Connector

Abstract: Easy and unexpensive production and assembly are achieved by a connector comprising a connector housing having a cavity into which a terminal fitting is inserted; and a retainer attached to the connector housing from the side, the retainer being displaced between a provisional engaging position and a complete engagement position, the retainer engaging with the terminal fitting so as to lock it at the complete engagement position, wherein a retainer insertion hole for inserting the retainer is formed in the connector housing while it penetrates two sides of the connector housing opposed to each other.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a connector having a retainer to be attached to a connector housing from the side. A conventional connector is well known in which a terminal fitting is engaged double when a retainer is attached to a connector housing from the side (shown in Figs. 1 to 6). In the connector housing 1 of this connector, there is formed a cavity 3 into which a terminal fitting 2 can be inserted from the back. On a bottom face of the cavity 3, there is provided a flexible lance 4 engaged with the terminal fitting 2. On the other hand, a retainer 5 for preventing the terminal fitting 2 from being disconnected is attached onto an upper face of the connector housing 1. Accordingly, there is formed a retainer insertion hole 6 on the upper face of the connector housing 1 in such a manner that the retainer insertion hole 6 crosses the cavity 3. As shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the retainer 5 is provided with a protruding piece 5a to be inserted between the cavities 3 and also provided with an engaging portion 9 which protrudes in the cavity 3 and engages with a jaw portion 8 of the terminal fitting 2. Although the detail of the retainer 5 is not shown in the drawings, it can be held at two positions, one is a provisional engaging position at which the retainer 5 is inserted into the housing 1 by a small distance, and the other is a complete engaging position at which the retainer 5 is inserted into the housing 1 by a distance longer than the distance of the provisional engaging position. Under the condition shown in Figs. 1 and 4 in which the retainer 5 is held at the provisional engaging position, each engaging portion 9 of the retainer 5 is withdrawn upward so that the terminal fitting 2 can be attached. When the terminal fitting 2 is inserted to a normal position under the above condition, the terminal fitting 2 is primarily engaged with the lance 4. Next, when the retainer 5 is pushed to the complete engaging position as shown in Fig. 2 and 5, each engaging portion 9 of the retainer 5 is engaged with the jaw portion 8 of the terminal fitting 2, so that the retainer 5 is secondarily engaged. In this way, the terminal fitting 2 can be double engaged with the connector. This connector is temporarily assembled while the retainer 5 is held at the provisional engaging position and then transported to a site in which the terminal is inserted into the connector. Conventionally, until the housing 1 and the retainer 5 are temporarily assembled to each other, the housing 1 and the retainer 5 are formed separately from each other, that is, they are respectively formed by different forming machines and transported to a temporarily assembling site. After that, the housing 1 and the retainer 5 are finally assembled. In this case, assembly is conducted by an automatic machine provided with a parts feeder or alternatively assembly is manually conducted by a worker. As described above, according to the prior art, the housing 1 and retainer 5 are molded and assembled separately, and the manufacture of a temporarily assembled connector is completed through the processes of molding, transportation and assembly. When assembly is conducted by the manual operation of a worker, it is necessary to provide a different inspection process. Due to the foregoing, a large number of processes are required to complete the manufacture of the connector, so that the manufacturing cost is increased. Further, it is necessary to manage the metallic molds for each housing 1 and retainer 5, which also increases the management cost. EP 0 417 655 A1 discloses an electrical connector having an outer connector housing with a cavity, into which an inner connector housing is insertable sidewise. The inner connector housing is displacable between a provisional engaging position and a complete engaging position with regard to the outer connector housing. In both positions terminal fittings are insertable into channel-like cavities extending through the outer connector housing and the inner connector housing in substantially aligned position both when the inner connector housing and the outer connector housing are in the provisional engaging position and when the inner connector housing and the outer connector housing are in the complete engagement position. When inserting the terminal fittings they are first caught by a latch mechanism between each terminal fitting and the inner connector housing and, then, are locked a second time, when the inner connector housing is moved from the provisional engaging position into the complete engaging position in relation to the outer connector housing, by means of a lock mechanism between each terminal fitting and the outer connector housing. This known connector structure results in a comparatively complicated and expensive production thereof. From DE 38 34 210 A1 a connector is known having the features of the preamble of attached claim 1. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector the production and assembly of which is inexpensive and comparatively uncomplicated. This object, in accordance with the present invention, is achieved by a connector having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments are subject matter of claims 2 and 3. Since the retainer insertion hole is formed while it penetrates the connector housing, for example, in the process of manufacturing the connector, while an intermediate core is provided in the metallic mold, the housing is molded in which a retainer insertion hole is formed while it penetrates the connector housing. At the same time, the retainer is formed in the front of the intermediate core. While the intermediate core is being withdrawn in the metallic mold, the retainer is inserted into the retainer insertion hole so that it can be integrally assembled at the provisional engaging position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a known connector, the retainer of which is set at a provisional engaging position; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition that the retainer is set at a complete engaging position; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the retainer of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another connector, the retainer of which is set at a provisional engaging position; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition that the retainer is set at a complete engaging position; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the retainer of Figs. 5 and 6; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the connector manufactured by the metallic mold of a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the connector is in a separate condition; Fig. 8 is a schematic illustration showing a condition in which the movable mold is closed in the manufacturing process; Fig. 9 is a schematic illustration showing a condition in which the movable mold is open in the manufacturing process; Fig. 10 is a schematic illustration showing a condition in which the retainer is assembled to the connector housing in the manufacturing process; Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line Z - Z in Fig. 9; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Figs. 7 to 11, an embodiment of the present invention will be explained as follows. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a connector 110. In this embodiment, the detailed shape of the connector 110 is omitted in the following explanations. The connector 110 is composed of a connector housing 111 and a retainer 115. In the connector housing 111, there are provided a plurality of cavities 112 which are open onto both end faces of the connector in the longitudinal direction, wherein the plurality of cavities 112 are disposed in an upper and a lower row, and three cavities are formed in each row. Further, the plurality of cavities 112 are open onto both sides of the connector housing in the transverse direction, and there are provided two retainer insertion holes 113 on each side, which communicate two cavities 112 in the upper row with two cavities 112 in the lower row. The retainer insertion holes 113 are open on the side of the connector housing 111 in such a manner that the retainer insertion holes 113 are slender in the longitudinal direction. The retainer 115 described later is inserted into the two retainer insertion holes 113 which are open onto the left side of the connector housing 11. There are provided protrusions 111B on both outsides 111A of the connector housing 111 in the transverse direction. Front end edges of the retainer insertion holes 113 are open onto the front end faces of the protrusions 111B. Due to the above arrangement, it is possible to form the retainer insertion holes 113, which are open onto the sides of the connector housing 111, by the movable metallic mold 122 which is opened in the longitudinal direction as described later. The retainer 115 includes: an inserting plate portion 115A, 115A composed of an upper insertion plate and a lower insertion plate which are arranged in parallel with each other; and a connecting portion 115B which connects the left end portions of both the inserting plates 115A, 115A, wherein the overall retainer 115 is formed into a C-shape. In the connecting section 115B, there are provided a pair of recesses 115D, 115D which are formed by cutting out both end portions on the outside of the connecting section 115B in the longitudinal direction. These recesses 115D correspond to the protrusions 128B, 128B of a pushing pin 128 described later. After the completion of molding, since the recesses 115D engage with the protrusions 128B, the retainer 115 is held by the pushing pin 128. When the inserting plates 115A of the retainer 115 are inserted into the cavities 112 through the retainer insertion holes 113, the retainer 115 can be assembled at a provisional engaging position of the connector housing 111. At this provisional engaging position, the movement of the retainer 115 in the drawing direction is restricted by an engaging means (not shown in the drawing), however, when a relatively low intensity of force is given, the retainer 115 can be moved to a complete engaging position. In a condition before the terminal fitting 116 is incorporated into the connector housing 111, the retainer 115 is assembled at the provisional engaging position (shown in Fig. 10). In this provisional engaging condition, the relief groove 115C formed on a lower face of the inserting plate portion 115A is located at a position corresponding to the engaging protrusion 116A of the terminal fitting 116. Therefore, the insertion of the terminal fitting 116 into the cavity can be allowed. When the retainer 115 is moved to the complete engaging position, the relief groove 115C is shifted from the position corresponding to the engaging protrusion 116A. Accordingly, this engaging protrusion 116A is engaged with a front edge of the inserting plate portion 116A in a locking condition. In this way, the terminal fitting 116 can be double engaged. Next, a metallic mold to manufacture the above connector will be explained below. Detailed explanations of this metallic mold will be omitted here in the same manner as the explanations of the above connector 110. The metallic mold includes: a stationary metallic mold (not shown in the drawing) that is located at a position on the viewer's side with respect to the surfaces of Figs. 8 to 10; and a movable metallic mold 122 that is shown on the surfaces of the drawings. The movable metallic mold 122 includes: a bottom metallic mold 123 for forming a bottom face of the connector housing 111; a right metallic mold 124 for forming a right side of the connector housing 111 while the right metallic mold 124 is integrated into the bottom metallic mold 123; a left metallic mold 125 for forming a left side of the connector housing 111; a front metallic mold 126 for forming a front end of the connector housing 111, wherein the front metallic mold 126 is capable of moving in the longitudinal direction along the right and the left metallic mold 124, 125; a rear metallic mold 127 for forming a rear end of the connector housing 111; a pushing pin 128 to move the retainer 115, which has been already molded, onto the connector housing 111 side; and a protruding pin 129 to protrude the connector 110, which has already been molded and assembled, outside the metallic mold. On the bottom metallic mold 123, the connector housing 111 is molded in a region 123A adjacent to the right metallic mold 124, and at the same time, the retainer 115 is molded in a region 123B adjacent to the left metallic mold 125. The level of the region 123B for molding the retainer is higher than the level of the region 123A for molding the connector housing. Therefore, after the molding has been completed, the level of the inserting plate 115A of the retainer 115 is the same as the level of the retainer insertion hole 113 (shown in Fig. 11). The right metallic mold 124 is defined as a metallic mold for molding a connector housing outside. This right metallic mold 124 is provided with a recess 124A corresponding to a protrusion 111B at the right side rear portion of the connector housing 111. A face on the front side of this recess 124A is a face 124B for molding the connector housing outside by which the right retainer insertion hole 113 is molded from the outside and also the right outside 111A of the connector housing 111 including the molding region of the retainer insertion hole 113 is molded. On the other hand, the left metallic mold 125 is provided with a recess 125A corresponding to the connecting portion 115B of the retainer 115, and an end of the pushing pin 128 faces the inside of the recess 125A. This pushing pin 128 is guided in the left metallic mold 125 in such a manner that the pushing pin 128 can be moved in the transverse direction, that is, the pushing pin 128 is capable of advancing from and withdrawing into the left metallic mold 125. An end of the pushing pin 128 is formed into a molding face 128A of the connecting portion 115B of the retainer 115. At this end of the pushing pin 128, there is provided a pair of protrusions 128B, 128B for molding the recesses 115D, 115D of the connecting portion 115B. When these protrusions 128B, 128B are engaged with the recesses 115D, the retainer 115 can be held. Although the retainer 115 is held in this way, it is released when a tension applied to the retainer in the acting direction exceeds a predetermined value. The front metallic mold 126 is defined as a metallic mold for molding a connector housing outside. The front metallic mold 126 includes: a cavity molding portion 126A for molding a front end portion of the cavity 112; a connector housing front end molding face 126B for molding a front end face of the connector housing; and a connector housing outside center molding face 126C for molding the left outside 111A of the connector housing 111 and the retainer inserting hole 113 open to the left outside 111A. The rear metallic mold 127 is defined as a metallic mold for molding a cavity. The rear metallic mold 127 includes: a cavity molding portion 127A for molding a center and a rear end portion of the cavity 112; a connector housing outside front portion molding face 127B for molding the left protruding portion 111B; a connector housing rear end face molding face 127C for molding a rear end face of the connector housing 111; and cavity inside molding faces 127D, 127D for molding the right and left retainer insertion holes 113 from the inside. Also, the front metallic mold 126 has a retainer molding portion 126D located at a position interposed between the upper and the lower inserting plates 115A, 115A of the retainer 115. This retainer molding portion 126D is provided with a protrusion 126E for molding a relief groove 115C on the lower face of the inserting plate 115A. On the other hand, the rear metallic mold 127 is provided with a retainer molding face 127E for molding a rear end face of the inserting plate 115A. Further, in the front metallic mold 126, there is provided a withdrawal portion 126G which is located between the connector housing 111 and the retainer 115 in the molding process and withdrawn from a position between the connector housing 111 and the retainer 115 to the front side so that a space can be formed between the connector housing 111 and the retainer 115. Next, a method of manufacturing the connector 110 using the metallic mold composed as described above will be explained below. In the beginning of the manufacturing process, as shown in Fig. 8, the front metallic mold 126 and the rear metallic mold 127 of the movable metallic mold 122 approach each other, and both end portions are closely contacted with each other. This movable metallic mold 122 approaches the stationary metallic mold, and both are closely contacted with each other. Under the above condition, spaces for molding the connector housing 111 and the retainer 115 are formed. Under the above condition, the connector housing outside molding face 124B of the right metallic mold 124 and the cavity inside molding front metallic mold 127D on the right of the rear metallic mold 127 are closely contacted with each other in an opening region of the right retainer insertion hole 113. At the same time, the connector housing outside center molding face 126C of the front metallic mold 126 and the cavity inside molding front metallic mold 127D on the left are closely contacted with each other in an opening region of the left retainer insertion hole 113. Molten resin is filled into the thus arranged molding spaces through an injection passage (not shown in the drawing) provided in the metallic mold. When the injected resin is solidified, the metallic mold is opened. In the metallic mold moving process, the movable metallic mold 122 is moved so that the entire movable metallic mold 122 can be separate from the stationary metallic mold, and at the same time, the front metallic mold 126 and the rear metallic mold 127 are moved in the longitudinal direction so that both metallic molds can be separate from each other. Since the protrusion 111B of the connector housing 111 is engaged with the recess 124A at this time, the protrusion 111B of the connector housing 111 can be held at the same position as that in the molding process. On the other hand, since the connecting portion 115B of the retainer 115 is engaged with the pushing pin 128, it can be held at the same position as that in the molding process. Due to the foregoing, the front metallic mold 126 and the rear metallic mold 127 are separated from the connector housing 111 and the retainer 115. In accordance with the movement of the front metallic mold 126 and the rear metallic mold 127, the withdrawal portion 126G is withdrawn to the front, and a space is formed between the connector housing 111 and the retainer 115. Therefore, an end of the inserting plate 115A of the retainer 115 is opposed to the retainer insertion hole 113 in the transverse direction (shown in Figs. 9 and 11). At this time, the withdrawal portion 126G is not moved in the transverse direction but moved to the front in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the movement of the withdrawal portion 126G is not obstructed by the connector housing 111 and the retainer 115. After that, the pushing pin 128 is advanced. Then, the retainer 115 held by the pushing pin 128 through the engagement of the recess 115D and the protrusion 128B slides on the region 123B of the bottom metallic mold 123 and moved to the connector housing 111. Then, the inserting plates 115A, 115A of the retainer 115 are inserted into the retainer insertion holes 113, 13, so that the retainer 15 is assembled to the connector housing 111 at the provisional engaging position. In this way, the connector 110 can be provided. In the above condition, since an end of the inserting plate 115A is located inside the right outside of the connector housing 111, the end of the inserting plate 115A does not collide with the right metallic mold 124. After the completion of assembly, the pushing pin 128 is withdrawn backward and disengaged from the retainer 115. At this time, the retainer 115 is given a tension caused by the friction between the recess 115D and the protrusion 128B. However, it is impossible for the retainer 115 to move from the provisional engaging position of the connector housing 111. Therefore, the pushing pin 128 is separated from the retainer 115 and returns into the left metallic mold 125. Then, the protruding pin 129 which faces the molding region 123A of the connector housing 111 of the bottom metallic mold 123 advances forward and protrudes the connector 110, which has already been assembled, outside the metallic mold. As described above, the connector housing 111 and the retainer 115 are simultaneously molded in a single metallic mold including the front metallic mold 126 and the rear metallic mold 127 capable of sliding in the longitudinal direction. In the mold moving process, there is formed a space between the connector housing 111 and the retainer 115 so that both can be relatively moved in the assembling direction. While the connector housing 111 and the retainer 115 are being held by the recess 124A and the pushing pin 128, both are assembled to each other. Due to the foregoing, unlike a case in which the molding process and the assembling process are carried out at different positions by different apparatus, it is not necessary to provide a conveyance process in which parts are conveyed from a molding position to an assembling position. Further, it is not necessary to provide an assembling process after the conveyance. Accordingly, the connector manufacturing method is advantageous in that the manufacturing efficiency is high and the manufacturing cost is low. In this embodiment, the retainer insertion hole 113 is formed by the metallic mold which is open when it is moved not in the transverse direction but in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, it is possible to mold the retainer 115 at a position which faces the retainer insertion hole 113. Due to the foregoing, unlike a case in which the retainer 115 is molded at a position except for the side of the connector housing 111, it is not necessary to provide a conveyance means for conveying the retainer to a position opposed to the retainer insertion hole. As a result, the metallic mold structure can be simplified. Furthermore, according to the invention, when forming of the connector housing and the retainer, different resins in material or color may be filled in the connector forming mold and the retainer forming mold, so that the connector housing and the retainer can be made different in material or color. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment explained above with reference to the drawings. Variations may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims: A connector comprising: a connector housing (111) having a cavity into which a terminal fitting is inserted; and a retainer (115) assembled to the connector housing from the side in a provisional engaging position, the retainer being displaceable between a provisional engaging position and a complete engagement position, in which the retainer engages with the terminal fitting (116) so as to lock it in the complete engagement position, wherein a retainer insertion passage for inserting the retainer is formed in the one-piece molded connector housing, said retainer insertion passage penetrating the connector housing from one side to the other, characterized in that protrusions (111B) are provided on both outsides (111A) of the connector housing (111) in transverse direction and that front end edges of retainer insertion holes (113) of said through-hole shaped retainer insertion passage are open on the front end faces of said protrusions (111B). Connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein said connector housing and said retainer comprise different materials. Connector in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein said conncetor housing and said retainer are different in color.

Inventors: HAJIME KAWASE, HIKARU ITO, OSAMU SASAI, SHINSUKE TSUTSUI, YASUNORI WADA
Applicants: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: H01R43
IPC codes: H01R43, H01R13, B29C45