Terminal aligning connector unit

When a male terminal connector (10) and a female terminal connector (50) are engaged with each other, projecting inclined faces (20a) and partition wall inclined faces (59) which are opposed to each other are brought into contact or made opposed to each other, and, fitting projections (61) insert into fitting recesses (21) in such a manner that the fitting projections (61) and the fitting recesses (21) are held with gaps between them.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a connector unit which has a male terminal connector provided with a plurality of male terminals, and a female terminal connector provided with a plurality of female terminals to be connected to respective of a plurality of the male terminals.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, there has been a connector unit which has a male terminal connector provided with a plurality of male terminals, and a female terminal connector provided with a plurality of female terminals to be connected to respective of a plurality of the male terminals. In such a connector unit, it is important to prevent intrusion of foreign matters into connection parts between the male terminals and the female terminals, for the purpose of reducing causes for a short circuit. A connector unit in which the connection parts between the male and female terminals can be individually cut off has been proposed in Patent Document 1.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be solved by the Invention

In the connector unit disclosed in Patent Document 1, the male and female terminals are respectively connected by engagement of housings. A terminal housing of the female connector is provided with a cut-off projection which is projected from a front end face of the terminal housing, and the cut-off projection is adapted to be butted against a rear wall of a terminal housing of the male connector, when the housings are engaged with each other.

By the way, it is important to secure a creepage distance between the adjacent terminals. However, it has become difficult to secure the creepage distance between the adjacent terminals, because small pitches are prevailing due to tendency of multi-polarity of the terminals.

For example, as shown inFIG. 10, in the connector unit disclosed in Patent Document 1, the creepage distance between the adjacent male terminals110is a distance along inclined faces120and a bottom face130. As a pitch of the male terminals110becomes smaller, it becomes difficult to secure a long creepage distance between the male terminals110. Consequently, there has been such a problem that insulating performance is deteriorated.

This invention has been made in view of the above described problem, and it is an object of the invention to provide a connector unit in which insulating performance can be enhanced, while restraining occurrence of a short circuit, even though a pitch between terminals becomes smaller.

Means for Solving the Problems

In order to solve the above described problem and to attain the object, a connector unit according to the invention comprising a male terminal connector which includes a plurality of male terminals, and a male terminal connector body having a front wall where a plurality of the male terminals projected from an inner face thereof are arranged in parallel, and projected holding parts which are projected from the inner face of the front wall along side faces of the respective male terminals, and a female terminal connector which includes a plurality of female terminals, and a female terminal connector body having partition walls for forming containing rooms in which a plurality of the female terminals are respectively contained, and a front end part in which openings for enabling the male terminals to be inserted into the containing rooms are formed, the male terminal connector and the female terminal connector being engaged with each other in a state that the front end part is directed to the inner face of the front wall, characterized in that in the male terminal connector, the projected holding parts have projecting inclined faces which are formed on respective both sides in a lateral direction of the male terminals, and inclined so that their heights projecting from the inner face of the front wall become smaller as being separate away from the male terminals, and fitting recesses are formed between a pair of the projected holding parts which are positioned between the adjacent two male terminals, and in the female terminal connector, the partition walls are provided with partition wall inclined faces which are inclined substantially in parallel with the projecting inclined faces, when the male terminal connector and the female terminal connector are engaged with each other, and fitting projections which are projected toward the front end part and adapted to insert into the fitting recesses, wherein the projecting inclined faces and the partition wall inclined faces are brought into contact with each other, or made opposed to each other, when the male terminal connector and the female terminal connector are engaged with each other, and at the same time, the fitting projections insert into the fitting recesses so that the fitting projections and the fitting recesses are held leaving a gap between them.

Moreover, the connector unit according to the invention is, in the above described invention, characterized in that the male terminal connector further includes male terminal connector side extended faces which are respectively formed on the projected holding parts so as to extend from the projecting inclined faces in an arranging direction of a plurality of the male terminals, and the female terminal connector further includes female terminal connector side extended faces which are formed on the partition walls so as to extend from the partition wall inclined faces in an arranging direction of a plurality of the female terminals, wherein the male terminal connector side extended faces and the female terminal connector side extended faces are brought into contact or made opposed to each other, when the male terminal connector and the female terminal connector are engaged with each other.

Further, the connector unit according to the invention is, in the above described invention, characterized in that each of the fitting projections has a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

Advantageous Effects of the Invention

In the connector unit according to the invention, because the creepage distance of the male terminal is a distance along the fitting recess and the projecting inclined faces, it is possible to secure the longer creepage distance by a distance along the inner side faces of the fitting recess. Additionally, because a mating part between the front end part of the female terminal connector and the front wall of the male terminal connector becomes complicated in shape, it becomes difficult for foreign matters to insert into connection parts between the male terminals and the female terminals from the exterior. As the results, a short circuit due to the foreign matters can be prevented, and therefore, it is possible to enhance insulating performance, while restraining occurrence of the short circuit due to the foreign matters.

Moreover, in the connector unit according to the invention, the male terminal connector has the male terminal connector side extended faces which are further extended from ends of the projecting inclined faces at a front wall inner face side and provided in the arranging direction of a plurality of the male terminals. Moreover, the female terminal connector has the female terminal connector side extended faces which are further extended from partition wall front end side ends of the partition wall inclined faces. Accordingly, when the male terminal connector and the female terminal connector are engaged with each other, the male terminal connector side extended faces and the female terminal connector side extended faces are brought into contact with each other or made opposed to each other. Therefore, the part which has been formed only by the projecting inclined faces is formed by including the projecting inclined faces and the female terminal connector side extended faces, and hence, the creepage distance can be made longer. As the results, it is possible to further enhance the insulating performance. Additionally, because the mating part between the front end part of the female terminal connector and the front wall of the male terminal connector becomes more complicated in shape, it becomes more difficult for foreign matters to insert into the connection parts between the male terminals and the female terminals.

Further, in the connector unit according to the invention, the fitting recess is formed in a concave shape corresponding to the fitting projection having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and therefore, it is possible to reduce a depth of the fitting recess and a width of its bottom face, by utilizing the creepage distance which is increased by the projecting inclined faces and the male terminal connector side extended faces. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a height of a protruded portion of a mold piece having a rectangular parallelepiped shape to be used for insert molding of the fitting recess, and at the same time, to increase a width thereof. As the results, durability of the mold piece to be used for the insert molding can be enhanced.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Now, referring to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the connector unit according to the invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1is a side view, partly shown in section, of a connector unit1according to Embodiment 1 of the invention, prior to engagement.FIG. 2is a sectional view of the connector unit1as shown inFIG. 1, after the engagement.FIG. 3is a view of a female terminal connector50as shown inFIG. 1, as seen from the front side.FIG. 4is an enlarged view of a region surrounding a male terminal11as shown inFIG. 2.FIG. 5is an enlarged view of a region surrounding a front end part56bof a partition wall56as shown inFIG. 2.

It is to be noted that arrow marks which are perpendicular to one another in the drawings represent front and rear, right and left, and up and down directions. Specifically, the direction in which the female terminal connector is engaged with a male terminal connector10is referred to as the front, and the opposite direction is referred to as the rear. The direction in which the male terminals11and female terminals51are arranged in parallel is referred to as the right and left. The directions perpendicular to these front and rear, right and left faces are referred to as the up and down.

The connector unit1according to Embodiment 1 of the invention includes the male terminal connector10and the female terminal connector50.

To begin with, the male terminal connector10will be described.

The male terminal connector10is the connector which is integrally provided with the five male terminals11by insert molding. When the male terminal connector10is engaged with the female terminal connector50, a plurality of female terminals51which are contained in the female terminal connector50are respectively connected to the male terminals11. The male terminal connector10is provided with a plurality of the male terminals11and a male terminal connector body12.

The male terminal connector body12includes a front wall13in a rectangular shape, an upper wall14which is uprightly provided along edges of the front wall13, a lower wall15, and a pair of side walls16, and an opening18is formed in its rear end part17. An internal containing space12ais defined by combination of these front wall13, upper wall14, lower wall15, and a pair of the side walls16. This internal containing space12amakes a connector engaging part19which is adapted to be engaged with the female terminal connector50so as to cover an outer surface of a female terminal connector body52, which will be described below.

Moreover, the five male terminals11are provided in parallel on the front wall13, in such a manner that they are projected from an inner face13aof the front wall13into the connector engaging part19. Specifically, the male terminals11are passed through the front wall13from an outer face thereof to the inner face opposed to the connector engaging part19thereby to be held by the front wall13.

The male terminal connector body12is further provided with projected holding parts20, fitting recesses21, and locking through holes22.

Each of the projected holding parts20has a pair of projecting inclined faces20awhich are projected from the inner face13aof the front wall13in a manner of enclosing an outer periphery11aof a front wall side end part of each of the male terminals11, and have their both side faces inclined toward projection ends20bso that distances up to the male terminal11may be reduced. Specifically, the projected holding part20is projected from the inner face of the front wall13deep into the connector engaging part19. The projected holding part20is projected along side faces of the male terminal11in a direction of its width (that is, a lateral direction of the male terminal). Because the projected holding part20extends along the male terminal11in this manner, the male terminal11is more rigidly held by the front wall13. Further, the projected holding parts20are provided at both sides of the respective male terminals11in the direction of width (that is, in the lateral direction of the male terminals), and the projecting inclined faces20aare inclined in such a manner that their heights projected from the inner face of the front wall13may become smaller as going away from the male terminals11.

Moreover, the fitting recesses21are parts which are formed in a concave shape on the inner face13aof the front wall13at positions between the respective male terminals11. Specifically, the fitting recesses21are holes which are formed between a pair of the projected holding parts20positioned between the adjacent two male terminals11. Fitting projections61, which will be described below, insert into the fitting recesses21. On this occasion, the fitting recesses21and the fitting projections61are adapted to be held with gaps between the fitting recesses21and the fitting projections61. Both upper edges21aof each of the fitting recesses21make ends20cof the projecting inclined faces20aat a front wall inner face side.

When the male terminal connector10and the female terminal connector50are engaged with each other, the locking through holes22are locked to locking protuberances58, which will be described below, thereby to lock the female terminal connector50inside the connector engaging part19.

Then, the female terminal connector50will be described.

The female terminal connector50is the connector in which the five female terminals51are contained. When the female terminal connector50is engaged with the male terminal connector10, the female terminals51contained in the female terminal connector50are respectively connected to the male terminals11.

The female terminal connector50includes the female terminals51and the female terminal connector body52. The female terminal connector body52includes an upper wall53, a lower wall54, and a pair of side walls55, and has a columnar shape having a rectangular shape in cross section.

An internal containing space52ais defined by combination of the upper wall53, the lower wall54, and a pair of the side walls55of the female terminal connector body52, and the five female terminals51are contained in this internal containing space52a.

More specifically, the five female terminals51are respectively contained in female terminal containing rooms57which are formed by partitioning the female terminal connector body52with the partition walls56. Front end openings52cwhich are opened so that the male terminals11can be respectively inserted into the female terminal containing rooms57are formed in a front end part52bof the female terminal connector body52. Moreover, rear end openings52ewhich are opened so that the female terminals51can be respectively inserted into the female terminal containing rooms57are formed in a rear end face52dof the female terminal connector body52.

The female terminals51are respectively inserted into the female terminal containing rooms57from the rear end openings52e, and adapted to be locked at fitting positions inside the female terminal containing rooms57, for example, by double locking means which is not shown.

It is to be noted that in the connector unit1in this Embodiment 1, the both side walls55of the female terminal connector body52function also as the partition walls56.

The female terminal connector body52is further provided with the locking protuberances58, partition wall inclined faces59, and a projecting front end60.

The locking protuberances58are a pair of protruded parts which are protruded in a shape of a lance, from outer faces55aof the respective side walls55of the female terminal connector body52. When the male terminal connector10and the female terminal connector50are engaged with each other, the locking protuberances58are locked to the locking through holes22thereby to lock the female terminal connector50inside the connector engaging part19.

The partition wall inclined faces59are the faces which are formed on front end side faces56aof the partition walls56, and inclined substantially in parallel with the projecting inclined faces20a. Specifically, the partition wall inclined faces59are the faces which are inclined substantially in parallel with the projecting inclined faces20a, in a state where the male terminal connector10and the female terminal connector50are engaged with each other.

The projecting front end60is a part corresponding to the front end part52bof the female terminal connector body52, which is directed to the inner face13aof the front wall13of the male terminal connector10, when the male terminal connector10and the female terminal connector50are engaged with each other. This projecting front end60has fitting projections61and an enclosing wall part62. The fitting projections61are the portions having a rectangular parallelepiped shape which are projected from the front end parts56bof the partition walls56toward the projecting front end60, and insert into the fitting recesses21.

The enclosing wall part62is the wall which is formed so as to enclose a group of the fitting projections61which are projected from the respective partition walls56.

The connector unit1as described above is so constructed that when the male terminal connector10and the female terminal connector50are engaged with each other, the projecting inclined faces20aand the partition wall inclined faces59which are opposed to each other are brought into contact with each other, or made opposed to each other, and the fitting projections61insert into the fitting recesses21, thereby allowing the fitting projections61and the fitting recesses21to be held leaving gaps between the fitting projections61and the fitting recesses21. Because the creepage distance of the male terminal11is the distance along the fitting recess21and the projecting inclined faces20a, it is possible to secure the longer creepage distance by a distance along the inner side faces21bof the fitting recess21. Additionally, because a mating part between the front end part52bof the female terminal connector50and the front wall13of the male terminal connector10becomes complicated in shape, it becomes difficult for foreign matters to insert into connection parts between the male terminals and the female terminals from the exterior. As the results, a short circuit due to the foreign matters can be prevented, and therefore, it is possible to enhance insulating performance, while restraining occurrence of the short circuit due to the foreign matters.

In the connector unit1in Embodiment 1 of the invention, because the creepage distance of the male terminal11is the distance along the fitting recess21and the projecting inclined faces20a, it is possible to secure the longer creepage distance by the distance along the inner side faces21bof the fitting recess21. Additionally, because the mating part between the front end part52bof the female terminal connector50and the front wall13of the male terminal connector10becomes complicated in shape, it becomes difficult for foreign matters to insert into the connection parts between the male terminals11and the female terminals51from the exterior. As the results, a short circuit due to the foreign matters can be prevented, and therefore, it is possible to enhance the insulating performance, while restraining occurrence of the short circuit due to the foreign matters.

Then, referring toFIGS. 6 to 9, a connector unit2according to Embodiment 1 of the invention will be described.FIG. 6is a sectional view of the connector unit2according to Embodiment 2 of the invention, after engagement.FIG. 7is an enlarged view of a part of the connector unit2as shown inFIG. 6.FIG. 8is a view for comparing the creepage distances.FIG. 9is a view for explaining enhancement of durability of a mold piece S.

In the connector unit2in Embodiment 2 of the invention, a male terminal connector70is further provided with male terminal connector side extended faces71, and a female terminal connector80is provided with female terminal connector side extended faces81.

The other structures in Embodiment 2 are the same as those in Embodiment 1, and therefore, the same components are denoted with the same reference numerals.

The male terminal connector side extended faces71are the faces which are further extended from the ends20cof the projecting inclined faces20aat the front wall inner face side, in an arranging direction of a plurality of the male terminals11.

The female terminal connector side extended faces81are the faces which are further extended from the partition wall front end side ends59aof the partition wall inclined faces59in an arranging direction of a plurality of the female terminals51.

When the male terminal connector70and the female terminal connector80are engaged with each other, the male terminal connector side extended faces71and the female terminal connector side extended faces81are brought into contact with each other or made opposed to each other.

The connector unit2according to Embodiment 2 of the invention is so constructed that the male terminal connector70has the male terminal connector side extended faces71which are further extended from the ends20cof the projecting inclined faces20aat the front wall inner face side and provided in the arranging direction of a plurality of the male terminals11are arranged. Moreover, the female terminal connector80has the female terminal connector side extended faces81which are further extended from the partition wall front end side ends59aof the partition wall inclined faces59. When the male terminal connector70and the female terminal connector80are engaged with each other, the male terminal connector side extended faces71and the female terminal connector side extended faces81are brought into contact with each other or made opposed to each other. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 8, the part which is formed only by the projecting inclined faces20ain the connector unit1in Embodiment 1 is formed by including the projecting inclined faces20aand the male terminal connector side extended faces71. Accordingly, the creepage distance can be made longer, and consequently, the insulating performance can be further enhanced. Additionally, because a mating part between the front end part80bof the female terminal connector80and the front wall72of the male terminal connector70becomes more complicated in shape, it becomes more difficult for foreign matters to insert into connection parts between the male terminals11and the female terminals51.

In case where the creepage distance of the male terminal11in the connector unit2is secured in the same manner as in the connector unit1in Embodiment 1, it is possible to reduce a depth D of the fitting recess21and a width T1 of the bottom face, by utilizing the creepage distance which is increased by the projecting inclined faces20aand the male terminal connector side extended faces71, as shown inFIG. 9. In this case, it is possible to reduce a height H of a protruded portion S1of a mold piece S having a rectangular parallelepiped shape to be used for insert molding of the fitting recess21, and at the same time, to increase a width T2 thereof. As the results, durability of the mold piece S to be used for the insert molding can be enhanced.

It is to be noted that in Embodiments 1 and 2 according to the invention, the connector units1and2in which a plurality of the male terminals11are integrally provided in the male terminal connector body12by insert molding have been described, by way of example. However, this is not always the case. Specifically, it would be sufficient that a plurality of the male terminals11are arranged in parallel on the front wall13,72of the male terminal connector body12. For example, a plurality of the male terminals11may be press fitted to the front wall13,72of the male terminal connector body12.

Although in Embodiments 1 and 2 according to the invention, the connector units1and2in which the fitting projections61have the rectangular parallelepiped shape have been described by way of example. However, this is not always the case. Specifically, the fitting projections61may have other shapes, provided that they are projected from the front end parts56bof the partition walls56. For example, the fitting projections61may have a cubic shape.

The invention which has been made by the inventors has been specifically described referring to the above described embodiments of the invention. However, the invention is not limited to the above described embodiments. It is also possible to make various modifications within a scope not deviating from the gist of the invention.

Although the invention has been described in detail referring to the specified embodiments, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and amendments can be added without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention.

This invention is based on Japanese Patent Application filed on Jun. 3, 2011 (Application No. 2011-124772), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Industrial Applicability

According to this invention, it becomes difficult for foreign matters to insert into the connection parts between the male terminals and the female terminals from the exterior, and consequently, a short circuit due to the foreign matters can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to attain such advantage that insulating performance can be enhanced while restraining occurrence of the short circuit due to the foreign matters. The invention is usefully applied to the connector unit which has the male terminal connector in which a plurality of the male terminals are provided, and the female terminal connector in which a plurality of the female terminals to be connected to the respective male terminals are contained.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS