Female connector and fitting connector

A female connector includes a female terminal and a female side insulation member. The female terminal includes a tubular-shaped female side connection body having a female side space portion therein into which the male side connection body is fitted in an inserting manner on a same cylinder axis. The female side insulation member includes a finger touch prevention body inserted into a first space portion of the outer tubular body and a male side space portion of the male side connection body. The finger touch prevention body is projected more than a tip end surface of the female side connection body. An insulating annular body projected more than the tip end surface of the female side connection body on a same cylinder axis is provided outside the female side space portion in a direction orthogonal to a cylinder axis direction of the female side connection body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-092791 filed in Japan on May 14, 2018.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a female connector and a fitting connector.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, a fitting connector that includes a female connector provided with a female terminal and a male connector provided with a male terminal, and that physically and electrically connects the female terminal and the male terminal by fitting the female connector and the male connector with each other has been known. In the fitting connector, the female connector includes a tubular-shaped female terminal and a female side insulation member disposed inside the female terminal. The female side insulation member is provided so that a finger does not come into contact with the female terminal. For example, the female side insulation member is formed in a pillar shape. Moreover, in the fitting connector, the male connector includes a male terminal fitted inside the female terminal in an inserting manner, and a male side insulation member that covers the tip end surface of the male terminal. The male side insulation member is provided so that a finger does not come into contact with the tip end of the male terminal. A space portion into which the female side insulation member is inserted when the female connector and the male connector are fitted to each other, is formed in the male terminal and the male side insulation member. For example, the following Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 8-78079 discloses such a female connector and a fitting connector.

In the fitting connector, as a measure to deal with large current, the physical size of the female connector and the male connector may be increased in the radial direction. However, for example, in the female connector, when the physical size of the female terminal is increased in the radial direction, a gap between the female side insulation member and the female housing will be increased. Consequently, there is still room for improvement in ensuring the finger touch prevention function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a female connector and a fitting connector capable of ensuring the finger touch prevention function.

In order to solve the above mentioned problem and achieve the object, a female connector according to one aspect of the present invention includes a female terminal physically and electrically connected to a male terminal, including a tubular-shaped male side connection body, of a male connector that is provided with the male terminal and an insulating male side insulation member having a tubular-shaped outer tubular body covering a tip end surface of the male side connection body at a connector insertion direction side on a same cylinder axis; and an insulating female side insulation member, wherein the female terminal includes a tubular-shaped female side connection body having a female side space portion therein into which the male side connection body is fitted in an inserting manner on a same cylinder axis, the female side insulation member includes a pillar-shaped or tubular-shaped finger touch prevention body that is disposed in the female side space portion on a same axial line as that of a cylinder axis of the female side space portion, and that is inserted into a space portion inside the outer tubular body and a male side space portion inside the male side connection body, when the female side connection body and the male side connection body are fitted to each other in an inserting manner, the finger touch prevention body is projected more than a tip end surface of the female side connection body at a connector insertion direction side, in an axial direction, and an insulating annular body projected more than the tip end surface of the female side connection body on a same cylinder axis is provided outside the female side space portion in a direction orthogonal to a cylinder axis direction of the female side connection body.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the female connector, it is preferable that the female connector includes a female housing formed with a tubular-shaped female side fitting part that houses the female terminal therein and that covers the female terminal from outside, wherein the annular body is provided on the female side fitting part.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in the female connector, it is preferable that a tip end of the finger touch prevention body has an annular chamfer part at a connector insertion direction side over a circumferential direction.

In order to achieve the object, a fitting connector according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a female connector provided with a female terminal and an insulating female side insulation member; and a male connector provided with a male terminal and an insulating male side insulation member, wherein the female terminal includes a tubular-shaped female side connection body in which a female side space portion is formed, the male terminal includes a tubular-shaped male side connection body fitted to the female side space portion in an inserting manner on a same cylinder axis, the male side insulation member includes a tubular-shaped outer tubular body that covers a tip end surface of the male side connection body at a connector insertion direction side on a same cylinder axis, the female side insulation member includes a pillar-shaped or tubular-shaped finger touch prevention body that is disposed in the female side space portion on a same axial line as that of a cylinder axis of the female side space portion, and that is inserted into a space portion inside the outer tubular body and a male side space portion inside the male side connection body, when the female side connection body and the male side connection body are fitted to each other in an inserting manner, the finger touch prevention body is projected more than a tip end surface of the female side connection body at a connector insertion direction side, in an axial direction, and in the female connector, an insulating annular body projected more than the tip end surface of the female side connection body on a same cylinder axis is provided outside the female side space portion in a direction orthogonal to a cylinder axis direction of the female side connection body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a fitting connector according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the embodiment.

Embodiment

An embodiment of a fitting connector according to the present invention will now be described with reference toFIG. 1toFIG. 15.

A reference numeral1inFIG. 1toFIG. 3illustrates a fitting connector of the present embodiment. The fitting connector1is what is called a female and male connector. The fitting connector1includes a female connector10(fromFIG. 1toFIG. 4) provided with a female terminal20and an insulating female side insulation member30, and a male connector110(fromFIG. 1toFIG. 3, andFIG. 5) provided with a male terminal120and an insulating male side insulation member130. In each of these drawings, a female housing40and a male housing140, which will be described below, are omitted for convenience of explanation.

In the fitting connector1, the female connector10and the male connector110are fitted to each other by an insertion operation. The female terminal20and the male terminal120are physically and electrically connected, by fitting the female terminal20and the male terminal120in an inserting manner, when the female connector10and the male connector110are fitted to each other in an inserting manner (FIG. 3). Alternatively, in the fitting connector1, the female connector10and the male connector110are separated from each other by a separation operation. Consequently, the physical and electrical connection between the female terminal20and the male terminal120is eliminated (FIG. 1andFIG. 2). The insertion/fitting direction and the separation direction are opposite to each other. In the following, the insertion/fitting direction is referred to as a “connector insertion direction”, and the separation direction is referred to as a “connector separation direction”. These directions are orientations of the connector, when the connector is inserted into or extracted from the counterpart connector of the connector.

First, the female connector10will be described.

In addition to the female terminal20and the female side insulation member30, the female connector10includes the female housing40for housing the female terminal20and the female side insulation member30(FIG. 6andFIG. 7).

The female terminal20is molded from a conductive material such as metal. The female terminal20includes a tubular-shaped female side connection body21in which a female side space portion21ais formed (FIG. 2,FIG. 4,FIG. 6, andFIG. 7). Moreover, the female terminal20includes a tubular-shaped housing body22having a housing space portion22afor housing and holding the female side insulation member30therein (FIG. 6andFIG. 7). In the female terminal20, the female side connection body21and the housing body22are arranged in parallel on the same cylinder axis. In this example, the female side connection body21and the housing body22are adjacent to each other on the same cylinder axis. In this example, the female side connection body21and the housing body22are each formed in a cylindrical shape.

A male side connection body121, which will be described below, of the male terminal120is fitted to the female side space portion21aof the female side connection body21in an inserting manner, on the same cylinder axis. The female terminal20and the male terminal120are physically and electrically connected by the female side connection body21and the male side connection body121that are fitted to each other in an inserting manner.

In this example, a contact member50(FIG. 2,FIG. 4,FIG. 6, andFIG. 7) is interposed between the female side connection body21and the male side connection body121. The female side connection body21and the male side connection body121are physically and electrically connected via the contact member50. The contact member50includes two annular parts51disposed on the same axial line at an interval, and a plurality of contact parts52that connect the two annular parts51(FIG. 4). The contact member50is physically and electrically connected to the female side connection body21, by holding the two annular parts51while bringing the two annular parts51into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the female side space portion21a. The annular parts51in the example are each formed in a ring shape. The contact parts52are arranged around the axis. Each of the contact parts52has a spring property, and generates a resilient force, which is a reaction force, by being pressed by the inserted male side connection body121. The contact member50is physically and electrically connected to the male side connection body121, by using the spring property of each of the contact parts52.

The female side insulation member30is molded from an insulation material such as synthetic resin. The female side insulation member30is a member for preventing a finger from coming into contact with the female terminal20along with the female housing40. The female side insulation member30is housed in the female side space portion21aand the housing space portion22ain the female terminal20. The female side insulation member30includes a pillar-shaped or tubular-shaped finger touch prevention body31. The finger touch prevention body31is disposed in the female side space portion21aon the same axial line as that of the cylinder axis of the female side space portion21a(FIG. 2,FIG. 4,FIG. 6, andFIG. 7). Moreover, the female side insulation member30includes a pillar-shaped or tubular-shaped object to be housed32. The object to be housed32is housed in the housing space portion22aon the same axial line as that of the cylinder axis of the housing space portion22a(FIG. 4,FIG. 6, andFIG. 7). In this example, the finger touch prevention body31and the object to be housed32are each formed in a columnar shape.

The outer diameter of the finger touch prevention body31is formed so as to be smaller than the inner diameter of the female side space portion21a. Consequently, a tubular-shaped space is formed between the finger touch prevention body31and the inner peripheral surface of the female side space portion21a. The male side connection body121is inserted into the tubular space. Thus, when the female side connection body21and the male side connection body121are fitted to each other in an inserting manner, the finger touch prevention body31is inserted into a male side space portion121a, which will be described below, inside the male side connection body121.

More specifically, when the female side connection body21and the male side connection body121are fitted to each other in an inserting manner, the finger touch prevention body31in the example is inserted into a first space portion131binside an outer tubular body131, which will be described below, and the male side space portion121a. The finger touch prevention body31is inserted into the first space portion131bfrom the tip end at the connector insertion direction side, and reaches the male side space portion121a. Consequently, to easily insert the finger touch prevention body31into the first space portion131b, it is preferable to provide an annular chamfer part31aon the tip end of the finger touch prevention body31at the connector insertion direction side over the circumference direction (FIG. 8). The chamfer part31amay have a curved surface or a plain surface. The chamfer part31ain the example is formed in a tapered shape.

For example, the female side insulation member30may be integrally molded with the female terminal20installed in a mold (for example, insertion molding). The female side insulation member30illustrated in the drawings described above is formed by the integral molding.

Alternatively, the female side insulation member30may be molded separate from the female terminal20. The female side insulation member30may be assembled with the female terminal20, by inserting the finger touch prevention body31into the female side space portion21aof the female side connection body21, and inserting the object to be housed32into the housing space portion22aof the housing body22. For example, during the assembly, the object to be housed32is fitted into the housing space portion22a.FIG. 9toFIG. 13each illustrate the female connector10when the object to be housed32is fitted into the housing space portion22a. In this example, in the female connector10, in assembling the separately molded female terminal20and the female side insulation member30, the female side insulation member30is inserted into the female terminal20from the housing body22side. In the housing body22, an opening at a side opposite to the female side connection body21is used as an insertion port22bof the female side insulation member30(fromFIG. 9toFIG. 13). The female side insulation member30is inserted into the insertion port22bfrom the finger touch prevention body31side.

In assembling the separately molded female terminal20and the female side insulation member30, the female terminal20and the female side insulation member30are assembled so that the relative positional relation between the female terminal20and the female side insulation member30will be at an intended housing completion position after the female side insulation member30is inserted. The intended housing completion position is a housing position of the female side insulation member30relative to the female terminal20so as to enable the female side insulation member30to carry out the function (at least a hand touch prevention function) required for the female side insulation member30. To enable such an assembly, in the female connector10, a fixing structure60that fixes the housing body22and the object to be housed32with each other at the housing completion position may be provided between the housing body22and the object to be housed32(fromFIG. 9toFIG. 13).

For example, the fixing structure60is configured so as to include a first fixing portion61provided on the housing body22and a second fixing portion62provided on the object to be housed32(fromFIG. 10toFIG. 13). The fixing structure60fixes the housing body22and the object to be housed32with each other at the housing completion position, by engaging the first fixing portion61and the second fixing portion62with each other. For example, one of the first fixing portion61and the second fixing portion62is formed as a fixing projection part projected in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the housing body22and the object to be housed32. The other of the first fixing portion61and the second fixing portion62is formed as a through-hole-shaped or recessed engaging part into which the fixing projection part is inserted and that engages the fixing projection part in the axial direction and the circumference direction of the housing body22and the object to be housed32. In this example, the first fixing portion61is formed as the engaging part, and the second fixing portion62is formed as the fixing projection part.

The second fixing portion62in the example is provided on a free end of a flexible piece63having flexibility (FIG. 12andFIG. 13). The flexible piece63has a fixed end and a free end in the axial direction of the object to be housed32. The object to be housed32has a retraction space64into which the second fixing portion62is retracted, when the flexible piece63is bent inwardly in the radial direction. The second fixing portion62is retracted into the retraction space64with the bending of the flexible piece63, while being pushed and moved to the inner peripheral surface of the housing space portion22a. The second fixing portion62is inserted into the first fixing portion61when the bending of the flexible piece63is eliminated at the housing completion position.

In the female connector10, the female side insulation member30is inserted from the insertion port22bof the housing body22so that the first fixing portion61and the second fixing portion62are engaged with each other at the housing completion position. In the fixing structure60, the first fixing portion61serving as the fixing projection part is inserted into the second fixing portion62serving as the through-hole-shaped or recessed engaging part, when the female side insulation member30reaches the housing completion position.

With the fixing function of the fixing structure60, in the female connector10, it is possible to assemble the separately molded female terminal20and the female side insulation member30so that the relative positional relation of the female terminal20and the female side insulation member30will be at the intended housing completion position. Consequently, the female connector10of the present embodiment is capable of ensuring the hand touch prevention function relative to the female terminal20. Moreover, in the female connector10, the female side insulation member30can be assembled to the female terminal20at the housing completion position. Consequently, the female connector10is also capable of ensuring an aligning function, which will be described below. Furthermore, the female connector10is capable of keeping the relative positional relation between the female terminal20and the female side insulation member30by the fixing structure60. Consequently, the female connector10is capable of keeping the hand touch prevention function and the aligning function relative to the female terminal20, even after the connector is fitted (after the male connector110is fitted) or after the connector is separated (after the male connector110is taken out).

Still furthermore, in the female connector10, the separately molded female terminal20and the female side insulation member30can be assembled so that the relative positional relation between the female terminal20and the female side insulation member30will be at the intended housing completion position. Consequently, it is possible to improve the assembling workability. Thus, with the female connector10, for example, it is possible to avoid an incorrect assumption that the assembly of the female terminal20and the female side insulation member30is finished, before the female side insulation member30reaches the housing completion position. Moreover, with the female connector10, it is possible to avoid the female side insulation member30from exceeding the housing completion position and being inserted more deeply.

Instead of using the fixing structure60including the first fixing portion61and the second fixing portion62described above, the fixing structure60having the following structure may also be used. This fixing structure60includes a fixing through hole65, a fixing space portion66, and a fixing member67(FIG. 14). The fixing through hole65is provided in the housing body22. The fixing space portion66is provided in the object to be housed32and is disposed opposite to the fixing through hole65at the housing completion position. The fixing member67is fitted to the fixing through hole65and the fixing space portion66in an inserting manner. For example, two round fixing through holes65disposed facing each other in the radial direction with the housing space portion22ainterposed therebetween are formed in the housing body22. Columnar-shaped through holes the openings of which are disposed facing the two fixing through holes65are provided as the fixing space portion66to the object to be housed32. The fixing member67is molded into a columnar-shaped pin member from an insulation material such as synthetic resin. The fixing member67is inserted into one of the fixing through holes65from one end, and the fixing member67is inserted into the fixing space portion66until the end of the fixing member67reaches the other fixing through hole65. The fixing member67is fitted to the two fixing through holes65and the fixing space portion66. Even when the structure of the fixing structure60is changed as described above, the female connector10can obtain the same effects as those of the previous example. In this example, the fixing member67is molded from an insulation material such as synthetic resin. However, the fixing member67may also be molded into a columnar-shaped pin member from a conductive material such as metal.

In the female connector10, it is preferable to provide a guide structure70between the housing body22and the object to be housed32(fromFIG. 9toFIG. 13). The guide structure70guides the object to be housed32, which is inserted into the housing body22from the insertion port22bof the housing body22in the axial direction, to the housing completion position. The guide structure70includes a first guide part71provided on the housing body22and a second guide part72provided on the object to be housed32. For example, one of the first guide part71and the second guide part72is formed as a guide projection part projecting in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the housing body22and the object to be housed32. The other of the first guide part71and the second guide part72is formed as a guide groove part for guiding the guide projection part to the housing completion position, when the object to be housed32is inserted from the insertion port22bin the axial direction. In this example, the first guide part71is formed as the guide groove part, and the second guide part72is formed as the guide projection part. In this example, the female side connection body21and the housing body22are formed by bending a rectangular flat plate into a cylindrical shape. Consequently, in this example, two corners of the rectangular flat plate at a side that becomes the housing body22after being bent are notched into a rectangular shape. Then, the two rectangular notches are disposed facing each other in the circumference direction after the flat plate is being bent. The first guide part71in this example is formed by the two rectangular notches disposed facing each other.

In the female connector10, the female side insulation member30is inserted from the insertion port22bof the housing body22so as the first guide part71and the second guide part72are engaged with each other (in other words, so as the second guide part72serving as the guide projection part is inserted into the first guide part71serving as the guide groove part). Consequently, in the female connector10, regardless of the structure of the fixing structure60, it is possible to easily assemble the separately molded female terminal20and the female side insulation member30so that the relative positional relation between the female terminal20and the female side insulation member30will be at the intended housing completion position. Thus, the female connector10is capable of further improving the assembling workability of the female terminal20and the female side insulation member30.

In this example, in the female connector10, an insulating annular body42projected more than a tip end surface21bof the female side connection body21at the connector insertion direction side on the same cylinder axis is provided outside the female side space portion21ain a direction orthogonal to the tubular axial direction of the female side connection body21(FIG. 6andFIG. 7). In the female connector10, when the inner diameter of the annular body42is smaller than the size of a reference finger, the annular body42may carry out a contact prevention function of a finger to the female terminal20. For example, the reference finger refers to the joint test finger of protection grade IPXXB. However, in the female connector10of the present embodiment, a case that the annular body42may not be able to prevent a finger from coming into contact with the female terminal20with an increase in the physical size in the radial direction is taken into consideration. Consequently, in the female connector10of the present embodiment, a finger is prevented from coming into contact with the female terminal20by the finger touch prevention body31and the annular body42.

Thus, the finger touch prevention body31is projected more than the tip end surface21bof the female side connection body21at the connector insertion direction side in the axial direction (FIG. 6andFIG. 7). The tip end of the finger touch prevention body31at the connector insertion direction side is projected more than the tip end surface21b. The female connector10is formed so as to prevent a finger from reaching the female terminal20by the finger touch prevention body31and the annular body42. Thus, for example, it is possible to prevent a finger from coming into contact with the female terminal20, even when the physical size of the female connector10is increased in the radial direction with an increase in current. In this example, a gap S1(FIG. 6) between the finger touch prevention body31and the annular body42in the orthogonal direction (direction orthogonal to the cylinder axis direction of the female side connection body21) is made smaller than the size of the reference finger. For example, in the female connector10, the outer diameter of the finger touch prevention body31is defined so as to be the gap S1described above. Moreover, when the outer diameter of the finger touch prevention body31is restricted from being increased, the projection amount of the tip end of the finger touch prevention body31may be increased so as to prevent a finger from reaching the female terminal20by the finger touch prevention body31and the annular body42(FIG. 15). In this case, the projection amount of the annular body42from the tip end surface21bis also increased. For example, the projection amount of the annular body42is increased as much as the tip end of the finger touch prevention body31.

Moreover, in the female connector10, the tip end of the finger touch prevention body31at the connector insertion direction side is projected more than the tip end surface21bof the female side connection body21. Thus, when the female connector10and the male connector110are to be fitted in an inserting manner, the tip end of the finger touch prevention body31is inserted into the first space portion131bof an outer tubular body131in the male side insulation member130, before the female terminal20and the male terminal120start fitting in an inserting manner. Consequently, the female connector10is provided with the aligning function that is used when the female connector10and the male connector110are fitted to each other in an inserting manner, by the finger touch prevention body31the tip end of which is projected. For example, in the female connector10, to obtain the aligning function, the tip end of the finger touch prevention body31may be projected more than the annular body42in the axial direction so that the insertion between the finger touch prevention body31and the outer tubular body131begins before the insertion between the finger touch prevention body31and the other object to be inserted begins. Moreover, for example, in the female connector10, to obtain the aligning function, the insertion between the finger touch prevention body31and the outer tubular body131, and the insertion between a female side fitting part41and a male side fitting part141, which will be described below, may be started at the same time.

The annular body42in this example is provided on the female side fitting part41, which will be described below, of the female housing40.

The female housing40is molded from an insulation material such as synthetic resin. The tubular-shaped female side fitting part41that houses the female terminal20therein and that covers the female terminal20from outside is formed on the female housing40(FIG. 6andFIG. 7). The female side fitting part41is fitted inside the male side fitting part141, which will be described below, of the male housing140in an inserting manner on the same cylinder axis. The annular tip end (end portion at the connector insertion direction side) of the female side fitting part41at the connector insertion direction side is used as the annular body42. Consequently, the tip end of the female side fitting part41is projected more than the tip end surface21bof the female side connection body21at the connector insertion direction side, in the cylinder axis direction.

Next, the male connector110will be described.

In addition to the male terminal120and the male side insulation member130, the male connector110includes the male housing140that houses the male terminal120and the male side insulation member130(FIG. 6andFIG. 7).

The male terminal120is molded from a conductive material such as metal. The male terminal120includes the tubular-shaped male side connection body121fitted to the female side space portion21aof the female side connection body21in an inserting manner on the same cylinder axis (fromFIG. 5toFIG. 7). The male side connection body121includes the male side space portion121atherein. In this example, the male side connection body121is formed in a cylindrical shape.

The male side insulation member130is molded from an insulation material such as synthetic resin. The male side insulation member130is a member for preventing a finger from coming into contact with the tip end of the male terminal120at the connector insertion direction side. The male side insulation member130prevents a finger from coming into contact with the male terminal120along with the male housing140. The male side insulation member130includes the tubular-shaped outer tubular body131that covers an annular tip end surface121bof the male side connection body121at the connector insertion direction side on the same cylinder axis (FIG. 1, and fromFIG. 5toFIG. 7). In this example, the outer tubular body131is formed in a cylindrical shape.

The outer tubular body131is inserted into the female side space portion21aof the female side connection body21with the male side connection body121. Consequently, for example, the outer diameter of the outer tubular body131is formed equivalent to the male side connection body121so that the insertion operation of the outer tubular body131will not be obstructed. To easily insert the outer tubular body131into the female side space portion21a, it is preferable to provide an annular chamfer part131a(FIG. 1,FIG. 2,FIG. 5, andFIG. 6) on the tip end of the outer tubular body131at the connector insertion direction side over the circumference direction. The chamfer part131amay have a curved surface or a plain surface. The chamfer part131ain the example is formed in a tapered shape.

Moreover, the finger touch prevention body31is inserted into the first space portion131b(FIG. 1, and fromFIG. 5toFIG. 7) inside the outer tubular body131. Consequently, the first space portion131bof the outer tubular body131is formed so that the insertion operation will not be obstructed.

As illustrated above, the finger touch prevention body31is also inserted into the male side space portion121aof the male side connection body121. In a conventional fitting connector, the inner diameter of the male side connection body121and the inner diameter of the outer tubular body131have the same size. Consequently, the finger touch prevention body31may come into contact with the male side connection body121. The fitting connector1of the present embodiment is configured so that the finger touch prevention body31does not come into contact with the male side connection body121. In this example, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals denote the same components in the conventional fitting connector as those in the fitting connector1of the present embodiment.

In this example, an insulating tubular-shaped inner tubular body132is inserted into the male side space portion121a(FIG. 2, and fromFIG. 5toFIG. 7). By interposing the inner tubular body132between the finger touch prevention body31and the male side connection body121, the finger touch prevention body31is prevented from coming into contact with the male side connection body121. The inner tubular body132is inserted into the male side space portion121aon the same cylinder axis. The finger touch prevention body31is inserted into a second space portion132ainside the inner tubular body132(FIG. 2,FIG. 6, andFIG. 7), after passing through the first space portion131bof the outer tubular body131. In this example, the inner tubular body132is formed in a cylindrical shape.

In the fitting connector1, the inner tubular body132is interposed between the finger touch prevention body31and the male side connection body121in this manner. Thus, it is possible to prevent the finger touch prevention body31from coming into contact with the male side connection body121, when the female terminal20and the male terminal120are inserted or extracted, and when the female terminal20and the male terminal120are fitted to each other in an inserting manner.

For example, in the conventional fitting connector, when the finger touch prevention body31softer than the male side connection body121is inserted into the male side space portion121a, and when the finger touch prevention body31comes into contact with the corner portion of the male side connection body121at the inner peripheral surface side and the outer tubular body131side, the finger touch prevention body31may be shaved by the corner portion. In the conventional fitting connector, when the shavings of the finger touch prevention body31enter between the female terminal20and the male terminal120by vibration during usage or the like, a conduction failure may occur between the female terminal20and the male terminal120. However, with the fitting connector1of the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the generation of the shavings of the finger touch prevention body31such as above, and improve durability of the finger touch prevention body31. Consequently, the fitting connector1of the present embodiment is capable of suppressing reduction in conductive performance between the female terminal20and the male terminal120. Thus, the fitting connector1of the present embodiment is capable of keeping the performance as a connector that electrically couples the female and male terminals.

The inner tubular body132having the aforementioned functions may be prepared as a different component from the outer tubular body131. However, to reduce the number of components, or to improve assembling workability, reduce cost, and the like with the reduction in the number of components, it is preferable to integrally form the inner tubular body132with the outer tubular body131. In other words, it is preferable to provide the inner tubular body132as a part of the male side insulation member130. Consequently, in the male side insulation member130of the present embodiment, the inner tubular body132is projected from the outer tubular body131on the same cylinder axis.

For example, the male side insulation member130may be integrally molded with the male terminal120installed in the mold (for example, insertion molding). Moreover, the male side insulation member130may be molded separate from the male terminal120, and assembled onto the male terminal120, by inserting the inner tubular body132into the male side space portion121aof the male side connection body121. For example, during the assembly, the inner tubular body132is fitted to the male side space portion121a.

Moreover, it is preferable to set the length of the inner tubular body132in the cylinder axis direction such that the tip end of the finger touch prevention body31at the connector insertion direction side is disposed inside the second space portion132a, when the female side connection body21and the male side connection body121are fitted to each other in an inserting manner. Consequently, even when the inner tubular body132is prepared as a different component from the male side insulation member130, or even when the inner tubular body132is prepared as a part of the male side insulation member130, the fitting connector1is capable of suppressing vibration at the tip end of the finger touch prevention body31. Consequently, the fitting connector1is capable of improving the contact inhibition effect between the finger touch prevention body31and the male side connection body121.

In the male connector110, an insulating annular body142is provided on the same cylinder axis as that of the outer tubular body131, outside the outer tubular body131in a direction orthogonal to the cylinder axis direction of the outer tubular body131at an interval (FIG. 6andFIG. 7). The male connector110is configured so as to prevent a finger from coming into contact with the male terminal120, by the outer tubular body131and the annular body142. In this example, a finger is prevented from coming into contact with the male terminal120, by making a gap (a gap in a direction orthogonal to the cylinder axis direction) S2(FIG. 6) between the outer tubular body131and the annular body142smaller than the size of the reference finger. For example, the reference finger refers to the joint test finger of protection grade IPXXB described above.

The annular body142in the example is provided on a male side fitting part141, which will be described below, of the male housing140.

The male housing140is molded from an insulation material such as synthetic resin. The tubular-shaped male side fitting part141that houses the male terminal120therein and that covers the male terminal120from outside at an interval is formed on the male housing140(FIG. 6andFIG. 7). In the male connector110, a tubular-shaped space portion is formed between the male terminal120and the male side fitting part141. The female side connection body21of the female terminal20and the female side fitting part41of the female housing40are inserted into the tubular-shaped space portion on the same cylinder axis. In the male side fitting part141, an annular tip end at the connector insertion direction side (end portion at the connector insertion direction side) is used as the annular body142. Consequently, the male side fitting part141is projected more than the tip end surface121bof the male side connection body121at the connector insertion direction side in the cylinder axis direction.

As described above, the fitting connector1of the present embodiment is capable of preventing a finger from coming into contact with the female terminal20and the male terminal120. For example, regardless of the physical size in the radial direction, the female connector10of the present embodiment is capable of preventing a finger from coming into contact with the female terminal20, by the finger touch prevention body31and the annular body42that are projecting more than the tip end surface21bof the female side connection body21. Moreover, in the female connector10of the present embodiment, the fixing structure60is provided between the housing body22of the female terminal20and the object to be housed32of the female side insulation member30. Consequently, even when the female terminal20and the female side insulation member30are molded as separate members, the female connector10of the present embodiment is capable of assembling the female terminal20and the female side insulation member30so that the relative positional relation between the female terminal20and the female side insulation member30will be at the intended housing completion position. Thus, the female connector10is capable of ensuring the hand touch prevention function relative to the female terminal20.

Moreover, the fitting connector1of the present embodiment is capable of preventing a finger from coming into contact with the female terminal20and the male terminal120. The fitting connector1of the present embodiment is also capable of suppressing reduction in the conductive performance between the female terminal20and the male terminal120, by the contact prevention function between the finger touch prevention body31and the male side connection body121using the inner tubular body132, while ensuring the hand touch prevention function.

Furthermore, the female connector10of the present embodiment is capable of obtaining the aligning function that is used when the female connector10and the male connector110are fitted to each other in an inserting manner, by the finger touch prevention body31, while ensuring the hand touch prevention function relative to the female terminal20. In other words, in the female connector10, the finger touch prevention body31has the hand touch prevention function relative to the female terminal20, and the aligning function used when the connectors are fitted. The aligning function becomes more effective by projecting the tip end of the finger touch prevention body31more than the tip end surface21bof the female side connection body21. Moreover, the aligning function becomes more effective with the effect exerted by the fixing function of the fixing structure60. Because the fitting connector1of the present embodiment includes the female connector10, the fitting connector1can obtain the effects produced by the female connector10.

Still furthermore, in the female connector10of the present embodiment, the fixing structure60is provided between the housing body22of the female terminal20and the object to be housed32of the female side insulation member30. Consequently, even when the female terminal20and the female side insulation member30are molded as separate members, the female connector10of the present embodiment is capable of improving the assembling workability of the female terminal20and the female side insulation member30. Because the fitting connector1of the present embodiment includes the female connector10, the fitting connector1can obtain the effects produced by the female connector10.

Regardless of the physical size in the radial direction, the female connector according to the present embodiment is capable of preventing a finger from coming into contact with the female terminal, by the finger touch prevention body and the annular body that are projecting more than the tip end surface of the female side connection body. Because the fitting connector according to the present embodiment includes the female connector, the fitting connector according to the present embodiment can obtain the effects produced by the female connector.