Connector with an aligner with a flexible deformable arm with a slit

A connector including a first connector accommodating a male terminal, a second connector accommodating a female terminal, and a movable aligner which supports a tip of the male terminal and is movable from a provisional position to a completed position according to the insertion and desertion of the second connector relative to the first connector. At the provisional position, a pushing projection pushes the arm toward the inner wall so that the arm deforms and the regulating projection is in the recess portion, and the movable aligner supports the tip of the first terminal so as to align with the second terminal during a movement between the provisional position to the completed position, the pushing projection is engaged with the slit; and at the completed position, the first and the second terminals are connected. Thus the movable aligner precisely align the male terminal with the female terminal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-270090 filed on Oct. 20, 2008, the entire subject matters of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a connector used in a vehicle, in which male terminals are fitted to female terminals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

JP-A-10-55844 discloses an electrical connector. As shown inFIGS. 22 to 24, this electrical connector comprises a connector201and a connector203. The connector201for receiving male terminals205comprises a housing207, movable members209, while the connector203for receiving female terminals211comprises housings213. For fitting the connector201and203together, each movable member209is held in a terminal fitting starting position within the housing207, and supports distal end portions of pins217of the male terminals205by respective pin passage holes215so as to position (or align) the male terminals205relative to the female terminals211. After the male terminals205are properly fitted to the respective female terminals211, the movable member209is pushed by the connector203to be moved to an inner end surface of the housing207.

The movable member209has three pairs of arms219,221and223formed at each end thereof. At the time of releasing the connector203from the connector201, the arm219is retainingly engaged at its distal end with a retaining projection225formed on the housing207, thereby preventing the movable member209from being withdrawn from the housing207. The arm221has a groove227which is engaged with a retaining projection229of a triangular shape which is formed on the housing213of the connector203so as to cause the movable member209to be moved from the inner end surface of the housing207to the terminal fitting starting position at the time of releasing the connector203from the connector203. The arm223has a groove231which is engaged with a retaining projection233(formed on the housing207and having slanting surfaces slanting respectively in the fitting direction and the releasing direction) so as not to move the movable member209from the terminal fitting starting position when starting the fitting of the pins217of the male terminal205to the respective female terminals211.

The engagement of the groove231of the arm223with the retaining projection233is canceled when the movable member209is pushed by the connector203and begins to move from the terminal fitting starting position toward the inner end surface. The movable member209is again brought into engagement with the retaining projection233when the movable member209returns from the inner end surface to the terminal fitting starting position.

When the connector201is to be fitted to the connector203(that is, the male terminals205are to be fitted to the respective female terminal211), it is necessary to hold the movable member209in the terminal fitting starting position. However, this holding function depends on the force of engagement between the arm223(that is, the groove231) and the retaining projection233having the slanting surfaces. Therefore, when the force of engagement of the retaining projection233with the groove231is increased, for example, by increasing the height of the retaining projection233, the force required for fitting the connectors201and203together is accordingly increased, so that the efficiency of the operation is lowered. On the other hand, when this engagement force is decreased by reducing the height of the retaining projection233, there is a possibility that the movable member209moves from the terminal fitting starting position toward the inner end surface before the male terminals205are properly fitted to the respective female terminal211. In such a case, the function of positioning (or aligning) the distal end portions of the male terminals205(that is, the pins217) is lowered, and the pins217are deformed by interference with the female terminals211, and therefore the proper fitted condition can not be expected.

Furthermore, the function of moving the movable member209from the inner end surface of the housing207to the terminal fitting starting position depends on the force of engagement between the triangular retaining projection229of the connector203and the arm221(that is, the groove227). Therefore, when the force of engagement of the retaining projection229with the groove227is increased, for example, by increasing the height of this retaining projection229, the force required for fitting the connectors201and203together is accordingly increased, so that the efficiency of the operation is lowered. On the other hand, when this engagement force is decreased by reducing the height of the retaining projection229, the engagement of the arm221(that is, the groove227) with the retaining projection229is released, so that the movable member209can not be returned to the terminal fitting starting position, and when the connector201and the connector203are again fitted together, the function of positioning the male terminal205(or pins217) is lowered, and therefore the proper fitted condition can not be expected.

Furthermore, the arms219are provided for preventing the withdrawal of the movable member209, and the arms221are provided for returning the movable member209to the terminal fitting starting position, and the arms223are provided for holding the movable member209in the terminal fitting starting position. Thus, because the three pairs of arms219,221and223are provided, not only the movable member209but also the connectors201and203as a whole are increased in size.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a connector in which when performing a connecting operation, male terminal can be aligned with respective female terminals by a movable aligner, and when canceling the fitted condition, the movable aligner can be positively returned to a predetermined position (a provisional position).

A connector according to the first aspect of the present invention is a connector including a first connector including a connector body in which a first terminal is accommodated and a hood portion to which a tip of the first terminal is exposed, the hood portion including an inner wall on which a recess portion is provided; a second connector to be inserted into and deserted from the hood portion, which accommodates a second terminal and has a pushing projection; and a movable aligner movable between a provisional position and a completed position by the insertion and desertion of the second connector into the hood portion, and including an arm which is flexibly deformable toward the inner wall, the arm including a slit and a regulating projection. At the provisional position, the pushing projection pushes the arm toward the inner wall so that the arm deforms and the regulating projection is in the recess portion, and the movable aligner supports the tip of the first terminal so as to align with the second terminal. During a movement between the provisional position to the completed position, the pushing projection is engaged with the slit. At the completed position, the first and the second terminals are connected.

According to the first aspect of the invention, when fitting the female terminal to the male terminal, the pushing projection of the second connector pushes the arm of the movable aligner which is disposed at the provisional position, so that the arm deforms and the regulating projection in the recess portion. (At the provisional position, the distal end portions of the male terminals begin to be fitted to the respective male terminals). Thus the regulating projection is retained in the recess portion of the hood portion to hold the movable aligner in the provisional position. Therefore, the female terminal and the male terminal are properly fitted together by the movable aligner which supports the tip of the male terminal so as to align with the respective female terminals. Thereafter, the movable aligner is moved to the completed position by the pushing projection engaged in the restorable arm slit.

For canceling the fitted condition, when the second connector is moved toward the opening of the hood portion, the fitted condition of the female terminal and male terminal is canceled, and further the movable aligner is moved from the completed position to the provisional position by the pushing projection through the restorable arm. In the provisional position, the pushing projection pushes the arm so that the regulating projection is in the recess portion. Thereby the movable aligner is prevented from being withdrawn from the hood portion.

Thus, in the fitting operation, the male terminal can be aligned with the female terminal by the movable aligner, and in the fitting cancellation operation, the movable aligner can return to the predetermined provisional position and can be held at the position.

And addition, in contrast with the related connector using the three pairs of arms, the connector of the invention is prevented from becoming large in size.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the connector according to the first aspect, the hood portion includes a regulating rib which contacts with the regulating projection to prevent the arm from deforming.

According to the second aspect of the invention, advantages similar to those of the first aspect of the invention can be achieved.

In addition, during the movement of the movable aligner from the completed position to the provisional position, the rib formed on the hood portion contacts the regulating projection to prevent the arm from deforming. Thus, the disengagement of the pushing projection from the slit (which would otherwise be caused by this displacement) is prevented. Thereby, the movable aligner is prevented from being left in a intermediate position between the completed position and the provisional position.

Therefore, when the first connector and the second connector are to be again fitted together, the movable aligner is held in the provisional position and aligns the male terminal with the female terminal so that the male terminal can be properly fitted to the respective female terminal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the connector according to the first and second aspect, the pushing projection includes a slant surface contacting with the arm at the provisional position.

According to the third aspect of the invention, advantages similar to those of the first aspect or the second aspect of the invention can be achieved.

In addition, thanks to a wedge effect of the slanting surface formed on the pushing projection, the function of the pushing projection (which is brought into contact with the arm so as to retain the regulating projection in the recess portion to hold the movable aligner in the provisional position) is enhanced. Therefore, when fitting the first connector and the second connector together, the male terminals can be aligned respectively with the female terminal by the movable aligner. When canceling the fitted condition, the movable aligner can be prevented from being withdrawn from the hood portion.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the connector according to the first, second, and third aspect of the invention, the movable aligner includes a guide rib and second connector includes a guide groove with which the guide rib is engaged so as to guide the movement of the movable aligner between the provisional position and the completed position.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, advantages similar to those of any one of the first to third aspects of the invention can be achieved.

In addition, the movable aligner is guided by the guide groove through the guide rib, and is prevented from being inclined from a direction in which the movable aligner should move. Therefore, the movable aligner can be smoothly moved between the provisional position and the completed position.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the connector according to the first, second, third, and fourth aspect, the movable aligner includes an retaining arm the hood portion includes a provisional retaining portion provided at a position corresponding to the provisional position of the movable aligner and a completed engaging portion provided at a position corresponding to the completed position of the movable aligner. The retaining arm is retained to the provisional retaining portion and the completed retaining portion when the movable aligner is at the provisional position and the completed position respectively.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, advantages similar to those of any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention can be achieved.

In addition, the movable aligner is held in the provisional position by the retaining arm engaged with the provisionally retaining portion of the hood portion, and also is held in the completed position by the retaining arm engaged with the completely retaining portion of the hood portion. Particularly thanks to the function of holding the movable aligner in the provisional position, the function of aligning the male terminal with the respective female terminal is properly maintained.

Furthermore, in the operation for inserting the second connector into the first connector, when the pushing projection of the second connector makes the regulating projection of the terminal deformation prevention member (disposed in the provisional position) to be retained in the provisionally-retaining recess, the retaining engagement of the retaining arm with the provisionally-retaining portion positively prevents the movable aligner from being accidentally moved toward the completed position. Also, when deserting the second connector from the second connector, the retaining engagement of the retaining arm with the completely-retaining portion positively prevents the movable aligner from being withdrawn from the fitting hood portion.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the connector of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth aspects, the movable aligner includes a guiding portion and the hood portion includes a sliding wall on which the guiding portion slides during the movement of the movable aligner between the provisional position and the completed position.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, advantages similar to those of any one of the first to fifth aspects of the invention can be achieved.

And besides, during the movement of the movable aligner between the provisional position and the completed position, the guiding wall guides the guide portion, thereby preventing the movable aligner from being inclined, and therefore the movable aligner can be moved smoothly, and the function of aligning the male terminal with the respective female terminal in the provisional position is normally maintained.

Exemplary Embodiment

One exemplary embodiment of a connector1of the present invention will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 21.FIG. 1is a perspective view showing a female connector3and a male connector5before they are fitted together,FIG. 2is a perspective view showing a connector body7and a movable aligner11of the female connector3,FIG. 3is a perspective view of the movable aligner11as seen from a direction opposite to that ofFIG. 2,FIG. 4is a partly-broken, perspective view showing the female connector3and the movable aligner11,FIG. 5is a partly-broken, perspective view showing the female connector3and the movable aligner11held in a provisional position,FIG. 6is a perspective view showing a arm13and a recess portion19when the movable aligner11is disposed in the provisional position,FIG. 7is a partly-broken, perspective view showing the female connector3and the movable aligner11held in a completed position,FIG. 8is a cross-sectional view showing the female connector3and the male connector5before they are fitted together,FIG. 9is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which pushing projections21of the male connector5inserted in a hood portion9of the female connector3begin to press the arms13, respectively,FIG. 10is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which each pushing projection21presses the arm13to cause regulating projections15to be retained in the recess portion19,FIG. 11is a perspective view showing the condition ofFIG. 10,FIG. 12is a partly-broken, perspective view showing the female connector3, the movable aligner11and the male connector5in the condition ofFIGS. 10 and 11,FIG. 13is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which each pushing projection21, after causing the regulating projections15of the arm13to be retained in the recess portion19, is engaged in a slit17,FIG. 14is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which the male connector5contacts the movable aligner11, and male terminals6begin to fit to respective female terminals,FIG. 15is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which the fitting of the male terminals6to the respective female terminals proceeds while the male connector5pushes the movable aligner11toward the completed position,FIG. 16is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which the movement of the movable aligner11to the completed position, as well as the fitting of the male terminals6to the respective female terminals, is completed,FIG. 17is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which the cancellation of the fitted condition of the female connector3and male connector5begins, and the male connector5moves the movable aligner11toward the provisional position by the pushing projections21engaged respectively in the slits17,FIG. 18is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which the movable aligner11is returned to a position just before the provisional position,FIG. 19is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which the movable aligner11is returned to the provisional position, and each pushing projection21begins to press the arm13,FIG. 20is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which each pushing projection21presses the arm13to cause the regulating projections15to be retained in the recess portion19, andFIG. 21is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which the movable aligner11is held in the provisional position by its retaining engagement with the recess portions19, and also the engagement of each pushing projection21with the slit17is canceled, so that the male connector5is moved toward an opening of the hood portion9.

The connector1includes the female (first) connector3which includes the connector body7for receiving the male terminals6and the hood portion9which is formed integrally with the connector body7and into which distal end portions of the male terminals6project, the male (second) connector5which receives the female terminals and can be inserted into the hood portion9, and the movable aligner11which is movable within the hood portion9between the provisional position where the movable aligner11supports the distal end portions of the male terminals6so as to align these distal end portions with the respective female terminals and the completed position where the fitting of the male terminals6to the respective female terminals is completed.

Four arms13displaceable toward an inner surface of the hood portion9are formed on the movable aligner11, and each restorable arm11has the regulating projections15and the slit17. The recess portions19are formed in the inner surface of the hood portion9, and when the movable aligner11is disposed in the provisional position, each recess portion19can receive the corresponding regulating projections15so as to displace the arm13, and also can retain the regulating projections15to prevent the movement of the movable aligner11and the withdrawal of the movable aligner11from the hood portion9.

The male connector5has the pushing projections21each of which can press the arm13to retract the regulating projections15into the recess portion19and also can be engaged in the slit17of the arm13.

For fitting the female terminals to the respective male terminals6, the male connector5is inserted into the hood portion9, and the pushing projections21press the respective arms13of the movable aligner11to displace them, thereby causing the regulating projections15of each arm13to be retained in the recess portion19, and further each pushing projection21is engaged in the slit17, and in this condition the fitting of the female terminals to the respective male terminals6is started while the male connector5pushes the movable aligner11, and then the movable aligner11is further moved by the male connector5to the completed position, thus completing the fitting of the female terminals to the respective male terminals6.

For canceling the fitted condition of the female terminals and male terminals6, the male connector5is moved toward the opening of the hood portion9while canceling the fitted condition of the female terminals and male terminals6, and the male connector5moves the movable aligner11from the completed position to the provisional position by the pushing projections21through the arms13, and in the provisional position, each pushing projection21causes the corresponding regulating projections15to be retained in the recess portion19, thereby holding the movable aligner11in the provisional position to prevent the same from withdrawal from the hood portion9.

Further, restorable arm displacement limitation ribs23are formed on the hood portion9, and during the returning movement of the movable aligner11by the male connector5from the completed position to the provisional position, these ribs23contact the corresponding regulating projections15, respectively, to prevent the displacement of the arms13, thereby preventing the disengagement of each pushing projection21from the slit17(which otherwise would be caused by this displacement) so as to prevent the movable aligner11from being left in a position just before the provisional position (that is, in a position intermediate the provisional position and the completed position).

Further, each pushing projection21has slanting surfaces25and25which contact the arm13of the movable aligner11in the provisional position to retract the regulating projections15of the arm13into the recess portion19.

Further, the movable aligner11has guide ribs27and27, and the male connector5has guide grooves29and29for engagement respectively with the guide ribs27and27. The male connector5guides the movable aligner11through the guide ribs27sliding in and along the respective guide grooves29so as to prevent the movable aligner11from being inclined during the movement thereof between the provisional position and the completed position.

Further, as shown inFIG. 4, retaining arms31and31are formed on the movable aligner11, and provisionally-retaining portions33are formed at that portion of the hood portion9corresponding to the provisional position (FIG. 5), and also completely-retaining portions33are formed at that portion of the hood portion9corresponding to the completed position (FIG. 7).

Further, a pair of guide portions37are formed on the movable aligner11, and sliding movement guide walls39are formed on the hood portion9. During the movement of the movable aligner11between the provisional position and the completed position, the sliding movement guide walls39slide relative to the respective guide portions37to guide the movable aligner11to thereby prevent the same from being inclined.

Next, the construction of the connector1, as well as the fitting operation and the fitting cancellation operation, will be described.

Engagement grooves41and41are formed in the female connector3(that is, in the hood portion9), and projections43for fitting in the respective engagement grooves41when the male connector5is inserted into the hood portion9are formed on the male connector5. The engagement grooves41, when engaged with the respective projections43, position the two connectors3and5relative to each other in the fitting operation. When the fitting of the male terminals6to the respective female terminals is finished, each projection43abuts against an innermost end of the engagement groove41, thereby stopping the movement of the male connector5so that the male connector5will not unnecessarily push the movable aligner11.

The female terminals are received respectively in terminal receiving chambers47of the male connector5, and the male terminals6are received respectively in terminal receiving chambers49of the connector body7of the female connector3. As shown inFIG. 8, before the male connector5and the female connector3are fitted together (that is, before the female terminals and the male terminals6are fitted together), the movable aligner11is disposed in the provisional position within the hood portion9, and supports the distal end portions of the male terminals6so as to align these distal end portions with the respective female terminals.

For fitting the female terminals to the respective male terminals6, the male connector5is inserted into the hood portion9of the female connector3, so that the pushing projections21begin to press the respective arms13as shown inFIG. 9. Then, when the male connector5is further pushed into the hood portion9, the slanting surface25of each pushing projection21presses the arm13to cause the regulating projections15to be retained in the recess portion19as shown inFIGS. 10 to 12, and each pushing projection21is engaged in the slit17as shown inFIG. 13, and the male connector5contacts the movable aligner11while starting the fitting of the male terminals6to the respective female terminals as shown inFIG. 14, and the movable aligner11is further pushed by the male connector5from the provisional position to the completed position as shown inFIGS. 15 and 16, thereby completing the fitting of the male terminals6to the respective female terminals.

In this fitting operation, the retaining arms31of the movable aligner11disposed in the provisional position are retainingly engaged with the respective provisionally-retaining portions33of the hood portion9, thereby holding the movable aligner11in the provisional position so as to further enhance the function of aligning the male terminals6with the respective female terminals. And besides, at the time when each pushing projection21causes the corresponding regulating projections15to be retained in the recess portion19, the retaining engagement of the retaining arms31with the respective provisionally-retaining portions33prevents the movable aligner11from moving toward the completed position.

Furthermore, the movement of the movable aligner11is guided by the engagement of the guide ribs27with the respective guide grooves29(of the male connector5) and the sliding contact of the guide portions37with the respective sliding movement guide walls39(of the hood portion9), and therefore the movable aligner11can be smoothly moved without being inclined.

For canceling the fitted condition of the female terminals and male terminals6, the male connector5is moved toward the opening of the hood portion9while canceling the fitted condition of the male terminals6and female terminals, and each pushing projection21is brought into contact with the arm13, and the male connector5causes the movable aligner11to begin to move toward the provisional position as shown inFIG. 17. Then, when the male connector5is further drawn outward, the retaining engagement of the retaining arms31(of the movable aligner11) with the respective completely-retaining portions35of the hood portion9is canceled, and the movable aligner11is moved to a position just before the provisional position as shown inFIG. 18, and then the movable aligner11is moved to the provisional position as shown inFIG. 19, so that each pushing projection21begins to press the arm13, and then the slanting surface25of the pushing projection21displaces the arm13as shown inFIG. 20, thereby causing the regulating projections15of each arm13to be retained in the recess portion19, and the retaining engagement of each pushing projection21with the arm13is canceled as a result of displacement of the arm13(seeFIG. 20), so that the male connector5is ready to be moved alone toward the opening of the hood portion9while leaving the movable aligner11in the provisional position; as shown inFIG. 21.

In this fitting cancellation operation, as described above for the fitting operation, the movement of the movable aligner11is guided by the engagement of the guide ribs27with the respective guide grooves29and the sliding contact of the guide portions37with the respective sliding movement guide walls39, and therefore the movable aligner11can be smoothly moved without being inclined.

The connector1can achieve the following advantages.

When fitting the female terminals to the respective male terminals6, the arms13of the movable aligner11disposed in the provisional position are displaced respectively by the pushing projections21of the male connector5, thereby retaining the regulating projections15in the recess portions19of the hood portion9. Therefore, the movable aligner11is held in the provisional position, and therefore the female terminals and the male terminals6are properly fitted together by the movable aligner11which has the positioning function of supporting the distal end portions of the male terminals6so as to align these distal end portions with the respective female terminals.

For canceling the fitted condition, the male connector5is drawn outward, and as a result the movable aligner11is moved to the provisional position, so that each pushing projection21causes the regulating projections15of each arm13to be retained in the recess portion19, thereby preventing the movable aligner11from being withdrawn from the hood portion9.

Thus, in the fitting operation, the male terminals6can be positively aligned with the respective female terminals by the movable aligner11, and in the fitting cancellation operation, the movable aligner11can be positively returned to the provisional position and can be held there.

Furthermore, during the returning movement of the movable aligner11from the completed position to the provisional position, the restorable arm displacement limitation ribs23formed on the hood portion9contact the corresponding regulating projections15, respectively, thereby preventing the displacement of the arms13and the cancellation of engagement of each pushing projection21with the slit17which cancellation would be caused by this displacement, and therefore the movable aligner11is prevented from being left in a position just before the provisional position.

Therefore, when the female connector3and the male connector5are to be again fitted together, the movable aligner11held in the provisional position can positively align the male terminals6with the respective female terminals so that the male terminals6can be properly fitted to the respective female terminals.

Furthermore, thanks to a wedge effect of the slanting surfaces25and25formed on each pushing projection21, the function of the pushing projection21(which is brought into contact with the arm13so as to retain the regulating projections15in the recess portion19to thereby hold the movable aligner11in the provisional position) is enhanced. Therefore, when fitting the female connector3and the male connector5together, the male terminals6can be positively aligned respectively with the female terminals by the movable aligner11. When canceling the fitted condition, the movable aligner11can be positively prevented from being withdrawn from the hood portion9.

Furthermore, the movable aligner11is guided by the guide grooves29and29through the guide ribs27and27, and is prevented from being inclined. Therefore, the movable aligner11can be smoothly moved between the provisional position and the completed position.

Furthermore, the movable aligner11is held in the provisional position by the retaining arms31engaged respectively with the provisionally-retaining portions33of the hood portion9, and also is held in the completed position by the retaining arms31engaged respectively with the completely-retaining portions35of the hood portion9. Particularly thanks to the function of holding the movable aligner11in the provisional position, the function of aligning the male terminals6with the respective female terminals is properly maintained.

Furthermore, in the operation for fitting the female and male connectors3and5together, when each pushing projection21of the male connector5is to cause the regulating projections15of the movable aligner11(disposed in the provisional position) to be retained in the recess portion19, the retaining engagement of the retaining arms31with the respective provisionally-retaining portions33positively prevents the movable aligner11from being accidentally moved toward the completed position. Also, when canceling the fitted condition of the female and male connectors3and5, the retaining engagement of the retaining arms31with the respective completely-retaining portions35positively prevents the movable aligner11from being withdrawn from the hood portion9.

Furthermore, during the movement of the movable aligner11between the provisional position and the completed position, the sliding movement guide walls39guide the respective guide portions37, thereby preventing the movable aligner11from being inclined, and therefore the movable aligner11can be moved smoothly, and the function of aligning the male terminals6with the respective female terminals in the provisional position is normally maintained.

Furthermore, in contrast with the conventional connector using the three pairs of arms, the connector of the invention is prevented from becoming large in size.