Patent Application
20230076623
The present disclosure relates to a connector and a connector unit.
Conventionally, a connector is known which includes a terminal in the form of a long plate and a housing configured to accommodate the terminal (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The housing described in Patent Document 1 includes a protection collar having a U-shaped cross-section, extending along a longitudinal direction of the terminal and configured to surround a connecting end portion of the terminal to be connected to a terminal of a mating connector, and a side wall having a U-shaped cross-section, extending along the longitudinal direction of the terminal and configured to surround the terminal and the protection collar. The protection collar and the side wall are open on a tip side in the longitudinal direction of the terminal and open on one side in a width direction orthogonal to both the longitudinal direction and a plate thickness direction of the terminal.
Patent Document 1: JP 2016-522550 A
In the connector described in Patent Document 1, the housing is open on the tip side in the longitudinal direction of the terminal and the one side in the width direction. Thus, there is a room for improvement in enhancing the strength of the housing.
The present disclosure aims to provide a connector and a connector unit capable of enhancing the strength of a housing.
The present disclosure is directed to a connector with a first terminal including a connecting end portion, and a housing configured to cover the first terminal, wherein a part of the connecting end portion projects in a first direction from one wall of the housing, the housing includes a first accommodating portion configured to accommodate the part of the connecting end portion further on the first direction side than the one wall and a second accommodating portion configured to accommodate the part of the connecting end portion and the first accommodating portion further on the first direction side than the one wall, the first accommodating portion is open on one side in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the second accommodating portion has a side wall configured to cover the connecting end portion around an axis along the first direction and open on the one side in the second direction and a top wall configured to cover a tip side of the connecting end portion in the first direction.
The present disclosure is also directed to a connector unit with a first connector, which is the above connector, and a second connector used for electrical connection to the first connector, wherein the connecting end portion is in the form of a flat plate, a plate thickness direction of the connecting end portion intersects both the first and second directions, and the second connector includes a second terminal to be connected to the connecting end portion in the plate thickness direction.
According to the present disclosure, it is possible to enhance the strength of a housing.
First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described.
[1] The connector of the present disclosure is provided with a first terminal including a connecting end portion, and a housing configured to cover the first terminal, wherein a part of the connecting end portion projects in a first direction from one wall of the housing, the housing includes a first accommodating portion configured to accommodate the part of the connecting end portion further on the first direction side than the one wall and a second accommodating portion configured to accommodate the part of the connecting end portion and the first accommodating portion further on the first direction side than the one wall, the first accommodating portion is open on one side in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the second accommodating portion has a side wall configured to cover the connecting end portion around an axis along the first direction and open on the one side in the second direction and a top wall configured to cover a tip side of the connecting end portion in the first direction.
According to this configuration, since the first and second accommodating portions are open on the one side in the second direction, the connecting end portion is exposed from these openings. In this way, another terminal can be connected to the connecting end portion of the first terminal through the both openings.
Here, the connecting end portion is covered around by the side wall open on the one side in the second direction and the tip side of the connecting end portion in the first direction is covered by the top wall. Thus, the strength of the housing can be enhanced as compared to a housing not having the top wall.
[2] Preferably, when the side wall and the top wall are respectively an outer side wall and an outer top wall, the first accommodating portion has an inner side wall configured to cover the connecting end portion inside the outer side wall and an inner top wall configured to cover the connecting end portion inside the outer top wall.
According to this configuration, the first accommodating portion includes the inner side wall configured to cover the connecting end portion inside the outer side wall and the inner top wall configured to cover the connecting end portion inside the outer top wall. Thus, the strength of the housing can be enhanced as compared to a housing not having the inner top wall.
[3] Preferably, the first terminal includes a terminal body having the connecting end portion and an insulating member configured to cover a part of the connecting end portion on the one side in the second direction, the one wall is a facing wall facing the top wall, the facing wall includes an insertion hole, the first terminal being inserted into the insertion hole along the first direction, and the insulating member includes a positioning portion configured to position the first terminal in the first direction by being locked to the facing wall.
In a configuration in which a connecting end portion of a terminal is exposed through an opening of a side wall of a housing, a worker’s hand may tough the connecting end portion.
In this respect, according to the above configuration, the insulating member covers a part on the one side in the second direction, i.e. a part on the opening side of the first and second accommodating portions, out of the connecting end portion of the first terminal. Thus, it can be suppressed that a worker’s hand erroneously touches the connecting end portion.
Further, according to the above configuration, the terminal including the insulating member is inserted into the insertion hole formed in the facing wall of the housing. The terminal is positioned in the first direction by locking the positioning portion of the insulating member to the facing wall. Thus, workability in accommodating the terminal into the housing can be improved.
[4] The connector unit of the present disclosure is provided with a first connector, which is any one of the connectors of [1] to [3] described above, and a second connector used for electrical connection to the first connector, wherein the connecting end portion is in the form of a flat plate, a plate thickness direction of the connecting end portion intersects both the first and second directions, and the second connector includes a second terminal to be connected to the connecting end portion in the plate thickness direction.
According to this configuration, the connecting end portion in the form of a flat plate and the second terminal are in contact in the plate thickness direction of the connecting end portion. Thus, the terminal and the second terminal can be electrically connected by fitting the second connector along the second direction through the openings of the housing of the connector. Therefore, a connecting operation of the connector and the second connector is facilitated.
Specific examples of a connector and a connector connection structure of the present disclosure are described below with the drawings. In each figure, some of components may be shown in an exaggerated or simplified manner for the convenience of description. Further, a dimension ratio of each part may be different in each figure. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these illustrations and is intended to be represented by claims and include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and scope of equivalents. “Orthogonal” in this specification means not only strictly orthogonal, but also substantially orthogonal within a range in which functions and effects in an embodiment are achieved.
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A first direction Z is a longitudinal direction of the connecting end portion 35 below. A second direction Y is a width direction of the connecting end portion 35 and orthogonal to the first direction Z. A third direction X is a plate thickness direction of the connecting end portion 35 and orthogonal to both the first and second directions Z, Y. In the following description, “extending along” preferably means that an angle between a reference direction and an extending direction is 10° or less. In this case, the angle between the reference direction and the extending direction is preferably 5° or less, more preferably 1° or less and most preferably 0°, i.e. these directions are parallel. Further, in the following description, “intersecting” preferably means intersecting at an angle of 80° or more with respect to a reference direction. In this case, the angle with respect to the reference direction is more preferably 85° or more, even more preferably 89° or more and most preferably 90°, i.e. perpendicular to the reference direction.
The base portion 31 includes a first straight portion 32 linearly extending along the third direction X, a second straight portion 33 bent from the first straight portion 32 and linearly extending along the first direction Z and a third straight portion 34 linearly extending along the third direction X from the second straight portion 33. The third straight portion 34 extends toward the same side as the first straight portion 32 in the third direction X. The first straight portion 32 is provided with a through hole 32a penetrating in the first direction Z.
Locking recesses 36 are provided in both side surfaces of the connecting end portion 35 in the second direction Y.
The insulating member 40 includes a surrounding portion 41 configured to surround a part of the connecting end portion 35 on the side of the base portion 31. Further, the insulating member 40 includes a pair of extending portions 42 extending from the surrounding portion 41 toward a tip side of the connecting end portion 35 along the first direction Z and configured to cover the both side surfaces of the connecting end portion 35 in the second direction Y, and a coupling portion 43 coupling the tips of the respective extending portions 42 and configured to cover the tip surface of the connecting end portion 35.
Dividing portions 44 dividing the surrounding portion 41 in a circumferential direction of the surrounding portion 41 are respectively provided in parts of the surrounding portion 41 on both sides in the third direction X. Accordingly, in each dividing portion 44, the end edges of parts of the surrounding portion 41 extending along the second direction Y are facing each other.
Positioning portions 45 projecting along the third direction X from the respective end edges are provided on both sides of the surrounding portion 41 in the third direction X.
A locking projection 46 to be locked to the locking recess 36 of the connecting end portion 35 is formed on the inner surface of each extending portion 42.
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The flange 52 is provided with a plurality of hollow cylindrical collars 53. Unillustrated bolts are inserted into the respective collars and screwed into the case 120, whereby the first connector 10 is fixed to the case 120.
As shown in
The second accommodating portion 502 has an outer side wall 54 configured to cover the connecting end portions 35 of the both first terminals 20 around an axis along the first direction Z and open on one side in the second direction Y, an outer top wall 55 configured to cover the tip sides of the both connecting end portions 35 in the first direction Z, and a facing wall 56 facing the outer top wall 55.
The outer side wall 54 is a wall extending in a direction along the first direction X. The parts of the connecting end portions 35 of the both first terminals 20 project in the first direction Z from the facing wall 56 toward the outer top wall 55. That is, a projecting direction of the connecting end portions 35 from the facing wall 56 coincides with the first direction Z, which is a longitudinal direction of the connecting end portions 35. Further, the outer side wall 54 extends along the first direction Z, which is the projecting direction of the connecting end portions 35 from the facing wall 56.
The outer top wall 55 and the facing wall 56 are walls extending in a direction intersecting the first direction Z. The outer top wall 55 covers the both first accommodating portions 501 and the parts of the both connecting end portions 35 from the first direction Z side, more specifically, a projecting direction side of the connecting end portions 35 in the first direction Z.
The second accommodating portion 502 accommodates the parts of the both connecting end portions 35 and the both first accommodating portions 501 by forming an internal space for enclosing the parts of the both connecting end portions 35 and the both first accommodating portions 501 by the outer side wall 54, the outer top wall 55 and the facing wall 56. That is, the second accommodating portion 502 accommodates the parts of the both connecting end portions 35 and the both first accommodating portions 501 further on the first direction Z side than the facing wall 56, more specifically on the projecting direction side of the connecting end portions 35. The internal space formed by the second accommodating portion 502 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape in this embodiment. Note that the projecting direction of the connecting end portions 35 is a direction from the facing wall 56 toward the tips of the connecting end portions 35 along the first direction Z.
The outer side wall 54 has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the first direction Z and covers both sides in the third direction X and the other side in the second direction Y of each connecting end portion 35.
The outer top wall 55 is provided to be continuous with the tip edge of the outer side wall 54 in the first direction Z. The outer top wall 55 extends along the second and third directions Y, X and perpendicularly to the first direction Z in this embodiment. That is, an extending direction of the outer top wall 55 is perpendicular to the projecting direction of the connecting end portions 35 from the facing wall 56.
The second accommodating portion 502 is open in the second direction Y. Specifically, the second accommodating portion 502 includes an opening at a position facing a wall part of the outer side wall 54 extending in a direction intersecting the second direction Y. The opening of the second accommodating portion 502 is formed by the second accommodating portion 502 not having a wall on one side in the second direction Y. An opening direction of the second accommodating portion 502 is the second direction Y, i.e. a direction perpendicular to the third direction X, which is the plate thickness direction of the connecting end portions 35. Further, the opening direction of the second accommodating portion 502 is perpendicular to the first direction Z, which is the longitudinal direction of the connecting end portions 35. Note that the second accommodating portion 502 may have a partial wall in the second direction Y, e.g. a wall serving as the outer edge of the opening of the second accommodating portion 502.
Further, the housing 50 includes, as the first accommodating portions 501, two inner side walls 57 for individually covering the respective connecting end portions 35 inside the outer side wall 54 and two inner top walls 58 for individually covering the tip sides of the respective connecting end portions 35 in the first direction Z inside the outer top wall 55.
The inner side wall 57 includes walls extending in a direction along the first direction Z. The inner top wall 58 is a wall extending in a direction intersecting the first direction Z. Further, the inner top wall 58 is facing the facing wall 56. Each of the two first accommodating portions 501 accommodates the part of the connecting end portion 35 by forming an internal space for enclosing the part of the connecting end portion 35 by the inner side wall 57, the inner top wall 58 and the facing wall 56. That is, each first accommodating portion 501 accommodates the part of the connecting end portion 35 further on the first direction Z side than the facing wall 56, more specifically on the projecting direction side of the connecting end portion 35. The internal space formed by each first accommodating portion 501 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape in this embodiment.
Each inner side wall 57 has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the first direction Z and covers both sides in the third direction X and the other side in the second direction Y of each connecting end portion 35. In this embodiment, the inner side wall 57 extends along the first direction Z. That is, the inner side wall 57 extends along the first direction Z, which is the projecting direction of the connecting end portion 35 from the facing wall 56, similarly to the outer side wall 54.
The inner top wall 58 is provided to be continuous with the tip edge of the inner side wall 57 in the first direction Z. The inner top wall 58 extends along the second and third directions Y, X and perpendicularly to the first direction Z in this embodiment. That is, an extending direction of the inner top wall 58 is perpendicular to the projecting direction of the connecting end portion 35 from the facing wall 56.
Each first accommodating portion 501 includes an opening on the second direction Y side, specifically at a position facing a wall part of the inner side wall 57 extending in a direction intersecting the second direction Y. The opening of the first accommodating portion 501 is formed by the first accommodating portion 501 not having a wall on one side in the first direction Y in this embodiment. An opening direction of the first accommodating portion 501 is the second direction Y, i.e. a direction perpendicular to the plate thickness direction of the connecting end portion 35. Further, the opening direction of the first accommodating portion 501 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the connecting end portion 35. Note that the first accommodating portion 501 may have a partial wall in the second direction Y, e.g. a wall serving as the outer edge of the opening of the first accommodating portion 501.
From the above, both the outer side wall 54 and each inner side wall 57 are open on the one side in the second direction Y. That is, the opening direction of the first accommodating portions 501 and that of the second accommodating portion 502 coincide. Through these openings, the connecting end portions 35 of the respective first terminals 20 are exposed to outside. In this embodiment, the opening of the first accommodating portion 501 is provided at a position enclosed by the opening of the second accommodating portion 502 when viewed from the second direction Y side. Note that two coinciding directions mean not only two perfectly coinciding directions, but also substantially coinciding directions. For example, that two directions coincide means that an angle formed by the two directions is less than 10°, preferably less than 5° and more preferably less than 2°.
As shown in
Further, step portions 59, to which the positioning portions 45 provided on the insulating members 40 of the respective first terminals 20 are locked in the first direction Z, are provided inside the facing wall 56. Each step portion 59 is provided to be continuous with the insertion hole 56a. By locking each positioning portion 45 to each step portion 59, a movement of each first terminal 20 toward the tip side in the first direction Z is restricted. In this way, each first terminal 20 is positioned in the first direction Z.
In this embodiment, an opening direction of each insertion hole 56a is a direction along the first direction Z, i.e. the projecting direction of the connecting end portion 35 from the facing wall 56. Further, the outer top wall 55 and the inner top walls 58 facing the respective insertion holes 56a extend in a direction intersecting the opening direction of the insertion holes 56.
As shown in
The second connector 60 is mounted into the first connector 10 with a direction along the second direction Y as a mounting direction. Specifically, the second connector 60 is mounted into the first connector 10 by inserting parts of the second connector 60 into the first connector 10 along the second direction Y via the openings provided in the first accommodating portions 501 and the second accommodating portion 502 of the first connector 10.
An unillustrated shield shell formed into a rectangular tube from a metal plate is interposed between each inner housing 80 and the outer housing 90.
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In describing a positional relationship of each component below, a front side Df, a rear side Db, an upper side Du, a lower side Dd, a left side Dl and a right side Dr are used in addition to the first, second and third directions Z, Y and X.
A direction toward the front side Df is the mounting direction, in which the second connector 60 advances in mounting the second connector 60 into the first connector 10. In mounting the second connector 60 into the first connector 10, the direction toward the front side Df is a direction coinciding with a direction along the second direction Y from the outside toward the inside of the first connector 10 via the openings of the first accommodating portions 501. A direction toward the rear side Db is a direction opposite to the direction toward the front side Df. That is, in mounting the second connector 60 into the first connector 10, the direction toward the rear side Db coincides with a direction along the second direction Y from the inside toward the outside of the first connector 10 via the openings of the first accommodating portions 501.
A direction toward the upper side Du is a direction intersecting the direction toward the front side Df and a direction along an opening direction of the first slit 81 from the outside toward the inside of the inner housing 80. In mounting the second connector 60 into the first connector 10, the direction toward the upper side Du coincides with a direction along the first direction Z from the facing wall 56 toward the tips of the connecting end portions 35 in the first connector 10. A direction toward the lower side Dd is a direction intersecting the direction toward the front side Df and opposite to the direction toward the upper side Du. In mounting the second connector 60 into the first connector 10, the direction toward the lower side Dd coincides with a direction along the first direction Z from the tips of the connecting end portions 35 toward the facing wall 56 in the first connector 10.
A direction toward the right side Dr is a direction toward right in the case of viewing the second connector 60 from the front side Df with the direction toward the upper side Du coinciding with a vertical direction, out of directions intersecting perpendicularly to the direction toward the upper side Du and the direction toward the front side Df. A direction toward the left side Dl is a direction opposite to the direction toward the right side Dr, out of the directions intersecting perpendicularly to the direction toward the upper side Du and the direction toward the front side Df. In mounting the second connector 60 into the first connector 10, the direction toward the right side Dr and the direction toward the left side Dl are directions extending along the third direction X.
Note that, if these directions need not be distinguished, a vertical direction Du, Dd, a lateral direction Dl, Dr and a front-rear direction Df, Db may be used. The vertical direction Du, Dd is a direction parallel to the direction toward the upper sides Du and the direction toward the lower side Dd. The lateral direction Dl, Dr are a direction parallel to the direction toward the left side Dl and the direction toward the right side Dr. The front-rear direction Df, Db is a direction parallel to the direction toward the front side Df and the direction toward the rear side Db. Note that the two wires 70 are pulled out toward the rear side Db from the inner housings 80 and the outer housing 90.
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As shown in
A pair of third slits 91 extending along the front-rear direction Df, Db are formed side by side in the lateral direction Dl, Dr in a lower part on a tip side of the outer housing 90, i.e. on the lower side Dd on the side of the first connector 10 in the front-rear direction Df, Db. Each third slit 91 is formed at a position corresponding to the first slit 81 of each inner housing 80 in the lateral direction Dl, Dr. The third slit 91 has an opening extending along the front-rear direction Df, Db from an end on the front side Df toward the rear side Db in a third wall 901 on the lower side Dd, out of walls of the outer housing 90 extending in directions intersecting the vertical direction Du, Dd. An extending direction of the third slit 91 coincides with the mounting direction, similarly to the extending direction of the first slit 81.
As shown in
The first and third slits 81, 91 are provided to overlap when viewed from the lower side Dd. Each slit 81, 82, 91 can suppress the mutual interference of each inner housing 80 and the outer housing 90 with each terminal body 30 when the second connector 60 is connected to the first connector 10.
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The leaf spring 110 includes a first opening 114 and a second opening 115. The first opening 114 is provided on a side opposite to the front side Df, i.e. the second slit 82. The second opening 115 is provided on the front side Df, i.e. on the side of the second slit 82. The first and second openings 114, 115 have an opening direction extending in parallel to the opening direction of the first connector 10. That is, the opening direction of the first and second openings 114, 115 coincide with the mounting direction. The first and second openings 114, 115 are openings extending toward the lower side Dd from the base end portion 113. Extending directions of the first and second openings 114, 115 coincide with the extending direction of the second slit 82. That is, the extending directions of the first and second openings 114, 115 coincide with the projecting direction of the connecting end portion 35 in the first connector 10. The outside and inside of the leaf spring 110 are linked via the first and second openings 114, 115. The second terminal 71 can be introduced into the accommodation space inside the leaf spring 110 by the second opening 115 of the leaf spring 110.
The leaf spring 110 includes a third opening 116 open on the lower side Dd. An opening direction of the third opening 116 coincides with the projecting direction of the connecting end portion 35. The leaf spring 110 includes the third opening 116 on the lower side Dd, i.e. on the side of the first slit 81. The third opening 116 is an opening extending from an end part on the front side Df toward an end part on the rear side Db of the tip of the first resilient piece 111. That is, the third opening 116 is also an opening extending from an end part on the front side Df toward an end part on the rear side Db of the tip of the second resilient piece 112. An extending direction of the third opening 116 coincides with the extending direction of the first slit 81. That is, the extending direction of the third opening 116 is parallel to the opening direction of the first connector 10. The outside and inside of the leaf spring 110 are linked via the third opening 116.
The positions of the first, second and third openings 114, 115 and 116 coincide with the positions of the first, second and third slits 81, 82 and 91 in the lateral direction Dl, Dr. That is, the first opening 114, the second opening 115 and the second slit 82 are provided side by side on a straight line along the front-rear direction Df, Db. Further, the third opening 116 and the first slit 81 are provided to overlap when viewed from the lower side Dd. The third opening 116 and each slit 81, 91 can suppress the mutual interference of the leaf spring 110, each inner housing 80, the outer housing 90 and each terminal body 30 when the second connector 60 is connected to the first connector 10.
The second opening 115 and the second slit 82 are provided to overlap when viewed from the front side Df. An end part of the second opening 115 on the upper side Du is disposed higher than an end part of the second slit 82 on the upper side Du. That is, the base end portion 113 of the leaf spring 110 is disposed higher than the end part of the second slit 82 on the upper side Du. In the lateral direction Dl, Dr, a width of the second opening 115 is larger than that of the second slit 82. That is, in the lateral direction Dl, Dr, an interval between an end part of the first resilient piece 111 on the front side Df and an end part of the second resilient piece 112 on the front side Df is larger than the width of the second slit 82. The second opening 115 and the second slit 82 can suppress the mutual interference of the leaf spring 110, the inner housing 80 and each terminal body 30 when the second connector 60 is connected to the first connector 10.
The leaf spring 110 is arranged further on the front side Df than the projection 102 of the retainer 100 inside the inner housing 80. The leaf spring 110 is arranged to sandwich a part of the second terminal 71 provided with the bulging portion 72 in the lateral direction Dl, Dr (third direction X).
As shown in
(1) The housing 50 includes the first accommodating portions 50 configured to accommodate the parts of the connecting end portions 35 and the second accommodating portion 502 configured to accommodate the parts of the connecting end portions 35 and the first accommodating portions 501. The first accommodating portions 501 are open on the one side in the second direction Y, and the second accommodating portion 502 includes the outer side wall 54 configured to cover the connecting end portions 35 around the axis along the first direction Z and open on the one side in the second direction Y and the outer top wall 55 configured to cover the tip sides of the connecting end portions 35 in the first direction Z.
According to this configuration, since the first and second accommodating portions 501, 502 are open on the one side in the second direction Y, the connecting end portions 35 are exposed from these openings. In this way, the second terminals 71 can be connected to the connecting end portions 35 of the first terminals 20 through the both openings.
Here, the connecting end portions 35 are covered around by the outer side wall 54 open on the one side in the second direction Y, and the tip sides of the connecting end portions 35 in the first direction Z are covered by the outer top wall 55. Thus, the strength of the housing 50 can be enhanced as compared to a housing not having the outer top wall 55.
(2) The first accommodating portion 501 includes the inner side wall 57 configured to cover the connecting end portion 35 inside the outer side wall 54 and the inner top wall 58 configured to cover the connecting end portion 35 inside the outer top wall 55.
According to this configuration, the first accommodating portion 501 has the inner side wall 57 configured to cover the connecting end portion 35 inside the outer side wall 54 and the inner top wall 58 configured to cover the connecting end portion 35 inside the outer top wall 55. Thus, the strength of the housing 50 can be enhanced as compared to a housing not having the inner top wall 58.
(3) The first terminal 20 includes the terminal body 30 having the connecting end portion 35 and the insulating member 40 configured to cover the both side surfaces of the connecting end portion 35 in the second direction Y. The insulating member 40 includes the positioning portions 45 configured to position the first terminal 20 in the first direction Z by being locked to the step portions 59 of the facing wall 56.
In a configuration in which the connecting end portions 35 of the first terminals 20 are exposed through the opening of the outer side wall 54 of the housing 50, a worker’s hand may tough the connecting end portions 35 such as during an assembling operation of the first connector 10.
In this respect, according to the above configuration, the insulating member 40 covers a part on the one side in the second direction Y, i.e. a part on the opening side of the outer side wall 54, out of the connecting end portion 35 of the first terminal 20. Thus, it can be suppressed that the worker’s hand erroneously touches the connecting end portion 35.
Further, according to the above configuration, the first terminal 20 including the insulating member 40 is inserted into the insertion hole 56a formed in the facing wall 56 of the housing 50. The first terminal 20 is positioned in the first direction Z by locking the positioning portions 45 of the insulating member 40 to the step portions 59 of the facing wall 56. Thus, workability in accommodating the first terminal 20 into the housing 50 can be improved.
(4) The connector unit includes the first and second connectors 10, 60. The connecting end portion 35 is in the form of a flat plate. The second terminal 71 is in contact with the connecting end portion 35 in the third direction X.
According to this configuration, the connecting end portion 35 in the form of a flat plate and the second terminal 71 are in contact in the plate thickness direction of the connecting end portion 35. Thus, the first terminal 20 and the second terminal 71 can be electrically connected by fitting the second connector 60 along the second direction Y through the opening of the housing 50 of the first connector 10. Therefore, a connecting operation of the first and second connectors 10, 60 is facilitated.
This embodiment can be modified and carried out as follows. This embodiment and the following modifications can be carried out in combination without technically contradicting each other.
The connecting end portion 35 is not limited to the one having a flat plate shape and may have, for example, a hollow cylindrical shape. Even in this case, the insulating member 40 may cover a part of the connecting end portion 35 on the one side in the second direction Y.
The positioning portions 45 of the insulating member 40 can be omitted.
The insulating member 40 may cover at least a part of the connecting end portion 35 on the one side in the second direction Y and the extending portion 42 on the other side in the second direction Y and the coupling portion 43 can also be omitted.
The insulating members 40 can also be omitted.
The inner side walls 57 and the inner top walls 58 can also be omitted.
The formation positions of the openings in the outer side wall 54 and the inner side walls 57 can be appropriately changed according to the shape of the first terminals 20 and the connecting direction of the first connector 60 to the first connector 10 as long as these formation positions are changed in a direction orthogonal to the first direction Z.
The first connector 10 may include one first terminal 20 or three or more first terminals 20. In this case, the number of the second terminal(s) 71 of the second connector 60 may be appropriately changed according to the number of the first terminal(s) 20.
In the above embodiment, the first accommodating portion 501 has walls extending planarly and form the substantially rectangular parallelepiped internal space. However, the first accommodating portion 501 is not limited to this and may have another shape. For example, the first accommodating portion 501 may have curved walls or walls having irregularities. Further, the first accommodating portion 501 may form an internal space having a shape other than a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, e.g. an internal space having one of various shapes such as a dome shape and a hollow cylindrical shape.
In the above embodiment, the second accommodating portion 502 has walls extending planarly and form the substantially rectangular parallelepiped internal space. However, the second accommodating portion 502 is not limited to this and may have another shape. For example, the second accommodating portion 502 may have curved walls or walls having irregularities. Further, the second accommodating portion 502 may form an internal space having a shape other than a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, e.g. an internal space having one of various shapes such as a dome shape and a hollow cylindrical shape.
In the above embodiment, the inner housing 80 has the first and second slits 81, 82. However, the inner housing 80 is not limited to this and may have another structure. For example, the inner housing 80 may have an opening having an opening direction similar to that of the first slit 81, instead of the first slit 81. Further, the inner housing 80 may have an opening having an opening direction similar to that of the second slit 82, instead of the second slit 82.
In the above embodiment, the outer housing 90 has the third slits 91. However, the outer housing 90 is not limited to this and may have another structure. For example, the outer housing 90 may have openings having an opening direction similar to that of the third slits 91, instead of the third slits 91.
Technical concepts that can be grasped from the above embodiment and modifications are described.
A connector provided with:
For example, in the case of mounting a connector to a mating connector including terminals extending along one direction intersecting a mounting direction, the terminals of the mating connector interfere with a housing if the connector includes the housing open only in the mounting direction or if the connector includes the housing open only in the one direction intersecting the mounting direction.
According to this connector, when the terminals of the mating connector extend along the one direction intersecting the mounting direction, it can be suppressed that the terminals of the mating connector as a connection object interfere with the inner housings and the outer housing when the mating connector is mounted into the inner housings and the outer housing.
Note that the connector described in (Addendum 1) corresponds to the second connector 60. Further, the terminals described in (Addendum 1) correspond to the second terminals 71.
The connector of Addendum 1, wherein the inner housing includes:
According to this connector, the strength of the inner housing is improved as compared to the case where the first and second walls are not provided. Further, a risk of entrance of an external matter into the inner housing can be reduced as compared to the case where the first and second walls are not provided. Further, the first and second slits function as a guide for introducing the mating terminal to the inside of the inner housing.
The connector of Addendum 2, wherein the outer housing includes:
According to this connector, the strength of the outer housing is improved as compared to the case where the third wall is not provided. Further, a risk of entrance of an external matter into the outer housing can be reduced as compared to the case where the third wall is not provided. Further, the third slit functions as a guide for introducing the mating terminal to the inside of the outer housing.
The connector of any one of Addendum 1 to Addendum 3, wherein:
According to this connector, when the terminal of the mating connector extends along the one direction intersecting the mounting direction, it can be suppressed that the terminal of the mating connector as a connection object interferes with the leaf spring in mounting the mating connector into the inner housings and the outer housing.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-027842 | Feb 2020 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2021/004937 | 2/10/2021 | WO |
