Patent Publication Number: US-2009221190-A1

Title: Electric connector housing

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an electric connector housing for accommodating therein connection terminals of small size. 
     TECHNICAL BACKGROUND 
     For instance, connection terminals for use in an electrical circuits of automobiles have become smaller and smaller. 
     In general, connection terminals installed within an electric connector housing are retained therein by means of resilient stopping lances provided within the electric connector housing. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be solved by the Invention 
     In accordance with a miniaturization of connection terminals, it is difficult to form stopping lances within the electric connector housing by injection mold. Known stopping lances could have a small engaging force. 
     In order to mitigate this problem, in a following Japanese Patent Document 1 there is disclosed a known electric connector housing, in which a rear holder  1  having formed therein stopping lances  2  is fitted to a rear portion of a housing as shown in  FIG. 43 . 
     However, even in such a structure, it is still difficult to form stopping lances of small size, and a sufficiently large engaging force for retaining the connection terminals within the housing. 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Kokai 2004-39535 
     The present invention has for its object to provide an electric connector housing, in which the above mentioned drawbacks of the known electric connector housings can be removed and connection terminals of small size can be fixed in position with a large engaging force. 
     Means of Solving the Problems 
     In order to attain the above object, according to the invention, an electric connector housing comprises an assembly of a holder having a plurality of grooves for accommodating therein respective connection terminals and a cover for covering said grooves of the holder, wherein moving preventing means for preventing said connection terminals from moving in forward and backward directions are provided in either one or both of said holder and cover. 
     MERITS OF THE INVENTION 
     In the electric connector housing according to the invention, even though a size of the connection terminals becomes small, the connection terminals can be retained within the housing with a sufficiently large retaining force. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view showing a connection terminal; 
         FIG. 2  is a longitudinal cross sectional view cut a portion of the connection terminal; 
         FIG. 3  is a lateral cross sectional view cut along a line A-A in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view illustrating a first embodiment 1 of the electric connector housing according to the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the electric connector housing of the first embodiment 1; 
         FIG. 6  is a longitudinal cross sectional view depicting condition in which a connection terminal is installed in the housing; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view representing a holder; 
         FIG. 8  is a lateral cross sectional view cut along a line B-B in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating the holder; 
         FIG. 10  is a lateral cross sectional view showing a condition in which the connection terminal is fit within the holder; 
         FIG. 11  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the holder having the connection terminal installed therein; 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom view depicting an upper cover; 
         FIG. 13  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the cover; 
         FIG. 14  is a front view illustrating a second embodiment 2 of the electric connector housing according to the invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a longitudinal cross sectional view depicting a condition in which a connection terminal is installed within the housing; 
         FIG. 16  is a longitudinal cross sectional view showing an intermediate holder; 
         FIG. 17  is an explanatory view representing an assembling step; 
         FIG. 18  is a front view depicting a third embodiment 3 of the electric connector housing according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a longitudinal cross sectional view showing the electric connector housing of the third embodiment 3; 
         FIG. 20  is a lateral cross sectional view showing an intermediate holder; 
         FIG. 21  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the intermediate holder; 
         FIG. 22  is a longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating a lower cover; 
         FIG. 23  is a plan view depicting a fourth embodiment 4 of the electric connector housing according to the invention; 
         FIG. 24  is a front view of the electric connector housing of the fourth embodiment 4; 
         FIG. 25  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the electric connector housing; 
         FIG. 26  is a bottom view showing an upper intermediate cover; 
         FIG. 27  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the upper intermediate cover; 
         FIG. 28  is a front view illustrating an outer cover; 
         FIG. 29  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the outer cover; 
         FIG. 30  is a longitudinal cross sectional view showing an assembling step; 
         FIG. 31  is a front view depicting a fifth embodiment 5 of the electric connector housing according to the invention; 
         FIG. 32  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the electric connector housing of the embodiment 5; 
         FIG. 33  is a front view showing an outer cover; 
         FIG. 34  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the outer cover; 
         FIG. 35  is a longitudinal cross sectional view depicting an assembling step; 
         FIG. 36  is a front view showing a sixth embodiment 6 of the electric connector housing according to the invention; 
         FIG. 37  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the electric connector housing of the sixth embodiment 6; 
         FIG. 38  is a bottom view depicting an intermediate holder; 
         FIG. 39  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the intermediate holder; 
         FIG. 40  is a front view depicting an outer cover; 
         FIG. 41  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the outer cover; 
         FIG. 42  is a longitudinal cross sectional view showing an assembling step; and 
         FIG. 43  is a perspective view illustrating a known electric connector housing. 
     
    
    
     EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               11  connection terminal 
               12  contact portion 
               13  intermediate portion 
               14  clamp portion 
               15  electric wire 
               16  cut-out portion 
               21  holder 
               22  upper cover 
               31 ,  41 ,  71  intermediate holder 
               42  lower cover 
               51  intermediate upper cover 
               52 ,  61 ,  72  outer cover 
           
         
       
    
     BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION 
     Now the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings. 
     Embodiment 1 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view showing a connection terminal to be used,  FIG. 2  is a longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating the connection terminal a part of which is cut out, and  FIG. 3  is a lateral cross sectional view cut along a line A-A in  FIG. 1 . At a front end of a connection terminal  11  there is provided a contact portion  12  having a rectangular tube shape, and at a rear portion continued from the front portion through an intermediate portion  13  an electric wire  15  is connected by means of a clamp portion  14 . Furthermore, in a bottom portion of the contact portion  12 , there is formed a cut-out portion  16 . 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view showing the electric connector housing of the first embodiment 1,  FIG. 5  is a front view thereof and  FIG. 6  is a longitudinal cross sectional view showing a condition in which the connection terminal  11  is installed within the electric connector housing. The electric connector housing is composed of an assembly of a lower holder  21  and an upper cover  22  provided on the lower holder. The connection terminals  11  are fit into respective grooves  21   a  formed in an upper surface of the holder  21 . The upper cover  22  is arranged on the holder  21  in such a fashion that the grooves  21   a  are covered with the upper cover  22 . On an upper surface of the upper cover  22  there are provided a resilient bridge portion  22   a  which functions to lock a cooperating electric connector housing to the relevant electric connector housing, a locking projection  22   b  and a push portion  22   c  for disengaging the locking between the relevant electric connector housing and the cooperating electric connector housing. 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view showing the holder  21 ,  FIG. 8  is a lateral cross sectional view cut along a line B-B in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 9  is a longitudinal cross sectional view depicting the holder  21 . In an upper surface of the holder  21 , there are formed a plurality of the grooves  21   a  extending in the longitudinal direction, and in the bottom surface of each groove  21   a  there is formed an engaging protrusion  21   b  which is inserted into the cut-out portion  16  of the connection terminal  11 . Furthermore, a front wall portion  21   c  is provided at a front end portion of the grooves  21   a , said front wall portion serving to prevent undesired forward movement of the connection terminals  11  and to guide cooperating connection terminals into the grooves  21   a . At both sides of a middle portion of each of the grooves  21   a  there are provided projections  21   d  which are engaged with the intermediate portion  13  of the connection terminal  11  to prevent undesired up and down movement of the connection terminals  11  within the grooves  21   a . At four corners of the holder  21  there are further formed locking depressions  21   e.    
       FIG. 10  is a lateral cross sectional view and  FIG. 11  is a longitudinal cross sectional view showing a condition in which the connection terminal  11  is installed in the holder  21 . Any undesired forward movement of the connection terminal  11  is prevented by the engaging protrusion  21   b  and front wall portion  21   c . Any undesired up and down movement of the connection terminal  11  is prevented by the projections  21   d.    
       FIG. 12  is a bottom view and  FIG. 13  is a longitudinal cross sectional view showing the upper cover  22 . A plan view of the upper cover  22  is identical with that shown in  FIG. 4 . The upper cover  22  has formed therein a common engaging projection  22   d  which is engaged with the rear ends of the contact portions  12  of the connection terminals  11  to prevent undesired backward movement of the connection terminals. In a front wall portion  22   e  of the upper cover  22  there are formed guide openings  22   f  for receiving cooperating connection terminals  11 . Moreover, at four corners of the upper cover  22  there are formed locking claws  22   g  which are engaged with the locking depressions  21   e  of the holder  21 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , after installing the connection terminals  11  within the holder  21 , the upper cover  22  is placed on the holder  21  and the locking claws  22   g  are clicked into the locking depressions  21   e . Then, the holder  21  and upper cover  22  are coupled with each other as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     In this condition, the connection terminal  11  can be firmly prevented from moving in the forward direction as well as in the up and down direction by means of the holder  21  and upper cover  22 . The thus assembled electric connector housing may be combined with a cooperating electric connector housing to constitute an electric connector. 
     Embodiment 2 
       FIG. 14  is a front view showing the second embodiment 2 of the electric connector housing according to the invention and  FIG. 15  is a longitudinal cross sectional view depicting a condition in which a connection terminal  11  is installed within the housing. A plan view of the housing of this embodiment is identical with that shown in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment 2, connection terminal accommodating portions each of which is similar to that of the first embodiment 1 are placed one on the other. On a holder  21  which is identical with the holder  21  of the first embodiment 1, two intermediate holders  31  are stacked, and on the upper intermediate holder  31  is placed an upper cover  22  which is identical with the upper cover  22  of the first embodiment 1. The connection terminals  11  are installed in the holder  21  and two intermediate holders  31 . 
       FIG. 16  is a longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating the intermediate holder  31 . A plan view of this intermediate holder  31  is identical with the plan view of the holder  21  shown in  FIG. 7 , and a bottom view of the intermediate holder  31  is identical with the bottom view of the upper cover  22  shown in  FIG. 12 . On the bottom surface of the intermediate holder  31  there are provided an engaging projection  31   a , a front wall portion  31   b , guide openings  31   c  and locking claws  31   d  at four corners. On the top surface of the intermediate holder  31  there are provided grooves  31   e , engaging protrusions  31   f  for preventing the forward movement of the connection terminals, a front wall portion  31   g , projections  31   h  for preventing the up and down movement of the connection terminals and locking depressions  31   i  at four corners. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 17 , in the second embodiment 2, the connection terminals  11  are installed in the grooves  21   a  of the holder  21  such that the connection terminals  11  are held in position by means of the engaging protrusions  21   b , engaging projections  21   d  and front wall portion  21   c . Then, the intermediate holders  31  in which the connection terminals  11  are installed in position are successively stacked on the holder  21 , while the locking claws  31   d  of the lower intermediate holder  31  are inserted into the locking depressions  21   e  of the holder  21  and the locking claws  31   i  of the upper intermediate holder  31  are clicked into the locking depressions  31   i  of the lower intermediate holder  31 . 
     Next, the upper cover  22  is placed on the upper intermediate holder  31 , while the locking claws  22   g  of the upper cover  22  are clicked into the locking depressions  31   i  of the upper intermediated holder  31  to fix the connection terminals  11  in position by means of the engaging projection  22   d  of the upper cover  22 . 
     In this manner, all the connection terminals  11  installed within the holder  21  and two intermediate holders  31  can be fixed in position and the connection terminals  11  are effectively prevented from moving in the forward and backward direction as well as in the up and down direction. 
     Embodiment 3 
       FIG. 18  is a front view and  FIG. 19  is a longitudinal cross sectional view showing the electric connector housing of the third embodiment 3. A plan view of the electric connector housing of this embodiment 3 is identical with that shown in  FIG. 4 . On an upper surface of an intermediate holder  41  is placed an upper cover  22  and on a lower surface of the intermediate holder  41  is placed a lower cover  42 . 
       FIGS. 20 and 21  are a lateral cross sectional view and a longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating the intermediate holder  41 . A plan view and a bottom view of this intermediate holder  41  are identical with that shown in  FIG. 7 . That is to say, the upper and lower surfaces of the intermediate holder  41  have a symmetrical configuration. On each of the upper and lower surfaces of the intermediate holder  41 , there are formed a plurality of longitudinal grooves  41   a , engaging protrusions  41   b , a front wall portion  41   c , projections  41   d  for restricting the forward movement of the connection terminals, and four locking recesses  41   e  at four corners like as the holder  21 . The connection terminals  11  are arranged in the grooves  41   a  formed in the upper and lower surfaces of the intermediate holder  41 , said connection terminals being aligned symmetrically viewed in the up and down direction. 
       FIG. 22  is a longitudinal cross sectional view depicting the lower cover  42 . A plan view of the lower cover  42  is identical with that shown in  FIG. 12 . The lower cover  42  has a substantially identical structure with that of the of the upper cover  22  from which the resilient bridge portion  22   a  is removed. The lower cover  42  has formed therein an engaging projection  42   a , a front wall portion  42   b , guide openings  42   c  and locking claws  42   d.    
     After installing the connection terminals  11  within the intermediate holder  41 , the lower and upper surfaces of the intermediate holder are covered with the lower cover  42  and upper cover  22 , respectively, and locking claws are clicked into the locking recesses to assemble these three parts. 
     In this condition, undesired forward movement of the connection terminals  11  is prevented by the intermediate holder  41  and undesired backward movement of the connection terminals  11  is prevented by the upper and lower covers  22  and  42 . 
     Embodiment 4 
       FIGS. 23 ,  24  and  25  are a plan view, a front view and a longitudinal cross sectional view, respectively showing the electric connector housing of the present embodiment 4. A plurality of connection terminals  11  are installed in a plurality of grooves  21   a  of a holder  21  which is similar to that of the first embodiment 1. The grooves  21   a  are covered with an intermediate upper cover  51 . An assembly of the holder  21  and intermediate upper cover  51  is covered with an outer cover  52 . It should be noted that a front wall portion  21   c  has no guide opening as compared with the holder  21  of the first embodiment 1. 
       FIGS. 26 and 27  are a bottom view and a longitudinal cross sectional view, respectively illustrating the intermediate upper cover  51 . On the bottom surface of the intermediate upper cover  51  there are formed an engaging projection  51   a  and four locking claws  51   b  at four corners, said locking claws  51   b  being clicked into four locking recesses  21   e  formed in the holder  21 . 
       FIGS. 28 and 29  are a front view and a longitudinal cross sectional view, respectively showing the outer cover  52 . A plan view of the outer cover  52  is identical with that shown in  FIG. 23 . The outer cover  52  has a vacant space, and a resilient bridge portion  52   a , locking projection  52   b  and a push portion  52   c  are formed on an upper surface. A front wall portion  52   d  of the outer cover  52  has formed therein guide openings  52   e  and a fitting hole  52   f  into which a front end of the holder  21  is inserted. 
     After placing the connection terminals  11  on the upper surface of the holder  21 , the holder  21  is covered with the intermediate upper cover  51 . Then, an assembly of the holder  21  and intermediate upper cover  51  is inserted into the outer cover  52  as depicted in  FIG. 30  to obtain the electric connector housing shown in  FIG. 25 . Although not shown in the drawings, locking members for locking the holder  21  and intermediate upper cover  51  with the outer cover  52  are provided on an inner surface of the outer cover  52 . 
     In this condition, the connection terminals  11  are prevented from moving in forward and backward direction by means of the holder  21  and at the same time the backward movement of the connection terminals  11  is inhibited by the intermediate upper cover  51 . In the embodiment 4, since the outer cover  52  is provided, a much stronger structure can be realized as compared with the embodiments 1-3. 
     Embodiment 5 
       FIGS. 31 and 32  are a front view and a longitudinal cross sectional view, respectively illustrating the electric connector housing of the embodiment 5. A plan view of the electric connector housing of this embodiment 5 is identical with that shown in  FIG. 23 . A plurality of connection terminals  11  are installed in a plurality of upper and lower grooves  41   a  of an intermediate holder  41  which is similar to that of the embodiment 3. The upper and lower grooves  41   a  are covered with an intermediate upper cover  51  in the embodiment 4. Furthermore an assembly of the intermediate holder  41  and intermediate upper cover  51  is covered with an outer cover  61 . 
       FIGS. 33 and 34  are a front view and a longitudinal cross sectional view, respectively showing the outer cover  61 . The outer cover  61  has a vacant space, and a resilient bridge portion  61   a , locking projection  61   b  and a push portion  61   c  are formed on an upper surface. A front wall portion  61   d  of the outer cover  61  has formed therein guide openings  61   e  and a fitting hole  61   f  into which a front end of the intermediate holder  41  is inserted. 
     After fixing the connection terminals  11  into the upper and lower grooves  41   a  of the intermediate holder  41 , the intermediate holder  41  is covered with the intermediate upper cover  51 . Then, an assembly of the intermediate holder  41  and intermediate upper cover  51  is inserted into the outer cover  61  as shown in  FIG. 35  to obtain the electric connector housing shown in  FIG. 32 . 
     In this condition, the connection terminals  11  are prevented from moving in forward and backward direction by means of the intermediate holder  41 , and moreover the backward movement of the connection terminals  11  is inhibited by the intermediate upper cover  51 . 
     Embodiment 6 
       FIGS. 36 and 37  are a front view and a longitudinal cross sectional view, respectively showing the electric connector housing of the sixth embodiment 6. A plan view of the electric connector housing of this embodiment 6 is identical with that shown in  FIG. 23 . Two intermediate holders  71  are stacked on a holder  21  which is identical with that of the first embodiment 1, and an intermediate upper cover  51  which is identical with that of the fourth embodiment 4 is stacked on the upper intermediate holder  71 . A plurality of connection terminals  11  are installed within the holder  21  and intermediate holders  71 , and an assembly of the holder  21 , intermediate holders  71  and intermediate upper cover  51  is covered with an outer cover  72 . 
       FIGS. 38 and 39  are a bottom view and a longitudinal cross sectional view, respectively showing the intermediate holder  71 . A plan view of this intermediate holder  71  is identical with that shown in  FIG. 7 . On an upper surface of the intermediate holder  71  there are formed a plurality of grooves  71   a , and in each of the grooves  71   a  there is formed an engaging protrusion  71   b . The intermediate holder  71  has further formed therein a front wall portion  71   c , projections  71   d  for inhibiting the up and down movement of the connection terminals and four locking recesses  71   e  at four corners. Furthermore, in the lower surface of the intermediate holder  71 , there are formed a locking protection  71   f  and four locking claws  71   g  at four courners. 
       FIGS. 40 and 41  are a front view and a longitudinal cross sectional view, respectively depicting the outer cover  72 . The outer cover  72  includes a resilient bridge portion  72   a , a locking projection  72   b  and a push portion  72   c . A front wall portion  72   d  of the outer cover  72  has formed therein guide openings  72   e  and fitting holes  72   f  into which front ends of the holder  21  and intermediate holders  71  are inserted. 
     An assembly of the holder  21 , intermediate holders  71  and intermediate upper cover  51  is inserted into the outer cover  72  as illustrated in  FIG. 42  to obtain the electric connector housing shown in  FIG. 37 . 
     In this condition, the connection terminals  11  are prevented from moving in forward and backward directions by means of the holder  21  and intermediate holder  71 , and the backward movement of the connection terminals  11  is inhibited by the intermediate upper cover  51 . 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     It should be noted that in the above explained embodiments, the electric connector housing is formed as a receipt type, but the present invention may be equally applied the electric connector housing of insertion type.