Connector

ABSTRACT

A connector has a housing () with a cavity () for receiving a rectangular tube (Ta) of a terminal fitting (T). A lock () is formed on a surface of the cavity () for engaging the terminal fitting (T). The cavity () has a first guiding surface () at a corner adjacent a surface of the cavity () opposed to the lock () for narrowing the width of a cavity (). A retainer () engages a lower surface of the lock () for pressing the lock () and the terminal fitting (T) up into the first guiding surface () to prevent shaking of the terminal fitting (T) in the cavity ().

INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A connector according to the invention is identified by the numeral in FIGS. (A) and (B). The connector has a housing formed e.g. of a synthetic resin, and cavities extend through the housing in forward and backward directions. In this regard, the front of the housing is the end connected to a mating housing. A lock is cantilevered forwardly and inwardly from the bottom surface of the cavity , and a locking section is formed on the upper surface of the leading end of the lock . Each cavity has a tab insertion opening that opens at the front of the housing for receiving a male tab (not shown) of a mating connector.

Terminal fittings T are inserted into the cavities from the rear. Each terminal fitting T is a female terminal fitting with a substantially rectangular tube Ta at the front end, and wire-connecting portion Te at its rear end. The wire-connecting portion Te is configured for crimped, bent, folded or soldered connection with a wire W. A locking hole Tb is formed in the bottom surface of the rectangular tube Ta and is engageable with the locking section at the corresponding upper surface of the leading end of the lock to restrict movement of the terminal fitting T in a withdrawing direction WD. The lock is deformed resiliently down in a deformation permitting direction DD during the insertion of the terminal fitting T and retracts into a deformation permitting space below the lock .

A retainer is mounted into the housing from the front and along a mounting direction MD, which is substantially parallel to an insertion and withdrawal direction of the terminal fitting T. The mounted retainer enters the deformation permitting space to restrict deformation of the lock into the deformation permitting spaces . A guide projects down from the lower surface of the lock toward the deformation permitting space to reach an area where the retainer is to be inserted. A slanted surface is formed at the leading end of the guide to interfere with the retainer during the insertion of the retainer into the deformation permitting spaces . Thus, the retainer forcibly displaces the locks up in a direction substantially opposite the deformation direction DD and towards the terminal fitting T in the cavity .

A front area of the cavity has a substantially rectangular cross section whose width and height are slightly larger than those of the rectangular tube Ta of the terminal fitting T. Opposite corners of the upper surface of each cavity are chamfered to define first guiding surfaces that extend forward and back and face the locking section of the lock . The first guiding surfaces narrow the upper part of the cavity in areas opposed to the lock . Thus, opposite upper corners Tc of the rectangular tube Ta contact the first guiding surfaces to prevent the terminal fitting T from shaking laterally when the terminal fitting T is pressed up.

A recess is formed in the upper surface of the front area of each cavity and is dimensioned to receive the rectangular tube Ta. Front and rear ends of the recess have chamfered corners that extend in a widthwise direction W to define second guiding surfaces that narrow the length of the recess toward its upper surface. Thus, front and rear corners Td at the upper surface of the rectangular tube Ta contact the second guiding surfaces when the terminal fitting T is pressed up to prevent the terminal fitting T from shaking in forward and backward directions.

Each terminal fitting T is inserted into the corresponding cavity from behind in a direction opposite the withdrawal direction WD, as shown in FIGS. (A) and (B). The rectangular tube Ta presses the lock as the terminal fitting T is inserted, and hence the lock is deformed resiliently in the deformation direction DD and into the deformation permitting space . The lock is restored resiliently towards its original shape when the terminal fitting T is inserted to a specified position. Thus, the locking section engages the locking hole Tb to lock the terminal fitting T so as not to come out. A small clearance is defined between the rectangular tube Ta and the cavity at the time of inserting the terminal fitting T. Therefore, insertion resistance of the terminal fitting T is very small, and is sufficient only to deform the lock . At this point, the rectangular tube Ta of the terminal fitting T is slightly movable in the cavity in lateral, vertical and/or forward and backward directions.

The retainer then is inserted into the deformation permitting spaces from the front and along the mounting direction MD, as shown in FIGS. (A) and (B). Thus, the retainer is located along the lower surfaces of the locks and restricts the locks from being displaced in the deflection direction DD toward the deformation permitting spaces . As a result, the terminal fittings T are locked securely by the locks . Insertion of the retainer generates interference with under the locking portions or in the deflection direction DD with the guiding sections of the locks and presses the locks up in a direction substantially opposite to the deflection direction DD. As a result, the locks are pressed up in the cavities in a direction substantially opposite to the deflection direction DD. As a result, the opposite side corners Tc of the rectangular tubes Ta are pressed against the opposite first guiding surfaces . Accordingly, the rectangular tubes Ta are prevented from shaking in lateral and/or vertical directions. Simultaneously, the front and rear corners Td of the rectangular tubes Ta are pressed against the second guiding surfaces at the front and rear ends of the recesses . Therefore the rectangular tubes Ta cannot shake in forward, backward and/or vertical directions. In this way, the locks are pressed up in a direction opposite the deflection direction DD as the retainer is inserted and prevent the terminal fitting T from shaking in all directions.

Although the female terminal fitting is illustrated in the foregoing embodiment, the invention is applicable to a tube of a male terminal fitting. Further, the first guiding surfaces are at the opposite sides and the second guiding surfaces are at opposite ends. However, the first and second guiding surfaces and may be provided at only one side or one end respectively. However, they preferably are provided in opposed pairs to center the terminal fitting T laterally and/or longitudinally. Further, the terminal fitting T is prevented from shaking laterally by the first guiding surfaces and longitudinally by the second guiding surfaces . However, the shake of the terminal fitting may be prevented only by the first guiding surfaces

Further, although a nonwatertight connector is illustrated in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is applicable to a watertight connector provided with a sealing plug.

As is clear from the above description, the terminal fitting is prevented from shaking laterally and/or vertically by sliding the retainer against the guiding section of the lock to press the lock and the terminal fitting up in a direction opposite to the deflection direction DD of the lock. The tube is not pressed against the first guiding surface of the cavity when the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity. Thus, insertion resistance during the insertion of the terminal fitting is not excessive, and the insertion efficiency is improved. Further, the second guiding surfaces can be provided in the cavity at positions spaced along forward and backward directions to prevent longitudinal shaking of the terminal fitting.

Thus, damages caused by friction with the mating terminal fittings resulting from the shake of the terminal fittings can be prevented, and reliability in using the connector over a long term can be secured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. (A) and (B) are an exploded longitudinal sectional view and a lateral sectional view of a connector according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. (A) and (B) are a longitudinal section and a lateral section showing a state where a terminal fitting is inserted into a housing.

FIGS. (A) and (B) are a longitudinal sectional view and a lateral sectional view of the connector with a retainer mounted.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a prior art housing.

CLAIMS

1. A connector with a housing having opposite front and rear ends, at least one tab insertion opening extending rearwardly into the front end and at least one cavity extending forwardly into the rear end and communicating with the tab insertion opening, the cavity being cross-sectionally larger than the tab insertion opening, a resiliently deformable lock provided at a first surface of the cavity and being resiliently deformable into a deformation permitting space, at least one terminal fitting with a tube insertable into the cavity from the rear end and along an insertion direction, the terminal fitting being configured to deflect the lock into the deformation permitting space during insertion and to be engaged by the lock after complete insertion of the terminal fitting in the cavity, and a retainer mountable to the housing and insertable into a deformation permitting space for preventing resilient deformation of the lock, wherein: an area of the cavity for accommodating the tube has a cross section substantially conforming with the tube, a first chamfered guiding surface at least at one corner of a second surface of the cavity substantially opposite to the first surface of the cavity and substantially opposite to the lock for narrowing the cavity in directions transverse to the insertion direction, the tube of the terminal fitting being pressable against the first chamfered guiding surface by displacing the lock towards the terminal fitting when the retainer is mounted, thereby preventing the terminal fitting from shaking in lateral and/or vertical directions.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein a guiding section is formed on the lock for forcibly displacing the lock towards the terminal fitting upon the insertion of the retainer.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second surface faces a locking section of the lock that engages the terminal fitting.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the retainer is mountable to a front surface of the housing.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second surface of the cavity has a recess for receiving the tube.

6. The connector of claim 5, further comprising a second chamfered guiding surface for shortening the cavity in directions parallel to the insertion direction at locations adjacent the second chamfered surface of the cavity.

7. The connector of claim 6, wherein the tube is pressable against the second chamfered guiding surface by displacing the lock towards the terminal fitting when the retainer is mounted, thereby preventing the terminal fitting from shaking parallel to the insertion direction.

8. The connector of claim 6, wherein the first chamfered guiding surface and the second chamfered guiding surface are provided on facing corners of the second surface.

9. A connector with a housing having opposite front and rear ends and at least one cavity extending in a longitudinal direction between the front and rear ends, the cavity having opposed first and second surfaces extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, a resiliently deformable lock provided on the first surface of the cavity the second surface having at least one chamfered longitudinal corner extending along the longitudinal direction of the cavity at locations spaced rearwardly from the front end of the housing for narrowing the cavity at locations adjacent the second surface and in a width direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, the at least one chamfered longitudinal corner being disposed so that the resiliently deformable lock is opposed to the at least one chamfered longitudinal corner.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the at least one chamfered longitudinal corner comprises two opposed chamfered longitudinal corners.

11. The connector of claim 10, wherein the second surface further has at least one chamfered transverse corner extending along the width direction of the cavity for shortening the cavity at locations adjacent the second surface and in the longitudinal direction.

12. The connector of claim 10, further comprising a deformation permitting space adjacent the resiliently deformable lock for accommodating deformation of the lock away from the second surface and a retainer insertable into the deformation permitting space for urging the lock towards the second surface.

13. The connector of claim 12, further comprising a terminal fitting insertable into the cavity and configured to be locked by the lock, the terminal fitting having a rectangular tube dimensioned to be urged into the chamfered longitudinal corners when the retainer is inserted into the deformation permitting space for preventing shaking of the terminal fitting in the cavity.

14. A connector with a housing having opposite front and rear ends and at least one cavity extending in a longitudinal direction between the front end and rear ends, the cavity having opposed first and second surfaces substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, a resiliently deformable lock provided on the first surface of the cavity, the second surface having two opposed chamfered longitudinal corners extending along the longitudinal direction of the cavity for narrowing the cavity at locations adjacent the second surface and in a width direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, the second surface further having at least one chamfered transverse corner extending along the width direction of the cavity for shortening the cavity at locations adjacent the second surface and in the longitudinal direction.

COPYRIGHT

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