Abstract:
A connector is provided with a connecting terminal, a connecting housing, and a front folder. The connecting housing includes a connecting terminal storing chamber, and a lance which is elastically deformable in order to store the connecting terminal into the terminal storing chamber and which is engageable with the connecting terminal in order to prevent the connecting terminal from removing when recovered from an elastic deformation. The front folder is supported to be movable to back and forth along the insertion direction and locked on a front end of the terminal storing chamber. The front folder is moved in the opposite direction to the insertion direction to be actually locked by pressure in a state that the front folder is temporarily locked and contacted with the connecting terminal to hold in a state that the front folder is actually locked.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-250546 filed on Dec. 11, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a connector. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In the structure of an ordinary connector, for example, a female terminal is inserted into a terminal storing chamber formed in a female connector housing and is stored therein while it is prevented against removal by a cantilever type lance. Further, a male terminal is inserted into a terminal storing chamber formed in a male connector housing and is similarly stored therein while it is prevented against removal by the lance. And, the male and female connector housings are fitted with each other to thereby connect the corresponding male and female terminals to each other. 
         [0006]    For example, there is proposed a connector which prevents backlash of a connecting terminal without increasing the insertion resistance of the connecting terminal to maintain the reliability of electric connection of the connecting terminal even when vibrations are applied (see, for example, the patent document 1: JP-A-2006-196348). Specifically, a female connector includes a front folder. This front folder is supported to be movable longitudinally along the insertion direction of the terminal and is temporarily locked on the front end of a terminal storing chamber. And, when, with fitting movement with a male connector serving as a mating connector, the folder is pressed by the male connector, the front folder is contacted with a female terminal to hold the female terminal between the lance and itself, and the male connector is actually locked to the female connector. 
       [Patent Document 1] JP-A-2006-196348 
       [0007]    According to a related art, in a structure where multiple female terminals are arranged horizontally side by side, when mounting front folders onto a female housing, fittings between the front folders and the female housing are set in a temporarily locked state. in this case, as shown in a female connector A′ of  FIG. 13 , the locked attitude of the front folder  2  is not proper but, in some cases, the front folder  2 ′ can backlash against the female housing  1 ′. In this case, as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , a partial structure (detection plate  12 ′) of the front folder  2 ′ is situated deeper than its proper temporarily-locked state. In  FIG. 13 , a detection plate  12 ′ shown on the right is situated deeper than its original position. In this state, as shown in  FIG. 15 , although the female terminal  4  is not inserted yet, the detection plate  12 ′ has reached a space (bending space  28 ′) existing above a housing lance  8 ′. As a result, the housing lance  8 ′ is disabled to bend but provides an obstacle, thereby disabling insertion of the female terminal  4 ′. For example, in a product manufacturing process using a connector, a connector with a front folder temporarily locked is transported and delivered to a process for fitting the connector with a mating connector. In this case, it is necessary to take measures to avoid a possibility that the temporary locking of the connector can be unexpectedly turned to the actual locking thereof due to vibrations, contact with other parts or the like; and, such measures are strongly requested from a manufacturing site. In the technology disclosed in the patent document 1, measures against such problems are not considered and thus technology relating to such measures has been demanded. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    One or more embodiments provide a connector in which can properly maintain a temporarily locked state when a front folder and a connector housing are temporarily locked on each other. 
         [0009]    In accordance with one or more embodiments, a connector is provided with a connecting terminal, a connecting housing, and a front folder. The connecting housing includes a connecting terminal storing chamber for storing the connecting terminal, and a lance which is elastically deformable in order to store the connecting terminal into the terminal storing chamber and which is engageable with the connecting terminal in order to prevent the connecting terminal stored in the terminal storing chamber from removing in the opposite direction to the insertion direction when recovered from an elastic deformation. The front folder is supported to be movable to back and forth along the insertion direction, and the front folder is locked on a front end of the terminal storing chamber. The front folder is moved in the opposite direction to the insertion direction to be actually locked by pressure in a state that the front folder is temporarily locked, and the front folder is contacted with the connecting terminal to hold the connecting terminal between the front folder and the lance in a state that the front folder is actually locked. The connector includes a locking structure which establishes the front folder and the connector housing as a temporarily locked state or an actually locked state before a mating connector is fitted with the connector. The connector includes an attitude maintaining structure which maintains properly the relative attitudes of the front folder and the connector housing in the temporarily locked state. 
         [0010]    In the connector of one or more embodiments, the attitude maintaining structure may include a groove formed in any one of the front folder and the connector housing and a fitting projection formed in the other of the front folder and the connector housing and capable of fitting into the groove in the temporarily locked state or the actually locked state. 
         [0011]    In the connector of one or more embodiments, the attitude maintaining structure may include a pressing projection formed in any one of the front folder and the connector housing. The pressing projection is pressed against the other of the front folder and the connector housing, in the temporarily locked state. 
         [0012]    According to one or more embodiments, in a connector structured such that a front folder is locked and mounted on a connector housing, a temporarily locked state can be properly maintained when the front folder and the connector housing are temporarily locked on each other. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a schematic structure of a female connector according to an embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the female connector of the embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a horizontal section view of the female connector in a specific position of the embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a longitudinal section view of the female connector in the specific position of the embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the area Z 1  of  FIG. 3  according to the embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a back view of a front folder according to the embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7A  is an enlarged view of the area W 1  of  FIG. 6 , and  FIGS. 7B  and C are enlarged views of the areas W 2  of  FIG. 6  according to the embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a transverse section view of a temporarily locked female connector in a specific position according to the embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a horizontal section view of a temporarily locked female connector in the specific position according to the embodiment. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10A  is an enlarged view of the area W 3  of  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 10B  is an enlarged view of the area W 4  of  FIG. 8  according to the embodiment. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a longitudinal section view of a temporarily locked female connector in a specific position according to the embodiment. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of the area W 5  of  FIG. 11  according to the embodiment. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a horizontal section view of a temporarily-locked backlashing female connector in a specific position according to a related art. 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a longitudinal section view of the temporarily-locked backlashing female connector in the specific position according to the related art. 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is enlarged view of the area W 6  of  FIG. 14  according to the related art. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    Exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the drawings. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a schematic structure of a female connector A according to an embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a front view of the female connector A.  FIG. 3  is a horizontal section view of the female connector A, taken along the X 1 -X 1  line of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a longitudinal section view of the female connector A, while a female terminal  4  is additionally shown in a section view taken along the Y 1 -Y 1  line of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the area Z 1  of  FIG. 3 , showing a structure for locking a female housing  1  and a front folder  2  on each other.  FIG. 6  is a back view of the front folder  2 . 
         [0030]    As shown in the drawings, the female connector A includes a female housing  1 , a front folder  2 , a packing  3  and a female terminal  4 . Although details are described later, the front folder  2  is stored and locked into the interior of the female housing  1 . In locking, the front folder  2  is fitted once in a temporarily locked state and, thereafter, is fitted in an actually locked state in a specific operation process. The female terminal  4  to be stored and fixed to the female housing  1 , in the actually locked state, is fixed to the interior of the female housing  1  but, in the temporarily locked state, is not fixed. 
         [0031]    The female housing  1  is formed of, for example, synthetic resin and includes a terminal storing chamber  7  and a hood part  6  formed to cover the outer periphery of the terminal storing chamber  7 . 
         [0032]    The terminal storing chamber  7  is defined by a storing chamber outer wall  20  and is opened on the front and back sides. The storing chamber wall  20  has a substantially rectangular tube shape, while the terminal storing chamber  7  is arranged inside the wall  20 . A packing  3  formed of elastic material such as silicone rubber is mounted on the side surface of the back side of the wall  20  (that is, on the deep side of a connector storing opening  60 ). And, the front folder  2  is mounted on the portion existing forwardly of the packing  3  in such a manner that it is fitted therein. 
         [0033]    The periphery of the terminal storing chamber  7  is covered by a substantially rectangular tube-shaped hood part  6 . The front end of the hood part  6  is projected forwardly of the front end of the terminal storing chamber  7 . And, there is formed a connector storing opening  60  through which a male connector (not shown) serving as a mating connector can be inserted. Here, in this embodiment, the terminal storing chamber  7  is formed in two stages in the vertical direction and in 10 locations in the horizontal direction. The female terminal  4  is inserted into the terminal storing chamber  7 . 
         [0034]    One side surface of the hood part  6  is partially cut out penetratingly in the thickness direction and, inside the cut-out portion, there is provided an elastic locking piece (lock arm  5 ) for locking the male connector inserted. 
         [0035]    Inside the storing chamber outer wall  20  defining the terminal storing chamber  7 , there is formed a cantilever housing lance  8  extending forward and slightly downward from the upper wall surface and a wall surface partitioned in two vertical stages. The front end portion of the housing lance  8  can be elastically deformed to approach the upper surface. The housing lance  8  fixes the female terminal  4  inserted into the terminal storing chamber  7 . 
         [0036]    The female terminal  4  is formed, for example, by pressing a conductive metal plate, and includes in the front end thereof a connecting portion formed as a substantially rectangular tube and in the rear end thereof a caulking portion having a substantially U-shaped section to be caulked to the core wire and coating of an electric wire. In one side surface (here, upper side surface) of the connecting portion, there is formed a specifically shaped opening into which the housing lance  8  can be fitted. 
         [0037]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , in a specific position of the front surface  20   a  of the storing chamber outer wall  20 , more specifically, in an area existing centrally in the horizontal direction and above the upper stage side terminal storing chamber  7 , there is formed a locking structure for locking the front folder  2  (housing side locking structure  70 ). A folder side locking structure  80  (to be discussed later) is to be locked on the housing side locking structure  70 . A structure for locking the housing side locking structure  70  and folder side locking structure  80  is described later. 
         [0038]    The front folder  2  is formed of, for example, synthetic resin, and includes a folder front wall surface  2   a  and a folder side wall  2   c  extended backward from the peripheral edge of the folder front wall surface  2   a  and externally fitted with the front end of the terminal storing chamber  7  of the female housing  1 . 
         [0039]    The folder front wall surface  2   a  has openings  2   b  (insertion holes) formed in two vertical stages corresponding to the terminal storing chamber  7 . 
         [0040]    On the back side of the folder front wall surface  2   a , that is, on the inner side of the front folder  2 , there is extended a plate-shaped detection plate  12  facing backward. The detection plate  12  is formed according to the number of the terminal storing chambers  7 . The detection plate  12  is to be inserted into a bending space  28  when the front folder  2  is actually locked on the front end of the terminal storing chamber  7 . 
         [0041]    Also, in a specific area on the back side of the folder front wall surface  2   a , there is formed a folder side locking structure  80 . Here, the folder side locking structure  8  is formed in a horizontally central upper side portion. 
         [0042]    Here, referring to  FIG. 5 , description is given specifically of a structure for locking the housing side locking structure  70  and folder side locking structure  80 . 
         [0043]    In the front surface  20   a  of the storing chamber outer wall  20 , there is formed a locking hole  71  recessed backward with a specific depth. A temporarily locking piece  74  and an actually locking piece  75  extend forward from the bottom surface of the locking hole  71 . The temporarily locking piece  74  has a temporarily locking projection  9 . The temporarily locking projection  9  has a key-shaped section facing toward the actually locking piece  75 . Similarly, the actually locking piece  75  has an actually locking projection  10 . The actually locking projection  10  has a key-shaped section facing toward the temporarily locking piece  74 . Here, the temporarily locking projection  9  is formed forwardly of the actually locking projection  10  in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0044]    On the back side of the front folder  2 , as described above, there is formed the folder side locking structure  80 . The folder side locking structure  80  includes a backward extending locking piece  82  and guide pieces  81 ,  83  respectively formed on the two sides of the locking piece  82 . 
         [0045]    The locking piece  82  is inserted between the temporarily locking piece  74  and actually locking piece  75  of the housing side locking structure  70 . Here, the locking piece  82  has a temporarily locking projection  13  and an actually locking projection  14 . The temporarily locking projection  13  has a key-shaped section projecting toward the temporarily locking piece  74  (to the left in  FIG. 5 ). The actually locking projection  14  has a key-shaped section projecting toward the actually locking piece  75  (to the right in  FIG. 5 ). The temporarily locking projection  13  is formed nearer to the tip end than the actually locking projection  14 . 
         [0046]    Also, the guide piece  81  shown on the left in  FIG. 5  is inserted into the locking hole  71  so as to cover the outside (in  FIG. 5 , the left side) of the temporarily locking piece  74 . The guide piece  83  shown on the right is inserted into the locking hole  71  so as to cover the outside (in  FIG. 5 , the right side) of the actually locking piece  75 . 
         [0047]    In the temporarily locked state, the temporarily locking projection  13  has advanced deep beyond the temporarily locking projection  9  and the actually locking projection  14  of the locking piece  82  is contacted with the actually locking projection  10  of the actually locking piece  75 . To provide the actually locked state, the actually locking projection  14  must go beyond the actually locking projection  10 . Here, to transfer the temporarily locked state to the actually locked state, the front folder  2  must be pushed further deeper; and, in this operation, an operator may push in the front folder  2  itself, or when mounting a mating connector, the mating connector may push in the front folder  2  with such mounting operation. 
         [0048]    Here, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the front folder  2  has a bottom face backlash preventive projection  15  and a side surface backlash preventive projection  16 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 7A to 7C  show enlarged views of areas W 1  and W 2  shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 7A  is an enlarged view of the area W 1 , with the bottom face backlash preventive projection  15  shown enlargedly.  FIG. 7B  is an enlarged view of the area W 2 , while the side surface backlash preventive projection  16  on the left side of  FIG. 6  is shown enlargedly.  FIG. 7C  is an enlarged view of an area W 3 , while the side surface backlash preventive projection  16  on the right side of  FIG. 6  is shown enlargedly.  FIG. 8  shows a transverse section of a female connector A with the temporarily locked front folder  2  fitted therein.  FIG. 9  shows a horizontal section of the female connector A with the temporarily locked front folder  2  fitted therein. This shows a portion where the detection plate  12  is formed in the front folder  2 .  FIG. 10A  shows enlargedly an area W 3  of  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 10B  shows enlargedly an area W 4  of  FIG. 8 . 
         [0050]    The bottom face backlash preventive projection  15  is provided on the center of the lower inner wall surface  2   d  of the front folder  2  so as to project upward. It includes a convex-shaped main body  15   a  and two pressing parts  15   b  respectively projecting on the two sides of the main body with a triangular section. As shown in  FIG. 10A , the bottom face backlash preventive projection  15 , in the temporarily locked state, fits into a groove  11  formed in a specific area of the storing chamber outer wall  20 . In this case, the pressing parts  15   b  are pressed into the groove  11  and are slightly collapsed. 
         [0051]    The side surface backlash preventive projection  16  is formed at two locations opposed to a specific position (here, a vertically, substantially central position) of the lateral inner wall  2   e  of the front folder  2 . As shown in  FIG. 10B , the side surface backlash preventive projection  16  is contacted with a folder fitting part  22  and is slightly collapsed. Here, for illustration convenience,  FIGS. 10A and 10B  show states before it is collapsed. 
         [0052]    Next, description is given of how to assemble the female connector A. Firstly, the packing  3  is mounted on the packing arrangement portion  21  of the storing chamber outer wall  20  of the female housing  1 . After then, the front folder  2  is temporarily locked on the front end of the terminal storing chamber  7 . 
         [0053]    The temporary locking of the front folder  2 , as described above, is performed by the deep advancement of the temporarily locking projection  13  beyond the temporarily locking projection  9 . 
         [0054]    Here,  FIG. 11  shows a longitudinal section of the female connector A with the front folder  2  temporarily locked.  FIG. 12  shows an area W 5  of  FIG. 11  enlargedly.  FIG. 13  shows a horizontal section of the female connector A with the front folder  2  temporarily locked. 
         [0055]    As shown in these figures, in the temporarily locked state, the detection plate  12  of the front folder  2  is not inserted into the bending space  28  of the female housing  1 . Thus, the housing lance  8  is elastically deformable. In this state, the female terminal  4  with an electric wire caulked and fixed thereto is inserted into the terminal storing chamber  7  from behind. 
         [0056]    With insertion of the female terminal  4  into the terminal storing chamber  7 , the tip end of the female terminal  4  is contacted with the lower surface of the housing lance  8  and the female terminal  4 , while elastically deforming the housing lance  8  upward, advances further into the terminal storing chamber  7 . When the female terminal  4  reaches a normal position within the terminal storing chamber  7 , the housing lance  8  recovered from elastic deformation fits into the upper surface opening of the female terminal  4 . 
         [0057]    Here, supposing the above-mentioned bottom face backlash preventive projection  15  and side surface backlash preventive projections  16  are absent, when the front folder  2  is temporarily locked, as shown in  FIGS. 13-15 , the front folder  2  can backlash. Here, the front folder  2  and storing chamber outer wall  20  are temporarily locked together by the above-described housing side locking structure  70  and folder side locking structure  80 . However, in the locking structure of  FIG. 5 , with the contact position P 1  between the actually locking projection  14  of the locking piece  82  and the actually locking projection  10  of the actually locking piece  75  as a fulcrum, as shown by arrows, there can occur rotating backlash. In this case, in the backlashing female connector A′ of  FIG. 13 , as it goes to the right in  FIG. 13 , the detection plate  12 ′ advances deeper. Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , in spite of the temporarily locked state, the detection plate  12 ′ advances into a bending space  28 ′. As a result, the housing lance  8 ′ is disabled to deform elastically, thereby disabling insertion of the female terminal  4 . 
         [0058]    However, in this embodiment, due to provision of the groove  11 , bottom face backlash preventive projection  15  and side surface backlash preventive projections  16 , when the front folder  2  and storing chamber outer wall  20  are temporarily locked, their attitudes can be maintained properly. This can avoid occurrence of backlash. Also, existence of the bottom face backlash preventive projection  15  and side surface backlash preventive projections  16  can increase the transfer power to transfer the temporarily locked state to the actually locked state. Thus, in transportation or the like of the temporarily locked female connector A, it can be prevented from being transferred to the actually locked state due to vibrations, contact with other parts, or the like. 
         [0059]    The invention has been described heretofore with reference to the embodiment thereof. However, the embodiment is an example and thus it can be understood by persons skilled in the art that the composing elements thereof and the combinations thereof can be modified variously and such modifications also fall under the scope of the invention. 
       DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS 
       [0000]    
       
         A: female connector 
           1 : female housing 
           2 : front folder 
           2   a : folder front wall surface 
           2   b : opening 
           2   c : folder side wall 
           2   d : lower inner wall 
           4 : female terminal 
           5 : lock arm 
           6 : hood part 
           7 : terminal storing chamber 
           8 : housing lance 
           9 : temporarily locking projection 
           10 : actually locking projection 
           11 : groove 
           12 : detection plate 
           13 : temporarily locking projection 
           14 : actually locking projection 
           15 : bottom face backlash preventive projection 
           16 : side surface backlash preventive projection 
           20 : storing chamber outer wall 
           22 : folder fitting part 
           60 : connector storing opening 
           70 : housing side locking structure 
           74 : temporarily locking piece 
           75 : actually locking piece 
           80 : folder side locking structure 
           82 : locking piece 
           81 ,  83 : guide piece