Connector housing with hinged retainer

Abstract: A cavity (15) that crosses chambers (11) and opens in an external wall is formed in a housing proper (10) of a housing (H). A retainer (20) is slidably fitted into the cavity (15) , and linking parts (21) that link chambers (11) being divided into a front portion and a rear portion by the cavity (15) are formed in the retainer (20). The linking parts (21) are arranged in such a way that when the terminals (T) are in a regular position in the chambers (11), the linking parts (21) allow the retainer (20) to shift in the sliding direction and the retainer (20) is secondarily fixed to the terminals (T) by this shift. The retainer (20) is provided to be integral with the housing proper (10) by means of a hinge (30).

Description: The present invention belongs to a technical field of a connector wherein a terminal is inserted into a chamber of a housing and the terminal is fixed by a retainer. Connectors of this kind have been known. For example, the document JP-A-7-65924 has disclosed a connector wherein, as shown in Fig. 7A, terminals (not illustrated) are stored in chambers 82 that are provided in two rows, an upper row and a bottom row, in a housing proper 81, each of these terminals is fixed by a lance (not illustrated) on an internal wall of the chamber 82, retainers 83 are provided on the top face and the bottom face of the housing proper 81, each of these retainers 83 is provided to be integral with the housing proper 81 by means of band-shaped hinges 84, and the terminals are secondarily fixed by these retainers 83. Each of these retainers 83 is tentatively fixed onto the housing proper 81 by engaging slits 85 that are provided in the left and right side ends of the retainer 83 with protrusions for tentative fixing 86 that are protrusively provided on the left and right side faces of the housing proper 81. Then the retainer 83 is fixed in a fixing position by sliding the retainer 83 forward from the position of tentative fixing and engaging the slits 85 with fixing protrusions 87 that are protrusively provided on both the left and right side faces of the housing proper 81. On the back of each retainer 83, protrusions corresponding to the respective chambers 82 of the upper or lower row are provided, and when the retainer 83 is mounted in the fixing position, each of the above-mentioned protrusions penetrates through an opening 88 that is formed in the top face of the interior of a chamber 82, protrudes into the chamber 82 and engages with a top portion of the terminal that is fixed by the lance to secondarily fix the terminal. In this connector, as each terminal is doubly fixed to the housing, the terminals are reliably prevented from coming off the housing. Moreover, if a terminal is not inserted to a regular position at which the terminal is fixed by the lance, the retainer 83 cannot fit into the top portion of the terminal. This facilitates detection of incomplete installation of the terminal. Furthermore, as each retainer 83 is provided to be integral with the housing proper 81 by means of hinges 84, the retainers 83 can be prevented from coming off the housing proper 81, and the costs can be lowered through a decrease in the number of molds and a decrease in manhour for control. To assemble the housing, hinges 84 are forced to be bent into a U-shape and the retainer 83 is moved to the position of tentative fixing, then the retainer 83 is moved further into the fixing position. During this assembly, a flat retainer fitting jig 89 as shown in Fig. 7B is used. An U-shaped bottom of a notch 90 in the jig 89 is pressed against bent portions of the hinges 84 and the retainer 83 is pushed into the position. As a result, the hinges 84 undergo plastic deformation to loose their elastic restoring forces. This prevents the retainer 83 from coming off the housing proper 81 due to the repulsive forces of the hinges 84. However, in the above-mentioned conventional connector, as the retainers 83 are provided on the top and the bottom of the housing proper 81, only two rows of the chambers 82, an upper row and a lower row, can be provided. Chambers 82 cannot be arranged in multiple rows being three or more rows. Furthermore, as the assembly of the housing is made by forcefully bending the hinges 84 into a U-shape, moving the retainer 83 into the tentative fixing position and then moving the retainer 83 into the fixing position, it takes much time and workability is low. Moreover, as the retainer 83 must be pushed into position by means of the retainer fitting jig 89 to eliminate elastic restoring forces of the hinges 84, this also lowers workability. EP-A-0 822 617 discloses a housing for a connector in which terminals are to be fixed, comprising a housing proper having chambers into which said terminals are inserted and having a cavity that crosses said chambers and opens in the top face of the connector housing, a retainer being slidably fitted in said cavity of said housing proper, having linking parts that links the chambers which are divided into a front portion and a rear portion by said cavity, the retainer being shiftable in a sliding direction when said terminals are in a regular position in said chambers and being fixed to said terminals by said shift. US-A-4 705 337 discloses an electrically insulated housing for an electrical connector which Is to accommodate terminals in its passages. Rear holders are provided over the housing for the prevention of rearward withdrawal movements of the terminals, in addition to retainers which are provided in the housings. Each rear holder has one or a plurality of projections in series which are engageable with the terminals by their substantially vertical displacement accompanied with the flection of hinges of an angle of less than 90°, viz., about 45°, which hinges connecting each projection to the housing with comparatively narrow and long extensions. US-A-5 769 670 discloses a connector with a rear holder in which connector terminals can be positively mounted in predetermined positions in a connector housing simultaneously when the rear holder is attached to the connector housing. A hinge being in the form of a band is provided at two locations that are distant from each other in the width direction on the top of the housing. The hinges extend in the width direction to connect a retainer and the housing together. Further, the housing, the hinges and the retainer are molded Integral with each other. According to the above-mentioned prior art documents, each connector has a cavity that opens only in one external wall. Due to this construction of the cavity a user has to move the retainer slidably to release the fixing of the terminal by pulling up the container. The operation of pulling up the retainer is very difficult for users. It is the object of the present invention to provide a housing for a connector and a connector for use with the housing, wherein the operation for a user is simplified so as to save time of housing assembly and improve workablility while preventing the retainer from coming off the housing proper. This object is achieved by a housing for a connector according to claim 1. Especially, the housing of the present invention has a cavity that crosses the chamber and opens in two external walls. As a result from this feature a user can move the retainer slidably to fix the terminals by pushing the retainer and can move the retainer slidably to release the fixing of the terminals by pushing the retainer along the opposite direction. Dependent claims 2 and 3 show advantageous further developments of the housing according to claim 1. Claim 4 shows a connector for use in combination with the housing according to any of the claims 1 to 3. In the following, some embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B are perspective views showing a housing for a connector of a first embodiment; Fig. 1A shows a state before secondarily fixing terminals by means of a retainer; Fig. 1B shows a state after secondarily fixing terminals by pushing the retainer upward. Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B show the housing for a connector of the first embodiment; Fig. 2A is a plan view and Fig. 2B is a front view. Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B are enlarged sectional views along the line A-A of Fig. 2B; Fig. 3A shows a state before secondarily fixing the terminals with the retainer; Fig. 3B shows a state after secondarily fixing the terminals by pushing the retainer upward. Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B are enlarged sectional views along the line B-B of Fig. 2B; Fig. 4A shows a state before secondarily fixing the terminals with the retainer; Fig. 4B shows a state after secondarily fixing the terminals by pushing the retainer upward. Fig. 5 is a partially cutaway enlarged view of chambers of the lowest row of the connector of the first embodiment. The connector is seen from the bottom side. Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B are perspective views of a housing for a connector of a second embodiment; Fig. 6A shows a state before secondarily fixing terminals with a retainer; Fig. 6B shows a state after secondarily fixing terminals by pushing the retainer upward. Fig. 7A and Fig. 7B show a conventional housing; Fig. 7A is a perspective view of a housing for a connector; Fig. 7B is a sectional view showing a state wherein the bottom of a notch of a retainer fitting jig is pressed against bends of hinges to push a retainer into the housing. Fig 1A through Fig. 2B show a housing H according to the first embodiment. Fig. 3A through Fig. 5A show a connector C wherein terminals T are inserted into chambers 11 of the housing H. In Fig. 1A through Fig. 2B, 10 denotes a housing proper. In this housing proper 10, chambers 11 are formed through in the front-rear direction of the housing proper 10 (hereinafter the front-rear direction of the housing proper 10 is simply referred to as the front-rear direction). These chambers 11 are formed parallel with each other in several rows in the height direction of the housing proper 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as the height direction) and in several columns in the width direction of the housing proper 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as the width direction). A terminal T is inserted and fixed in each chamber 11. As shown in Fig. 3A through Fig. 5, the above-mentioned terminal T is formed to have a configuration that can be inserted into the chamber 11 of the housing proper 10, for example, a tubular form. At the front end of the terminal T, a stabilizer 4 having a face being in the width direction is erected in the height direction. An insertion port 1 into which a terminal of a counterpart connector is inserted is opened in the front end of the above-mentioned terminal T. A splicing part 2 to which an electric wire is connected is provided in the rear of the terminal T, and the core of the electric wire W is connected to the splicing part 2 by crimping, soldering, etc. Inside the front half part of the above-mentioned terminal T, a leaf spring (not illustrated) that can be flexed in, for example, the height direction or the width direction is formed. When the terminal of the counterpart connector is inserted, the leaf spring is pressed to contact the terminal of the counterpart connector. The above-mentioned housing proper 10 is provided with grooves 12, each of which is formed from each chamber 11 in the height direction, extends in the front-rear direction and receives the stabilizer 4 of the above-mentioned terminal T, lances 13, each of which is formed in the above-mentioned groove 12 in such a way that the lance 13 can flex in the width direction of the chamber 11 and fixes the stabilizer 4 by the front part thereof, and test windows 14, each of which allows access from the front to the groove 12 on the front side of the lance 13. Accordingly, when the terminal T is inserted into the chamber 11 of the housing H, the above-mentioned stabilizer 4 will fit into the above-mentioned groove 12, move ahead, go beyond the lance 13 that is formed in the groove and settle on the front side of the lance 13 to be fixed by the lance 13. In the above-mentioned housing proper 10, a cavity 15 that crosses all the chambers 11 in the height direction and opens in both the top and bottom external walls is formed. A retainer 20 is slidably fitted in this cavity 15, and linking parts 21 that link the chambers 11 that are divided by the above-mentioned cavity 15 into front chambers 11a and rear chambers 11b are formed in the retainer 20 in relation with all the chambers 11. A fixing part 3 that is notched in the sliding direction of the above-mentioned retainer 20 (the height direction in this embodiment) is formed in an intermediate part of each terminal T in the front-rear direction thereof. This fixing part 3 is arranged in such a way that when the terminal T is inserted into the regular position in the chamber 11, the front end 3a of the fixing part 3 will coincide with the rear end 11'a of the front chamber 11a of the housing H and a circumferential wall 22 of the linking part 21 can be fitted into the above-mentioned fixing part 3 by shifting the retainer 20 in the sliding direction. As shown in Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B, the above-mentioned retainer 20 is provided to be integral with the housing proper 10 by means of hinges 30. The hinges 30 being in a form of band are provided at two locations that are distant from each other in the width direction on the top of the housing proper 10. Each hinge 30 extends in the front-rear direction to bridge between and connect the retainer 20 and the housing proper 10 together. The housing proper 10, hinges 30 and the retainer 20 are molded integral with each other. The above-mentioned hinges 30 are arranged to swing within a small angle around their edges on the housing proper side when the retainer 20 is shifted in the sliding direction. Accordingly, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, when an electric wire W is connected to the splicing part 2 of the terminal T and the terminal T is inserted into the chamber 11 of the housing H, the stabilizer 4 will fit into the groove 12 of the housing H, move forward, go beyond the lance 13 of the housing H and get fixed by the lance 13. Thus the terminal T is primarily fixed to the housing H (the state shown in Fig. 1A, Fig. 3A and Fig. 4A). When the retainer 20 is to be shifted in the sliding direction, if the terminal T is not in the regular position in the chamber 11, as the front end 3a of the fixing part 3 is protruding backward beyond the rear end 11'a of the front chamber 11a of the housing H, an attempt to shift the retainer 20 in the sliding direction will be hindered by the front end 3a of the fixing part 3. Thus incomplete fitting will be detected. On the other hand, if the terminal T is in the regular position in the chamber 11, the front end 3a of the fixing part 3 coincides with the rear end 11'a of the front chamber 11a of the housing H, the circumferential wall 22 of the linking part 21 of the retainer 20 will fit into the above-mentioned fixing part 3 and the retainer 20 can be shifted. The retainer 20 is secondarily fixed to the terminal T by this shift (the state shown in Fig. 1B, Fig. 3B and Fig. 4B). When this connector C is connected with a counterpart connector, terminals of the counterpart connector will be inserted into the respective terminals T and leaf springs or the like will be pressed to contact the terminals of the counterpart connector to make mechanical connections and electrical connections between both connectors. In this case, as the retainer 20 is integral with the housing proper 10 by means of the hinges 30, the retainer 20 is prevented from coming off the housing proper 10 and the costs can be reduced through reduction in the number of molds, manhour for control, etc. Even if chambers 11 are formed in the housing proper 10 in three or more rows in the sliding direction of the retainer 20, linking parts 21 that link respective chambers 11 can be formed in the retainer 20, and secondary fixing and detection of incomplete fitting of each terminal can be made. Moreover, it is possible to install terminals T of multiple kinds differing in width or height or terminals T of which spacing (pitch) in the width direction or the height direction differs. As the retainer 20 is shifted almost linearly over just a short distance in the sliding direction, the hinges 30 will not be bent greatly, for example, into a U-shape. Thus no excessive elastic restoring forces will work on the hinges 30. Hence the retainer 20 will not come off the housing proper 10. Furthermore, no special jig such as the retainer fitting jig that was described in the prior art is used. The retainer 20 is merely shifted by hand or a manipulator and this shifting can be done by a single touch. Hence the work of housing assembly is reduced and workability is improved. The present invention includes all embodiments wherein the stabilizer 4 is erected in any position on the external side of the terminal. If the stabilizer 4 is provided at the top end of the terminal as is the case of the above-mentioned first embodiment, when the terminal T is inserted into the chamber 11 of the housing H in a wrong orientation, for example, upside down, the stabilizer 4 will be caught on the entrance of the chamber 11 in the first stage of insertion. Thus inverse insertion of the terminal T can be reliably prevented, and in turn, damages to the housing H due to misoperation, etc. of the workers can be avoided. Furthermore, the present invention includes embodiments wherein only chambers 11 open their ports in the front face of the housing H. In such an embodiment if, for example, a continuity test is made on the connector C in a conventional manner by inserting a terminal of a counterpart connector or a test jig having the same configuration as the terminal of the counterpart connector into the insertion port 1 of the terminal T, the terminal of the counterpart connector or the like may be deformed due to repeated use. If the deformed terminal is inserted, a trouble or damage to the leaf spring, etc. of the terminal T of the connector C may occur. In contrast, if a test window 14 allowing direct access to the stabilizer 4 is opened in the front of the housing H as is the case of the above-mentioned first embodiment, when the terminal of the counterpart connector or the like is inserted into the test window 14 instead of the insertion port 1 of the terminal T, the terminal of the counterpart connector or the like will contact the stabilizer 4. Thus a continuity test, etc. can be made without damaging the leaf spring, etc. of the terminal T. As for the stabilizer 4, it is sufficient to form it in such a way that it can fit into the groove 12 and advance forward and has a face being in the width direction or the height direction. According to the conditions of the stabilizer 4, the groove 12 is formed from each chamber 12 in the height direction or the width direction, and the lance 13 is formed so that it can flex in the width direction or the height direction. When the stabilizer 4 is formed so that the lance 13 is flexed in the width direction as is the case of the above-mentioned first embodiment, with the advancement of the stabilizer 4, the lance 13 of the housing H will be flexed in the width direction. Hence there is no need of providing the housing H with a space for flexing in the height direction. Thus the height of the housing H is lowered. Accordingly, the connector C can be compactified in the height direction as much as possible. In particular, in a connector C wherein chambers 11 are arranged in several rows in the height direction, several terminals T are present at intervals in the height direction and the number of walls between chambers is increased. The connector C can be compactified greatly in the height direction by lowering the height of the respective terminals T and thinning the walls between chambers 11. Because of these properties, this connector C is suitable, for example, as a connector for cars in which space utility is demanded vigorously. Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B shows the second embodiment. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the configuration around the hinges 30. Accordingly, identical marks are given to members that exhibit identical functions of the members of the first embodiment. The description of the first embodiment except a portion concerning the configuration of the hinges 30 is quoted intact as the description of the second embodiment. The description of the hinges 30 in the second embodiment is as follows. As shown in Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B, the retainer 20 is provided to be integral with the housing proper 10 by means of the hinges 30. The hinges 30 being in a form of band are provided at both ends of the top of the housing proper 10 in the width direction. Each hinge 30 extends in the width direction to bridge between and connect the retainer 20 and the housing proper 10 together. The housing proper 10, hinges 30 and the retainer 20 are molded integral with each other. The above-mentioned hinges 30 are arranged to swing within a small angle around their edges on the housing proper side when the retainer 20 is shifted in the sliding direction. The operations and actions of the second embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment. The present invention is not limited in any way by the configurations of the above-mentioned embodiments. In the above-mentioned embodiments, the fixing part 3 that is notched in the sliding direction of the retainer 20 is formed in the terminal T, and this fixing part 3 is arranged in such a way that when the terminal T is inserted into the regular position in the chamber 11, the front end 3a of the fixing part 3 will coincide with the rear end 11'a of the front chamber 11a of the housing H and a circumferential wall 22 of the linking part 21 can be fitted into the above-mentioned fixing part 3 by shifting the retainer 20 in the sliding direction. The present invention, however, includes all embodiments that are arranged in such a way that when the terminal T is in the regular position in the chamber 11, the retainer 20 is allowed to shift in the sliding direction and this shift makes the retainer 20 be secondarily fixed to the terminal T. Accordingly, the present invention includes, for example, an embodiment wherein the fixing part 3 that is notched in the sliding direction of the retainer 20 is formed in the terminal T, and an engaging part such as a protrusion, that coincides with the fixing part 3 in the front-rear direction and can be engaged with the fixing part 3 when the terminal T is inserted in the regular position in the chamber 11, is formed on the retainer 20. In the above-mentioned embodiments, the terminal T that is inserted into the chamber 11 is primarily fixed by the lance 13. The present invention, however, includes embodiments of a housing for a connector that uses any one of other known means of primary fixing and embodiments of a connector using said housing. The form of the hinges is not limited to bands. They can take any forms, for example, bars. The present invention also includes all embodiments where the cavity 15 is opened only in one external wall of the housing 10, embodiments wherein one hinge 30 is provided or three or more hinges 30 are provided, embodiments the hinge 30 is formed inside the cavity 15 and combinations of these embodiments.

Claims: A housing (H) for a connector (C) in which terminals (T) are to be fixed, said housing (H) comprising, in a parallel arrangement to each other, a front portion and a rear portion, and, in a perpendicular arrangement with respect to the front and the rear portions and in an opposite arrangement to each other, a top wall and a bottom wail as respective external walls, which external walls extend in a length direction from one of the front and rear portions to the other one and in a width direction being perpendicular to said length direction, and further comprising: a plurality of chambers (11) for receiving said terminals (T), a cavity (15) that crosses said plurality of chambers (11) in a direction perpendicular to said plurality of chambers and dividing said plurality of chambers (11) into front chambers (11a) at said front portion of said housing (H) and rear chambers (11b) at said rear portion of said housing (H), a retainer (20) being slidably fitted into said cavity (15) of said housing (H), said retainer (20) having linking parts (21) corresponding to said plurality of chambers (11) and linking said front chambers (11a) and said rear chambers (11b), respectively, in a position in which said linking parts (21) are aligned with said plurality of chambers (11) for receiving said terminals, in said position therminals (T) are receivable, said retainer (20) is shiftable in a sliding direction from one of said two external walls of said housing (H) to the other one thereof, characterized in that the cavity (15) opens in said two external walls of said housing (H) and said two opened external walls being opposite to each other, and that at least one hinge (30) integrally connecting said retainer (20) with said housing (H). A housing (H) for a connector (C) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one hinge (30) being in a form of a band starting from a top wall side defining the width direction of said top wall of said housing (H) and extending in said length direction of said housing (H) is provided at two locations that are distant from each other in said width direction, to connect said retainer (20) and said housing (H) together, and said housing (H), said at least one hinge (30) and said retainer (20) are molded integral with each other. A housing (H) for a connector (C) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one hinge (30) being in a form of a band starting from a top wall side defining the length direction of said top wall of said housing (H) and extending in said width direction of said housing (H) is provided at two locations on said top wall of said housing (H), to connect said retainer (20) and said housing (H) together, and said housing (H), said at least one hinge (30) and said retainer (20) are molded integral with each other. A connector (C) wherein terminals (T) are inserted into said plurality of chambers (11) of a housing (H) according to any of the claims 1 to 3, wherein said terminal (T) comprises a fixing part (3) being notched in said sliding direction of said retainer (20), and a front end of said fixing part (3) is arranged to coincide with a rear end of said front chamber (11a), and a circumferential wall (22) of said linking part (21) is arranged to be fitted into said fixing part (3) by shifting said retainer (20) in said sliding direction.

Inventors: NAGAMINE AKIRA, NAGAMINE, AKIRA, Nagamine, Akira, c/o Japan Solderless Terminal
Applicants: JAPAN SOLDERLESS TERMINAL MFG, JAPAN SOLDERLESS TERMINAL MFG. CO., LTD.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13