Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6790085
-
Patent Number
6,790,085
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, May 20, 200321 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 14, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Ta; Tho D.
- Tsukerman; Larisa
Agents
- Hespos; Gerald E.
- Casella; Anthony J.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 595
- 439 744
- 439 748
- 439 746
- 439 752
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A terminal fitting (30) is provided for insertion into a female housing (10) from behind. The terminal fitting (30) has an outer wall (37) with a cut-away portion (44) that permits entrance of a lock (13). Thus, the outer wall (37) is divided into a front portion and a rear portion. A locking projection (52) with which the lock (13) is engageable for locking is provided by causing a front cut end of the cut-away portion (44) to project outward. The lock (13) is engageable with a front cut end surface (44a) of the cut-away portion (44) including the locking projection (52).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a terminal fitting and a connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,743 discloses a connector with a housing formed with cavities. Terminal fittings can be inserted into the cavities and locked by resilient deflectable locks that project from an inner surface of each cavity.
A demand exists to make connectors smaller, and accordingly cavities, locks and terminal fittings also must be made smaller. These size reductions create a concern that a force to lock the terminal fittings will be insufficient.
The invention was developed in view of the above problem and an object thereof is to provide a terminal fitting and a connector which can be suited to being made smaller.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a terminal fitting that can be inserted into a connector housing from behind and locked by a fastener in the connector housing. The terminal fitting has an outer wall with a cut away portion that permits entry of the fastener. A locking projection is formed by deforming a front cut end of the cut-away portion to project out, and the fastener is engageable with the front cut end of the cut-away portion.
The fastener enters the cut-away portion and achieves a depth of engagement that is large as compared to a terminal fitting in which a fastener engages only a locking projection on an outer wall without a cut-away portion. In addition, a width of engagement is large because the fastener engages both with the locking projection and with the front cut end surface of the cut-away portion. Thus, a force to lock the terminal fitting is larger. Therefore, a sufficient locking force can be secured even if the terminal fitting is made smaller, and the terminal fitting and the connector are suited to being made smaller.
The front cut end surface of the cut-away portion with which the fastener is engageable is inclined and undercut to taper in towards the cut-away portion. Thus, the front cut end surface of the cut-away portion bites into the fastening portion when a force acts to pull the locked terminal fitting backward, and the locking force is even larger. Thus, the terminal fitting and the connector are well suited to being made smaller.
A first side wall preferably extends up from a first side edge of the outer wall and a second side edge of the outer wall is separated from a second side wall. Additionally, the outer wall is divided into a front portion and a rear portion by the cut-away portion. A holding piece preferably projects from the second side edge of the front portion and the front portion can be held to be immovable forward and backward by fitting the holding piece into a holding groove formed in the second side wall.
The outer wall is divided into the front and rear portions by the cut-away portion, and the fastener engages the locking projection and the cut end surface of the front portion. Thus, the fastener can be engaged over the entire width of the front portion of the outer wall and the locking force can be made even larger.
The front portion of the outer wall has the locking projection, and the cut end surface with which the fastener is engageable is held to be immovable forward and backward by fitting the holding piece into the holding groove. Thus, the locking projection and the cut end surface can be engaged with the fastener. As a result, even a small terminal fitting can be held firmly.
The cut-away portion preferably is extended to the holding piece, and the fastening portion is engageable with a cut end surface formed in or at the holding piece by extending the cut-away portion to the holding piece.
The cut-away portion is extended to the holding piece and the fastener is engaged with the cut end surface in a width range of both the outer wall and the holding piece. Thus, an engaged area can be increased to further enhance the force to lock the terminal fitting. Therefore, the terminal fitting and the connector are suited even more to being made smaller.
The cut-away portion preferably extends over the substantially entire width of the outer wall.
The locking projection preferably projects from the outer wall so that a side of the locking projection that engages the fastener is substantially flush with the cut end surface of the cut-away portion.
The locking projection projects from the outer wall so that the side of the locking projection that engages the fastener overhangs in the direction of the cut-away portion.
The invention also relates to a connector with a connector housing and the above described terminal fitting that is locked by a fastener in the connector housing when the terminal fitting is inserted into the connector housing from behind.
The fastener preferably has an engaging surface substantially mating the configuration of the cut end surface of the cut-away portion.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that even though embodiments are separately described, single features thereof may be combined to additional embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a front view of a female housing according to the invention.
FIG. 2
is a rear view of the female housing.
FIG. 3
is a perspective view partly in section of the female housing.
FIG. 4
is a front view of a female terminal fitting.
FIG. 5
is a bottom view of the female terminal fitting.
FIG. 6
is a left side view of the female terminal fitting.
FIG. 7
is an enlarged perspective view showing a locking projection and an imaginary triangular pyramid.
FIG. 8
is a side view in section (the female housing is shown by a section along
8
—
8
of FIG.
1
and the female terminal fitting is shown by a section along
8
—
8
of
FIG. 4
) showing a state before the female terminal fitting is inserted into the female housing.
FIG. 9
is a side view in section (the female housing is shown by a section along
9
—
9
of FIG.
1
and the female terminal fitting is shown by a section along
9
—
9
of
FIG. 4
) showing the state before the female terminal fitting is inserted into the female housing.
FIG. 10
is a side view in section (the female housing is shown by a section along
10
—
10
of FIG.
1
and the female terminal fitting is shown by a right side view) showing the state before the female terminal fitting is inserted into the female housing.
FIG. 11
is a side view in section (the female housing is shown by a section along
11
—
11
of FIG.
1
and the female terminal fitting is shown by a plan view) showing the state before the female terminal fitting is inserted into the female housing.
FIG. 12
is a side view in section similar to
FIG. 8
, but showing an intermediate stage of insertion of the female terminal fitting into the female housing.
FIG. 13
is a side view in section similar to
FIG. 8
, but showing a state where the female terminal fitting is inserted in the female housing.
FIG. 14
is a side view in section similar to
FIG. 9
, but showing the state where the female terminal fitting is inserted in the female housing.
FIG. 15
is a side view in section similar to
FIG. 10
, but showing the state where the female terminal fitting is inserted in the female housing.
FIG. 16
is a side view in section similar to
FIG. 11
, but showing the state where the female terminal fitting is inserted in the female housing.
FIG. 17
is a front view showing a state where the female terminal fittings are inserted in the female housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A female connector according to the invention includes a female housing identified by the numeral
10
in
FIGS. 1 through 17
. Female terminal fittings
30
are insertable into the female housing
10
and are electrically connectable with male terminal fittings accommodated in a mating male housing to be connected with the female housing
10
. Neither male terminal fittings nor the male housing are shown. In the following description, directions of inserting and withdrawing the female terminal fittings
30
into and from the female housing
10
are referred to as a forward direction and a backward direction, respectively, and reference is made to
FIG. 8
concerning the vertical direction.
The female housing
10
is molded e.g. of a resin by front and rear molds that are closed and opened substantially along forward and backward directions, which are parallel to the inserting and withdrawing directions IWD of the female terminal fittings
30
. Cavities
11
are arranged substantially side by side along the widthwise direction at two stages in the female housing
10
, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 8
, and the female terminal fittings
30
are insertable from behind into the cavities. The female terminal fitting
30
inserted into the cavity
11
can be locked by a lock
13
that cantilevers from a bottom wall
12
of the cavity
11
and can be supported at its front-limit position by a front wall
14
of the female housing
10
. The front wall
14
of the female housing
10
is formed with tab insertion holes
15
for permitting tabs of the mating male terminal fittings to be inserted into the cavities
11
from the front. Converging guide surfaces
16
are formed at the front edges of the tab insertion holes
15
substantially over the entire periphery so that the tabs can be inserted smoothly. Mold removal holes
17
are formed on the front wall
14
of the female housing
10
below the tab insertion holes
15
in positions displaced in a deforming direction DD of the locks
13
. The mold-removal holes
17
are used to remove the front mold for forming the locks
13
at the time of molding the female housing
10
. A substantially triangular projection
18
projects down at a widthwise center of the upper end of each mold-removal hole
17
in the front wall
14
, and the guide surface
16
is formed continuously at the projection
18
.
About ¼ of a front portion of the bottom wall
12
of each cavity
11
is lower down to form a stepped lowered portion
12
a,
and the cantilevered lock
13
projects forward from the lowered portion
12
a.
The lock
13
is inclined up to the front and gradually projects up into the cavity
11
toward the front end of the lock
13
. The lock
13
is resiliently deformable down in a deformation direction DD that intersects the inserting and withdrawing directions IWD of the female terminal fitting
30
. More particularly, the lock
13
is deformable about a base end (rear end) as a supporting point when a portion of the lock
13
that projects into the cavity
11
is pressed by the female terminal fitting
30
being inserted into the cavity
11
. During this resilient deformation, the lock
13
retracts into a deformation permitting space in the lowered portion
12
a
of the bottom wall
12
. The lowered portion
12
a
of the bottom wall
12
that faces the lock
13
from below prevents an excessive deformation of the lock
13
by engaging the lower surface of the lock
13
before the lock
13
deforms beyond its resiliency limit. The lock
13
is covered by the lowered portion
12
a
of the bottom wall
12
connected with the front wall
14
over substantially the entire width without being exposed to the cavity
11
below or to the outside below the female housing
10
.
Grooves are formed at a portion of the bottom wall
12
of the cavity
11
behind the lock
13
and conform with the shape of the female terminal fitting
30
as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 8
. Specifically, a projection-inserting groove
19
is formed substantially in the widthwise center of the bottom wall
12
, and a stabilizer-inserting groove
20
, which is deeper than the projection-inserting groove
19
, is formed at the right side of the projection-inserting groove
19
in FIG.
2
. The projection-inserting groove
19
is substantially continuous with the lock
13
, whereas the front end position of the stabilizer-inserting groove
20
is slightly behind the lock
13
. The bottom wall
12
, the projection-inserting groove
19
and the stabilizer-insertion groove
20
define a stair-like shape in the widthwise direction (see FIG.
2
).
A jutting portion
21
is provided at the front end of the upper surface of the cavity
11
and gradually projects in toward the lock
13
over the entire width. The front end of the female terminal fitting
30
inserted into the cavity
11
is pushed toward the lock
13
by the jutting portion
21
to increase a depth of engagement with the lock
13
. The peripheral edge of the rear end of the cavity
11
inclines in to the front over substantially the entire periphery to guide the female terminal fitting
30
. However, a restriction
22
is at an upper-left position of the peripheral edge of the rear end of the cavity
11
in FIG.
2
and extends substantially normal to the inserting and withdrawing directions IWD of the female terminal fitting
30
. Further, opposite side walls
23
of the cavity
11
bulge inwardly so that a substantially front half is narrower than a substantially rear half as shown in FIG.
11
.
The lock
13
, as shown in
FIG. 3
, has a slanted lower surface that inclines moderately up to the front over substantially the entire length. The upper surface of the lock
13
is slanted slightly steeper than the lower surface at a rear part
13
b
of the lock
13
, but is substantially parallel to the inserting and withdrawing directions IWD of the terminal fitting
30
at a front part
13
a
of the lock
13
. The upper surface of the lock
13
is recessed substantially at the widthwise center over the entire length by the projection-inserting groove
19
continuously formed from the rear side of the bottom wall
12
. The projection-inserting groove
19
gradually narrows from the rear part
13
b
of the lock
13
to the front and is defined by a bottom surface
19
a,
a pair of side surfaces
19
b
extending straight in a vertical direction and a pair of slanted surfaces
19
c
that couple the opposite side surfaces
19
b
and the bottom surface
19
a
and incline inwardly. The projection-introducing groove
19
has an arcuate surface
19
d
of constant width at the front part
13
a
of the lock
13
. An arcuate surface
13
c
is formed at the widthwise center of the lower surface of the lock
13
and is curved more moderately than the arcuate surface
19
d
of the projection-introducing groove
19
. The arcuate surface
13
c
extends along the entire length. A similar arcuate surface
12
b
is formed at the lowered portion
12
a
of the bottom wall
12
.
The lock
13
is slightly narrower the cavity
11
and has a constant width over the entire length of the lock
13
. The mold-removal hole
17
for the lock
13
is wider than the cavity
11
in the front wall
14
of the female housing
10
. Accordingly, notches
17
a
of a specified width are formed in the opposite side walls
23
of the cavity
11
substantially facing the opposite sides of the lock
13
. The thickness of the mold for molding the lock
13
can be made larger as much as the widths of the the notches
17
a
and, thus, a necessary strength can be secured for the mold. Conversely, the width of the lock
13
is increased to enhance the strength thereof.
A pair of maneuverable recesses
24
are exposed forward at about ⅗ of the total height of the opposite sides of the front end of the lock
13
and enable the lock
13
to be deformed by a jig (not shown). Additionally, the maneuverable recesses
24
are arranged to be exposed forwardly to the outside even if the lock
13
is engaged with the female terminal fitting
30
(see FIG.
17
), and can be pressed down in the deformation direction DD by the jig inserted through the mold-removal hole
17
from the front. Each maneuverable recess
24
is substantially triangular when the lock
13
is viewed sideways. Thus, the upper surface of each maneuverable recess
24
is substantially horizontal, whereas the lower surface thereof is inclined up and to the back (see FIG.
3
).
A projection
25
projects forward from the upper part of the front end of the lock
13
and has a height of about ⅔ of the total height of the front end of the lock
13
. The projection
25
has a lower part
25
a
with projecting length that gradually increases toward the upper end and an upper part
25
b
above the maneuverable recesses
24
that has a constant projecting length. Thus, the front end surface of the lower part
25
a
of the projection
25
is a slanted up and to the front, whereas that of the upper part
25
b
is substantially vertical. The upper part
25
b
extends across the entire width of the lock
13
.
A substantially block-shaped support
26
projects in from a corner at the front end of the cavity
11
, as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 10
, and prevents the female terminal fitting
30
from being inclined vertically. The support
26
is coupled to the front wall
14
of the female housing
10
and the left side wall
23
of the cavity
11
to enhance the strength of the support
26
. The lower surface of the support
26
faces the mold-removal hole
17
.
The female terminal fitting
30
is formed into a desired shape by, for example, embossing, folding and/or bending a metallic material stamped or cut out into a specified shape. This female terminal fitting
30
, as shown in
FIGS. 5 and 8
, has a main body
31
substantially in the form of a box with open front and rear ends. A barrel
32
is connected to the rear end of the main body
31
and is configured to be crimped, bent or folded into connection with an end of a wire W. The barrel
32
has a front pair of crimping pieces
32
a
for connection with a core Wa of the wire W, and a rear pair of crimping pieces
32
b
for connection with an insulated portion Wb of the wire W.
The main body
31
is comprised of a ceiling wall
33
that extends in forward and backward directions, side walls
34
,
35
that extend down from the opposite lateral edges of the ceiling wall
33
, a bottom wall
36
that projects from the projecting end of the left side wall
34
of
FIG. 4
to face the ceiling wall
33
, and an outer wall
37
that projects from the projecting end of the right side wall
34
of
FIG. 4
to lie outside of the bottom wall
36
.
The front end of the ceiling wall
33
is retracted back from the front ends of the other walls
34
,
35
,
36
and
37
, and a resilient contact piece
38
projects from a U-shaped fold at the front end of the ceiling wall
33
, as shown in FIG.
8
. The resilient contact piece
38
faces the ceiling wall
33
and the bottom wall
36
, and is supported only at the front end of the ceiling wall
33
. Additionally, the resilient contact piece
38
has a forward-inclined portion rearward of the U-shaped fold and a backward-inclined portion rearward of the forward-inclined portion. A bulge
39
is embossed in the resilient contact piece
38
to project toward the bottom wall
36
and to extend from the forward-inclined portion to the backward-inclined portion. The bulge
39
is substantially an ellipse that is narrow in forward and backward directions. A contact
40
is defined at the peak of the bulge
39
and can contact with the tab of the mating male terminal fitting. The resilient contact piece
38
deforms resiliently as the contact
40
is pressed by the tab of the male terminal fitting. Thus, the resilient contact piece
38
approaches the ceiling wall
33
with the fold as a supporting point of the resilient deformation. During the resilient deformation, the end of the resilient contact piece
38
can contact the inner surface of the ceiling wall
33
. A recess
41
is formed in the ceiling wall
33
for enlarging a degree of resilient deformation of the resilient contact piece
38
and for preventing the deformed resilient contact piece
38
from widthwise displacement.
An excessive deformation preventing projection
42
is embossed in the ceiling wall
33
and projects toward the contact portion
40
. Excessive deformation of the resilient contact piece
38
beyond its resiliency limit is prevented by the engagement of the resilient contact piece
38
with the excessive deformation preventing projection
42
. Further, a receiving portion
43
bulges toward the resilient contact piece
38
from a position on the bottom wall
36
facing the bulge
39
. The tab of the male terminal fitting can be held and squeezed between the receiving portion
43
and the resilient contact piece
38
.
The outer wall
37
is divided into a front portion
37
a
and a rear portion
37
b
by a cut-away
44
formed over substantially the entire width at a substantially longitudinal middle portion, as shown in
FIGS. 5 and 8
. The lock
13
can enter the cut-away portion
44
over the entire length of the cut-away portion
44
when the female terminal fitting
30
is inserted into the cavity
11
, and hence the lock
13
can engage a front cut end surface
44
a
of the cut-away portion
44
. The front cut end surface
44
a
of the cut-away portion
44
serves as a locking surface for engaging the lock
13
and is inclined in and up to the back over its entire area. The cut-away portion
44
has a length slightly less than half the length of the outer wall
37
and extends up to the bottom end of the side wall
35
at the upper side in
FIG. 5. A
bulging piece
45
projects from the projecting end of the bottom wall
36
and contacts the bottom end surface of the side wall
35
to hold the bottom wall
36
substantially horizontal. All of the bottom wall
36
except a contact portion of the bulging piece
45
with the side wall
35
is slightly lower than this contact portion, thereby increasing a depth of engagement with the lock
13
. The front portion
37
a
of the outer wall
37
is slightly shorter than the rear portion
37
b
in forward and backward directions.
A rear-portion holding piece
46
and a stabilizer
47
are provided one after the other at the projecting end of the rear portion
37
b
of the outer wall
37
, as shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6
. The rear-portion holding piece
46
is bent in toward the ceiling wall
33
and the stabilizer
47
is bent out. The rear-portion holding piece
46
fits in a rear-portion holding groove
48
in the side wall
34
, as shown in
FIG. 6
, and hence prevents the rear portion
37
b
from making loose forward and backward movements along the longitudinal direction of the terminal fitting
30
. The stabilizer
47
can slide along the stabilizer-inserting groove
20
in the cavity
11
to guide the insertion of the female terminal fitting
30
. The front end of the rear-portion holding piece
46
and the front end of the rear portion
37
b
substantially align with each other, whereas the rear end of the stabilizer
47
and the rear end of the rear portion
37
b
substantially align with each other. A projection
49
is embossed to project out from a widthwise center portion of the rear end of the rear portion
37
b
and has a length substantially equal to the length of the stabilizer
47
. The projection
49
contacts the bottom surface of the cavity
11
(upper surface of the projection-inserting groove
19
) when the female terminal fitting
30
is inserted into the cavity
11
.
A front-portion holding piece
50
is provided at the projecting end of the front portion
37
a
of the outer wall
37
and is bent toward the ceiling wall
33
. The front-portion holding piece
50
fits into a front-portion holding groove
51
in the side wall
34
, as shown in
FIG. 6
, and hence prevents the front portion
37
a
from making loose forward and backward movements. This front-portion holding piece
50
projects more backward than the front portion
37
a
of the outer wall
37
. The cut-away portion
44
extends into the base end of the front-portion holding piece
50
, and the cut end surface
44
a
thereof inclines in and up to the back. A side end of the lock
13
is engageable with the cut end surface
44
a.
A locking projection
52
is embossed to project out at a position slightly displaced to the left side of
FIG. 4
from the center of the rear end of the front portion
37
a
of the outer wall
37
, and hence at the front cut end of the cut-away portion
44
. The locking projection
52
is engageable with the lock
13
. The locking projection
52
, as shown in
FIGS. 5
to
7
, has a pyramid portion
52
a
formed by three slanted surfaces and a substantially trapezoidal or rectangular tube portion
52
b
with a substantially constant width and height formed by three side surfaces connected one after the other. The pyramid portion
52
a
of the locking projection
52
is tapered so that the width and height of the locking projection
52
gradually decrease toward the front. The front end of the pyramid portion
52
a
defines a slightly rounded vertex so that the locking projection
52
can be inserted smoothly along the projection-inserting groove
19
in the process of inserting the female terminal fitting
30
into the cavity
11
. The substantially rectangular tube portion
52
b
of the locking projection
52
overhangs backward substantially along the inclination of the front cut end surface
44
a
of the cut-away portion
44
and projects more back towards the cut-away portion
44
than the front portion
37
a
of the outer wall
37
. Thus, the locking projection
52
is substantially parallel to the front cut end surface
44
a,
which is tapered to incline inwardly at an angle α with respect to the insertion and withdrawal directions IWD, see FIG.
6
.
The locking projection
52
projects up to the substantially same height as the projection
49
, and, like the projection
49
, is insertable into the projection-inserting groove
19
of the cavity
11
. The outward-projecting end of the rectangular tube portion
52
b
of the locking projection
52
is set to reach a part of the lock
13
located below the projection
25
, thus ensuring a sufficient depth of engagement with the lock
13
. The rear end
52
c
of the locking projection
52
defines a locking surface that engages the lock
13
. The rear end
52
c
is formed by the front cut end surface
44
a
of the cut-away portion
44
and inclined in and up to the back. The rear end surfaces of the portions of the front portion
37
a
of the outer wall
37
at the opposite sides of the locking projection
52
also are formed by the front cut end surface
44
a
of the cut-away portion
44
inclined in and up to the back and is engageable with the lock
13
, as shown in FIG.
9
.
The locking projection
52
projects more outward than an imaginary triangular pyramid X, as shown in FIG.
7
. The imaginary triangular pyramid X has a vertex A at the front end of the locking projection
52
and is formed by connecting the vertex A with a pair of base end points B at the rear edge of the front portion
37
a
of the outer wall
37
and an outward projecting end point C substantially at the middle of the rear end
52
c
of the locking projection
52
. The outer surfaces of the locking projection
52
project more outward than any side of the imaginary triangular pyramid X (i. e. straight lines connecting the vertex A and the base end points B, straight line connecting the vertex A and the projecting end point C, and straight lines connecting the base end points B and the projecting end point C). Thus, the inner volume of the locking projection
52
is larger than that of the imaginary triangular pyramid X. Accordingly, the locking projection
52
has a shape with three or more surfaces that increase in cross-section towards the back end, as seen in the inserting direction of the terminal fitting
30
into the cavity
11
, and the cross-section is larger than the cross section of the imaginary triangular pyramid X.
A fittable groove
53
opens forward at a corner between the front portion
37
a
of the outer wall
37
and the right side wall
35
of FIG.
4
. Thus, the fittable groove
53
is at a corner opposite from the ceiling wall
33
and the resilient contact piece
38
with respect to a height direction and at a side opposite from the frontportion holding piece
50
with respect to a widthwise direction. The supporting projection
26
at the front end of the cavity
11
is engageable with the fittable groove
53
as the female terminal fitting
30
is inserted into the cavity
11
. Thus, the female terminal fitting
30
is supported and will not move loosely along vertical directions intersecting the inserting and withdrawing directions IWD of the female terminal fitting
30
or deforming direction DD of the lock
13
.
The connector is assembled by first crimping the barrel
32
of the female terminal fitting
30
into connection with the wire W, and then inserting the female terminal fitting
30
into the cavity
11
from behind, as shown in
FIGS. 8
to
11
. The female terminal fitting
30
could be upside down during an insertion attempt. However, the stabilizer
47
will contact the restricting portion
22
at the rear end of the cavity
11
to prevent an upside-down insertion of the female terminal fitting
30
.
The properly oriented female terminal fitting
30
is inserted into the cavity
11
so that the locking projection
52
enters the projection-inserting groove
19
. The projection
49
and the stabilizer
47
then enter the projection-inserting groove
19
and the stabilizer-inserting groove
20
, respectively, so that the female terminal fitting
30
is inserted smoothly and is prevented from shaking along vertical and/or transverse directions. The locking projection
52
presses the lock
13
down, as shown in
FIG. 12
, when the female terminal fitting
30
is inserted to a specified depth. Maximum deformation of the lock
13
in the deformation direction DD occurs when the locking projection
52
presses the front part
13
a
of the lock
13
. During this process, the locking projection
52
is inserted smoothly along the projection-inserting groove
19
and the substantially pyramidal shape with the vertex at the front end smoothly presses the lock
13
.
The locking projection
52
moves beyond the lock
13
when the female terminal fitting
30
reaches a proper depth in the cavity
11
. Thus, the lock
13
is restored resiliently and enters the cut-away portion
44
to lock the female terminal fitting
30
, as shown in
FIGS. 13
to
16
. At this time, the projection
25
of the lock
13
projects along the inclination of the cut end surface
44
a
and enters the inside the locking projection
52
. The front end of the main body
31
is pushed down by the jutting portion
21
on the ceiling surface of the cavity
11
and is displaced toward the lock
13
in this process. Thus, the depth of engagement of the lock
13
with the female terminal fitting
30
is increased. Further, the vertical inclination of the female terminal fitting
30
is prevented by the engagement of the supporting projection
26
with the fittable groove
53
, as shown in FIG.
15
. The locking projection
52
is displaced from both maneuverable recesses
24
of the locking portion along the widthwise direction and is exposed forward to outside together with the maneuverable recesses
24
, as shown in FIG.
17
.
The front cut end surface
44
a
of the cut-away portion
44
, which is the locking surface engageable with the lock
13
, reaches the front portion
37
a
of the outer wall
37
including the locking projection
52
and the front-portion holding piece
50
. Thus, the front cut end surface
44
a
is formed over the substantially entire width of the female terminal fitting
30
, as shown in
FIGS. 13
to
16
. As a result, the female terminal fitting
30
is held with a strong locking force and will not come out of the cavity
11
. Further, the front cut end surface
44
a
of the cut-away portion
44
is inclined in and up to the back, and the locking force is even stronger.
A force may act on the locked female terminal fitting
30
via the wire W to pull the female terminal fitting
30
back. Thus, there is a possibility that the locking projection
52
of the female terminal fitting
30
will bite into the lock
13
. If this occurs, part of the lock
13
will be scraped off and enter the inner space of the locking projection
52
. However, the volume of the inner space of the locking projection
52
is larger than the inner volume of the imaginary triangular pyramid X shown in FIG.
7
. Therefore, a larger amount of the material of the lock
13
can enter the inside of the locking projection
52
, and a force necessary to pull the female terminal fitting
30
back while causing the lock
13
to bite in the locking projection
52
is increased. Hence, the female terminal fitting
30
can be held strongly.
As described above, the outer wall
37
has the cut-away portion
44
into which the lock
13
can enter, the locking projection
52
is formed by causing the front cut end of the cut-away portion
44
to project outward, and the lock
13
is engageable with the front cut end surface
44
a
of the cut-away portion
44
including the locking projection
52
. Thus, a depth of engagement of the lock
13
is larger since the lock
13
enters the cut-away portion
44
and engages the front cut end surface
44
a.
In addition, a width of engagement is larger since the lock
13
also engages the front cut end surface
44
a
of the cut-away portion
44
at the opposite sides of the locking projection
52
of the front portion
37
a
of the outer wall
37
. Thus, a force to lock the terminal fitting
30
is larger. Therefore, a sufficient locking force can be secured even if the terminal fitting
30
is made smaller, and the terminal fitting
30
and the connector are suited to being made smaller.
The front cut end surface
44
a
of the cut-away portion
44
is inclined inwardly at an angle a so as to overhang over the cut-away portion
44
and to bite in the lock
13
when a force acts on the terminal fitting
30
in its locked state to pull it backward. Thus, the locking force can be made even larger, and the terminal fitting
30
and the connector are more suited to being made smaller.
The outer wall
37
is divided into the front and rear portion by the cut-away portion
44
, and the lock
13
is engageable with the locking projection
52
and the cut end surface
44
a
of the front portion
37
. Thus, the lock
13
can be engaged over substantially the entire width of the front portion
37
a
of the outer wall
37
, and the locking force can be made even larger. Furthermore, the front portion
37
a
of the outer wall
37
has the locking projection
52
and the cut end surface
44
a
held immovably forward and backward by fitting the front-portion holding piece
50
into the front-portion holding groove
51
. Thus, the locking projection
52
and the cut end surface
44
a
can be engaged stably with the lock
13
, and the terminal fitting
30
can be held firmly even if made smaller. Accordingly, the terminal fitting
30
and the connector are suited to being made smaller.
The cut-away portion
44
extends to the front-portion holding piece
50
and the lock
13
is engageable with the cut end surface
44
a.
Thus, the width range of the outer wall
37
and the width range of the front-portion holding piece
50
can be set as an engageable range of the lock
13
. Accordingly, an engaged area can be increased to enhance the force to lock the terminal fitting
30
. Therefore, the terminal fitting
30
and the connector are suited even more to being made smaller.
The present invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiment. For example, the following embodiments are also embraced by the technical scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Beside the following embodiments, various changes can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the claims.
The cut-away portion divides the outer wall into front and rear portions in the foregoing embodiment. However, the outer wall might not be divided completely into the front and rear portions by reducing a width range of the cut-away portion to leave the projecting end of the outer wall over the entire length.
The front cut end surface of the cut-away portion is inclined inwardly over the entire width in the foregoing embodiment. However, the cut end surface may be inclined partly or may be an upright surface over the entire width without being inclined.
Female terminal fitting and a female connector are shown in the foregoing embodiment. However, the invention is also applicable to male terminal fittings and male connectors.
The lock is formed integrally in the female housing in the foregoing embodiment. However, female connectors may have a separate retainer to hold female terminal fittings in the female housing. Further, locks supported at both ends may be provided instead of locks supported only at one end.
The invention has been described with respect to a terminal fitting insertable into the corresponding cavity from behind However, the invention is also applicable to terminal fittings insertable into the cavity from another direction, e.g. from front.
Claims
- 1. A terminal fitting to be locked by a fastener provided in a connector housing when being inserted into the connector housing from behind, the terminal fitting having an outer wall with first and second opposite side edges, a first side wall extending up from the first side edge and a second side wall substantially facing the first side wall and being spaced from the second side edge of the outer wall, the outer wall being divided into a front portion and a rear portion by a cut-away portion formed in the outer wall for permitting entrance of the fastener, the front portion of the outer wall being deformed out adjacent the cut-away portion to define a locking projection with which the fastener is engageable, wherein at least one holding piece projects from the second side edge along the front portion of the outer wall, and a holding groove being formed in the second side wall, the holding piece being fit in the holding groove for preventing the front portion from moving forward and backward.
- 2. The terminal fitting of claim 1, wherein the cut-away portion extends to the holding piece, and the fastener is engageable with a cut end surface formed at the holding piece.
- 3. The terminal fitting of claim 1, wherein the cut-away portion extends entirely across the outer wall.
- 4. The terminal fitting of claim 1, wherein the locking projection has an engaging side engageable with the fastener, a portion of the engaging side being substantially flush with a portion of the cut end surface of the cut-away portion.
- 5. The terminal fitting of claim 4, wherein a second portion of the engaging side is overhanging towards the cut-away portion to extend over at least a portion of the cut-away portion.
- 6. A connector, comprising a housing and the terminal fitting of claim 1, a fastening portion provided in the housing locking the terminal fitting when the terminal fitting is inserted into the housing.
- 7. The connector of claim 6, wherein the fastening portion is provided with an engaging surface substantially mating the cut end surface of the cut-away portion.
- 8. A terminal fitting with opposite front and rear ends, a substantially rectangular tubular main body extending rearwardly from the front end and having a top wall, first and second sidewalls extending down from opposite side edges of the top wall, a bottom wall extending from the first sidewall (34) toward the second sidewall (35) and opposed to the top wall, and an outer wall extending from the second sidewall toward the first sidewall and overlying the bottom wall, the outer wall having a cut-away portion with a front cut end surface facing rearwardly, a locking projection projecting out on a portion of the outer wall forward of the cut away portion, a portion of the front cut end surface being on the locking projection, the cut-away portion extending across the outer wall substantially from the first sidewall to the second sidewall so that the outer wall is divided into a front portion and a rear portion by the cut-away portion, at least one holding piece projecting from an edge of the outer wall along the front portion of the outer wall and a holding groove being formed in the second sidewall, the holding piece being fit in the holding groove for preventing the front portion from moving forward and backward.
- 9. The terminal fitting of claim 8, wherein the front cut end surface of the cut-away portion is undercut to extend farther rearward at locations further from the bottom wall.
- 10. The terminal fitting of claim 8, wherein the cut-away portion extends to the holding piece, and the fastener is engageable with a cut end surface formed at the holding piece.
- 11. A terminal fitting with opposite front and rear ends, a tubular main body extending rearwardly from the front end and having an outer wall, the outer wall having a cut-away portion with a front cut end surface facing rearwardly, a locking projection projecting out on a portion of the outer wall forward of the cut-away portion, the locking projection having a rear end inclined outwardly and rearwardly, and portions of the front cut end surface of the cut-away portion on opposite sides of the locking projection being inclined outwardly and rearwardly continuously with the outwardly and rearwardly inclined rear end of the locking projection.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2002-166364 |
Jun 2002 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (21)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
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Date |
Country |
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Oct 1994 |
DE |
197 10 427 |
Oct 1998 |
DE |
0 673 082 |
Sep 1995 |
EP |
0 732 771 |
Sep 1996 |
EP |
0 986 143 |
Mar 2000 |
EP |