Abstract:
A connector includes a connector housing configured to receive terminal fixtures inside of the connector housing. The connector includes a locking member including an arm having an end supported by an outer peripheral wall, and configured to lock with a mating connector in an engagement state due to flexible deformation of the arm. The connector includes a front holder inserted in the connector housing from an engagement side of the connector housing for preventing the terminal fixtures from falling off. The connector includes a flex-prevention locking mechanism between the outer peripheral wall and the front holder for preventing the outer peripheral wall from flexing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a connector and, more specifically, to a connector for use in a vehicle. This connector prevents a terminal fixture from falling out of a connector housing during the assembly of a front holder with the connector housing.  
           [0002]    This type of conventional connector includes a plurality of terminal fixtures to which ends of electric wires are connected. The connector includes a connector housing in which the plurality of terminal fixtures are housed. The connector includes a front holder assembled with the connector housing. The connector housing supports a locking member thereon.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    However, in the connector, during the processes of engaging with and disengaging from a mating connector, a locking portion is flexed and deformed to deform the connector housing outwardly. This deformation weakens the locking force due to deformation of the locking member on recovering from the flex, and degrades reliability of the locking portion. The deformation causes the connector housing to be interfered with the mating connector, and precludes the smooth engaging or disengaging work of the mating connector.  
           [0004]    The present invention is directed to prevent a deformation of a connector housing, while a mating connector is engaged with or disengaged from a connector.  
           [0005]    A first aspect of the invention is directed to a first connector. The connector includes a connector housing configured to receive a terminal. The connector includes a locking member on the connector housing. The locking member is configured to lock with a mating member. The connector includes a holder mated with the connector housing. The holder is configured to hold the terminal. The connector includes a locking mechanism configured to lock the connector housing and the holder with each other against the locking member.  
           [0006]    Preferably, the locking mechanism includes a dovetail joint.  
           [0007]    Preferably, the dovetail joint includes a dovetail groove provided to one of the connector housing and the holder. The dovetail joint includes a locking projection provided to the other one of the connector housing and the holder. The locking projection is inserted in the dovetail groove.  
           [0008]    Preferably, at least one of the dovetail groove and the locking projection converges in an insertion direction of the holder into the connector housing.  
           [0009]    Preferably, the connector housing includes a support supporting the locking member. The locking mechanism is positioned to the holder in coincidence with the support.  
           [0010]    A second aspect of the invention is directed to a second connector. The connector includes a connector housing configured to receive terminal fixtures inside of the connector housing. The connector includes a locking member including an arm having an end supported by an outer peripheral wall, and configured to lock with a mating connector in an engagement state due to flexible deformation of the arm. The connector includes a front holder inserted in the connector housing from an engagement side of the connector housing for preventing the terminal fixtures from falling off. The connector includes a flex-prevention locking mechanism between the outer peripheral wall and the front holder for preventing the outer peripheral wall from flexing. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector provided with a front holder positioned in a primarily locked state in a first embodiment.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a partially broken perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1, which is provided with the front holder positioned in a provisionally locked state.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a housing in FIG. 1.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a primary portion of the housing in FIG. 3.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a broken perspective view of the primary housing taken along the line V-V in FIG. 4.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a broken side view of a primary portion in FIG. 5.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the front holder in FIG. 1.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1, which is provided with the front holder positioned in the provisionally locked state.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a housing of a second embodiment.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a front holder of the second embodiment.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a housing of a third embodiment.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a front holder of the third embodiment.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a housing of a fourth embodiment.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a front holder of the fourth embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described below based on the drawings.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, connector  1  includes a plurality of terminal fixtures (not shown) to which ends of electric wires are severally connected. Connector  1  includes housing  3  in which the plurality of terminal fixtures is housed. Connector  1  includes front holder  4  assembled with housing  3 .  
         [0027]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, approximately flat rectangular-shaped housing  3  includes many terminal-receiving chambers  5  therein. Each chamber  5  includes the terminal fixture housed therein. Many chambers  5  are arranged at vertically two stages and arrayed side-by-side. Each chamber  5  includes front and rear surfaces open to the outside. Each chamber  5  at an upper stage includes a flexible locking arm  24  that extends from an inner surface of outer peripheral wall  7 . Each terminal receiving chamber  5  at a lower stage includes a flexible locking arm  24  extending from a lower surface of partition  8 . Each of locking arms  24  is locked with each of the terminal fixtures.  
         [0028]    Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, housing  3  includes locking part  10  on a top surface of outer peripheral wall  7 . Locking part  10  is locked with a mating connector (not shown) in an engagement state. Locking part  10  includes arm  11 . Arm  11  has one end fixed to supporting portion  7   a  of outer peripheral wall  7 . Arm  11  includes the other end as a free end extending rearward of housing  3 . Locking part  10  includes locking projection  12  projecting from a top surface of the free end of arm  11 . Locking part  10  includes operation part  13  for locking projection  12 , close to the free end. Arm  11  is disposed, with a predetermined space maintained above the top surface of outer peripheral wall  7 . When the top surface of the free end of arm  11  is subjected to external force A to press the top surface downward, arm  11  is flexed and deformed downward in the space between the top surface of outer peripheral wall  7  and arm  11 .  
         [0029]    The front surface of locking projection  12  and a part of the top surface of arm  11  in front of locking projection  12  defines inclined side  12   a.  The rear surface of locking projection  12  defines vertical side  12   b.    
         [0030]    Housing  3  allows front holder  4  to be inserted thereinto from an engagement surface (front surface) thereof. Housing  3  includes a provisional locked part (not shown) with which front holder  4  is provisionally locked. Housing  3  includes primary locked part  14  with which front holder  4  is primarily locked.  
         [0031]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7, front holder  4  includes front board  15 . Front holder  4  includes a pair of side boards  16  that extend rearward from both side ends of front board  15 . Front holder  4  includes top board  17  and bottom board  18  that extend rearward from top and bottom ends of front board  15 . Front holder  4  is inserted into housing  3  with rears of side boards  16  as insertion ends. Front board  15  defines terminal-insertion openings  19  on the upper stage. Each rear end of top and bottom boards  17  and  18  is branched into arm-deformation preventers  21  to define many cut-out grooves  20 . Each preventer  21  is interposed in a flex space between the locking arm  24  and the top surface of chamber  5 . One of side boards  16  has provisional locking projection  22  on the top surface thereof, and has primary locking projection  23  on the side surface thereof.  
         [0032]    Referring to FIG. 1, top board  17  and outer peripheral board  7  of housing  3  include flex-prevention locking mechanism  25 A therebetween. Locking mechanism  25 A prevents a flex of outer peripheral wall  7  of housing  3 . Locking mechanism  25 A includes in total three main and sub dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b  provided on outer peripheral wall  7  on the top surface of housing  3 . Locking mechanism  25 A includes in total three main and sub locking projections  27   a  and  27   b  projecting from the top surface of top wall  17 . When front holder  4  is inserted into housing  3 , locking projections  27   a  and  27   b  are inserted into dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b,  respectively. Large main dovetail groove  26   a  is positioned on the center of outer peripheral wall  7 , and is provided on supporting portion  7   a  of supporting arm  11 . Small sub dovetail grooves  26   b  are symmetrically positioned side-by-side on outer peripheral wall  7 , and is provided on guide projections  7   b  projecting from the top surface of outer peripheral wall  7 . Dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b  gradually converge toward an insertion direction of front holder  4  into housing  3 . This structure enhances the degree of contact, as locking projections  27   a  and  27   b  are inserted deeper into dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b.    
         [0033]    In FIGS. 5 and 6, trapezoidal dovetail groove  26   a  includes bottom wall  26   l   1 . Dovetail groove  26   a  includes a pair of sidewalls  26   a   2  inclined at an acute angle relative to bottom wall  26   a   1 . Sidewalls  26   a   2  come closer to each other toward the ends to define an opening at the ends.  
         [0034]    In FIG. 7, V-shaped locking projection  27   a  includes a pair of arms  27   a   1  that are opposed to each other at an interval. Arms  27   a   1  include tapers  27   a   2  at their ends in an insertion direction into dovetail groove  26   a,  respectively. Tapers  27   a   2  come closer to each other as they extend their ends. Arms  27   a   1  are engaged with the sidewalls  26   a   2  of dovetail groove  26   a.  Tapers  27   a   2  facilitate insertion of arms  27   a   1  into dovetail groove  26   a  and serve as a dovetail joint.  
         [0035]    Next, the assembly work of connector  1  will be described. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 8, front holder  4  is inserted from the engagement surface (front surface) of housing  3 . This insertion allows sub locking projections  27   b  to be partially inserted into sub dovetail grooves  26   b.  Locking projections  27   b  are inserted into grooves  26   b  to a position where provisional locking projection  22  of front holder  4  is locked with the provisional locked part (not shown) in housing  3 . This insertion allows provisional locking. On this provisional locking, each terminal fixture (not shown) is inserted from a rear opening of each chamber  5  of housing  3 . This insertion allows an insertion end of each terminal fixture to abut against each locking arm  24 . From this state, each terminal fixture is further inserted. Each terminal fixture elastically deforms the free end of the locking arm  24  in the flex space, which allows insertion of the terminal fixture. Each terminal fixture is inserted to an appropriate insertion position. This insertion allows the free end of the locking arm to coincide with a locked part (not shown) of the terminal fixture. The insertion allows locking arm  24  to be resiliently restored to lock with the terminal fixture.  
         [0036]    Next, on the engagement surface (front surface) of housing  3 , provisionally locked front holder  4  is further inserted into housing  3 . This insertion allows sub locking projections  27   b  to be inserted more deeply into dovetail grooves  26   b,  and main locking projection  27   a  to be inserted into main dovetail groove  26   a.  Referring to FIG. 1, front holder  4  is inserted into housing  3  to a position where primary locking projection  23  of front holder  4  is locked with main locked part  14  of housing  3 , thus achieving primary locking. The insertion of front holder  4  allows each preventer  21  to be inserted into the flex space between each locking arm  24  and the top surface of each chamber  5 . Each preventer  21  restricts a flexural deformation of each locking arm, thus preventing the fall of each terminal fixture.  
         [0037]    Next, a mating connector (not shown) is engaged with assembled connector  1  from the engagement surface (front surface). This engagement allows each terminal (not shown) of the mating connector to be inserted into each chamber  5 . This insertion allows a locked part (not shown) of the mating connector to abut on inclined side  12   a  of arm  11 . In this state, the mating connector is further engaged. Arm  11  is flexed and deformed in the arrow direction A, and allows engagement of the mating connector with connector  1 . The mating connector is engaged to an appropriate engagement position. This engagement allows the terminals of the mating connector to be electrically connected to the terminal fixtures (not shown). This engagement positions the locked part of the mating connector such that the locked part lies over locking projection  12  of locking part  10 , thus allowing arm  11  to be resiliently restored. This restoring allows the locked part of the mating connector to be locked with locking projection  12 , thus locking the engaged mating connector with connector  1 .  
         [0038]    In order to disengage the mating connector in the engaged state, operation part  13  of locking part  10  is forced to flex and deform in the arrow direction A. When the mating connector is pulled apart from connector  1 , both of them can be separated.  
         [0039]    During the process of the engaging or disengaging operations of the mating connector, arm  11  of locking part  10  is flexed and deformed in the arrow direction A. This flexural deformation allows force in the arrow direction B to be exerted on the portion of outer peripheral wall  7  of housing  3  that supports arm  11 . This force tends to displace outer peripheral wall  7  upward. This upward force is transmitted to front holder  4  through dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b  and through locking projections  27   a  and  27   b  engaged therewith. Front holder  4  prevents displacement of outer peripheral wall  7 . Not only outer peripheral wall  7  of housing  3  but also top wall  17  of front holder  4  is subjected to the force of displacing upward outer peripheral wall  7 , thus preventing the displacement of outer peripheral wall  7 . Thus, outer peripheral wall  7  of housing  3  is not displaced upward, while the mating connector is engaged and disengaged. This does not degrade the reliability of locking part  10 , nor does it preclude the smooth engaging and disengaging work of the mating connector.  
         [0040]    The first embodiment is set such that dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b  gradually converge toward the insertion direction of front holder  4  into housing  3  to enhance the degree of contact as locking projections  27   a  and  27   b  are inserted deeper into dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b.  At an initial step during the insertion of locking projections  27   a  and  27   b  into dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b,  locking projections  27   a  and  27   b  are inserted into dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b  without any tight contact therebetween. This enables smooth insertion even if locking projections  27   a  and  27   b  do not completely coincide with dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b  in position. When locking projections  27   a  and  27   b  are inserted into dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b  to insertion completion positions, locking projections  27   a  and  27   b  are brought into tight contact with dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b  under a large contact force. This tight-contact eliminates any play between outer peripheral wall  7  of housing  3  and front holder  4 , and prevents even a slight displacement of outer peripheral wall  7 . Not dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b  but locking projections  27   a  and  27   b  may be constructed so as to gradually converge toward the insertion direction of front holder  4  into housing  3 . Both of dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b  and locking projections  27   a  and  27   b  may be constructed so as to gradually converge toward the insertion direction of front holder  4  into housing  3 . These structures also enhance the degree of contact as locking projections  27   a  and  27   b  are inserted deeper into dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b.    
         [0041]    Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, flex-prevention locking mechanism  25 B of a second embodiment includes two main dovetail grooves  26   a,  and two main locking projections  27   a.  Two main dovetail grooves  26   a  are provided on supporting portion  7   a  for arm  11 . Primary locking projection  28  is disposed between locking projections  27   a.  On the other hand, flex-prevention locking mechanism  25 A of the first embodiment includes in total three main and sub dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b  and in total three main and sub locking projections  27   a  and  27   b.  Hereinafter, the same and similar reference numerals will be applied to the same and similar members as those of the first embodiment, and description thereof will be omitted.  
         [0042]    Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, flex-prevention locking mechanism  25 C of a third embodiment includes three main dovetail grooves  26   a,  and three main locking projections  27   a.  Dovetail groove  26   a  in the center position is provided on supporting portion  7   a  for arm  11 , and two right and left dovetail grooves  26   a  are provided on right and left wide guide projections  29 , respectively.  
         [0043]    Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, flex-prevention locking mechanism  25 D of a fourth embodiment includes two sub dovetail grooves  26   b  and two sub locking projections  27   b.  The other members are similar to those of the first embodiment.  
         [0044]    According to the second to fourth embodiments, in a similar way to the first embodiment, outer peripheral wall  7  of housing  3  is not displaced upward while a mating connector is engaged or disengaged. This does not degrade the reliability of locking part  10 , nor does it preclude the smooth engaging and disengaging of the mating connector.  
         [0045]    In each of the first to third embodiments, each of locking mechanisms  25 A to  25 C is provided on supporting portion  7   a  of outer peripheral wall  7  that supports arm  11 , and on the portion of front holder  4  that coincides with this supporting portion  7   a.  The force B tending to displace outer peripheral wall  7  upward is directly exerted on each of the flex-prevention locking mechanisms  25 A to  25 C, and the displacement of outer peripheral wall  7  can be prevented effectively.  
         [0046]    In each of the first to fourth embodiments, each of locking mechanisms  25 A to  25 D includes either or both of dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b  provided on outer peripheral wall  7  of housing  3 , and either or both of locking projections  27   a  and  27   b  provided on front holder  4 . In addition, locking mechanisms  25 A to  25 D may include other structures than the structure of dovetail grooves as long as the flex of outer peripheral wall  7  of housing  3  can be prevented. In locking mechanisms  25 A to  25 D, the arrangement of dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b  and locking projections  27   a  and  27   b  in the first to fourth embodiments may be reversed. Locking projections  27   a  and  27   b  may be provided on outer peripheral wall  7  of housing  3 , and dovetail grooves  26   a  and  26   b  may be provided on front holder  4 .  
         [0047]    The entire contents of Japanese Patent Applications P 2002-222118 (filed on Jul. 30, 2002) are incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0048]    Although the invention has been described above by reference to certain embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the embodiments described above will occur to those skilled in the art, in light of the above teachings. The scope of the invention is defined with reference to the following claims.  
         [0049]    According to the invention, when an arm of a locking member is flexibly deformed during engaging with or disengaging from a mating connector, a force due to the flexible deformation exerts on a portion of an outer peripheral wall supporting the arm to be displaced upward. The upward displacing of the outer peripheral wall under the force allows upward force to be transmitted to a front holder through a flex-prevention locking mechanism. The front holder prevents upward displacement.  
         [0050]    When the outer peripheral wall displaces upward, the upward external force transmits to the front holder through a locking projection fitted in a dovetail groove. The front holder prevents the displacement of the outer peripheral wall.  
         [0051]    At an initial step during the insertion of the locking projection into the dovetail groove, the locking projection is inserted without tight contact with the dovetail groove. Even if both the locking projection and the dovetail groove slightly displace from each other, smooth insertion is achieved. When the locking projection is inserted at an insertion-completion position, the dovetail groove and the locking projection are brought into tight contact with each other under a great tight-contact force. The tight contact eliminates play between the outer peripheral wall and the front holder, which prevents slight displacement of the outer peripheral wall.  
         [0052]    The locking mechanism is directly subjected to a force that causes upward displacement of the outer peripheral wall.