toward the front surface from an initial position to a connection position by being pressed by the mating housing. A recess is formed in the front surface of the housing body around openings of the respective second cavities and is recessed farther rearward than areas around openings of the respective first cavities. An interpolar partitioning portion is provided on the moving plate and is configured to partition between the adjacent second tabs by entering the recess at the connection position.

The recess is provided in the front surface of the housing body and recesses the areas around the openings of the second cavities farther rearward than the areas around the openings of the first cavities. Thus, the adjacent second tabs that project into the recess may be shorted to each other. However, the interpolar partitioning portion of the moving plate enters the recess at the connection position to partition between the adjacent second tabs so that the second tabs are not shorted to each other.

The interpolar partitioning portion may project on a rear surface of the plate body. Thus, the interpolar partitioning portion is reinforced by the tubular portion and breakage is prevented. Further, the inner surfaces of the second holes and of the tubular portion are continuous. Therefore, insertion areas for the second tabs become longer and positioning reliability can be enhanced.

The tubular portion may be a continuous tube continuously surrounding the opening peripheral parts of the adjacent second holes on the rear surface of the plate body. Thus, the interpolar partitioning portion is reinforced by the continuous tubular portion.

First guiding portions may be provided on two opposed surfaces of the tubular portion and may expand from an intermediate position in the front-rear direction toward a rear end and second guiding portions may be provided on the other two opposed surfaces and may expand from a front end of the second hole toward an intermediate position in the front-rear direction. Thus, when inserting the second tab into the second hole, a two-stage guiding structure composed of the first and second guiding portions can be realized, utilizing the inner surface of the tubular portion. As a result, an impact force (stress) received by the second tab at the time of insertion into the second hole can be dispersed and alleviated.

The housing body may have one or more second locking lances configured to position (particularly retain and lock) the second male terminals by at least partly projecting into the respective second cavities. The plate body may have second tool insertion holes for passage of a tool to displace (unlock) the second locking lances from the second male terminals.

One or more cuts may be provided on an outer surface of the tubular portion and may communicate with the second tool insertion holes. The tool can contact and support the tubular portion via the cut, thereby ensuring necessary strength when the locking lance is being unlocked.

A slope may be provided near an opening edge part of the second cavity and may be inclined rearward toward an outer side.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that even though embodiments are described separately, single features thereof may be combined to additional embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A connector according to an embodiment of the invention is described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 10. The connector according to this embodiment includes a housing10, a moving plate40, a lever60, first male terminals70and second male terminals80. The housing10is connectable to a mating housing90. Note that, in the following description, a surface of the housing10facing the mating housing90at the start of connection is referred to as a front concerning a front-rear direction, and a vertical direction is based onFIGS. 1 and 2.

The mating housing90is made e.g. of synthetic resin and is in the form of a block. Small and large female terminals91,94are accommodated in the mating housing90, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. Cam followers92project on both left and right side surfaces of the mating housing90. The female terminals91,94are connected to end parts of wires W3, W4.

The first male terminal70is formed unitarily or integrally by folding, bending and/or embossing a conductive metal plate and is long and narrow in the front-rear direction, as shown inFIG. 10. The first male terminal70has a tubular first terminal body71, a first tab72projecting forward from the first terminal body71and a first barrel73connected to and behind the first terminal body71. The first barrel73is to be connected electrically to a wire W1and comprises at least one first wire barrel74to be crimped, bent or folded and connected to a core exposed by removing a coating at an end part of the wire W1and at least one first insulation barrel75arranged behind the first wire barrel portion74and to be crimped to the coating at the end part of the wire W1. A first lance receiving portion76is open in a peripheral wall of the first terminal body71.

The second male terminal80also is formed unitarily or integrally by folding, bending and or embossing a conductive metal plate and is shaped to be long and narrow in the front-rear direction, as shown inFIG. 9. The second male terminal80is larger than the first male terminal70and longer in the front-rear direction than the first male terminal70. Specifically, the second male terminal80includes a second terminal body81, a second tab82and a second barrel83similar to the first male terminal70. The second barrel83is to be connected electrically to a wire W2and comprises at least one second wire barrel84to be crimped, bent or folded and connected to a core exposed by removing a coating at an end part of the wire W2and at least one second insulation barrel85arranged behind the second wire barrel84and to be crimped, bent or folded to a resilient (e.g. rubber) plug88externally fit on the coating at the end part of the wire W2. A second lance receiving portion86is open in a peripheral wall of the second terminal body81(seeFIG. 1).

The housing10is made of synthetic resin and includes, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, a housing body11substantially in the form of a rectangular block and a receptacle12substantially in the form of a rectangular tube integrally projecting forward from an outer peripheral part of the front end of the housing body11. The mating housing90and the moving plate40fir in the receptacle12.

The housing body11includes first cavities13aligned in the vertical and lateral directions in an area excluding both upper and lower end parts and a laterally central upper part and second cavities14aligned in the lateral direction in upper and lower end parts (excluding the laterally central upper part). Each first cavity13extends in the front-rear direction and is open in a front surface portion17and a rear surface portion18of the housing body11. A projecting base end part of each first tab72is arranged in each cavity13in the front surface portion17of the housing body11.

A deflectable first locking lance15projects forward at an inner surface of each first cavity13. The first male terminal70is inserted into each first cavity13from behind and is held in the first cavity13by the first locking lance15being fit and locked to the first lance receiving portion76.

The front end of each first cavity13is open in the front surface17of the housing body11to have a rectangular cross-section, and first openings16for opening front parts of the respective first locking lances15are provided below the respective first cavities13. The first opening16also communicates with spaces between the first locking lances15adjacent in the lateral direction (width direction) and is open long in the lateral direction.

As shown inFIG. 5, an opening area of the respective first cavities13in the rear surface18of the housing body11is formed into a recessed surface19slightly recessed farther forward than both upper and lower end parts. An unillustrated one-piece rubber plug is held in close contact with the recessed surface19. Thus, the wires W1connected to the first male terminals70are waterproofed around by the one-piece rubber plug.

Similar to each first cavity13, each second cavity14extends in the front-rear direction and is open in the front and rear surfaces17and18of the housing body11, and a deflectable second locking lance21projects forward at an inner surface. A projecting base end of each second tab82is arranged in an opening of each cavity14in the front surface portion17of the housing body11.

The second male terminal80is inserted into each second cavity14from behind. The second male terminal80is held in the second cavity14by fitting and locking the second locking lance21to the second lance receiving portion86.

As shown inFIG. 5, each second cavity14is radially larger and longer in the front-rear direction than each first cavity13. A rear part of each second cavity14has a larger vertical opening than a front part and serves as a sealing portion22into which the rubber plug88fit on the second male terminal80is inserted in a liquid-tight manner (seeFIG. 2). The second locking lance21projects forward from the sealing portion22and is larger than the first locking lance15.

Opening areas of the second cavities14in the rear surface18of the housing body11project farther rearward than the recessed surface19(opening area of the respective first cavity13) at both upper and lower ends.

On the other hand, opening areas of the second cavities14in the front surface17of the housing body11are recessed slightly farther rearward than the opening area of the first cavities13at both upper and lower end parts. As shown inFIG. 5, the upper and lower end parts of the front surface17of the housing body11are configured as recesses23recessed farther rearward than the opening area of the respective first cavities13. As shown inFIG. 6, the recess23also communicates with areas between the second cavities14adjacent in the lateral direction and is open long in the lateral direction. No recess23is provided on partition walls31(seeFIG. 3) partitioning between the respective second cavities14in the lateral direction. By providing the recesses23in the front surface17of the housing body11, the projecting base end of each second tab82is located behind the projecting base end of each first tab72and the projecting tips of the first and second tabs72and82and each first tab72substantially align in the front-rear direction, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

The front ends of the second cavities14are open in the back surfaces of the recesses23(both upper and lower end parts of the front end part of the housing body11) to have a wide rectangular cross-section, as shown inFIG. 6, and a slope24inclined rearward toward an outer side is provided on an opening edge of each second cavity14, as shown inFIG. 5.

Further, second openings25for opening a front part of each second locking lance21are provided in the front surface17of the housing body11. As shown inFIG. 6, the second opening25also communicates with spaces between the second locking lances21adjacent in the lateral direction (width direction) and is open long in the lateral direction. A communicating portion26is provided on one side of each slope24by partly cutting off the second opening portion25, and a locking projection27of each second locking lance21can be confirmed visually through each communicating portion26.

As shown inFIG. 6, two support shafts28project on both left and right outer surfaces of the housing10. The lever60is supported rotatably on each support shaft28. Two forwardly open introducing grooves29are provided before the respective support shafts28on both left and right side walls of the receptacle12and extend in the front-rear direction. Each cam follower92of the mating housing90is inserted into and guided by each introducing groove29.

The lever60is made of synthetic resin and defines a U-shape with an operating portion61extending along the lateral direction and two cam portions62(only one is shown inFIG. 4) projecting from both left and right end parts of the operating portion61, as shown inFIG. 4. Each cam portion62includes a bearing part for receiving the corresponding support shaft28and a cam groove63extending in a predetermined direction and open on an outer peripheral edge. The lever60is mounted to straddle the housing10and is rotatable about the respective support shafts28.

The moving plate40is made e.g. of synthetic resin in the form of a forwardly open cap and includes a plate body41in the form of a flat plate extending along the vertical direction and a peripheral wall42substantially in the form of a rectangular tube integrally projecting forward from an outer peripheral part of the plate body41, as shown inFIG. 7.

The plate body41covers the front surface17of the housing body11in the receptacle12and includes first holes43at positions corresponding to the respective first cavities13and second holes44at positions corresponding to the respective second cavities14. Each first hole43has a rectangular cross-section corresponding to each first tab72and each first tab72is positioned inside. Each second hole44has a wide rectangular cross-section corresponding to each second tab82and each second tab82is positioned inside.

Two forwardly open entrance grooves45are provided on both left and right side walls of the peripheral wall42and extend in the front-rear direction. Two U-shaped pin receiving portions46straddle a rear opening part of each entrance groove45.

The moving plate40is movable in the receptacle12from an initial position IP (seeFIG. 1) where the plate body41is separated forward from the front surface17to a connection position CP (seeFIGS. 2 and 3) where the plate body41is almost in contact with the front surface17. In a state where the moving plate40is arranged at the initial position IP and entrances of the cam grooves63of the lever60are facing forward, each pin receiving portion46is inserted into the entrance of each cam groove63via each introducing groove29. In that state, the mating housing90is fit shallowly into the receptacle12, and each cam follower92is fit into each pin receiving portion46via the introducing groove45. The lever60then is rotated, and each pin receiving portion46is pressed by each cam follower92to slide on a groove surface of each cam groove63. Thus, a cam action is exhibited between the lever60and the mating housing90and a connecting operation of the housings10,90proceeds.

As shown inFIG. 1, when the moving plate40is at the initial position IP, the projecting tip of each first tab72is positioned in each first hole43and the projecting tip of each second tab83is positioned in each second hole44. As the moving plate40moves toward the connection position CP, each first tab72and each second tab82project significantly forward from each first hole43and each second hole44and, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, are connected to the corresponding female terminals91,94accommodated in the mating housing90. In this case, each first tab72and each second tab82are protected by the moving plate40in the receptacle12and can maintain a straight posture.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 8, a guiding portion47is provided on the inner surface of each first hole43and conically expands from an intermediate position of the plate body41in the front-rear direction (thickness direction) to the rear surface of the plate body41. Further, the plate body41is provided with first tool insertion holes48below the respective first holes43.

Tubular portions49are provided on both upper and lower end parts of the rear surface of the plate body41and project rearward from opening peripheral parts of the respective second holes44. As shown inFIG. 8, the tubular portion49includes a surrounding portion51substantially in the form of a wide rectangular tube for collectively surrounding the opening peripheral parts of the respective second holes44adjacent in the lateral direction on the rear surface of the plate body41and interpolar partitioning portions52are arranged between the second holes44that are adjacent in the lateral direction and form a wide continuous tube. The interpolar partitioning portion52is a vertical wall and both upper and lower ends thereof are coupled integrally to the surrounding portion51. The inner surface of the tubular portion49has a wide rectangular cross-section for each second hole44and is connected coaxially to the inner surface of each second hole44, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 3.

As shown inFIG. 3, succeeding guiding portions53are provided on both left and right sides of the inner surface of each second hole44and conically expand from an intermediate position of the plate body41in the front-rear direction (thickness direction) to the rear surface of the plate body41. The upper and lower sides of the inner surface of each second hole44are arranged substantially horizontally along the front-rear direction and not expanded.

On the other hand, preceding guiding portions54are provided on both upper and lower sides of the inner surface of the tubular portion49, as shown inFIG. 1, and conically expand from an intermediate position of the tubular portion49in the front-rear direction to the rear surface of the tubular portion49. Ranges from both upper and lower sides of the inner surface of the second hole44to the intermediate position of the tubular portion49in the front-rear direction are arranged substantially horizontally without any step. Further, as shown inFIG. 3, both left and right sides of the inner surface of the tubular portion49are arranged substantially horizontally along the front-rear direction except at chamfered parts on a rear end side and are not expanded. A separation distance between the left and right sides of the inner surface of the tubular portion49is larger than a lateral dimension of the second tab82.

Further, the plate body41is provided with second tool insertion holes56below the respective second holes44. The second tool insertion holes56are at positions corresponding to the respective second locking lances21, as shown inFIG. 1, and form openings of rectangular cross-section, similar to the respective first tool insertion holes48, as shown inFIG. 8. Bottomed cuts55having a concave cross-section are open at positions corresponding to the respective second tool insertion holes56on an outer surface of the tubular portion49facing a vertically central side. Each cut55coaxially communicates with each second tool insertion hole56in the front-rear direction, and the inner surface of each cut55is connected substantially horizontally to the inner surface of each second tool insertion hole56without any step.

An unillustrated tool is inserted into each second tool insertion hole56from front. The tool comes into contact with the second locking lance21via the second opening portion25from the second tool insertion hole56and is operated for unlocking so that the second locking lance21is unlocked from the second male terminal80and the second male terminal80can be withdrawn rearwardly from the second cavity14. A tool also is inserted into each first tool insertion hole48and operates in the same manner as above to unlock the first locking lance15. Of course, in the above case, since each cut55communicates with each second tool insertion hole56, the tool can be brought into contact with a recessed surface of the cut55of the tubular portion49and twisted and strength sufficient to withstand a twisting movement of the tool and the like can be provided.

Next, functions and effects of this embodiment are described.

In assembling, the first male terminal70is inserted and accommodated into each first cavity13of the housing body11from behind, and the second male terminal80is inserted and accommodated into each second cavity14of the housing body11from behind. In this way, each first tab72is arranged to project into the receptacle12through the opening of the first cavity13of the front surface17and each second tab82is arranged to project into the receptacle12through the opening of the second cavity14of the front surface17.

As shown inFIG. 1, when the moving plate40is held at the initial position IP in the receptacle12, the projecting tip of each first tab72is positioned in each first hole43of the plate body41and the projecting tip of each second tab82is positioned in each second hole44through the tubular portion49of the plate body41. At this time, the projecting tip of each second tab82is guided in the lateral direction, which is the width direction, by the succeeding guiding portions53of each second hole44after being inserted and guided in the vertical direction, which is the thickness direction, by the preceding guiding portions54of the tubular portion49. That is, each second tab82is guided into the corresponding second hole44in different directions in a stepwise or gradual manner.

Subsequently, the mating housing90is fit shallowly into the receptacle12. When the lever60is rotated in that state, the mating housing90is fit deeply into the receptacle12. Further, the moving plate40is pressed by each cam follower92and moves rearward toward the connection position CP together with the mating housing90. When the moving plate40substantially reaches the connection position CP, the plate body41is substantially in contact with the front surface17of the housing body11. At this time, the mating housing90faces the front surface17via the plate body41, the housings10,90are held in a proper state, and each small female terminal91and each first male terminal70and each large female terminal94and each second male terminal80are connected respectively electrically in a proper state as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3.

Further, when the moving plate40reaches the connection position CP, the tubular portions49are fit into the recesses23of the front surface portion17. At this time, the preceding guiding portions54of the tubular portions49are arranged to contact along the slopes24of the front surface17. Further, as shown inFIG. 3, the respective interpolar partitioning portions52of the tubular portions49are arranged between the projecting base end parts of the second tabs82adjacent in the lateral direction and coaxially connected to the partition walls31between the second cavities14in the front-rear direction. At this time, a tip of each interpolar partitioning portion52is arranged to contact along the slope24.

In the case of this embodiment, the second tabs82are longer than the first tabs72and the recesses23are provided in the front surface17of the housing body11by recessing areas around the openings of the respective second cavities14farther rearward than areas around the openings of the respective first cavities13. Thus, the adjacent second tabs82projecting into the recesses23may be shorted to each other. However, the interpolar partitioning portions52of the moving plate40enter the recesses23at the connection position CP to partition between the adjacent second tabs82and to avoid having the second tabs82shorted to each other.

Further, the tubular portions49surrounding the openings of the second holes44while including the interpolar partitioning portions52are provided on the rear surface of the plate body41. Thus, the interpolar partitioning portions52are reinforced by the tubular portions49and the breakage, fracture and the like can be prevented. In addition, since the inner surfaces of the second holes44and the inner surfaces of the tubular portions49are continuous, insertion areas for the second tabs82become longer and positioning reliability can be enhanced.

Further, since the tubular portion49is in the form of a continuous tube continuously surrounding the openings of the adjacent second holes44on the rear surface of the plate body41, the interpolar partitioning portions52are reinforced more strongly.

Further, out of four surfaces constituting the inner surface of the tubular portion49and the inner surface of the second hole44continuous with the former inner surface, the preceding guiding portions54expanded from the intermediate position in the front-rear direction toward the rear end of the tubular portion49are provided on two surfaces facing each other in the vertical direction and the succeeding guiding portions53expanded from the front end of the second hole44toward the intermediate position in the front-rear direction are provided on the other two surfaces facing each other in the lateral direction. Thus, in inserting the second tab82into the second hole44, a two-stage guiding structure composed of the preceding guiding portions54and the succeeding guiding portions53can be realized. As a result, an impact force (stress) received by the second tab82during insertion into the second hole44can be dispersed, and the breakage of the relatively long second tab82can be prevented.

Furthermore, the second tool insertion holes56for the passage of the tool for unlocking the second locking lances21locked to the second male terminals80are provided in the plate body41and the cuts55communicating with the second tool insertion holes56are provided on the outer surfaces of the tubular portions49. Thus, the tool can contact and support the tubular portion49via the cut portion55and strength necessary at the time of unlocking the locking lance can be ensured.

Other embodiments of the invention are described briefly.

The interpolar partitioning portions may partition between the adjacent second male terminals projecting from the peripheral wall of the moving plate.

The tubular portion may not be in the form of a continuous tube and tubular portions may be arranged side by side to individually correspond to the opening peripheral parts of the respective second holes.

The interpolar partitioning portions may not be parts of the tubular portion, but may independently project from a front wall portion or a peripheral wall portion of the moving plate.

The moving plate may not necessarily be moved in conjunction with the rotational movement of the lever.

The preceding guiding portions may be provided on both left and right sides of the inner surface of the tubular portion and the succeeding guiding portions may be provided on both upper and lower sides of the inner surface of the second hole.

Second cavities may be arranged in the vertical direction. In this case, the second male terminals accommodated in the respective second cavities are adjacently arranged in the vertical direction.

The present invention is applicable also to connectors including no lever and/or non-waterproof type connectors.

REFERENCE SIGNS