Patent Publication Number: US-11031718-B2

Title: Connector with a housing having a locking lance with a restricting portion to restrict outward deformation of the locking lance

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a connector. 
     Related Art 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-054141 discloses a connector in which a contact is inserted into a contact accommodating cavity formed in a housing and retained by being locked by a locking lance formed in the contact accommodating cavity. The locking lance is deformed resiliently due to interference with the contact in the process of inserting the contact, and resiliently returns to lock the contact when the contact is inserted properly. 
     In the above-described connector, the locking lance is accommodated inside the housing. To reduce a height of this connector, a structure has been considered in which a part of the housing covering the locking lance is removed to expose the locking lance on the outer surface of the housing. However, if the locking lance is exposed on the outer surface of the housing, the locking lance may be pressed into the contact accommodating cavity and plastically deformed when an external matter comes into contact with the outer surface of the locking lance. 
     The invention was completed on the basis of the above situation and aims to prevent improper deformation of a locking lance. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention is directed to a connector with a housing having an insertion space, and an inserting member is insertable into the insertion space. A locking lance is formed in the housing such that an outer surface is exposed to outside of the housing. The locking lance is deformed resiliently toward the outer surface in the process of inserting the inserting member into the insertion space and returns resiliently to retain the inserting member when the inserting member is inserted properly. A restricting portion is formed on the locking lance and restricts a displacement of the locking lance toward the insertion space by being locked to the housing. 
     The restricting portion is locked to the housing even if the outer surface of the locking lance is pressed. Thus, there is no possibility that the locking lance is deformed improperly toward the insertion space. 
     The locking lance may be cantilevered substantially parallel to an inserting direction of the inserting member, and the restricting portion may be disposed at a position closer to an extending end part than a base end part of the locking lance in an extending direction of the locking lance. If the locking lance is deformed resiliently toward the outer surface due to interference with the inserting member, the amount of deflection of the locking lances is maximized at the base end part. Thus, if the restricting portion is formed on the base end part of the locking lance, the flexural rigidity of the base end part of the locking lance increases and resistance when the inserting member is inserted increases. Accordingly, the restricting portion of certain embodiments is at the position closer to the extending end part than the base end part of the locking lance in the extending direction. In this way, the flexural rigidity when the locking lance is resiliently deformed does not increase, and the resistance when the inserting member is inserted also does not increase. 
     The outer surface of the locking lance may be disposed at a position retracted from an outer surface of the housing when the locking lance is in a free state without being resiliently deformed. According to this configuration, external matter is less likely to interfere with the outer surface of the locking lance. 
     The locking lance may be cantilevered substantially parallel to the inserting direction of the inserting member, and two of the restricting portions may project from both sides of the locking lance. According to this configuration, there is no possibility that the locking lance is inclined when the restricting portion comes into contact with the housing to restrict resilient deformation of the locking lance. 
     A detection groove may be formed in the outer wall surface of the housing facing the restricting portion displaced according to resilient deformation of the locking lance. According to this configuration, the locking lance is deformed resiliently toward the outer surface in a state where the inserting member is inserted insufficiently. If a mating member is fit along the detection groove in this state, the mating member butts against the restricting portion. Thus, it can be detected by this butting that the inserting member is inserted insufficiently. 
     The locking lance may be cantilevered substantially parallel to the inserting direction of the inserting member, and a guide groove may be formed in the outer surface of the housing extending toward the extending end part of the locking lance. According to this configuration, the locking lance can be disengaged from the inserting member by sliding a tool along the guide groove and slipping the tool under the extending end part of the locking lance. Therefore work efficiency is good. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector in a state where a terminal module is properly inserted in a housing in a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the connector in the state where the terminal module is properly inserted in the housing. 
         FIG. 3  is a section along A-A of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a section along B-B of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the connector in a state where the terminal module is insufficiently inserted. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the connector in the state where the terminal module is insufficiently inserted. 
         FIG. 7  is a section along C-C of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a connector in a state where a terminal module is properly inserted in a housing in a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of the connector in the state where the terminal module is properly inserted in the housing. 
         FIG. 10  is a section along D-D of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a section along E-E of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the connector in a state where the terminal module is insufficiently inserted. 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of the connector in the state where the terminal module is insufficiently inserted. 
         FIG. 14  is a section along F-F of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Embodiment 
     A first embodiment of the invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 7 . Note that, in the following description, an oblique left-lower side in  FIGS. 1 and 5  and a left side in  FIGS. 2, 4 and 7  are defined as a front side concerning a front-rear direction. Upper and lower sides shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 to 7  are directly defined as upper and lower sides concerning a vertical direction. 
     A connector  1  of the first embodiment includes a housing  10  made of synthetic resin and a terminal module  27  (inserting member as claimed) constituting a shielded conductive path  26 . The terminal module  27  is inserted into the housing  10  from behind. The shielded conductive path  26  is configured by mounting the terminal module  27  on a front part of a shielded cable  28 . 
     The terminal module  27  includes inner conductors (not shown) individually connected to a twisted pair of wires  29  constituting the shielded cable  28 , a dielectric  30  accommodating the inner conductors and an outer conductor  31  surrounding the dielectric  30 . The terminal module  27  is formed with a locking projection  32  projecting from the upper surface of the outer conductor  31  and a butting projection  33  projecting from the lower surface of the outer conductor  31 . 
     The housing  10  is in the form of a block and one insertion space  11  is formed inside the housing  10 . A front part of the insertion space  11  is open in the front end of the housing  10 , and a rear part of the insertion space  11  is open as an insertion opening in the rear end of the housing  10 . An upper wall  12  defining the insertion space  11  constitutes an upper surface  13  (outer wall surface as claimed) of the housing  10 . The upper wall  12  is formed with a cutout  14  allowing communication between the outside of the housing  10  and the inside of the insertion space  11 . The cutout  14  has a rectangular plan view shape long in the front-rear direction (shape viewed from a direction perpendicular to the upper wall surface  13 ). 
     The housing  10  is formed with a front stop  15  projecting from the bottom surface of the insertion space  11 . The housing  10  is formed integrally with a locking lance  16  cantilevered forward along the ceiling surface of the insertion space  11 . The locking lance  16  includes a lance body  17  and left and right restricting portions  23 . The lance body  17  has a rectangular plan view shape long in the front-rear direction, similarly to the cutout  14 . The lance body  17  constitutes the upper wall  12  of the housing  10  by being accommodated into the cutout  14 . 
     A rear end part  17 R of the lance body  17  (base end part of the locking lance as claimed) is connected to a rear of an opening region of the cutout  14 , but a front end part  17 F (extending end part of the locking lance as claimed) and both left and right side edge parts of the lance body  17  are not in contact with the opening edge of the cutout  14 . That is, a slit substantially U-shaped in a plan view is present between an opening edge part of the cutout  14  and the outer peripheral edge of the lance body  17 . Specifically, the lance body  17  (locking lance  16 ) is cantilevered forward and resiliently deformable upward (toward the upper wall surface  13  of the housing  10 ) with the rear end part  17 R of the lance body  17  as a fulcrum. 
     The lower surface of the lance body  17  is formed with a retaining projection  18 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , when the locking lance  16  is at a retaining position (free state) without being resiliently deformed, the retaining projection  18  is located in an insertion path for the terminal module  27  in the insertion space  11 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , when the locking lance  16  is at a releasing position by being resiliently displaced upward, the retaining projection  18  is retracted upwardly of the insertion space  11 . The front surface of the retaining projection  18  serves as a locking surface  19  and is located a little behind the front end of the lance body  17 . The rear end of the retaining projection  18  is located a little in front of the rear end of the lance body  17 . 
     With the locking lance  16  located at the retaining position, the entire area of the upper surface  17 S of the lance body  17  (outer surface of the locking lance as claimed) is at a position a little lower than the upper wall surface  13  of the housing  10  (position retracted with respect to the upper wall surface  13 ). With the locking lance  16  located at the releasing position, an area of the upper surface  27 S of the lance body  17  on the side of the front end part  17 F is displaced to a position higher than the upper wall surface  13  of the housing  10  (position projecting from the upper wall surface  13 ). 
     A guiding slope  20  is formed at a front part (extending end) of the upper surface  17 S of the lance body  17  and extends in the front-rear direction (direction parallel to an extending direction of the locking lance  16 ) from the front end of the lance body  17  to a position a little behind the locking surface  19 . When the locking lance  16  is at the retaining position, the guiding slope  20  is inclined down toward the front. 
     A tool receiving surface  21  is formed at a lower surface (inner surface) of the front part of the lance body  17  and extends in the front-rear direction from the front end of the lance body  17  to a position in front of the locking surface  19 . When the locking lance  16  is at the retaining position, the tool receiving surface  21  is inclined up toward the front. Further, the housing  10  is formed with a tool inserting portion  22  by recessing a part (laterally central part) of a front of the cutout  14  in a plan view. The tool receiving surface  21  proximately faces the tool inserting portion  22  in the front-rear direction. 
     The locking lance  16  is formed integrally with the bilaterally symmetrical restricting portions  23  having a rectangular plan view shape. The restricting portions  23  project laterally out (width direction) from both left and right sides of the lance body  17  and extend in the front-rear direction from a position a little behind the locking surface  19  (position slightly behind the rear end of the guiding slope  20 ) to a position in front of the rear end of the lance body  17  (position a little in front of the rear end of the retaining projection  18 ). In other words, the formation region of the restricting portions  23  is only parts of side edges of the locking lance  16  along the extending direction, and the restricting portions  23  are disposed at positions closer to an extending end (front end part  17 F) than a base end part (rear end part  17 R) in the extending direction of the locking lance  16 . 
     A thickness (dimension in a direction substantially parallel to a resilient deforming direction of the locking lance  16 ) of the restricting portions  23  is smaller than a maximum thickness of the lance body  17 . The upper surfaces of the restricting portions  23  are continuous and flush with an area of the upper surface  17 S of the locking lance  16  behind the guiding slope  20 . The lower surfaces of the restricting portions  23  are located above the lower surface of the lance body  17 . 
     Since the restricting portions  23  project laterally from both left and right sides of the lance body  17 , the restricting portions  23  protrude outwardly of the opening region of the cutout  14  in a plan view. The housing  10  is formed with two bilaterally symmetrical stoppers  24  by recessing both left and right edges of the opening region of the cutout  14  in the upper wall surface  13  of the housing  10  to correspond to the restricting portions  23 . The stoppers  24  face up and vertically face the lower surfaces (inner surfaces) of the restricting portions  23 . 
     When the locking lance  16  is at the retaining position, the lower surfaces of the restricting portions  23  face the stoppers  24  with tiny clearances defined therebetween. When the locking lance  16  is resiliently displaced to the releasing position, the restricting portions  23  are displaced up away from the stoppers  24 . If the locking lance  16  at the retaining position is displaced toward a side opposite to the releasing position (down), the restricting portions  23  contact the stoppers  24  to restrict any further resilient deformation of the locking lance  16  when the locking lance  16  is slightly displaced down. 
     Further, the upper wall surface  13  of the housing  10  is formed with left and right detection grooves  25 . The detection grooves  25  extend straight in the front-rear direction from the front end of the upper wall surface  13  of the housing  10  toward the left and right restricting portions  23 . That is, the detection grooves  25  are located to correspond to the restricting portions  23  with respect to the lateral direction. Rear end parts of the detection grooves  25  communicate with the cutout  14 . Groove bottom surfaces of the detection grooves  25  are substantially at the same height as the upper surfaces of the restricting portions  23  when the locking lance  16  is at the retaining position. Therefore, if the locking lance  16  is resiliently deformed to the releasing position, the restricting portions  23  are displaced to positions higher than the groove bottom surfaces of the detection grooves  25 . 
     Next, functions and effects of the first embodiment are described. In assembling the terminal module  27  and the housing  10 , the terminal module  27  is inserted into the insertion space  11  from behind the housing  10 . If the terminal module  27  reaches an insufficient insertion position immediately before a proper insertion position in an insertion process, the locking projection  32  of the outer conductor  31  contacts the retaining projection  18  of the locking lance  16 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the locking lance  16  is displaced resiliently from the retaining position to the releasing position. If the insertion proceeds from this state and the terminal module  27  reaches the proper insertion position, the butting projection  33  of the terminal module  27  butts against the front stop  15  in the insertion space  11  to restrict further insertion of the terminal module  27 . 
     When the terminal module  27  is inserted properly, the locking projection  32  passes over the retaining projection  18 . Thus, the locking lance  16  at the releasing position resiliently returns to the retaining position and the locking surface  19  of the retaining projection  18  is locked to the locking projection  32  from behind. In this way, a rearward displacement of the terminal module  27  is restricted and the terminal module  27  is held at the proper insertion position. The retaining projection  18  is in contact with the upper surface of the outer conductor  31  and the lower surface of the front part of the lance body  17  is in contact with the upper surface of the locking projection  32  in this state. Thus, the locking lance  16  at the retaining position is not improperly displaced toward a side opposite to the releasing position (downward). 
     After the terminal module  27  is mounted into the housing  10 , the connector  1  is connected to an unillustrated mating connector (e.g. board connector). The mating connector is formed with detection ribs (not shown) to be fit individually into the detection grooves  25  in a connection process. Thus, there is no possibility that the connector  1  is connected in an improper vertically inverted posture to the mating connector. When the connector  1  is connected properly to the mating connector, tip parts of the detection ribs in a connecting direction are located to cover the upper surfaces of the restricting portions  23 . 
     An inserting operation may be finished with the terminal module  27  left at the insufficient insertion position immediately before reaching the proper insertion position. Thus, the locking projection  32  and the retaining projection  18  are kept interfering with each other, and the locking lance  16  is lifted to the releasing position. If the connector  1  is connected to the mating connector in this state, the detection ribs butt against the front ends of the restricting portions  23 . Thus, the connector  1  and the mating connector cannot be connected properly, thereby indicating that the terminal module  27  is in an insufficiently inserted state. 
     A continuity test conducted for the terminal module  27  (shielded conductive path  26 ) before the connector  1  is connected to the mating connector will detect the presence of the insufficiently inserted terminal module  27  if the continuity tester is provided with structures similar to the above-described detection ribs. 
     In withdrawing the terminal module  27  inserted in the housing  10 , a tool (not shown) is inserted into the tool inserting portion  22 , brought into contact with the tool receiving surface  21  of the locking lance  16  and inclined to resiliently deform the locking lance  16  to the releasing position by the principle of leverage. The retaining projection  18  is disengaged from the locking projection  32  and retracted upwardly of the locking projection  32  if the locking lance  16  is displaced to the releasing position. Thus, the terminal module  27  is released from the retained state. Thereafter, the twisted pair of wires  29  may be gripped and the terminal module  27  may be withdrawn rearward with the locking lance  16  kept displaced to the releasing position. 
     The connector  1  of the first embodiment includes the housing  10  having the insertion space  11 , the terminal module  27  insertable into the insertion space  11  and the locking lance  16 . The locking lance  16  is formed in the housing  10  so that the upper surface  17 S (outer surface) thereof is exposed to the outside of the housing  10 . In the process of inserting the terminal module  27  into the insertion space  11 , the locking lance  16  is resiliently deformed toward the outer surface (upper surface  17 S) thereof. When the terminal module  27  is inserted properly, the locking lance  16  resiliently returns to retain the terminal module  27 . 
     The locking lance  16  is in contact with the upper surface of the outer conductor  31  with the terminal module  27  inserted in the insertion space  11 . Thus, the locking lance  16  is not displaced down (direction to enter the insertion space  11 ). However, there is no member supporting the locking lance  16  from the side of the insertion space  11  in a state before the terminal module  27  is inserted into the housing  10 . Further, the outer surface (upper surface  17 S) of the locking lance  16  is exposed to the outside of the housing  10 . Thus, if the outer surface (upper surface  17 S) of the locking lance  16  is pressed, the locking lance  16  may be deformed improperly to enter the insertion space  11 . 
     As a countermeasure against this, the locking lance  16  is formed with the restricting portions  23 . If the locking lance  16  starts being displaced toward the insertion space  11 , the restricting portions  23  contact the stoppers  24  of the housing  10  immediately after the start and restrict a displacement of the locking lance  16  toward the insertion space  11 . Thus, even if the upper surface  17 S of the locking lance  16  is pressed in a state where the terminal module  27  is not inserted in the housing  10  yet, there is no possibility that the locking lance  16  is deformed improperly toward the insertion space  11   
     Further, the locking lance  16  is cantilevered in the direction substantially parallel to the inserting direction of the terminal module  27  (forward) and the amount of deflection of the locking lance  16  (stress generated in the locking lance  16 ) is maximized at the rear end part  17 R (base end part) when the locking lance  16  is resiliently deformed outwardly due to interference with the terminal module  27 . Thus, if the restricting portions  23  are formed on the rear end part  17 R of the locking lance  16 , the flexural rigidity of the rear end part  17 R of the locking lance  16  increases and resistance when the terminal module  27  is inserted increases. In the first embodiment, as a countermeasure against this, the restricting portions  23  are disposed at the positions closer to the front end  17 F than the rear end  17 R in the extending direction of the locking lance  16 . A part of the locking lance  16  on the side of the front end  17 F where the restricting portions  23  are formed is deflected less than the rear end part  17 R of the locking lance  16 . Thus, even if the locking lance  16  is formed with the restricting portions  23 , the flexural rigidity when the locking lance  16  is resiliently deformed does not increase and the resistance when the terminal module  27  is inserted also does not increase. 
     Further, the outer surface of the locking lance  16  (upper surface  17 S of the lance body  17 ) is retracted from the upper wall surface  13  of the housing  10  when the locking lance  16  is in the free state without being resiliently deformed (at the retaining position). Thus, external matter is less likely to interfere with the outer surface (upper surface  17 S) of the locking lance  16 . 
     Further, the locking lance  16  is cantilevered substantially parallel to the inserting direction of the terminal module  27 . Focusing on this form, the restricting portions  23  project from the both left and right sides of the locking lance  16 . According to this configuration, the inclination of the locking lance  16  can be prevented when the left and right restricting portions  23  contact the housing  10  to restrict the resilient deformation of the locking lance  16 . 
     Further, the detection grooves  25  are formed in the upper wall surface  13  of the housing  10  to face the restricting portions  23  displaced according to the resilient deformation of the locking lance  16 . The locking lance  16  is deformed resiliently toward the upper surface  17 S (outer surface) thereof with the terminal module  27  insufficiently inserted. If mating members (detection ribs or the like of the mating connector) are slid along the detection grooves  25  in this state, the mating members butt against the restricting portions  23 . In this way, it can be detected that the terminal module  27  is left insufficiently inserted. 
     Second Embodiment 
     A second embodiment of the invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 8 to 14 . A connector  2  of the second embodiment differs from the above first embodiment in the shape of an upper wall surface  41  (outer wall surface as claimed) of a housing  40 . Since the other components are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference signs and the structures, functions and effects thereof are not described. 
     Two detection grooves  25  corresponding to the two restricting portions in the lateral direction are formed in the upper wall surface  13  of the housing  10  in the connector  1  of the first embodiment. However, the detection grooves  25  are not formed and only one guide groove  42  is formed in the upper wall surface  41  of the housing  40  in the connector  2  of the second embodiment. The guide groove  42  does not correspond to a pair of restricting portions  23  in the lateral direction and is disposed to correspond to a lance body  17 . The rear end of the guide groove  42  faces a tool inserting portion  22 . That is, the guide groove  42  communicates with the tool inserting portion  22 . 
     The guide groove  42  was formed, focusing on the point that a locking lance  16  is cantilevered substantially parallel to an inserting direction of a terminal module  27  (forward). The guide groove  42  extends straight from the front of the housing  40  toward a front part  17 F (extending end part) of the locking lance  16  formed with a tool receiving surface  21 . Thus, to disengage the locking lance  16  from the terminal module  27 , a tool (not shown) is guided reliably into the tool inserting portion  22  and slips under the tool receiving surface  21  (inwardly of the front end part  17 F of the locking lance  16 ) if the tool is slid rearward along the guide groove  42 . Thus, work efficiency is excellent. 
     The invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiments. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. 
     The restricting portions are disposed at the positions closer to the extending end part than the base end part of the locking lance in the extending direction of the locking lance in the first and second embodiments. However, the restricting portions may be disposed on the base end part of the locking lance. 
     The restricting portions are disposed only on the parts of the side edge parts of the locking lance along the extending direction in the first and second embodiments. However, the restricting portions may be formed continuously over the entire lengths of the side edge parts of the locking lance. 
     The outer surface of the locking lance is retracted from the outer wall surface of the housing when the locking lance is in the free state in the first and second embodiments. However, the outer surface of the locking lance may be flush with the outer wall surface of the housing or project from the outer wall surface of the housing. 
     The restricting portions project from the sides of the locking lance in the first and second embodiments. However, a restricting portion may project forward from the extending end part of the locking lance. 
     The inserting member is the terminal module in which the dielectric accommodating the inner conductors is surrounded by the outer conductor in the above embodiments. However, the invention can be applied also in the case where the inserting member is the inner conductor and the dielectric is formed with the locking lance or the inserting member is the terminal fitting in an exposed state without being accommodated in the dielectric or the like. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           1 ,  2  . . . connector 
           10 ,  40  . . . housing 
           11  . . . insertion space 
           13 ,  41  . . . upper wall surface (outer wall surface) of housing 
           16  . . . locking lance 
           17 F . . . front end part (extending end part) of locking lance 
           17 R . . . rear end part (base end part) of locking lance 
           17 S . . . upper surface (outer surface) of locking lance 
           23  . . . restricting portion 
           25  . . . detection groove 
           27  . . . terminal module (inserting member) 
           42  . . . guide groove