Patent Publication Number: US-9413096-B2

Title: Connector with plate-like functional portion

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a connector. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-166608 discloses a connector including a housing formed with cavities in multiple stages in a vertical direction. Locking lances are cantilevered forward along lower surfaces of the respective cavities. Terminal fittings can be inserted into the cavities from behind and are locked by the locking lances. A front retainer is assembled with the housing from the front and horizontal restricting plates formed on the front retainer are inserted into deflection spaces for the locking lances. Insertion of the restricting plates into the deflection spaces for the locking lances restrict deflection of the locking lances away the terminal fittings and reliably retain the terminal fittings. 
     A lower surface side of the lowermost restricting plats is covered by a supporting plate constituting an outer wall of the housing. The supporting plate is expected to correct a curvature of the restricting plates that occurs when the front retainer is molded. However, the supporting plate is not connected to side walls that partition the cavities in a lateral direction. Thus, the reliability of a correcting function is low. 
     The invention was completed based on the above situation and aims to reliably correct the deformation of a plate-like functional portion located at an outermost end of a front retainer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A connector of the invention includes a housing formed with terminal accommodating chambers in multiple stages in a vertical direction, and locking lances are cantilevered forward along lower wall surfaces of the terminal accommodating chambers. Terminal fittings can be inserted into the terminal accommodating chambers from behind and are retained by being locked by the locking lances. Deflection spaces formed into slits extend laterally at lower surfaces of the locking lances and are configured so that the locking lances can resiliently deflect to separate from the terminal fittings. A front retainer is assembled on a front end of the housing. Horizontal plate-like functional portions are formed on the front retainer and are insertable into the deflection spaces. A supporting plate is cantilevered forward along a lower surface of the lowermost plate-like functional portion and constitutes an outer wall of the housing. At least one reinforcing rib is formed on the supporting plate to enhance flexural rigidity of the supporting plate and to correct curving deformation of the plate-like functional portion. 
     The reinforcing rib may extend in a front-back direction and plural reinforcing ribs may be spaced apart in the lateral direction. Accordingly, the supporting plate has a straight shape with no height difference between a rear part and a front part when viewed laterally. The plural laterally spaced reinforcing ribs ensure that the supporting plate is kept flat plate over the entire area in the lateral direction thereof. 
     Reinforcing ribs may be provided on upper and lower surfaces of the supporting plate, and the reinforcing ribs on an upper surface may be offset laterally from the reinforcing ribs on a lower surface. Thus, flexural rigidity of the supporting plate can be enhanced stably and reliably. 
     The reinforcing ribs may be arranged on opposite left and right ends of an upper surface of the supporting plate portion and may connect opposite left and right side walls of the housing and opposite left and right ends of the supporting plate. Thus, flexural rigidity of the opposite left and right ends of the supporting plate can be enhanced more reliably. 
     The front retainer may be mounted and removed by being moved in a front-back direction with respect to the housing. The reinforcing rib may extend in the front-back direction on an upper surface of the supporting plate portion, and the plate-like functional portion at the lowermost end may be formed with a groove in a lower surface that can slide in contact with the reinforcing rib. Thus, a function of guiding the front retainer is exhibited by the sliding contact of the reinforcing rib and the groove when assembling the front retainer with the housing. 
     The groove may be formed by recessing only the lower surface of the plate-like functional portion at the lowermost end. Thus, the plate-like functional portion can remain strong. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a housing constituting a connector of an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a section along a line X-X of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a section along a line Y-Y of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of a front retainer. 
         FIG. 5  is a section along a line Z-Z of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a section along a line corresponding to the line X-X of  FIG. 1  showing a state where the front retainer is assembled with the housing. 
         FIG. 7  is a section along a line corresponding to the line Y-Y of  FIG. 1  showing the state where the front retainer is assembled with the housing. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view in section showing a state where a female connector and a male connector are connected. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 8 . A right side in  FIGS. 3, 5 and 7  is defined as a front end concerning a front-back direction. Upper and lower sides in  FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5  are defined as upper and lower sides concerning a vertical direction. A lateral direction in  FIGS. 1 and 4  is defined as the lateral direction. 
     A female connector F of this embodiment is formed by assembling a housing  10  made of synthetic resin, a front retainer  20  made of synthetic resin and a plurality of terminal fittings  30 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 , terminal accommodating chambers  11  penetrate the housing  10  in the front-back direction and are formed in multiple stages in the vertical direction. The terminal accommodating chambers  11  in each stage are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in the lateral direction. As shown in  FIG. 8 , a locking lance  12  is cantilevered forward along a lower surface of each terminal accommodating chamber  11 . The terminal fitting  30  is inserted into each terminal accommodating chamber  11  from behind. The locking lance  12  interferes with the terminal fitting  30  during the inserting process and deflects resiliently down to retract from an insertion path for the terminal fitting  30 . The locking lance  12  resiliently restores to lock the terminal fitting  30  when the terminal fitting  30  reaches a proper insertion position. Thus, the properly inserted terminal fitting  30  is retained in the terminal accommodating chamber  11 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 , deflection spaces  13 ,  13 E are formed below the locking lances  12  and allow the locking lances  12  to deflect resiliently down. The deflection spaces  13 ,  13 E are open on the front surface of the housing  10  and define slits that extend in the lateral direction (horizontal direction) in each stage. A plurality of locking lances  12  face one deflection space  13 ,  13 E from above while being juxtaposed in the lateral direction. The locking lances  12  can be deflected resiliently to enter the deflection space  13 ,  13 E. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a supporting plate  14  extends in the lateral direction and cantilevers unitarily forward at a lower end part of the housing  10 . The supporting plate  14  is arranged at a front part of the housing  10  and constitutes a front end part of a bottom wall of the housing  10 . The supporting plate  14  constitutes a lower surface of the lowermost deflection space  13 E. Formation areas of the supporting plate  14  and the lowermost deflection space  13 E in the lateral direction correspond (match). 
     The front retainer  20  is assembled with the housing  10  from the front. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the front retainer  20  includes plate-like functional portions  21 ,  21 E extending in the lateral direction and juxtaposed in multiple stages while being spaced apart in the vertical direction. Front stops  22  are formed on the upper surface of each plate-like functional portion  21 ,  21 E at positions corresponding to the respective terminal accommodating chambers  11  for stopping the terminal fittings  30  inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber  11 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , spaces are defined above the front stops  22  for allowing male terminals  31  to be inserted into the terminal accommodating chambers  11  when the female connector F is connected to a male connector M. 
     The plate-like functional portions  21 ,  21 E are arranged in multiple stages in the vertical direction to be inserted individually into the deflection spaces  13 ,  13 E formed in multiple stages. Deflection of the locking lances  12  away from the terminal fittings  30  (i.e. into the deflection spaces  13 ,  13 E) is restricted when the plate-like functional portions  21 ,  21 E enter the deflection spaces  13 ,  13 E and hence the locking lances  12  are held locked to the terminal fittings  30 . In this way, the terminal fittings  30  retained reliably by the locking action of the locking lances  12 . 
     Further, the locking lance  12  for any incompletely inserted terminal fitting  30  remains in the deflection space  13 ,  13 E. The plate-like functional portion  21 ,  21 E collides with any locking lance  12  remaining in the deflection space  13 ,  13 E and prevents full assembly of the front retainer  20 , indicating the presence of an incompletely inserted terminal fitting  30 . Thus, the plate-like functional portions  21 ,  21 E have a function of reliably retaining the terminal fittings  30  and a function of detecting the presence of the incompletely inserted terminal fitting  30 . 
     The supporting plate  14  that forms the outer wall of the housing  10  covers lower surface of the lowermost plate-like functional portion  21 E when the front retainer  20  is assembled with the housing  10 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . This supporting plate  14  has a function of correcting the curvature of the lowermost plate-like functional portion  21 E when the plate-like functional portion  21 E is curved and deformed to bulge out downward in the process of molding the front retainer  20 . However, this supporting plate  14  is not connected to partition walls between laterally adjacent terminal accommodating chambers  11 . Hence, there is a possibility of deformation and an unreliable correcting function. 
     Accordingly, four upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E are formed unitarily on the upper surface of the supporting plate  14  and three lower reinforcing ribs  16  are formed unitarily on the lower surface of the supporting plate  14  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  to enhance flexural rigidity of the supporting plate  14 . The upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E are in the deflection space  13 E at the lowermost end. The lower reinforcing ribs  16  are exposed on an outer surface of the housing  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the four upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E extend straight in the front-back direction, i.e. a direction parallel to a direction of assembling the front retainer  20  with the housing  10 . A formation area of the four upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E in the front-back direction is a range from the rear end of the supporting plate  14  to a position slightly behind the front extending end of the supporting plate  14 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the four upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E are spaced at equal intervals in the lateral direction (i.e. direction perpendicular to a length direction of the upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E) and are bilaterally symmetrical when viewed from the front. The upper reinforcing ribs  15 E on opposite left and right ends connect to the lower end edges of opposite left and right side walls  17  of the housing  10  and opposite left and right end parts of the supporting plate  14  located below them. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the three lower reinforcing ribs  16  also extend straight in the front-back direction, similar to the upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E. A formation area of the three lower reinforcing ribs  16  in the front-back direction is a range from a position farther behind the rear end of the supporting plate  14  (i.e. rear end position of the housing  10 ) to the front extending end of the supporting plate  14 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the three lower reinforcing ribs  16  are spaced at equal intervals in the lateral direction and are bilaterally symmetrical when viewed from the front. The lower reinforcing rib  16  located in the center is arranged at a lateral center position of the supporting plate  14  (housing  10 ). 
     The four upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E are arranged to equally divide the supporting plate  14  into three in the lateral direction and the three lower reinforcing ribs  16  are arranged to be located substantially in the center between adjacent upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E in the lateral direction. Accordingly, the four upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E and the three lower reinforcing ribs  16  are arranged vertically alternately (offset) in the lateral direction. These upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E and lower reinforcing ribs  16  enhance the rigidity of the supporting plate  14  at seven different positions in the lateral direction. 
     On the other hand, in the front retainer  20 , four grooves  23 ,  23 E are formed on the lowermost plate-like functional portion  21 E for avoiding interference with the upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E. As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 6 , the four grooves  23 ,  23 E are formed by recessing the lower surface of the lowermost plate-like functional portion  21 E and extend straight along the front-back direction. The rear ends of the four grooves  23 ,  23 E are exposed to outside on the rear end surface (extending end surface) of the plate-like functional portion  21 E. 
     Two grooves  23 E on opposite left and right ends are fit to the upper reinforcing ribs  15 E connecting the opposite left and right end parts of the supporting plate  14  and lower end parts of the side walls  17 . Thus, these two grooves  23 E on the opposite left and right ends penetrate from the lower surface to the upper surface of the plate-like functional portion  21 E, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Two grooves  23  near the center are formed to fit to the two upper reinforcing ribs  15  located near the center. As shown in  FIG. 5 , only rear end parts (parts corresponding to the extending end part of the plate-like functional portion  21 E) of these two grooves  23  near the center are exposed to the upper surface of the plate-like functional portion  21 E. Most areas of the grooves  23  near the center excluding the rear end parts serve as unexposed areas  24  not exposed to upper surface of the plate-like functional portion  21 E. Upper edges of opposite left and right inner surfaces of the groove  23  in the unexposed area  24  of this groove  23  are coupled by a horizontal plate-like reinforcing plate  25 . That is, the upper surface of the unexposed area  24  is closed by the reinforcing plate  25 . 
     As described above, the female connector F includes the housing  10  formed with the terminal accommodating chambers  11  in multiple stages in the vertical direction, the locking lances  12  cantilevered forward along the lower surfaces of the terminal accommodating chambers  11 , the terminal fittings  30  to be inserted into the terminal accommodating chambers  11  from behind and retained by the locking lances  12 , and the deflection spaces  13 ,  13 E formed into slits extending in the lateral direction at the lower surface sides of the locking lances  12  and configured to allow the locking lances  12  to deflect resiliently to separate from the terminal fittings  30 . 
     The front retainer  20  is assembled on the front of the housing  10  and is formed with the plurality of horizontal plate-like functional portions  21 ,  21 E insertable into the deflection spaces  13 ,  13 E. The housing  10  includes the supporting plate  14  cantilevered forward along the lower surface of the lowermost plate-like functional portion  21 E and constituting a bottom wall portion (outer wall) of the housing  10 . 
     This supporting plate  14  functions to correct curving deformation when the lowermost plate-like functional portion  21 E is curved and deformed to bulge out downward in molding the front retainer  20 . To enhance the reliability of this correcting function, the supporting plate  14  is formed unitarily with the upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E and the lower reinforcing ribs  16  for enhancing flexural rigidity of the supporting plate  14 . Since flexural rigidity of the supporting plate  14  is enhanced by these upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E and lower reinforcing ribs  16 , curving deformation of the plate-like functional portion  21 E at the lowermost end can be corrected reliably. 
     Further, the upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E and the lower reinforcing ribs  16  extend in the front-back direction and are at positions spaced apart in the lateral direction. By forming the reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E and  16  to extend in the front-back direction in this way, the supporting plate portion  14  maintains a straight shape having no height difference between the rear and front ends when viewed laterally. Since the reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E and  16  are arranged at the positions spaced apart in the lateral direction, the supporting plate  14  is kept flat over substantially the entire area in the lateral direction thereof. In addition, since the four upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E and the three lower reinforcing ribs  16  are arranged alternately in the lateral direction, flexural rigidity of the supporting plate portion  14  can be enhanced more stably and reliably. 
     The two upper reinforcing ribs  15 E on the opposite left and right ends are arranged on the opposite left and right end parts of the upper surface of the supporting plate  14  and connect the opposite left and right side walls  17  of the housing  10  and the opposite left and right end parts of the supporting plate  14 . In this way, flexural rigidity of the opposite left and right end parts of the supporting plate portion  14  is enhanced. 
     Further, the front retainer  20  is mounted and removed by being moved in the front-back direction with respect to the housing  10 . The upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E are formed to extend in the front-back direction on the upper surface of the supporting plate  14 . The lowermost plate-like functional portion  21 E is formed with the grooves  23 ,  23 E that can slide in contact with the upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E. Accordingly, in assembling the front retainer  20  with the housing  10 , a function of guiding the front retainer  20  is exhibited by the sliding contact of the upper reinforcing ribs  15 ,  15 E and the grooves  23 ,  23 E. Further, since at least parts of the two grooves  23  near the center serve as the unexposed areas  24  formed by recessing only the lower surface of the lowermost plate-like functional portion  21 E, a reduction in the strength of the plate-like functional portion  21 E is avoided. 
     The invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiment. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the scope of the invention. 
     Although the reinforcing ribs are provided on both the upper and lower surfaces of the supporting plate in the above embodiment, they may be provided on either the upper or lower surface of the supporting plate. 
     Although the four upper reinforcing ribs are provided on the upper surface of the supporting plate in the above embodiment, the number of the upper reinforcing ribs may be three or less or five or more. 
     Although the three lower reinforcing ribs are provided on the lower surface of the supporting plate in the above embodiment, the number of the lower reinforcing ribs may be two or less or four or more. 
     Although the upper reinforcing ribs and the lower reinforcing ribs are arranged alternately in the lateral direction (i.e. offset) in the above embodiment, the upper reinforcing ribs and the lower reinforcing ribs may be arranged at the same positions in the lateral direction. 
     Although the number of the formed upper and lower reinforcing ribs differ in the above embodiment, equal numbers lower and upper reinforcing ribs may be formed. 
     Although the reinforcing ribs extend in the front-back direction in the above embodiment, the upper and/or lower reinforcing ribs may extend in the lateral direction. 
     Although the grooves are formed only in the lower surface of the lowermost plate-like functional portion in the above embodiment, they may penetrate from the lower surface to the upper surface of the lowermost plate-like functional portion. 
     Although the groove portions that slide in contact with the upper reinforcing ribs are formed on the lowermost plate-like functional portion, such grooves may not be formed. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
         F . . . female connector (connector) 
           10  . . . housing 
           11  . . . terminal accommodating chamber 
           12  . . . locking lance 
           13 ,  13 E . . . deflection space 
           14  . . . supporting plate portion 
           15 ,  15 E . . . upper-surface side reinforcing rib (reinforcing rib) 
           16  . . . lower-surface side reinforcing rib (reinforcing rib) 
           17  . . . side wall portion 
           20  . . . front retainer 
           21  . . . plate-like functional portion 
           21 E . . . plate-like functional portion at lowermost end 
           23 ,  23 E . . . groove 
           30  . . . terminal fitting 
           31  . . . male terminal