Connector

A connector includes a connector housing that includes a terminal receiving chamber for receiving a terminal, and an elastic retaining member that is arranged to retain an engagement portion of the terminal. The elastic retaining member includes a pair of ribs that are spaced from each other in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction in which the terminal is inserted, and a retaining portion that extends between the pair of ribs, and that is arranged to abut against the engagement portion of the terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a connector having an elastic retaining piece portion for retaining a terminal received in a terminal receiving chamber of a connector housing.

FIG. 4andFIGS. 5 and 6show known related connectors of the type described, respectively (see, for example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2).

In the connector101shown inFIG. 4, a terminal receiving chamber103is formed in a synthetic resin-made connector housing102, and extends from a central portion thereof to a rear end thereof. An elastic retaining piece portion105is formed in a cantilever manner within the terminal receiving chamber103, and extends obliquely forwardly from an upper wall portion102aof the connector housing102.

When a terminal108, connected to a wire107, is inserted through a terminal insertion port104(formed in the rear end of the terminal receiving chamber103) into the terminal receiving chamber103, and is received therein, a free end (retaining portion)106of the elastic retaining piece portion105is retainingly engaged with a retaining engagement portion109of the terminal108to prevent the terminal108from withdrawal.

In the connector201shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, a terminal receiving chamber202ais formed in a synthetic resin-made connector housing202, and a terminal203, formed by pressing an electrically-conductive metal sheet, is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber202athrough a rear opening thereof. The connector housing202has an elastic retaining piece portion204for retaining the terminal203, received in the terminal receiving chamber202a, to prevent the terminal203from withdrawal.

The terminal203includes an electrical contact portion205of a rectangular tubular shape into which a mating terminal (not shown) can be inserted to be electrically connected thereto, and a wire connection portion206which is provided at a rear side of the electrical contact portion205, and can be electrically connected to a wire (not shown). A convex portion207ais formed on an upper surface of a front end portion of the electrical contact portion205.

A vertical retaining portion207bis formed at a front end surface of the elastic retaining piece portion204, and a rear end of the convex portion207aof the terminal203, received in the terminal receiving chamber202a, abuts against this retaining portion207b. A jig receiving portion209bis also formed at the front end surface of the elastic retaining piece portion204, and a jig can be brought into abutting engagement with this jig receiving portion209bso as to cancel the retaining engagement of the elastic retaining piece portion with the terminal. The retaining portion207band the jig receiving portion209bare disposed adjacent to each other in a direction of the width of the elastic retaining piece portion204.

When the terminal203is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber202athrough the rear opening thereof, the terminal203advances within the terminal receiving chamber202awhile the convex portion207aof the terminal203elastically deforms the elastic retaining piece portion204in a manner to displace the front end portion of this elastic retaining piece portion204upwardly. Then, when the front end of the terminal203is brought into abutting engagement with a front wall of the terminal receiving chamber202a, the convex portion207aof the terminal203slides past the elastic retaining piece portion204, so that the elastic retaining piece portion204is restored into its original position. As a result, the retaining portion207bof the elastic retaining piece portion204is retainingly engaged with the rear end of the convex portion207aof the terminal203, thereby preventing the terminal203from rearward withdrawal. For canceling the retaining engagement of the elastic retaining piece portion204with the terminal203, the jig209ais inserted into the terminal receiving chamber202afrom the front side, and is brought into abutting engagement with the slanting jig receiving portion209b, and elastically deforms the elastic retaining piece portion204in a manner to displace the front end portion thereof upwardly, thereby canceling the retaining of the terminal203by the elastic retaining piece portion204.[Patent Literature 1] JP-A-61-218081[Patent Literature 2] JP-A-2002-313472

In each of the above related connectors101and201, however, the metal-made terminals103,203(the convex portion207a) abuts against the retaining portions106,207bof the synthetic resin-made elastic retaining piece portions105,204, and therefore there is a fear that the retaining portions106,207bare worn, so that the force of retaining of the terminals103,203by the elastic retaining piece portions105,204is lowered.

And besides, when the terminals are arranged at a small pitch in order to meet a requirement of a compact design of recent connectors, the elastic retaining piece portions105,204become narrow, and therefore there is a fear that the strength of the elastic retaining piece portions105,204is lowered. For example, in the related connector101, the elastic retaining piece portion105is liable to be buckled as shown inFIG. 7, and therefore there is a fear that the force of retaining of the terminals103,203by the elastic retaining piece portions105,204is lowered.

Therefore, in the related connector201, a pair of projecting portions208bare formed on and project laterally outwardly respectively from the opposite side surfaces of the elastic retaining piece portion204(as shown inFIG. 6) in order to enhance the force of retaining of the terminal203by the elastic retaining piece portion204. The pair of projecting portions208bretain engagement portions208a, formed at the rear end of the electrical contact portion205, respectively, thereby preventing the rearward withdrawal of the terminal203in a double manner. However, as a result of formation of the projecting portions208b, the width of the elastic retaining piece portion204increases, and therefore there has been a fear that the achievement of a compact design of the connector201is adversely affected.

And besides, when the connector is formed into a compact design, the jig209afor canceling the retaining engagement of the elastic retaining piece portion204with the terminal203also becomes narrow, and therefore there has been a fear that the jig209afails to be positively engaged with (or abut against) the jig receiving portion209bdefined by a flat surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a connector in which a sufficient terminal-retaining force is obtained without increasing a width of a retaining lance, and also the strength of the retaining lance is increased so as to achieve a compact design of the connector.

The above object has been achieved by a connector of the present invention comprising a terminal, and a connector housing which includes a terminal receiving chamber having the terminal inserted therein, and an elastic retaining piece portion for retaining engagement with a retaining engagement portion of the terminal, received in the terminal receiving chamber, to prevent the terminal from withdrawal; characterized in that the elastic retaining piece portion includes a pair of ribs which are formed in an upstanding manner, and are spaced from each other in a direction perpendicular to a direction of withdrawing of the terminal, and a retaining portion which extends between the pair of ribs and against which the retaining engagement portion of the terminal abuts in the withdrawing direction; and those end edges of the pair of ribs, disposed close to the retaining engagement portion, project beyond the retaining portion in a direction toward the retaining engagement portion.

Preferably, the pair of ribs extend in the direction of withdrawing of the terminal.

Preferably, a jig for elastically deforming the elastic retaining piece portion so as to cancel the retaining engagement of the retaining piece portion with the terminal can be brought into engagement with the elastic retaining piece portion at a region between the pair of ribs; and the end edges of the pair of ribs serve as a guide portion for guiding the jig into a gap between the pair of ribs.

In the present invention, the elastic retaining piece portion includes the pair of ribs which are formed in an upstanding manner, and are spaced from each other in the direction perpendicular to the direction of withdrawing of the terminal, and the retaining portion which extends between the pair of ribs and against which the retaining engagement portion of the terminal abuts in the withdrawing direction, and the end edges of the pair of ribs, disposed close to the retaining engagement portion, project forwardly beyond the retaining portion. Namely, that portion of the elastic retaining piece portion for receiving the retaining engagement portion of the terminal is formed into a generally U-shape by the retaining portion and the pair of ribs formed integrally with the retaining portion. With this construction, a shearing strength of the retaining portion can be enhanced, and therefore wear of the elastic retaining piece portion, developing upon abutment against the retaining engagement portion of the terminal, is suppressed, thereby securing the sufficient force of retaining of the terminal by the elastic retaining piece portion.

The pair of ribs are formed in an upstanding manner on the elastic retaining piece portion, and are spaced from each other in the direction perpendicular to the direction of withdrawing of the terminal. Namely, the pair of ribs do not project from the elastic retaining piece portion in the direction of the width thereof, and therefore the width of the elastic retaining piece portion can be reduced, thereby achieving a compact design of the connector.

With the elastic retaining piece portion of this simplified structure, the sufficient terminal-retaining force can be obtained, and besides the compact design of the connector can be achieved.

Furthermore, since the pair of ribs extend in the direction of withdrawing of the terminal, even the narrow elastic retaining piece portion can have a sufficient buckling strength, and therefore the terminal-retaining force of the elastic retaining piece portion can be further enhanced.

Furthermore, the jig for elastically deforming the elastic retaining piece portion so as to cancel the retaining engagement of the elastic retaining piece portion with the terminal is brought into engagement with the elastic retaining piece portion at the region between the pair of ribs, and the end edges of the pair of ribs serve as the guide portion for guiding the jig into the gap between the pair of ribs. With this construction, the portion of the elastic retaining piece portion with which the jig can be engaged is formed into a generally U-shape by the pair of ribs and the retaining portion, and the jig is guided by the pair of ribs (forming this engaging portion), and therefore the jig can be positively brought into engagement with the elastic retaining piece portion.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a connector, comprising:a connector housing that includes a terminal receiving chamber for receiving a terminal; andan elastic retaining member that is arranged to retain an engagement portion of the terminal,wherein the elastic retaining member includes:a pair of ribs that are arranged to be spaced from each other in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction in which the terminal is inserted; anda retaining portion that extends between the pair of ribs, and that is arranged to abut against the engagement portion of the terminal.

Preferably, the pair of ribs includes edge portions that are disposed close to the engagement portion of the terminal. The edge portions project beyond the retaining portion in the second direction toward the engagement portion of the terminal.

Preferably, the pair of ribs extend in the second.

Preferably, a jig receiving portion is formed at a region on the elastic retaining member surrounded by the edge portions and the retaining portion. The jig receiving portion is arranged to receive a jig for elastically deforming the elastic retaining member so as to cancel the engagement of the elastic retaining member with the terminal. The edge portions of the ribs guides the jig into the jig receiving portion.

Preferably, the connector housing includes an upper wall having grooves and side walls. The elastic retaining member is provided on the upper wall. A part of the upper wall, on which the elastic retaining member is provided, is separated from the side walls by the grooves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of a connector of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1is a cross-sectional view explanatory of one preferred embodiment of the connector of the invention,FIG. 2is a partly-broken, perspective view of a connector housing of the connector ofFIG. 1, showing an elastic retaining piece portion of the connector, andFIG. 3is a perspective view, showing a condition in which the elastic retaining piece portion ofFIG. 2is broken along a direction of withdrawing of a terminal.

As shown inFIG. 1, the connector10of this embodiment includes the synthetic resin-made connector housing11having a terminal receiving chamber11a, and the terminal12(which is formed by pressing an electrically-conductive metal sheet) is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber11athrough a rear opening thereof. The retaining lance (elastic retaining piece portion)13for retaining the terminal12received in the terminal receiving chamber11ais formed integrally on the connector housing11.

The terminal12to be received in the terminal receiving chamber11aincludes an electrical contact portion16of a generally rectangular tubular shape formed at a front end portion thereof, and a wire press-contacting portion17formed at a rear end portion thereof. A spring piece portion15is provided within the electrical contact portion16, and a mating terminal (not shown), when inserted into the electrical contact portion16, is electrically connected to the spring piece portion15. A projecting piece portion18(serving as a retaining engagement portion) for being retained by the retaining lance13extends obliquely upwardly from a widthwise-central portion of a front end portion of an upper wall of the electrical contact portion16toward the rear end thereof.

The wire connection portion17includes a base plate portion19extending horizontally from the electrical contact portion16, a pair of vertical side walls20which are bent at and project upwardly respectively from widthwise-opposite sides of the base plate portion19, and press-contacting piece portions23each including a wire press-contacting slot portion22having a blade21for cutting an insulating sheath of a sheathed wire (not shown) so that the slot portion22can be brought into electrical contact with an internal conductor of the sheathed wire.

When the sheathed wire is press-fitted into the slot portion22of each press-contacting piece portion23of the terminal12from the upper side, the insulating sheath of the sheathed wire is cut by the blade21of the slot portion22, so that the internal conductor of the sheathed wire contacts the press-contacting piece portion23. As a result, the internal conductor of the sheathed wire is electrically connected to the terminal12, and also the sheathed wire is held by the press-contacting piece portions23. In this condition, the terminal12is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber11athrough the rear (right inFIG. 1) opening thereof, and also the terminal12can be withdrawn from the terminal receiving chamber11a.

The retaining lance13is formed integrally with a front end portion of an upper wall (forming part of the terminal receiving chamber11a) of the connector housing11. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, a slit24of a generally U-shape is formed in the front end portion of the upper wall of the connector housing11, and by doing so, the retaining lance13is supported in a cantilever manner at its rear end on the connector housing11, and extends forwardly, and therefore this retaining lance13can be elastically deformed in such a manner that its front end portion is displaced upward and downward.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of ribs39are formed respectively on opposite side edge portions of a lower surface (facing the terminal12received in the terminal receiving chamber11a) of the retaining lance13, and project toward the terminal12, and extend from the front end of the retaining lance13to the rear end thereof. Namely, the pair of ribs39are formed in an upstanding manner, and are spaced from each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction of withdrawing of the terminal12, and extend in the direction of withdrawing of the terminal12.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 3, a retaining portion26is formed integrally on a front end portion of the lower surface of the retaining lance13, and interconnects the pair of ribs39. Namely, the retaining portion26extends between the pair of ribs39. When the terminal12, received in the terminal receiving chamber11a, is moved in the withdrawing direction, the projecting piece portion18of the terminal12abuts against the retaining portion26, thereby preventing the withdrawal of the terminal12.

Front end edges40of the pair of ribs39project forwardly beyond the retaining portion26, and therefore that portion of the retaining lance13for receiving the projecting piece portion18of the terminal12is formed into a generally U-shape as a whole. A rear end surface of the retaining portion26is formed as a slanting surface25which is slanting forwardly downwardly.

Next, the retaining of the terminal12by the retaining lance13of the connector housing11will be described.

The terminal12with which the sheathed wire is press-contacted as described above is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber11athrough the rear opening thereof. During the insertion of the terminal12, the projecting piece portion18(formed at the electrical contact portion16of the terminal12), while guided by the pair of ribs39, advances along a region between the pair of ribs39, and is brought into abutting engagement with the slanting surface25formed at the rear end of the retaining portion26of the retaining lance13, and further slides forward along the slanting surface25of the retaining lance13, while elastically deforming the retaining lance13in a manner to displace the front end portion thereof upwardly. Then, when the terminal12is inserted into a position where the front end of the electrical contact portion16abuts against a front wall of the terminal receiving chamber11a, the retaining lance13is restored from the elastically-deformed condition into the original condition, so that the retaining portion26of the retaining lance13becomes engaged with the rear end of the projecting piece portion18. When the terminal12, received in the terminal receiving chamber11a, is moved rearward so as to be withdrawn, the rear end of the projecting piece portion18of the terminal12abuts against the retaining portion26, thereby preventing the rearward withdrawal of the terminal12.

For canceling the retaining engagement of the retaining portion26of the retaining lance13with the projecting piece portion18of the terminal12, a jig is inserted through a front opening of the terminal receiving chamber11ainto a gap (“jig receiving portion”)41between the upper wall of the connector housing11(forming part of the terminal receiving chamber11a) and the upper wall of the electrical contact portion16of the terminal12. A distal end of the jig, while guided by the front end edges40of the pair of ribs39, is inserted between the front end edges40of the pair of ribs39, and is brought into engagement with the retaining lance13, and elastically deforms the retaining lance13in a manner to displace the front end of this retaining lance upwardly. As a result, the retaining of the projecting piece portion18of the terminal12by the retaining portion26of the retaining lance is canceled. That portion of the retaining lance13with which the jig is brought into engagement is formed into a generally U-shape by the pair of ribs39and the retaining portion26, and the jig is guided by the pair of ribs39(forming this engaging portion), and therefore the jig can be positively brought into engagement with the retaining lance13.

In the connector10of this embodiment, the retaining lance13includes the pair of ribs39which are formed in an upstanding manner, and are spaced from each other in the direction perpendicular to the direction of withdrawing of the terminal, and the retaining portion26which extends between the pair of ribs39and against which the projecting piece portion18of the terminal12abuts in the withdrawing direction, and the front end edges40of the pair of ribs39project forwardly beyond the retaining portion26. Namely, the portion of the retaining lance13for receiving the projecting piece portion18of the terminal12is formed into a generally U-shape by the retaining portion26and the pair of ribs39formed integrally with the retaining portion26. With this construction, the shearing strength of the retaining portion26can be enhanced, and therefore wear of the retaining lance13, developing upon abutment against the projecting piece portion18of the terminal12, is suppressed, thereby securing the sufficient force of retaining of the terminal by the retaining lance13.

The pair of ribs39are formed in an upstanding manner on the retaining lance13, and are spaced from each other in the direction perpendicular to the direction of withdrawing of the terminal12. Namely, the pair of ribs39do not project from the retaining lance13in the direction of the width thereof, and therefore the width of the retaining lance13can be reduced, thereby achieving the compact design of the connector10.

With the retaining lance13of this simplified structure, the sufficient terminal-retaining force of the retaining lance13can be obtained, and besides the compact design of the connector10can be achieved.

Furthermore, since the pair of ribs39extend in the direction of withdrawing of the terminal12, even the narrow retaining lance13can have a sufficient buckling strength, and therefore the terminal-retaining force of the retaining lance13can be further enhanced.

Furthermore, the jig for elastically deforming the retaining lance13so as to cancel the retaining engagement of the retaining lance13with the terminal12is brought into engagement with the retaining lance13at the region between the pair of ribs39, and the front end edges40of the pair of ribs39serve as a guide portion for guiding the jig into the gap between the pair of ribs39. With this construction, the portion of the retaining lance13with which the jig can be engaged is formed into a generally U-shape by the pair of ribs39and the retaining portion26, and the jig is guided by the pair of ribs39(forming this engaging portion), and therefore the jig can be positively brought into engagement with the retaining lance13.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and suitable modifications can be made without departing from the subject matter of the invention.

The present application is based on Japan Patent Application No. 2004-379556 filed on Dec. 28, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein for reference.