Patent Publication Number: US-8113881-B2

Title: Connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-132522 filed on May 20, 2008, the entire subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The invention is related to a connector in which a female type terminal (F-terminal), into which a male type terminal (M-terminal) is inserted and detached, is surely engaged to a resin connector housing with a simple structure and high engagement force. 
     The F-terminal is engaged with the resin connector housing as a base for the connector when the female type connector is used. An engagement structure of the F-terminal with the connector housing is important to improve reliability of the connector. 
     There are two types of such engagement structures. The first type is a terminal lance structure in which a detent so called lance is provided on the F-terminal itself. The second type is a case lance structure in which a detent is provided in the connector housing. In view of reliability, the case lance structure is dominant. 
     Above mentioned “lance” is a terminology in the field of the invention. “lance” means a member for engagement with elasticity. 
     As an example of a connector adopting the case lance structure, a terminal clasp and a connector preferable for miniaturization are described in JP-2004-14305A. 
     The connector shown in JP-2004-14305A includes a connector housing having terminal accommodating spaces (cavities) provided on upper and lower stages and arranged in a width direction, and a plurality of F-terminal each of which is engaged with a drop prevention part (lance) when the F-terminal is inserted into the space from back side of the space. A cut out portion is provided on an outside wall of the F-terminal so as to allow the drop prevention portion in the connector housing to advance, and an engagement protrusion engaging with the drop prevention portion is formed by outwardly protruding a part of a cutting front edge of the cut out portion. 
     The drop prevention portion in the connector housing is a lance which protrudes from a bottom inner wall of the cavity and is elastically deformable. 
     According to the connector described in JP-2004-14305A, when the F-terminal for inserting the M-terminal is mounted in the resin connector housing, the F-terminal is engaged within the connector housing by advancing the lance that is elastically deformable in the connector housing into the cut out portion provided on the outside wall of the F-terminal by using elastic force of the resin. 
     However, the more the miniaturization of the connector housing develops, the more the pitch of adjacent cavities becomes narrow. As a result, a width of the lance provided in the connector housing becomes narrow. Therefore, the engagement force of the lance to engage the F-terminal within the connector housing is lowered due to lack of strength of the lance. 
     Accordingly, a connector in which a F-terminal into which a M-terminal is inserted and detached is surely engaged to a resin connector housing with a simple structure and high engagement force is required. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is devised in view of the above mentioned problem. The first aspect of the invention is a connector including a connector housing forming a cavity extending from a rectangular opening and including a top wall and a bottom wall which face each other, a first engagement portion provided on the bottom wall, a second engagement portion which is elastically deformable provided on the top wall; and a terminal including a frame having a box shape which includes an upper outer surface and a lower outer surface which face each other, a first engaged portion provided on the lower outer surface, a second engaged portion provided on the upper outer surface, and a conductive contact provided therein for contacting with a mating connector. The first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are engaged with the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion respectively when the terminal is inserted into the connector housing. 
     The second aspect of the invention is a connector according to the first aspect of the invention such that the one of the first engagement portion and the first engaged portion is a recess portion and the other of the first engagement portion and the first engaged portion is a protrusion. 
     The third aspect of the invention is a connector according to the first and the second aspect of the invention such that the connector housing includes an arm supported by the top inner wall so as to elastically deform. The second engagement portion is a protrusion protruding from a tip of the arm and the second engaged portion is a protrusion protruding from the upper outer surface. 
     According to the invention, when the connector is miniaturized, even the pitch of the adjacent cavities in the connector housing becomes narrow in width so that the first engagement portion formed on the inner wall and the second engagement portion formed on another inner wall opposing to the one inner wall so as to be elastically deformable become narrow, the first and the second engagement portion which are integrally formed with the connector housing in a simple structure enhance the engagement to the first and the second engaged portions. Also, the engagement between the first engagement portion and the first engaged portion, the engagement between the second engagement portion and the second engaged portion are both work equally when the F-terminal is engaged within the connector housing because only the second engagement portion is elastically deformable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a left side view of a connector housing in order to explain a connector of an embodiment. 
         FIG. 1B  is a vertical cross sectional view of the connector housing in order to explain a connector of an embodiment. 
         FIG. 1C  is a right side view of a connector housing in order to explain a connector of an embodiment. 
         FIG. 1D  shows a female type terminal (F-terminal). 
         FIG. 2  is a vertical cross sectional view of a connector that explains a middle of a process where the F-terminal is inserted into the connector housing. 
         FIG. 3  is a vertical cross sectional view of a connector that explains a situation where the F-terminal is inserted into the connector housing completely. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 1A-1D  to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 1A  is a left side view of a connector housing.  FIG. 1B  is a vertical cross sectional view of the connector housing.  FIG. 1C  is a right side view of the connector housing.  FIG. 1D  shows a female type terminal (F-terminal). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1D , a connector  10  of the embodiment includes a resin connector housing  11 , a female type terminal (F-terminal)  20  of an elongate shape into which a mating male type terminal (M-terminal) is inserted and detached. The plurality of F-terminals  20  are accommodated in the connector housing  11  so as to be engaged with the connector housing  11 . 
     The connector housing  11  is integrally molded by injection molding in a rectangular parallel piped shape. The connector housing  11  is made of a non-conductive synthetic resin, for example a white resin. 
     The connector housing  11  has a plurality of cavities  11   c  (terminal accommodating spaces). Each of the cavities  11   c  extends from rectangular openings on a rear side  11   a  to a front side  11   b  of the connector housing  11 . For example, the cavities are provided on upper and lower stages and arranged in plural in a width direction. A front wall  11   d  is vertically provided between the front side  11   b  and the cavities  11   c.    
     The cavity  11   c  is formed in a long rectangular parallel piped shape corresponding to the long shape of the F-terminal  20 . A vertical size of the cavity  11   c  is set larger than a vertical size of the F-terminal  20  so that the F-terminal is smoothly inserted. On the other hand, a width of the cavity  11   c  that is perpendicular to the sheet (see  FIG. 1B ) is substantially same as a width of the F-terminal  20 . Thus, the F-terminal  20  is able to be inserted into and accommodated within the cavity  11   c  from the rear side  11   a.    
     In each of the cavities  11   c , a first trapezoidal protrusion  11   f  which works as a first engagement portion is integrally formed so as to be protruded from a bottom inner wall  11   e  of the cavity. A second trapezoidal protrusion  11   i  which works as a second engagement portion is protruded from a tip of an arm  11   h . The arm is supported by a top inner wall  11   g  which is opposite to the bottom wall  11   e  so as to elastically deformable (able to swing). The first engagement portion  11   f  and the second engagement portion  11   i  are engaged with a first engaged portion  21   d  and a second engaged portion  21   e  respectively. The first engaged portion  21   d  and the second engaged portion  21   e  are provided on a lower outer surface  21   a  and an upper outer surface  21   b  of a frame  21  (described later) of the F-terminal respectively. 
     In the cavity  11   c  of the connector housing  11 , the first trapezoidal protrusion  11   f  protrudes with a low height from the bottom inner wall  11   e  to the inside of the cavity  11   c . The first trapezoidal protrusion  11   f  has an inclined surface which is inclined to the rear side  11   a . The F-terminal  20  is smoothly inserted into the cavity  11   c  because of the inclined surface 
     In the cavity  11   c  of the connector housing  11 , the arm  11   h  extends along the top inner wall  11   g  toward the front side  11   b . The arm  11   h  is supported so as to be elastically deformable (able to swing) by elasticity of the resin and be substantially parallel to the top inner wall  11   g . A rear side of the arm  11   h  works as a fulcrum point for swing. The second trapezoidal protrusion  11   i  protrudes with a low height from the tip of the arm  11   h  to the inside of the cavity  11   c . The second trapezoidal protrusion  11   i  works as an elastically deformable lance. 
     The second trapezoidal protrusion  11   i  has an inclined surface which is inclined in a direction in which the F-terminal is inserted. The F-terminal  20  is smoothly inserted into the cavity  11   c  because of the inclined surface. 
     A first hole  11   j  through which a male type terminal (M-terminal) (not shown) is inserted and detached is provided on the front side  11   b  of the connector housing  11 . A second hole  11   k  through which a terminal pull out jig (not shown) is inserted and detached is provided on the front side  11   b  of the connector housing  11 . The first and the second holes  11   j    11   k  penetrate the front side  11   b  into the inside of the cavity. 
     In the F-terminal  20 , the frame  21  formed be bending is made from a metal plate into a elongated box shape. 
     In the frame  21 , a cut out portion  21   c  is provided on a rear side of the upper outer surface  21   a  which is opposite to the lower outer surface  21   a  of the elongated shape so as to form a step shape from the top outer surface  21   b . The frame  21  has a conductive contact  22  to which the M-terminal contacts. The conductive contact  22  is provided at the front side of the frame  21  from which the F-terminal  20  is inserted in the connector housing  11 . The cut out portion  21   c  press-holds a wire  23  at the rear side of the frame  21 . 
     An engaged side recess hole  21   d  is formed on the front side of the lower outer surface  21   a . An engagement side triangle protrusion  21   e  protrudes with a low height at the front side of the upper outer surface  21   b.    
     The engaged side recess hole  21   d  which is formed on the front side of lower outer surface  21   a  works as a first engaged portion which is engaged with the first trapezoidal protrusion  11   f  which works as a first engagement portion, and which is formed in the cavity  11   c  of the housing  11 . 
     In this embodiment, although the first engagement portion (the first trapezoidal protrusion  11   f ) is formed in a protrusion shape, and the first engaged portion (the engaged side recess hole  21   d ) is formed in a recess shape, their forms are not limited to this embodiment. It is possible to form the first engagement portion in a recess shape on the bottom inner wall  11   e  of the cavity  11   c  and form the first engaged portion in a protrude shape on the lower outer surface  21   a . Therefore, it is enough that one of the first engagement portion and the first engaged portion has a recess shape and the other has a protrude shape. 
     The engaged side triangle protrusion  21   e  protruding at the front side of the upper outer surface  21   b  has an inclined surface at the front side of the frame  21  and a vertical surface opposite to the inclined surface. 
     The engaged side triangle protrusion  21   e  protruding at the front side of the upper outer surface  21   b  works as the second engaged portion which is engaged with the second trapezoidal protrusion  11   i  formed within the cavity  11   c  of the connector housing  11  as the second engagement portion. 
     An operation of the above described embodiment is described briefly with reference to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 2  is a vertical cross section view of the connector that explains a middle of the process where the F-terminal is inserted into the connector housing.  FIG. 3  is a vertical cross sectional view of the connector that explains a situation where the F-terminal is inserted into the connector housing completely. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the F-terminal  20  is inserted into the cavity  11   c  of the connector housing, the front end of the F-terminal  20  is inclined upwardly with respect to the bottom inner wall  11   e  in the cavity  11   c  and inserted into the cavity  11   c , and then the front end of the lower outer surface  21   a  of the frame  21  overlaps the first trapezoidal protrusion  11   f  protruded on the bottom inner wall  11   e  in the cavity  11   c . At this time, the first trapezoidal protrusion  11   f  formed on the bottom inner wall  11   e  in the cavity  11   c  does not reach the engaged side recess hole  21   d  formed on the bottom outer surface  21   a  of the frame  21  in the F-terminal  20 . 
     Accompanied with above operation, the engaged-side triangle protrusion  21   e  protruded at the front side of the top outer surface  21   b  of the frame  21  in the F-terminal  20  pushes the second trapezoidal protrusion  11   i  protruded from the top inner wall  11   g  so as to be elastically deformable through the arm  11   h  upwardly. 
     After that, as shown in  FIG. 3 , when the F-terminal  20  is further inserted into the cavity  11   c  along the bottom inner wall  11   e , the first trapezoidal protrusion  11   f  protruded on the bottom inner wall  11   e  in the cavity  11   c  advances into the engaged side recess hole  21   d  formed at the front side of the bottom outer surface  21   a  of the frame  21  in the F-terminal  20 . Thus, the engaged side recess hole  21   d  is engaged with the first trapezoidal protrusion  11   f , and the second trapezoidal protrusion  11   i  protruded from the top inner wall  11   g  so as to be elastically deformable through the arm  11   h  passes over the engaged side triangle protrusion  21   e  protruded from the front end of the top outer surface  21   b  of the frame  21  in the F-terminal  20 , so that the engaged side triangle protrusion  21   e  is engaged with the second trapezoidal protrusion  11   i  and is engaged with the triangle protrusion for engagement  21   e.    
     When the F-terminal  20  is engaged within the cavity  11   c  of the connector housing  11 , the M-terminal (not shown) is able to be inserted and detached through the first hole  11   j  provided on the front side  11   b  of the connector housing  11 . 
     When the F-terminal engaged with in the cavity  11   c  is detached from the cavity  11   c , the terminal pull out jig (not shown) is inserted through the second hole  11   k  formed on the front side  11   b  of the connector housing  11 . Then, the engagement between the second engagement portion  11   i  and the F-terminal  20  is released by touching the terminal pull out jig to the tip of the arm  11   h.    
     Accordingly, when the connector  10  is miniaturized, even the pitch of adjacent cavities becomes narrow and the first engagement portion  11   f  formed on the bottom inner wall  11   e  in the cavity  11   c  and the second engagement portion  11   i  formed on the top inner wall  11   g  that is opposite to the bottom inner wall  11   e  so as to be elastically deformable through the arm  11   h  become narrow in width, the first and the second engagement portions  11   f  and  11   i  which are integrally formed in a simple structure enhance the engagement to the first and the second engaged portions  21   d  and  21   e . Also, both engagements work equally when the F-terminal is engaged within the connector housing  11  because, only the second engagement portion  11   i  is elastically deformable.