Connector having a short circuit terminal

A connector includes: a short circuit terminal housed in a first housing and having contact pieces contacting with adjacent first terminals of a plurality of first terminals respectively with the first housing and a second housing not being engaged with each other; and a releaser provided in the second housing and configured to displace the contact pieces and release contact between the adjacent first terminals and the contact pieces upon engaging of the first housing and the second housing. The contact pieces include: contact portions contactable with the adjacent first terminals respectively; and slide portions slidable on the releaser and respectively arranged in positions anterior to the contact portions in an engaging direction of the first housing and the second housing. The contact portions are apart from the releaser with the contact pieces being displaced due to slide of the slide portions on the releaser.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-149198, filed on Jul. 29, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector having a short circuit terminal connecting a plurality of terminals accommodated in a housing.

2. Related Art

JP 2007-73268 A describes a connector including a first housing accommodating a plurality of female terminals as first terminals, a second housing that accommodates a plurality of male terminals as second terminals connectable to the female terminals and that is engageable with the first housing, a short circuit terminal accommodated in the first housing and having a contact piece that is in contact with each of the female terminals adjacent to each other, and a release piece as a releaser provided in the second housing and displacing the contact piece to release a contacting state between the female terminal and the contact piece.

In this connector, for example, two adjacent female terminals among the plurality of female terminals housed in the first housing are connected to an air bag circuit that controls the operation of an air bag.

The two adjacent female terminals are connected via the short circuit terminal by coming into contact with the contact piece of the short circuit terminal housed in the first housing in a state where the first housing and the second housing are not engaged with each other.

By thus connecting the two female terminals via the short circuit terminal in the state where the first housing and the second housing are not engaged with each other, no potential difference is generated between the two female terminals, which prevents erroneous inflation of the air bag.

As for the connection between the two female terminals and the short circuit terminal, by engaging the first housing with the second housing, the contact piece of the short circuit terminal is displaced by the release piece of the second housing so that the contacting state between the female terminal and the contact piece is released and the connection between the two female terminals and the short circuit terminal is released.

SUMMARY

By the way, in the above-described connector, when the contact piece of the short circuit terminal is displaced by the releaser of the second housing, the contact piece is displaced by a slide, on the releaser, of the contact portion provided on the contact piece and contactable with the first terminal.

When the contact portion of the contact piece slides on the releaser similarly to the above connector, the contact portion may be deformed or an insulating substance attached to the releaser may adhere to the contact portion.

In such a case, when the engagement between the first housing and the second housing is released and the contact portion and the first terminal are brought into contact with each other, there may be cases where the contact portion and the first terminal do not come in contact normally, or an insulating substance is interposed between the contact portion and the first terminal, so that the electrical performance of the short circuit terminal may be deteriorated.

An object of the disclosure is to provide a connector capable of maintaining electrical performance by the short circuit terminal.

A connector in accordance with some embodiments includes: a first housing; a plurality of first terminals housed in the first housing; a second housing engageable with the first housing; a plurality of second terminals housed in the second housing and connected to the plurality of first terminals respectively with the first housing and the second housing being engaged with each other; a short circuit terminal housed in the first housing and having contact pieces contacting with adjacent first terminals of the plurality of first terminals respectively with the first housing and the second housing not being engaged with each other; and a releaser provided in the second housing and configured to displace the contact pieces and release contact between the adjacent first terminals and the contact pieces upon engaging of the first housing and the second housing. The contact pieces include: contact portions contactable with the adjacent first terminals respectively; and slide portions slidable on the releaser and respectively arranged in positions anterior to the contact portions in an engaging direction of the first housing and the second housing. The contact portions are apart from the releaser with the contact pieces being displaced due to slide of the slide portions on the releaser.

According to the above configuration, the contact pieces include: contact portions contactable with the adjacent first terminals respectively; and slide portions slidable on the releaser and respectively arranged in positions anterior to the contact portions in an engaging direction of the first housing and the second housing. Therefore, when the first housing and the second housing become engaged with each other, the slide portions slide on the releaser and the contact portions do not slide on the releaser so that deformation due to the sliding of the contact portions on the releaser can be prevented.

The contact portions are arranged away from the releaser when the slide portions slide on the releaser and the contact pieces are displaced. Therefore, in the state where the first housing and the second housing are engaged with each other, the contact portions do not come into contact with the releaser, and an insulating substance attached to the releaser can be prevented from adhering to the contact portions.

Accordingly, in a state in which the engagement between the first housing and the second housing has been released, the contact portions and the first terminals are normally brought into contact with each other, and an insulating substance is not interposed between the contact portions and the first terminals, and thus, electric performance by the short circuit terminal can be maintained.

The releaser may include an insulation portion arranged in between the contact portions and the adjacent first terminals with the first housing and the second housing being engaged with each other.

According to the above configuration, the insulating performance between the contact portions and the first terminals can be improved, and conduction between the short circuit terminal and the first terminals can be prevented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Description will be hereinbelow provided for embodiments of the present invention by referring to the drawings. It should be noted that the same or similar parts and components throughout the drawings will be denoted by the same or similar reference signs, and that descriptions for such parts and components will be omitted or simplified. In addition, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and therefore different from the actual ones.

A connector1according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 10.

The connector1includes a first housing5that houses a plurality of first terminals3, a second housing9that houses a plurality of second terminals7connectable to the first terminals3and that is engageable with the first housing5, a short circuit terminal13housed in the first housing5and having contact pieces11,11which are in contact with adjacent first terminals3,3respectively, and a releaser15provided in the second housing9for displacing the contact piece11to release the contacting state between the first terminal3and the contact piece11.

The contact piece11includes a contact portion17provided so as to be contactable with the first terminal3, and a slide portion19positioned on the front side of the contact portion17in the engaging direction of the first housing5and the second housing9and provided to be slidable on the releaser15.

The contact portion17is arranged to be apart from the releaser15when the slide portion19slides on the releaser15and the contact piece11is displaced.

The releaser15is provided with an insulation portion21positioned between the contact portion17and the first terminal3in the state where the first housing5and the second housing9are engaged with each other.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 10, each of the plurality of first terminals3is composed of a male terminal having a tab-shaped connection portion. The plurality of first terminals3are respectively electrically connected to terminal portions of a plurality of electric wires23connected to an air bag circuit for controlling the operation of an air bag.

The plurality of first terminals3are inserted into the first housing5through openings formed in the first housing5and housed in the first housing5.

The first housing5is made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. The first housing5is provided with a first engagement portion25with which the second housing9can be engaged therein, on the side opposite to the openings for inserting the first terminals3. The first housing5is provided with a plurality of first terminal housing chambers27for housing the first terminals3on the bottom side of the first engagement portion25.

First locking lances29for locking the first terminals3respectively are provided so as to be bendable in the plurality of first terminal housing chambers27of the first housing5. By inserting a first spacer31into a hole communicating with the plurality of first terminal housing chambers27, the plurality of first terminals3are double locked by the first locking lances29and the first spacer31.

The second housing9is engaged with the first engagement portion25of the first housing5so that the plurality of first terminals3housed in the first housing5are connected to the plurality of second terminals7housed in the second housing9.

Each of the plurality of second terminals7is composed of a female terminal having a box-shaped connection portion into which the tab-shaped connection portion of the first terminal3can be inserted. The plurality of second terminals7are electrically connected to terminal portions of a plurality of electric wires33connected to a power source, a device, or the like, respectively.

The plurality of second terminals7are inserted into the second housing9through openings formed in the second housing9, and are housed in the second housing9.

The second housing9is made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. The second housing9is provided with a second engagement portion35that can be inserted into the first engagement portion25of the first housing5on the side opposite to the openings for inserting the second terminals7. The second housing9is provided with a plurality of second terminal housing chambers37for housing the second terminals7in the second engagement portion35.

Second locking lances39for locking the second terminals7respectively are provided so as to be bendable in the plurality of second terminal housing chambers37of the second housing9. By inserting a second spacer41into a hole communicating with the plurality of second terminal housing chambers37, the plurality of second terminals7can be double locked by the second locking lances39and the second spacer41.

A cap housing45is assembled into the second housing9at the temporary locking position (seeFIG. 7) on the outer periphery of the second housing9on the pull-out side of the electric wire33via a bendable locking portion43.

When the first housing5and the second housing9are half-engaged, the cap housing45cannot be moved from the temporary locking position, and when the first housing5and the second housing9are engaged with each other, the locking position of the locking portion43shifts to the full locking position (seeFIG. 1).

The engagement state between the first housing5and the second housing9can be detected by the transition between the temporary locking position and the full locking position of the cap housing45.

By engaging the second engagement portion35of the second housing9with the first engagement portion25of the first housing5, the first terminals3housed in the first housing5are electrically connected to the second terminals7housed in the second housing9.

In the state where the engagement between the first housing5and the second housing9has been released due to a maintenance work or the like, when a potential difference is generated by static electricity or the like between the plurality of first terminals3housed in the first housing5and connected to an air bag circuit, there is a risk that the air bag will be erroneously inflated.

Therefore, in order to prevent a potential difference from generating between the plurality of first terminals3, the plurality of short circuit terminals13for electrically connecting two adjacent first terminals3,3among the plurality of first terminals3are housed in the first housing5.

Each of the plurality of short circuit terminals13is made of a single conductive material subjected to press working or bending. Each of the plurality of short circuit terminals has two contact pieces11,11which are elastically deformable at the end thereof.

The contact piece11is provided so as to be elastically deformable in the vertical direction. The contact piece11has the contact portion17protruding toward the first terminal3on the free end side in a state of being housed in the first housing5.

The contact portion17is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the two adjacent first terminals3,3by a predetermined urging force of the contact piece11, and the two adjacent first terminals3,3are electrically connected via the short circuit terminal13.

By thus electrically connecting the two first terminals3,3via the short circuit terminal13, there is no potential difference between the two first terminals3,3, so that an erroneous inflation of the air bag can be prevented.

The slide portion19protruding toward the first terminal3is provided on the free end of the contact piece11which is on the front side of the contact portion17in the engaging direction of the first housing5and the second housing9.

When the first housing5and the second housing9become engaged with each other, the slide portion19slides on the releaser15provided in the second housing9while being in contact with the releaser15so as to displace the contact piece11, and in the state where the first housing5and the second housing9are engaged with each other, the contact with the releaser15is maintained so that the displacement of the contact piece11is maintained, and thereby, the contacting state between the contact portion17and the first terminal3is released.

A plurality of releasers15are formed of a member continuous with the second housing9and arranged on the front side of the second housing9in the engaging direction of the second housing9with the first housing5. The releasers15are arranged at positions so as to be able to come in contact with the slide portions19of the contact pieces11of the plurality of short circuit terminals13housed in the first housing5when the second housing9is engaged with the first housing5.

The releaser15has, on the first housing5side, an inclined surface ascending from the first housing5side toward the second housing9side. The inclined surface of the releaser15has a width enough to come in contact with the slide portions19,19of the two contact pieces11,11of the short circuit terminal13.

When the first housing5and the second housing9become engaged with each other, the lower end of the inclined surface of the releaser15comes in contact with the slide portion19of the contact piece11of the short circuit terminal13, and as the engaging motion between the first housing5and the second housing9proceeds, the slide portion19slides along the inclined surface, and the contact piece11is displaced upward.

Due to the displacement of the contact piece11by the releaser15, the contacting state between the contact portion17of the contact piece11and the first terminal3is released, so that the electrical connection between the adjacent first terminals3,3is released, and when the first housing5and the second housing9are engaged with each other, the first terminal3and the second terminal7are electrically connected.

When the first housing5and the second housing9are engaged with each other, that is, the first terminal3and the second terminal7are electrically connected to each other, the slide portion19of the contact piece11is in contact with a plane provided on the upper end side of the inclined surface of the releaser15so that the displaced state of the contact piece11is maintained and the contact portion17and the first terminal3are not brought into contact with each other and the short circuit terminal13and the first terminal3are not electrically connected.

In the displacement of the contact piece11by a sliding motion and contact between the slide portion19of the contact piece11and the releaser15, the contact portion17is arranged away from the releaser15so as not to slide or come in contact with the releaser15from the time of release from the contacting state with the first terminal3until the first terminal3and the second terminal7are connected.

By arranging the contact portion17in this way, deformation of the contact portion17due to sliding with the releaser15can be prevented, and in the state in which the engagement between the first housing5and the second housing9has been released, the contact portion17and the first terminal3can be normally brought into contact with each other and the connection reliability between the short circuit terminal13and the first terminal3can be maintained.

In addition, even if an insulating substance is attached to the releaser15, since the contact portion17does not slide on or come into contact with the releaser15, the insulating substance does not adhere to the contact portion17, so that it is possible to prevent an insulating substance from interposing between the contact portion17and the first terminal3, and to maintain the connection reliability between the short circuit terminal13and the first terminal3.

In the releaser15, the insulation portion21is extended from a lower end of the inclined surface toward the first housing5side, and formed of a member continuous with the second housing9.

The insulation portion21is arranged between the contact portion17and the first terminal3while being apart from the contact portion17in the state where the first housing5and the second housing9are engaged with each other.

By arranging the insulation portion21between the contact portion17and the first terminal3thus in the state where the first housing5and the second housing9are engaged with each other, insulating performance between the contact portion17and the first terminal3can be improved so that conduction between the short circuit terminal13and the first terminal3can be prevented.

In such a connector1, the contact piece11has the contact portion17provided so as to be contactable with the first terminal3and the slide portion19provided so as to be positioned on the front side of the contact portion17in the engaging direction of the first housing5and the second housing9and to be slidable on the releaser15, and thereby when the first housing5and the second housing9become engaged with each other, the slide portion19slides on the releaser15while being in contact with the releaser15so that the contact portion17does not slide on the releaser15, and thus, deformation due to sliding of the contact portion17on the releaser15can be prevented.

Since the contact portion17is arranged to be apart from the releaser15when the slide portion19slides on the releaser15and the contact piece11is displaced, the contact portion17does not come in contact with the releaser15in the state where the first housing5and the second housing9are engaged with each other and the insulating substance attached to the releaser15can be prevented from adhering to the contact portion17.

Therefore, in such a connector1, in the state where the engagement between the first housing5and the second housing9has been released, the contact portion17and the first terminal3are normally brought into contact with each other, and no insulating substance is interposed between the contact portion17and the first terminal3so that the electrical performance of the short circuit terminal13can be maintained.

Since the insulation portion21arranged between the contact portion17and the first terminal3in the state where the first housing5and the second housing9are engaged with each other is provided in the releaser15, the insulating property between the contact portion17and the first terminal3can be improved and conduction between the short circuit terminal13and the first terminal3can be prevented.

In the connector1according to the embodiment, the slide portion19is provided so that the free end of the contact piece11protrudes; however, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the slide portion19may be formed by integrally providing a sliding member having abrasion resistance or the like on the free end of the contact piece11.

In this case, it is possible to prevent the contact piece11from being deformed by sliding of the slide portion19on the releaser15, and to maintain the elastic deformation force of the contact piece11, and thereby, to maintain the connection reliability between the short circuit terminal13and the first terminal3.

Moreover, the effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are only a list of optimum effects achieved by the present invention. Hence, the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiment of the present invention.