Connector and a connector assembly

Abstract

A female housing (10) is divided into a first and a second blocks (15A, 15B) that can be united by fitting a rib (27) of the second block (15B) into a dovetail groove (19) of the first block (15A). With the two blocks (15A, 15B) united, tab-shaped terminal insertion passages (29) are formed up to the dovetail groove (19) and the rib (27) in the female housing (10). This enables male tabs (13) to enter the tab-shaped terminal insertion passages (29) and prevents them from interfering with the female housing (10), wherefore a male housing (11) can be used commonly for a unitary female housing (40) and the divided female housing (10).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a state before a first and a second blocks constituting a female housing of a connector according to one embodiment of the invention are united.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the first block.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the second block.

FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged perspective view of the first and second blocks.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state before the first and second blocks are united.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state where the first and second blocks are united.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the state where the first and second blocks are united.

FIG. 8 is a section along A-A of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a state where a retainer is mounted in the female housing.

FIG. 10 is a partial enlarged section showing a state before a male housing and the female housing are connected.

FIG. 11 is a partial enlarged section showing a state after the male housing and the female housing are connected.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a unitary-type female housing.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising a housing (10) formed from blocks (15A, 15B), said blocks (15A, 15B) having engaging portions (19, 27) for uniting the blocks (15A, 15B) along a direction intersecting the connecting direction (CD), the blocks (15A, 15B) being formed with cavities (16) for accommodating terminal fittings (14) and being connectable with a mating housing (11) along a connecting direction (CD) while the blocks (15A, 15B) are united, wherein: at least one tab insertion passage (29) extending back substantially in the connecting direction (CD) from a connecting surface of the housing (10) with the mating housing (11) substantially to the engaging portion (19, 27) along boundary surfaces of the respective blocks (15A, 15B) while the blocks (15A, 15B) are united, anda tab-shaped terminal (13) of the mating housing (11) being insertable into the tab insertion passage (29) without interference when the housing (10) is connected properly with the mating connector housing (11).

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the engaging portions (19, 27) comprises a dovetail groove (19) extending in a direction (MD) at an angle to the connecting direction (CD), and at least another of the engaging portions (19, 27) comprises a rib (27) fittable into the dovetail groove (19).

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein, at least one groove-side tab insertion passage (20) is formed in at least one of the blocks (15A) to communicate with the respective dovetail groove (19) and at least one rib-side tab insertion passage (28) is formed in another of the blocks (15B).

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the groove-side tab insertion passage (20) and the rib-side tab insertion passage (28) communicate with each other to form at least part of the tab insertion passage (29) by uniting the respective blocks (15A, 15B).

5. The connector of claim 4, wherein the blocks (15A, 15B) are formed with positioning portions (24; 25) for aligning the dovetail-groove side tab insertion passage (20) and the rib side tab insertion passage (28) while being united.

6. The connector of claim 2, wherein the blocks (15A, 15B) can be united substantially along the mating direction (MD) by sliding one of said blocks (15A) relative to another of said blocks (15B) to fit the ribs (27) into the dovetail grooves (19).

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein one of the engaging portions comprises a locking claw and another of the engaging portions comprises a receiving portion resiliently engageable with the locking claw.

8. A connector assembly, comprising the housing (10) of claim 1 and a mating housing (11), terminal fittings (14) in the housing (10), and tab-shaped terminals (13) disposed in the mating housing (11) to be connected with the terminal fittings (14).

9. A connector, comprising: a first block (15A) having a connecting surface for mating with a mating housing (11) and at least one cavity (16) extending rearward along a connecting direction (CD) from the connecting surface for receiving a first terminal fitting, a dovetail groove (19) formed on a side surface of the first block (15A) and extending along a mounting direction (MD) at an angle to the connection direction (CD) direction;a second block (15B) having a connecting surface for mating with the mating housing (11) and at least one cavity (16) extending rearward along the connecting direction (CD) from the connecting surface for receiving a second terminal fitting, a dovetail rib (27) formed on a side surface of the second block (15B) and extending along the mounting direction (MD) at an angle to the connecting direction (CD), the dovetail groove (19) being engageable with the dovetail rib (27) to hold the blocks (15A, 15B) in a united condition; andat least one tab insertion passage (29) extending back substantially in the connecting direction (CD) from the connecting surface of the first block (15A) and passing through portions of the first block (15A) defining the dovetail groove (19) and through at least part of the dovetail rib (27) of the second block (15B), whereby the tab insertion passage (29) is disposed and dimensioned for receiving a tab-shaped terminal (13) of the mating housing (11).

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the blocks (15A, 15B) are formed with positioning portions (24; 25) for aligning portions of the tab insertion passage (29) on the first block (15A) with portions of the tab insertion passage (29) on the second block (15B).

11. A connector assembly, comprising: a male housing (11) with male tabs (13) mounted therein;a unitary female housing (40) configured for connection with the male housing (11), the unitary female housing (40) being formed with cavities (16) and female terminal fittings (14) being mounted in the cavities (16), the cavities (16) being disposed so that the male tabs (13) enter the cavities (16) and connect with the female terminal fittings (14) when the unitary female housing (40) is connected with the male housing (11); anda divided female housing (10) having first and second blocks (15A, 15B), a dovetail groove (19) on a side surface of the first block (15A) engaged with a dovetail rib (27) on a side surface of the second block (15B) for uniting the first and second blocks (15A; 15B), cavities (16) formed in the first and second blocks (15A; 15B) and female terminal fittings (14) being mounted in the cavities (16), the cavities (16) in the first and second blocks (15A; 15B) being disposed for receiving a plurality of the male tabs (13) when the divided female housing (40) is connected with the male housing (11) so that the female terminal fittings (14) therein connect respectively with the male tabs (13), at least one tab insertion passage (29) passing through portions of the first block (15A) defining the dovetail groove (19) and through at least part of the dovetail rib (27) of the second block (15B), whereby the at least one tab insertion passage (29) is disposed and dimensioned for receiving at least one of the male tabs (13) of the male housing (11) so that all of the male tabs (13) are accommodated when either the unitary female housing (40) or the divided female housing (10) is connected with the male housing (11).