Mold-type electronic part-containing connector

Abstract: A branch metal terminal has a branch lead terminal portion with a branch wire connected to this terminal portion through a branch female metal terminal. The branch wire is connected to a female-side wire connected to a mold-type electronic part.

Description: 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an electronic connector according to claim 1. 2. Description of Related Art From US-A-4,239,319 a diode package is interconnected between matable plug and socket connectors for wiring harnesses. The diode package comprises a connector body housing a subassembly comprising a pair of hermaphroditic terminals connected to the leads of a diode. The connector body has socket and plug portions at opposite ends, which are shaped to mate in an inverted relationship. The hermaphroditic terminals are of opposite hand and each have box-like female and male blade contacts at opposite ends which are shaped to mate in an inverted relationship. From US-A-4,654,743 a transient voltage protector is provided for telephone lines and the like. An insulating plastic housing is provided with two pairs of terminals having female connections at the lower ends for association with selected terminals of a telephone terminal block. The upper ends of these terminals are of a male type and extend above of the top of the housing for receipt of further elements such as bridging clips, plug-in fuse units, or line status indicators. An offset and raised portion of the housing carries a pair of zener diodes having lower wire terminals connected to two of the afore said terminals. The upper wire terminals of the zener diodes are connected to a grounding terminal having an upper porting extending above the housing in the form of two spaced tines for receipt of a common ground wire between the tines. The various terminals and the zener diodes and the housing have complementary structure of positioning of the terminals and the diodes within the housing. In a modification the housing has a second offset and raised portion mounting two gas diodes. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, in view of the above, has an object to provide a construction, in which harness assembling efficiency is enhanced when a branch wire is extended from a circuit connected to a mold type electronic part. Another object of the invention is to provide a construction, in which the number of poles of a housing does not increase when a branch wire is extended from a circuit connected to a mold-type electronic part therein for wiring purposes. According to the present invention this object is solved by the features of claim 1. Improved embodiments of the inventive electronic connector result from the sub-claims. According to the invention, there is provided a mold-type electronic part-containing connector wherein a mold-type electronic part includes an electronic element molded in a resin package and a plurality of lead terminal portions extending outwardly from the resin-molded package, the mold-type electronic part being contained in a connector housing with the lead terminal portions connectable to mating connectors such that at least one pair among the lead terminal portions of the mold-type electronic part define a branch terminal having a pair of lead terminal portions integrally connected together in the resin-molded package. A metal terminal, previously connected to the branch wire, is refitted on the branch terminal contained in the connector housing, or the branch wire is secured directly to the branch terminal before the branch terminal is mounted in the connector housing. In the present invention, there is no need for the cumbersome operation in which the wires are connected together by a splice connection at a wire harness-assembling site, therefore wire harness assembling efficiency is enhanced. Another embodiment of the invention provides a pair of lead terminal portions of the branch terminal extending in different directions, respectively. The pair of lead terminal portions of the branch terminal extend in different directions, respectively, therefore the connection of the branch wire to the branch lead terminal portion is effected at that side of the connector housing other than that side fitted on the female connector housing. Therefore, when extending the branch wire from the connector housing containing the mold-type electronic part, the branch lead terminal portion is not disposed at that side of the connector housing fitted to the mating connector. Accordingly, and the number of poles at the fitted side is not increased, therefore a small-sized connector may be achieved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Similar reference characters denote corresponding features of the invention consistently throughout the following attached drawings: Fig. 1 is a front-elevational view of a connector constructed according to the principles of the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view, partially broken, of the embodiment of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional detail view, drawn along line III-III, of the embodiment of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional detail view, drawn along line IV-IV, of the embodiment of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a partial top right front exploded perspective view of terminal elements constructed according to principles of the invention; Fig. 6 is a partial top right front perspective view of a mold-type electronic part constructed according to the principles of the invention; and Fig. 7 is a schematic view of wiring configured according to principles of the invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7. A connector of this embodiment includes a male connector housing 10 receivable in a female connector housing 20, shown in Fig. 7, a mold-type electronic part 30, such as a chip resistor and a chip diode, and a retainer 40. The male connector housing 10 includes a hood portion 11 for fitting on the female connector housing 20, and four cavities 12 open to the hood portion 11. As shown in Fig. 1, one of the four cavities 12 is disposed at a left upper portion of the male connector housing 10 while the other three cavities 12 are juxtaposed at a lower portion of this housing 10. Male metal terminals 13 are received respectively in the cavities 12, the tabs 13A of each projecting into the interior of the hood portion 11. Wires 14, shown in Fig. 4 connected to the male metal terminals 13, extend outwardly from a rear side of the male connector housing 10. An electronic part-receiving portion 15, shown in Fig. 2, for receiving the mold-type electronic part 30 is formed in the male connector housing 10, and is open to the hood portion 11. As shown in Fig. 1, the electronic part-receiving portion 15 is disposed at a position including a central region and a right side region of the upper portion of the housing 10 which generally are at the same height or level as that of the upper cavity 12. Referring to Fig. 2, a narrow, tubular branch fitting portion 16 is formed on and extends rearwardly from the rear side of the male connector housing 10. This branch fitting portion 16 is in communication with the electronic part-receiving portion 15 and the hood portion 11. When the mold-type electronic part 30 is inserted into the electronic part-receiving portion 15 through an opening in the hood portion 11, a branch lead terminal portion 32D described below, is inserted into the branch fitting portion 16. In this branch fitting portion 16, a branch female metal terminal 37, shown in Fig. 7, secured to a branch wire 38, is adapted to be connected to the lead terminal portion 32D. The retainer 40 retains the male metal terminals 13 and the mold-type electronic part 30. The retainer 40 is fitted into an inner end portion of the hood portion 11. In the fitted condition of the retainer 40, referring to Fig. 4, the male metal terminals 13 and lead terminal portions 31A and 32A of the mold-type electronic part 30, shown in Fig. 1, are passed respectively through through holes 41 formed in the retainer 40. Also, in the fitted condition of the retainer 40, projected portions 42 and 43, formed on a rear side of the retainer 40, are held in contact respectively with lower surfaces of lances 12A of the cavities 12, thereby preventing the lances 12A from being flexed in a direction to allow the withdrawal of the male metal terminals 13, thereby retaining the male metal terminals 13 in a redundant manner. A projection 43A, formed at a distal end of the lower projected portion 43, is engaged with a distal end of the lance 12A, thereby retaining the retainer 40 relative to the male connector housing 10. Referring to Fig. 3, an electronic part-fitting portion 44 is formed in the rear surface of the retainer 40, and a pair of upper and lower elastic retaining piece portions 45 project rearwardly from an edge portion of an open end of the electric part-fitting portion 44. A generally front half of a package 34 of the mold-type electronic part 30 is fitted in the electronic part-fitting portion 44, and claws 45A of the elastic retaining piece portions 45 are retainingly engaged with a rear end of the package 34. Referring to Fig. 6, the mold-type electronic part 30 includes a lead metal terminal 31, a branch metal terminal 32 and an electronic element, such as a resistor or diode. The lead metal terminal 31 has a lead terminal portion 31A with the shape of a narrow, elongated plate disposed parallel with the tabs 13A, as shown in Fig. 1. A contact portion 31B is formed at a proximal end of the lead terminal portion 31A. The electronic element 33 is placed on this contact portion 31B. The branch metal terminal 32 has the lead terminal portion 32A disposed parallel with the lead metal terminal 31 with a plate-like connecting portion 32B extending laterally from that portion of the lead terminal portion 32A disposed near to a rear end thereof and a narrow, elongated plate-like lead terminal portion 32D extending from the connecting portion 32B rearwardly, in a direction opposite to the projecting direction of the lead terminal portion 32A, in downwardly-stepped relationship to the lead terminal portion 32A. A rear end portion of the lead terminal portion 32A serves as a contact portion 32C juxtaposed to the contact portion 31B of the lead metal terminal 31. In the manufacture of the mold-type electronic part 30, the lead terminal portions 31A and 32A of the lead metal terminal 31 and the branch metal terminal 32 are maintained parallel with each other. Then, cream-like solder is coated onto the contact portions 31B and 32C, and the electronic element 33 is placed on the two contact portions 31B and 32C in a bridge-like manner. The assembly is introduced into a furnace (not shown), and the solder is melted to secure the electronic element 33 to the two contact portions 31B and 32C. This assembly then is molded in a resin within a case (not shown), thereby forming the package 34 of integral construction. The lead terminals 31A and 32A extend outwardly from a front surface of the package 34, the lead terminal portion 32D, electrically connected to the lead terminal portion 32A within the package 34, extends outwardly from a side surface of the package 34. Referring to Fig. 3, this mold-type electronic part 30 is fitted into the electronic part-fitting portion 44 in the retainer 40, and the elastic retaining piece portions 45 are retainingly engaged with the rear end of the package 34, thereby retaining the mold-type electronic part 30 on the retainer 40. In this condition, the lead terminal portions 31A and 32A pass respectively through the through holes 41, and project forwardly. When the retainer 40, holding the mold-type electronic part 30, is fitted into the hood portion 11, the rear end portion of the package 34 and the elastic retaining piece portions 45 are received in the electronic part-receiving portion 15. Also, the lead terminal portion 32D is received in the branch fitting portion 16, as shown in Fig. 2. In this condition, the projection 43A on the projected portion 43 of the retainer 40 is retainingly engaged with the lower lance 12A, thereby preventing the withdrawal of the retainer 40 as shown in Fig. 4, thus the mold-type electronic part 30 is mounted and contained in the male connector housing 10. In this mounted condition, as shown in Fig. 2, the lead terminal portions 31A and 32A are disposed at the same height as, and parallel with, the male metal terminal 13A disposed at the upper portion of the male connector housing 10 as well as the lower row of male terminals 13A. Referring to Fig. 7, the female connector housing 20 is adapted to be fitted into the hood portion 11. The female connector housing 20 has female meal terminals 21 and 23 provided therein. Although not shown, the female metal terminals 21 and 23 are arranged in two rows corresponding to the male metal terminals 13 and the lead terminal portions 31A and 32A. Wires 22, secured to the female metal terminals 21, and wires 24, secured to the female metal terminals 23, extend outwardly from a rear side of the female connector housing 20. When the male and female connector housings 10 and 20 are fitted together, the four male metal terminals 13 are connected to the associated female metal terminals 21 and the other two female metal terminals 23 are connected to the lead terminal portions 31A and 32A, respectively, so that these two female metal terminals 23 are electrically connected together through the electronic element 33. At the rear side of the male connector housing 10, the branch female metal terminal 37 is connected to the branch lead terminal portion 32D of the branch metal terminal 32 extending in the direction opposite to the direction of the extension of the lead terminal portion 31A. As a result, the branch wire 38, connected to the branch female metal terminal 37, is electrically connected to the female-side wire 24 connected to the electronic element 33. The branch lead terminal portion 32D is connected integrally to the lead terminal portion 32A, adapted to be connected to the female connector housing 20, in the package 34, therefore, when providing a branch wiring from the female-side wire 24, connected to the mold-type electronic part 30, at a wire harness-assembling site, this may be effected easily merely by fitting the branch female metal terminal 37, beforehand secured to the branch wire 38, on the lead terminal portion 32D. As compared with conventional construction, there is no need for the cumbersome operation in which the female-side wire and the branch wire are connected together by a splice connection, therefore wire harness assembling efficiency is enhanced. The branch wire 38 is adapted to extend from the male connector housing 10 containing the mold-type electronic part 30, therefore the lead terminal portion 32D projects from the rear side of the male connector housing 10. Accordingly, the connection of the branch wire 38 to the lead terminal portion 32D is effected at the side of the male connector housing 10 other than the side mounted on the female connector housing 20. As compared with when the branch terminals are provided on the mating surfaces, the number of poles at these surfaces is reduced, therefore connector size reduction may be achieved. Although the branch lead terminal portion is shown and described as extending toward the rear side of the male connector housing, the branch lead terminal portion may extend toward the periphery, the upper side or the lower side of the male connector housing 10. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments but encompasses all modifications and improvements falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: An electronic connector comprising: a first contact (31), extending in a first direction a second contact (32), a third contact (32D), electrically connected to said second contact (329) an electronic element (33), electrically connecting said first contact (31) and said second contact (32), and a housing (11) which provides access to said first and second contacts (31, 32); characterized in that a) said first, second and third contacts (31, 32, 32D) are formed as lead terminals of a mould-type part (30); b) a package (34) of the mould-type part (30) is mounted on said lead terminals (31, 32) and said electronic element (33); and c) said third lead terminal (32D) extends in a second direction different from the extending direction of said first lead terminal (31). The electronic connector of claim 1, wherein said first direction is opposite to said second direction. The electronic connector of claim 1, wherein said electronic element (33) is selected from the group consisting of a resistor, a diode and combinations thereof. The electronic connector of claim 1, wherein said first lead terminal (31), said second lead terminal (32) and said third lead terminal (32D) are selected from the group consisting of mail connectors, female connectors and combinations thereof. The electronic connector of claim 1, further comprising a retainer (40) mounted on the housing (11). The electronic connector of claim 5, wherein said retainer (40) is adapted to retain said package (34) in the housing (11). The electronic connector of claim 5, wherein said retainer (40) is adapted to fix said package (34) on the housing (11). The electronic connector of claim 5, wherein said retainer (40) is adapted to retain terminals (31B, 32C) received therein. The electronic connector of claim 5, wherein said retainer (40) is adapted to retain said package thereto.

Inventors: KAMI YOSHIHIDE, TANIGAWA FUMIYOSHI, YAMADA TESSHO, KAMI, YOSHIHIDE, TANIGAWA, FUMIYOSHI, YAMADA, TESSHO, Kami, Yoshihide, c/o NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd., Yamada, Tessho, c/o NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
Applicants: NGK SPARK PLUG CO, SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD, SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R43, H01R13