Patent Publication Number: US-2021167542-A1

Title: Connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-216126, filed on Nov. 29, 2019, with the Japan Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in their entireties by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a connector. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2019-021386 includes a plurality of terminal accommodation chambers, a plurality of detection spaces corresponding to the respective terminal accommodation chambers and a plurality of locking lances. When being inserted into the detection space, a detection pin reaches a predetermined insertion position without being hindered by the locking lance if a terminal is accommodated at a proper position. On the other hand, if the terminal is not accommodated at the proper position, the detection pin does not reach the predetermined insertion position by being hindered by the locking lance. Connectors of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-172998 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-241205 are similarly configured to include locking lances for retaining terminal fittings by being deflected and deformed. 
     SUMMARY 
     In such a connector of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2019-021386, the detection pin is configured to contact the tip of the locking lance from front. Since this tip of the locking lance is shaped to project, the detection pin comes into pinpoint contact with the tip of the locking lance. Thus, there is a problem that a state of the detection pin in contact with the tip of the locking lance is not stable. 
     The present disclosure was completed on the basis of the above situation and aims to provide a connector capable of satisfactorily detecting an incompletely inserted state of a terminal fitting. 
     The present disclosure is directed to a connector with a terminal fitting and a housing for accommodating the terminal fitting, wherein the housing includes a cavity, the terminal fitting being arranged inside the cavity, and a deflectable locking lance projecting into the cavity to lock the terminal fitting, the locking lance includes a protrusion projecting toward a side opposite to the cavity, and the protrusion has an elevation surface facing a front surface side of the housing with the locking lance deflected. 
     According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector capable of satisfactorily detecting an incompletely inserted state of a terminal fitting. 
     The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector of one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view in section of a first housing. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a first terminal fitting. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view in section when the first terminal fitting is incompletely inserted in a cavity. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view when the first terminal fitting is incompletely inserted in the cavity. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view in section when the first terminal fitting is properly inserted in the cavity. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view showing a part of the first housing when the first terminal fitting is properly inserted in the cavity. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF PRESENT DISCLOSURE 
     First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described. 
     (1) The connector of the present disclosure is provided with a terminal fitting and a housing for accommodating the terminal fitting, wherein the housing includes a cavity, the terminal fitting being arranged inside the cavity, and a deflectable locking lance projecting into the cavity to lock the terminal fitting, the locking lance includes a protrusion projecting toward a side opposite to the cavity, and the protrusion has an elevation surface facing a front surface side of the housing with the locking lance deflected. 
     If the terminal fitting is left incompletely inserted in the cavity, the locking lance is pressed by the terminal fitting and deflected toward the side opposite to the cavity, and the elevation surface of the protrusion faces the front surface side of the housing. Thus, by the contact of a detection jig (detection pin) with the elevation surface of the protrusion from front, it can be detected that the terminal fitting is in an incompletely inserted state. Particularly, since the elevation surface of the protrusion is configured to face the front surface side of the housing, the detection jig more easily contacts the elevation surface of the protrusion. Therefore, this connector can satisfactorily detect the incompletely inserted state of the terminal fitting by a simple configuration provided with the protrusion. 
     (2) Preferably, a surface of the locking lance opposite to the cavity, including the protrusion, is exposed on one surface of the housing. 
     According to this configuration, the protrusion can be easily manufactured. A degree of freedom in forming the protrusion can be enhanced. 
     (3) Preferably, the housing is a stacking housing, and a stacking partner is arranged to face the one surface of the housing. 
     According to this configuration, when the housing is stacked with the stacking partner, the stacking partner can protect the protrusion. 
     (4) Preferably, the elevation surface is a surface rising vertically upward or inclined forward. 
     According to this configuration, the detection jig can more reliably contact the elevation surface. 
     (5) Preferably, the protrusion has a rear surface facing rearward on a side opposite to the elevation surface, and the rear surface of the protrusion is located forward of a base end portion of the locking lance. 
     According to this configuration, the deflection strength of the locking lance can be prevented from becoming excessive by the presence of the protrusion. 
     (6) Preferably, the base end portion of the locking lance includes a padded portion having a partially padded shape. 
     According to this configuration, the deflection strength of the locking lance can be adjusted by the padded portion. 
     (7) Preferably, the locking lance includes a slide-contact portion configured to interfere with the terminal fitting on one widthwise side, and the protrusion is provided on another widthwise side of the locking lance. 
     According to this configuration, the one widthwise side of the locking lance can be made relatively thinner than the other widthwise side including the protrusion. Thus, the one widthwise side of the locking lance is more easily deflected and deformed when interfering with a stabilizer or the like (part configured to interfere with the slide-contact portion) of the terminal fitting. 
     DETAILS OF EMBODIMENT OF PRESENT DISCLOSURE 
     Embodiment 
     One specific embodiment of the connector of the present disclosure is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 7 . In this embodiment, left and right sides in  FIGS. 1 to 4, 6 and 7  are referred to as front and rear sides concerning a front-rear direction. Upper and lower sides shown in each figure are directly defined as upper and lower sides concerning a vertical direction. Left and right sides shown in  FIG. 5  are directly defined as left and right sides concerning a lateral direction. 
     The connector of this embodiment includes a first housing  10  and a second housing  10 B, which are stacking housings and to be stacked on each other as shown in  FIG. 1 , a plurality of first terminal fittings  50  (see  FIGS. 3 and 6 ) and a plurality of second terminal fittings (see  FIG. 3 ) to be respectively accommodated into the first housing  10 A and the second housing  10 B. 
     The first housing  10 A is a lower housing located on a lower side, has a flat shape long in the lateral direction, and has a first facing surface  11 A (one surface) facing the second housing  10 B as a stacking partner on an upper surface. The first housing  10 A includes a plurality of cavities  12  into which the first terminal fittings  50  are insertable. The respective cavities  12  are arranged side by side in one row in the lateral direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first housing  10 A includes a plurality of insertion openings  13  communicating with the respective cavities  12  in a front wall part. When the connector is connected to an unillustrated mating connector, tabs of unillustrated mating terminal fittings mounted in the mating connector enter the corresponding cavities  12  through the respective insertion openings  13 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first housing  10 A includes locking lances  20  cantilevered forward from central parts in the front-rear direction of the cavities  12  at positions corresponding to the respective cavities  12 . The upper surface of each locking lance  20  is entirely exposed on the first facing surface  11 A. The locking lance  20  projects into the cavity  12 . The locking lance  20  is deflectable to project toward the first facing surface  11 A. The locking lance  20  resiliently locks the first terminal fitting  50  inserted into the cavity  12  and retains the first terminal fitting  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the locking lance  20  includes a tip portion  21  extending toward a front-lower side. The tip portion  21  has a first tip surface  22  and a second tip surface  23 . The first tip surface  22  constitutes a surface on one widthwise side (left side) of the tip portion  21 . The first tip surface  22  is recessed rearward with respect to the second tip surface  23 . The first tip surface  22  is an arcuately curved surface. The second tip surface  23  constitutes a surface on the other widthwise side (right side) of the tip portion  21 . The second tip surface  23  is a bent surface. On the one widthwise side (left side) of the tip portion  21  of the locking lance  20 , a locking portion  24  is constituted by the first tip surface  23  and a left part of the second tip surface  23 . The locking portion  24  locks the first terminal fitting  50  inserted to a proper insertion position in the cavity  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the locking lance  20  includes a protrusion  25 . The protrusion  25  is provided on the other widthwise side (right side) of the locking lance  20 . The protrusion  25  is in the form of a rectangular block. The protrusion  25  projects toward a side (upper side) opposite to the locking portion  24  in the locking lance  20 . A surface of the locking lance  20  opposite to the locking portion  24 , including the protrusion  25 , is exposed on the first facing surface  11 A of the first housing  10 A. The protrusion  25  has an elevation surface  26  rectangular in a front view and an upper surface  27  rectangular in a plan view. The elevation surface  26  rises upward from a right side part of the second tip surface  23 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the elevation surface  26  is a surface inclined forward in a state where the locking lance  20  is not deflected. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the elevation surface  26  faces the front surface side of the first housing  10 A with the locking lance  20  deflected upward. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the protrusion  25  has a rear surface  28  facing rearward on a side (rear side) opposite to the elevation surface  26 . The rear surface  28  is connected to a rear side of the upper surface  27 . The rear surface  28  is located forward of a base end portion  31  of the locking lance  20 . The base end portion  31  includes a partially padded rib-like padded portion  32 . The padded portion  32  has a larger vertical thickness than a part of the locking lance  20  laterally adjacent to the padded portion  32 . 
     The locking lance  20  includes a slide-contact portion  29  (see  FIG. 4 ) configured to interfere with the first terminal fitting  50  when the first terminal fitting  50  is inserted into the cavity  12 . The slide-contact portion  29  constitutes one widthwise side (left side) of the lower surface of the tip portion  21 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first housing  10 A includes openings  41  in the form of recessed grooves open in the front surface on the upper end of the front wall. As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the openings  41  are located in front of the locking lances  20 . The openings  41  are formed by removing a mold for forming the elevation surfaces  26 . A groove width of the opening  41  is wider than a width of a detection jig  70  to be described later. The detection jig  70  can enter the opening  41  within a tolerance (assembling error) range. The elevation surface  26  is exposed to the front surface side of the first housing  10 A through the open  41 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first terminal fitting  50  is a so-called female terminal fitting. The first terminal fitting  50  is integrally formed, such as by bending, after a conductive metal plate is stamped into a predetermined shape. The first terminal fitting  50  is elongated in the front-rear direction as a whole and includes a body portion  51  and a barrel portion  52  located behind the body portion  51 . The barrel portion  52  is in the form of an open barrel and crimped and connected to a core portion  61  of a wire  60 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the body portion  51  is in the form of a rectangular tube. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the body portion  51  includes a resilient contact piece  53  and a receiving portion  54 . The resilient contact piece  53  is formed by folding a tongue piece projecting from an upper plate of the body portion  51  rearward, and deflectable and deformable. The upper plate is configured by placing two inner and outer (upper and lower) plate materials on each other. The receiving portion  54  is provided at a position facing the resilient contact piece  53  on a bottom plate of the body portion  51 . The receiving portion  54  is recessed to bulge toward the upper plate of the body portion  51 . A male tab of the unillustrated mating terminal fitting is press-fit between the resilient contact piece  53  and the receiving portion  54 , thereby being electrically connected to the first terminal fitting  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the upper plate of the body portion  51  is provided with a stabilizer  55  at a position behind a front end. The stabilizer  55  is provided at a position near a left side on the upper plate of the body portion  51 . The stabilizer  55  is formed to bulge upward by striking the upper plate of the body portion  51  from inside by a press. The stabilizer  55  has a trapezoidal shape in a front view and has such an outer shape that an upper part is connected to left and right sides in a curved manner. 
     The second housing  10 B is an upper housing located on an upper side and, as shown in  FIG. 1 , has a flat shape long in the lateral direction and has a second facing surface (not shown) facing the first housing  10 A as a stacking partner on a lower surface. The second housing  10 B includes a cantilevered and deflectable lock arm  11 B in a laterally central part of an upper surface. The second housing  10 B includes a covering wall  12 B extending over to cover a rear end part of the lock arm  11 B. The covering wall  12 B restricts the action of an unnecessary releasing force on the lock arm  11 B. 
     The second housing  10 B includes cavities formed similarly to the cavities  12 , insertion openings (not shown) formed similarly to the insertion openings  13  and locking lances (not shown) formed similarly to the locking lances  20 . If the first housing  10 A and the second housing  10 B are stacked, the locking lances  20  and the locking lances of the second housing  10 B are arranged back-to-back. 
     Next, a process of mounting the first terminal fittings  50  into the first housing  10 A is described. The first terminal fitting  50  is inserted into the cavity  12  from behind the first housing  10 A. In an insertion process, the upper surface (stabilizer  55 ) of the first terminal fitting  50  interferes with the slide-contact portion  29  of the locking lance  20 . Thus, the locking lance  20  is resiliently displaced to a side (upper side) opposite to the cavity  12 . A state where the locking lance  20  is resiliently displaced toward the first facing surface  11 A (side toward which the second housing  10 B is stacked) without the first terminal fitting  50  reaching a proper insertion position as shown in  FIG. 4  is defined as an incompletely inserted state. 
     When the first terminal fitting  50  reaches the proper insertion position as shown in  FIG. 6 , the locking lance  20  resiliently returns toward the cavity  12  and the locking portion  24  locks the first terminal fitting  50 . The first tip surface  22  can enter below the stabilizer  55 . The locking portion  24  (first tip surface  22  and the one widthwise side (left side) of the second tip surface  23 ) can simultaneously contact the rear end of the stabilizer  55 . In this way, the first terminal fitting  50  is retained and held in the first housing  10 A. A state where the first terminal fitting  50  is at the proper insertion position and retained by the locking lance  20  is defined as a properly inserted state. 
     Whether or not the first terminal fitting  50  is in the incompletely inserted state is detected using the detection jig (detection pin)  70 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the detection jig  70  is inserted into the first housing  10 A at the same height as the upper surface of the opening  41  from front. Note that, even if the detection jig  70  is slightly inclined downward, interference with the front wall of the first housing  10 A can be avoided by the entrance of the tip of the detection jig  70  into the opening  41 . If the first terminal fitting  50  is in the properly inserted state, the protrusion  25  of the locking lance  20  does not project further upward than the opening  41  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Thus, the detection jig  70  can pass rearward above the locking lance  20  without contacting the elevation surface  26  of the protrusion  25 . In this way, it can be known that the first terminal fitting  50  is not in the incompletely inserted state, i.e. the first terminal fitting  50  is in the properly inserted state. 
     In contrast, if the first terminal fitting  50  is left incompletely inserted in the cavity  12  as shown in  FIG. 4 , the locking lance  20  is pressed by the first terminal fitting  50  and deflected toward the side (upper side) opposite to the locking portion  24 . In this way, the protrusion  25  of the locking lance  20  projects further upward than the opening  41 . Then, the elevation surface  26  of the protrusion  25  faces the front surface side of the first housing  10 A while extending along the vertical direction (direction orthogonal to an inserting direction of the first terminal fitting  50  into the first housing  10 A, more specifically direction orthogonal to the inserting direction and an arrangement direction of the first terminal fittings  50 ). Thus, the detection jig  70  inserted into the first housing  10  via an upper part of the opening  41  from front contacts the elevation surface  26  of the protrusion  25  from front. In this way, it can be detected that the first terminal fitting  50  is in the incompletely inserted state. At this time, a tip surface (detection surface)  71  of the detection jig  70  comes into surface contact with the elevation surface  26 . 
     As described above, in the connector of the present disclosure, if the first terminal fitting  50  is left incompletely inserted in the cavity  12 , the locking lance  20  is pressed by the first terminal fitting  50  and deflected toward the side opposite to the cavity  12 , and the elevation surface  26  of the protrusion  25  faces the front surface side of the first housing  10 A. Thus, the detection jig (detection pin)  70  contacts the elevation surface  26  of the protrusion  25  from front, whereby it can be detected that the first terminal fitting  50  is in the incompletely inserted state. Particularly, since the elevation surface  26  of the protrusion  25  is configured to face the front surface side of the first housing  10 A, the detection jig  70  is easily brought into contact. Therefore, this connector can satisfactorily detect the incompletely inserted state of the first terminal fitting  50  by a simple configuration provided with the protrusion  25 . 
     In the connector of the present disclosure, the surface of the locking lance  20  opposite to the cavity  12 , including the protrusion  25 , is exposed on the first facing surface  11 A of the first housing  10 A. In this way, the protrusion  25  can be easily fabricated. A degree of freedom in forming the protrusion  25  can be enhanced. 
     In the connector of the present disclosure, the first housing  10 A is a stacking housing and the second housing  10 B is arranged to face the first facing surface  11 A of the first housing  10 A. In this way, when the first housing  10 A is in a state stacked with the stacking partner, the stacking partner can protect the protrusions  25 . 
     In the connector of the present disclosure, the elevation surface  26  is a surface rising vertically upward with the locking lance  20  deflected. In this way, the detection jig  70  can more reliably contact the elevation surface  26 . 
     In the connector of the present disclosure, the protrusion  25  has the rear surface  28  facing rearward on the side opposite to the elevation surface  26 . The rear surface  28  of the protrusion  25  is located forward of the base end portion  31  of the locking lance  20 . In this way, the deflection strength of the locking lance  20  can be prevented from becoming excessive by the presence of the protrusion  25 . 
     In the connector of the present disclosure, the base end portion  31  of the locking lance  20  includes the padded portion  32  having a partially padded shape. According to this configuration, the deflection strength of the locking lance  20  can be adjusted by the padded portion  32 . 
     In the connector of the present disclosure, the locking lance  20  includes the slide-contact portion  29  configured to interfere with the first terminal fitting  50  on the one widthwise side (left side). The protrusion  25  is provided on the other widthwise side (right) side of the locking lance  20 . According to this configuration, the one widthwise side (left side) of the locking lance  20  can be made relatively thinner than the other widthwise side (right side) including the protrusion  25 . Thus, the one widthwise side (left side) of the locking lance  20  is more easily deflected and deformed when interfering with the stabilizer or the like (part configured to interfere with the slide-contact portion  29 ) of the first terminal fitting  50 . 
     OTHER EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiment and is represented by claims. The present invention is intended to include all changes in the meaning of equivalents to claims and in the scope of claims and include also the following embodiments. 
     In the above embodiment, the elevation surface  26  is orthogonal to the front-rear direction in the deflected state (incompletely inserted state of the first terminal fitting  50 ). However, the elevation surface  26  may be inclined forward (inclined upward toward the front) in the deflected state (incompletely inserted state of the first terminal fitting  50 ). Further, the elevation surface  26  may be inclined rearward (inclined downward toward the front) in the deflected state (incompletely inserted state of the first terminal fitting  50 ). 
     In the above embodiment, the first housing  10 A is provided with the cavities  12  arranged in one row in the lateral direction in one stage. However, the cavities  12  may be provided in multiple stages in the vertical direction. The second housing  10 B may also be similarly provided with the cavities  12  provided in multiple stages in the vertical direction. 
     Although the first housing  10 A is configured such that the second housing  10 B is stacked thereon in the above embodiment, the first housing  10 A may be covered with a lid member. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.