Metal terminal retaining construction

Abstract: A connector for retaining a metal terminal (5) having an engagement portion (8) therein. The connector includes a connector housing (4) having a terminal receiving hole (7) for receiving the terminal (5) therein. The connector housing has a flexible retaining member (6) extending therefrom which is engageable with the engagement portion (8) of the terminal (5) when the terminal is in a completely engaged position. A retaining reinforcement member (A) is insertable into the connector housing to retain the flexible retaining member (6) engaged in the terminal (5). Specifically, the reinforcement member (A) includes a groove (3b) defined by opposing retaining walls (3d). When the reinforcement member (A) is inserted into the connector housing (4), the flexible retaining piece (6) is positioned in the groove (3b) and surrounded on opposite sides by the retaining walls (3d) which prevent lateral displacement of the retaining member (6).

Description: This invention relates to a connector for retaining a metal terminal. Such a connector is used for connecting, for example, wire harnesses of an automobile. Figure 6 illustrates a connector according to the entering clause of claim for retaining a terminal therein. As illustrated, a terminal d having a wire c connected thereto is inserted into a terminal receiving chamber b of a connector housing a , so that a projection f of a flexible retaining piece e engages an annular retaining groove g provided in the terminal d . Thereafter, a spacer k is inserted into space h to prevent downward displacement of the flexible retaining piece e , thereby securely retaining the terminal. Such a device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-11515. In the above connector, although the spacer k prevents a downward flexible displacement of the flexible retaining piece e , the spacer does not prevent a displacement of the flexible retaining piece e in the lateral direction (i.e., into and out of the paper in Figure 6). From reference EP-A-344 691 a double engagement structure for a terminal and a connector is known. According to the disclosure of this reference when a locking holder is fitted with a receiving chamber in an insulator housing and the terminal is completely inserted into the receiving chamber to reach a proper position where an opening in the terminal engages a flexible arm formed in the receiving chamber, a stopper projection of the terminal is disposed in registry with a stopper groove of a bar portion of the locker holder and when the locking holder is moved from the proper position toward the terminal, the stopper groove of the bar portion of the locking holder is brought into engagement with the stopper projection of the terminal, thereby affecting double engagement of the terminals with both, the flexible arm of the insulator housing and the bar portion of the locking holder and simultaneously a final locking portion of the locking holder is locked to the insulator housing. From EP-A-374 455 a connector terminal retaining construction is known which comprises: a terminal-retaining flexible arm provided in a terminal compartment of the connector housing, the arm being adapted to be pressed against the terminal; a spacer for pressing the terminal-retaining flexible arm against the terminal, the spacer being adapted to be inserted into the connector housing in a direction opposite to the terminal insertion direction; a provisional locking projection and a final locking projection, both formed either on one of a wall portion of the terminal compartment or on a spacer and engagement portions formed on the other member for engaging with the provisional locking projection and the final locking projection. It is the object of the present invention to provide a metal terminal retaining device in which a retaining reinforcement member for a flexible retaining piece is inserted into a connector housing to securely retain the flexible retaining piece, thereby overcoming the above problem. This object is solved by the subject mutter of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail hereinafter, having regard to the accompanying drawings which show: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connector housing according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector housing of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the connector housing, showing the condition in which a retaining reinforcement member of the present invention is provisionally retained; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector housing, showing the condition in which the retaining reinforcement member of the present invention is provisionally retained; Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector housing, showing the retaining reinforcement member in the completely retained position; and Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a conventional connector for retaining a terminal in a connector housing. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the connector includes a retaining reinforcement member A, a packing B, and a connector housing 4. The retaining reinforcement member A includes a rib 2 extending from a main body 3. Projections 1 are provided at a front end portion of the rib for engaging engagement portions (not shown) formed on the inner wall of the connector housing 4 to retain the reinforcement member at predetermined positions, as described below. The main body portion 3 includes outer edge portions 3a having a generally semi-circular cross-section. A groove 3b is formed midway between the rib 2 and each outer edge portion 3a of the main body portion 3, and extends in the longitudinal direction thereof. The connector housing 4 includes two engagement portions at two different positions. The first engagement portion is disposed at a position at which the retaining reinforcement member A is partially inserted into in the connector housing 4 and retained in that position, and the second engagement portion is disposed at a position at which the retaining reinforcement member is completely inserted into the connector housing and retained in that position. The groove 3b is defined by an upwardly-slanting bottom surface 3c and opposed side surfaces 3d and 3d, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The distance between the side surfaces 3d and 3d is generally equal to, but slightly larger than, the width of a distal end 6a of a flexible retaining piece 6 for retaining a metal terminal 5, as illustrated in Fig. 4 and described below. The main body portion 3 includes a pair of stepped surfaces 3e and 3e formed midway along the longitudinal length thereof. The stepped surfaces are formed at such positions as to engage stabilizers 5b, described below, of the metal terminal 5 when the reinforcement member A is in the completely inserted position, as illustrated in Fig. 5. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, two terminal receiving chambers 7 are provided in a side-by-side relationship in the connector housing 4. The connector is a two-pole waterproof male connector having a waterproof packing B at its outer peripheral portion, and including a locking arm 4' for a mating connector. Referring to Fig. 4, the flexible retaining piece 6 projects from inner wall 7a of the terminal receiving chamber 7, and includes a retaining projection 6b at its distal end which engages a retaining hole 8 provided in the terminal 5 to thereby prevent rearward withdrawal of the metal terminal 5 (i.e., in the right-hand direction in Fig. 4). The retaining hole is a result of forming the opposed tongue-like stabilizers 5b (indicated by broken line in Fig. 4) on an electrical contact portion 5a of the female metal terminal 5 as a result of stamping. As illustrated in Fig. 1, an insertion hole for receiving the retaining reinforcement member A is provided in the connector housing 4 intermediate and below insertion holes 7b and 7b for receiving the mating terminals. The operation of a connector according to the invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Fig. 3 shows the condition in which the retaining reinforcement member A is inserted into the connector housing 4 in a provisionally-retained condition, with the projections 1 of the retaining reinforcement member A engaged with the first engagement portions (not shown) provided on the inner wall of the connector housing 4. Generally, in this condition, the connector housing 4 is supplied to the assembling site. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector in the same condition as Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the condition in which the retaining reinforcement member A is completely inserted into the connector housing 4 upon completion of the assembling. In Fig. 4, in which the retaining reinforcement member A is disposed in the connector housing 4 in a provisionally-retained condition, the metal terminal 5 connected to a lead wire 9 is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber 7 from the rear side of the connector housing 4 (the right-hand side in Fig. 4). The retaining projection 6b of the flexible retaining piece 6, projecting from the inner wall 7a of the connector housing 4, is engaged in the retaining hole 8 formed through the electrical contact portion 5a of the metal terminal 5, as explained above. A distal end 5c of the metal terminal 5 is abutted against an end surface 7b of the terminal receiving chamber 7, and the metal terminal is retained by the retaining projection 6b against rearward movement. Therefore, the metal terminal is retained in the provisionally retained condition within the terminal receiving chamber 7. The retaining reinforcement member A is thereafter further inserted such that the projections 1 engage with the second engagement portions (not shown) provided on the inner wall of the connector housing 4. In this position, the stepped surfaces 3e and 3e of the retaining reinforcement member A are abutted against the stabilizers 5b of the metal terminal 5, and the side surfaces 3d and 3d, defining the groove 3b formed in the main body portion 3, hold the distal end 6a of the flexible retaining piece 6 therebetween, as shown in Fig. 5. Therefore, the distal end 6a of the flexible retaining piece 6 is prevented from an accidental lateral displacement. Additionally, accidental downward displacement of the distal end 6a of the flexible retaining piece 6 is prevented by the bottom surface 3c of the groove 3b in the main body portion 3. Although the above embodiment is designed to be used for the male connector, this invention can be applied to a female connector. As described above, in the present invention, the retaining reinforcement member is inserted to hold the side and lower surfaces of the retaining portion of the flexible retaining piece so as to particularly prevent the lateral displacement thereof, thereby preventing the accidental withdrawal and displacement of the metal terminal due to this lateral displacement.

Claims: A connector for retaining a metal terminal (5) having an engagement portion (8) provided therein, comprising: a connector housing (4) having an insertion hole, and a terminal receiving chamber (7) provided therein for receiving said terminal, and including a flexible retaining member (6) formed thereon, a distal end (6b) of the retaining member (6) being engageable with said engagement portion (8) of said terminal (5) when said terminal is in a completely retained position; and a retaining reinforcement member (A) insertable into said insertion hole of said connector housing (4), characterized in that said reinforcement member (A) having a groove (3b) provided therein defined by opposing retaining walls and a retaining surface (3c), disposed between said opposing retaining walls, the distal end (6b) of said retaining, member (6) being disposed within said groove (3b) with said retaining surface (3c) abutting against a lower surface of said retaining member (6) when said terminal (5) is in said completely retained position to prevent movement of said retaining member (6) in a lateral direction of said connector, and said reinforcement member (A) further including a stepped surface (3e) disposed perpendicular to said retaining walls for abutting against said terminal (5) to prevent longitudinal movement of said terminal (5) further into said receiving chamber (7). Connector according to claim 1, wherein a distance between said opposing retaining walls is slightly larger than a width of distal end (6a) of said retaining member (6). Connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said retaining surface (3c) is an inclined surface. Connector according to one of the claims 1-3 wherein said connector housing has two terminal receiving chambers (7) for receiving a pair of terminals (5).

Inventors: SAMEJIMA MASAKUNI, YAMAMOTO TAKAYUKI, SAMEJIMA, MASAKUNI, YAMAMOTO, TAKAYUKI, Samejima, Masakuni, c/o Yazaki Parts Co., Ltd., YAMAMOTO, TAKAYUKI, C/O YAZAKI PARTS CO., LTD.
Applicants: YAZAKI CORP, YAZAKI CORPORATION
Application year: 1991
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13