JP6915858B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connector.

Conventionally, a connector in a form in which a terminal is inserted from an insertion port of a housing and held in the housing has been used. In such a connector, an elastic engaging portion that extends in a cantilever shape in the housing, comes into contact with a terminal inserted from an insertion port, elastically deforms and bends, and then elastically recovers and engages with the terminal. Is provided.

As the connector as described above, in Patent Document 1, the terminal fitting is housed from the rear in the cavity provided in the housing, and the terminal fitting is locked from the rear by the elastic locking piece provided on the inner wall of the cavity. The connector is disclosed. That is, in the connector of Patent Document 1, the elasticity extends in a cantilever shape in the housing, abuts with the terminal inserted from the insertion port, elastically deforms and bends, and after elastically deforms, elastically recovers and engages with the terminal. The elastic locking piece described above is provided as an engaging portion.

The elastic locking piece of the connector of Patent Document 1 is formed by extending forward in a cantilever shape, so that the elastic locking piece elastically displaces toward a bending space provided on the outside of the cavity with the base end as a fulcrum. A locking protrusion provided on the cavity side of the elastic part and the elastic part, which is pressed from the rear by the terminal fitting when accommodating the terminal fitting, and locks the terminal fitting from the rear when the terminal fitting reaches the regular accommodating position. have. Then, on the flexure space side of the elastic portion, a support portion having a detail that becomes thinner toward the center in the width direction of the elastic portion is provided from the flexure space side toward the elastic portion side. Further, the details are arranged so as to straddle a region in which the locking protrusion is not arranged on the cavity side in the elastic portion and a region in which the locking protrusion is arranged on the cavity side in the elastic portion. The invention of the connector of Patent Document 1 includes an elastic locking piece having an elastic portion provided with a support portion having a detail having a complicated shape as described above, thereby providing an insertion resistance of a terminal fitting inserted into the housing. We are aiming to secure the rigidity of the elastic locking piece without increasing the height.

Patent No. 6048342

In the connector of Patent Document 1, it extends in a cantilever shape in the housing, abuts with the terminal inserted from the insertion port, elastically deforms and bends, and after elastically deforms, elastically recovers and engages with the terminal. The elastic locking piece described above is provided as a portion. The elastic engaging portion (elastic locking piece) of the connector of Patent Document 1 is provided with a supporting portion having a complicated shape and detail in the elastic portion that elastically deforms toward the bending space side. For this reason, the connector of Patent Document 1 attempts to suppress a decrease in rigidity while ensuring the ease of bending and deformation in the elastic engaging portion (elastic locking piece), but the elastic engaging portion (elastic locking piece). There is a problem that the shape of) becomes complicated. Further, as the shape of the elastic engaging portion (elastic locking piece) becomes complicated, the structure of the mold for forming the housing provided with such the elastic engaging portion (elastic locking piece) also becomes complicated. It will end up.

Further, the connector of Patent Document 1 has a thin wall in the space side portion of the elastic portion of the elastic engaging portion (elastic locking piece) toward the center in the width direction of the elastic portion from the flexible space side toward the elastic portion side. A support portion having a fine tip is provided. The elastic engaging portion (elastic locking piece) of the connector of Patent Document 1 has the above-mentioned shape, and in order to suppress the decrease in rigidity while ensuring the ease of bending and deforming, both sides of the support portion in the width direction. The portion of has a structure that greatly protrudes in the thickness direction of the elastic engaging portion (elastic locking piece). As described above, since there is a support portion in which both side portions in the width direction greatly protrude in the thickness direction of the elastic engaging portion (elastic locking piece), the elastic engaging portion (elastic locking piece) of the connector of Patent Document 1 Is easy for the support portion to come into contact with the facing wall portion in the housing during flexion deformation. Therefore, the connector of Patent Document 1 has a problem that the amount of bending deformation of the elastic engaging portion (elastic locking piece) is likely to be limited.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention secures the ease of bending and deformation of the elastic engaging portion, suppresses the decrease in rigidity, suppresses the complication of the shape of the elastic engaging portion, and further suppresses the elastic engagement. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector capable of relaxing the limitation of the amount of bending deformation of the joint portion.

(1) A connector according to a certain aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is provided with a terminal and an insertion port into which the terminal is inserted, and a housing for holding the terminal inserted from the insertion port. And, it is provided so as to extend like a cantilever in the housing, and it comes into contact with the terminal inserted from the insertion port and elastically deforms and bends, and after elastically deforming, elastically recovers and engages with the terminal. It is provided with an elastic engaging portion. In the connector according to a certain aspect of the present invention, the elastic engaging portions are integrally provided side by side in the thickness direction of the elastic engaging portion, and the first beam portion and the second beam portion having different dimensions in the width direction are provided. The first beam portion has a portion, and the first beam portion is provided as a portion extending on the region side in which the terminal is inserted in the region in the housing, and the second beam portion is the elastic engagement in the region in the housing. The portion is provided as a portion extending on the region side where the portion is elastically deformed and flexed, and the terminal is projected on the tip end side of the first beam portion in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the first beam portion. A projecting portion is provided so that the second beam portion abuts and engages with the second beam portion, and the width direction dimension of the second beam portion is larger than the width direction dimension of the first beam portion.

According to this configuration, the terminal inserted from the insertion port of the housing comes into contact with the protruding portion on the tip end side of the elastic engaging portion extending like a cantilever in the housing. As a result, the elastically engaged portion elastically deforms and bends, and after elastically deformed, elastically recovers and engages with the terminal at the protruding portion. The terminal is held in the housing by engaging the terminal with the elastic engaging portion.

Then, according to the above configuration, the first beam portion and the second beam portion having different dimensions in the width direction are integrally provided side by side in the thickness direction of the elastic engaging portion, and the terminal is inserted into the first beam portion. The second beam portion is configured to extend on the region side where the elastic engaging portion is elastically deformed and flexed. The width direction dimension of the second beam portion is set to be larger than the width direction dimension of the first beam portion. Therefore, in the elastic engaging portion of the connector having the above configuration, the portion of the first beam portion extending on the region side where the terminal is inserted in the region in the housing is provided as a portion having a small dimension in the width direction and a narrow width. The portion of the second beam portion extending on the region side where the elastic engaging portion in the region inside the housing is elastically deformed and flexed is provided as a portion having a large dimension in the width direction and a wide width. Therefore, according to the above configuration, the elastic engagement that can suppress the decrease in rigidity in the wide second beam portion while ensuring the ease of bending deformation in the narrow first beam portion. The structure of the part can be realized. According to the above configuration, the elastic engaging portion is formed in a simple shape in which the first beam portion and the second beam portion having different dimensions in the width direction are arranged side by side in the thickness direction and integrally provided. The complication of the shape of the joint is suppressed.

Further, in the elastic engaging portion (elastic locking piece) of the connector of Patent Document 1, since the supporting portions greatly projecting in the thickness direction are provided on both sides in the width direction, the supporting portions are provided when the connector is flexed and deformed. It is easy to come into contact with the facing wall portion in the housing, and the amount of bending deformation of the elastic engaging portion (elastic locking piece) is likely to be limited. However, according to the above configuration, the elastic engaging portion has a shape in which the first beam portion and the second beam portion having different dimensions in the width direction are arranged side by side in the thickness direction and integrally provided, so that the elastic engaging portion greatly protrudes in the thickness direction. There is no part to do. Therefore, according to the above configuration, the limitation on the amount of bending deformation of the elastic engaging portion can be relaxed.

Therefore, according to the above configuration, it is possible to suppress the decrease in rigidity while ensuring the ease of bending and deformation of the elastic engaging portion, suppressing the complication of the shape of the elastic engaging portion, and further, the elastic engaging portion. It is possible to provide a connector capable of relaxing the limitation on the amount of bending deformation.

According to the above configuration, as described above, the elastic engaging portion is configured with a simple shape in which the first beam portion and the second beam portion having different dimensions in the width direction are integrally provided side by side in the thickness direction. Therefore, the complicated shape of the elastic engaging portion is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the structure of the mold for forming the housing provided with the elastic engaging portion. Further, since the elastic engaging portion has a simple shape in which the first beam portion and the second beam portion having different dimensions in the width direction are integrally provided side by side in the thickness direction, a left and right mold is used for the housing. It can be easily realized that it is configured only by the front and rear type without it.

(2) In the connector, a plurality of the elastic engaging portions are provided, and the plurality of elastic engaging portions are formed as two elastic engaging portions arranged in the height direction of the housing. The second beam portion of one elastic engaging portion and the second beam portion of the other elastic engaging portion of the elastic engaging portion unit including the unit face each other in the height direction of the housing. You may be doing it.

According to this configuration, in the elastic engaging portion unit, the second beam portion of one elastic engaging portion and the second beam portion of the other elastic engaging portion face each other in the height direction of the housing. Therefore, in the housing, the partition wall between the region where one elastic engaging portion bends and the region where the other elastic engaging portion bends is omitted, and the regions where each other bends are space-efficiently effective. Can be used for. As a result, a plurality of terminals and elastic engaging portions can be more densely arranged in the housing and can be efficiently arranged, and the connector can be further miniaturized. Further, since the partition wall between the region where one elastic engaging portion bends and the region where the other elastic engaging portion bends in the housing can be omitted, a housing provided with a plurality of elastic engaging portions is formed. It is possible to further simplify the structure of the mold for this purpose.

(3) In the connector, a plurality of the elastic engaging portion units may be provided, and the plurality of the elastic engaging portion units may be arranged side by side in the width direction of the housing.

According to this configuration, a plurality of elastic engagement unit units composed of two elastic engagement portions that can effectively utilize the areas where the housings bend in the height direction of the housing in a space-efficient manner are arranged side by side in the width direction of the housing. Be placed. Therefore, more terminals and elastic engaging portions can be more densely arranged and efficiently arranged, and the connector can be further miniaturized.

(4) In the connector, a plurality of the terminals and the elastic engaging portions are provided, and the plurality of the terminals are held in the housing in a state of being arranged at least in the width direction of the housing, and the plurality of elastic engagement portions are held. The joints are arranged side by side in at least the width direction of the housing in the housing, and the housing is provided with a plurality of partition wall portions extending in parallel with each other in the housing, and the partition wall portions of the plurality of partition wall portions. Each of the terminals is configured to extend in the housing so as to partition between the terminals arranged in the width direction of the housing and to a position facing the first beam portion, and are arranged in the width direction of the housing. The second beam portion of the elastic engaging portion may be arranged so as to be adjacent to each other with respect to the space.

According to this configuration, terminals adjacent to each other in the width direction of the housing are partitioned by a partition wall portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent adjacent terminals from coming into contact with each other in the width direction of the housing. According to the above configuration, the partition wall portion that partitions between adjacent terminals in the width direction of the housing extends only to a position facing the first beam portion of the elastic engaging portion, and is adjacent in the width direction of the housing. The second beam portions of the matching elastic engaging portions are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other with respect to the space. That is, there is no partition wall portion between the second beam portions adjacent to each other in the width direction of the housing. Therefore, in the housing, the second beam portion, which is wider than the first beam portion, can be arranged by effectively utilizing the area where the partition wall portion does not exist in a space-efficient manner. Therefore, the plurality of elastic engaging portions can be more densely arranged in the width direction of the housing and can be efficiently arranged. As a result, a plurality of terminals and elastic engaging portions can be more densely arranged in the housing and can be efficiently arranged, and the connector can be further miniaturized.

(5) In the connector, the second beam portion is configured so that the dimension in the thickness direction of the elastic engaging portion increases toward the root side of the elastic engaging portion extending like a cantilever. You may be.

According to this configuration, the thickness dimension of the second beam portion is toward the root side where the bending moment generated by the urging force from the terminal acts more when the terminal abuts on the protruding portion and the elastic engaging portion bends. It is set to be large. Therefore, in the second beam portion, a structure is realized in which the cross-sectional area is gradually increased toward the root side on which the bending moment at the time of bending and deformation of the elastic engaging portion greatly acts, and the generated stress is efficiently reduced. Can be done. As a result, it is possible to further suppress the decrease in rigidity while ensuring the ease of bending and deformation of the elastic engaging portion. Further, since the amount of bending deformation of the elastic engaging portion becomes considerably smaller toward the root side, it is possible to easily maintain a state in which the limitation on the amount of bending deformation of the elastic engaging portion is relaxed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the decrease in rigidity while ensuring the ease of bending deformation of the elastic engaging portion, suppressing the complication of the shape of the elastic engaging portion, and further, the amount of bending deformation of the elastic engaging portion. It is possible to provide a connector that can relax the limitation of.

It is a perspective view which shows the connector which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention together with an electric wire, FIG. 1A is a perspective view which shows the whole connector, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view which shows the cross section of a connector. It is a figure. 2A is a perspective view showing the connector together with the electric wire and the mating side connector, FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing the entire connector and the mating side connector, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the connector and the mating side connector. It is a perspective view which shows. It is a perspective view which shows the terminal of a connector, and is the figure which shows together with the electric wire. 4A is a rear view, FIG. 4B is a plan view, and FIG. 4C is a front view, which is a view showing a housing of the connector. 5A is a perspective view showing the entire housing, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing a cross section of the housing. 6 (A) is a perspective view of the housing, FIG. 6 (A) is a perspective view showing the entire housing, and FIG. 6 (B) is a perspective view showing a cross section of the housing. 7 (A) is a plan view, and FIG. 7 (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X4-X4 of FIG. 7 (A), which is a view showing the housing. C) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X5-X5 of FIG. 7A. It is a perspective view which shows the elastic engagement part unit of a connector. 9 (A) is a plan view, FIG. 9 (B) is a front view, and FIG. 9 (C) is FIG. 9 (A). It is a cross-sectional view at the position of X8-X8 line arrow, and FIG. 9D is a side view. FIG. 10 (A) is a perspective view showing the connector according to the modified example together with the electric wire, FIG. 10 (A) is a perspective view showing the entire connector according to the modified example, and FIG. 10 (B) is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the modified example. It is a perspective view which shows.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention can be widely applied to a connector provided with a terminal and a housing provided with an insertion port into which the terminal is inserted and holding the terminal inserted from the insertion port.

[Outline of connector]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention together with an electric wire, FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the entire connector, and FIG. 1B is a connector. It is a perspective view which shows the cross section of. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the connector 1 together with the electric wire 100 and the mating side connector 101, and FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing the entire connector 1 and the mating side connector 101, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view. Is a perspective view showing a cross section of the connector 1 and the mating connector 101. In addition, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, only a part of the electric wire 100 is shown. Further, in FIG. 2, the electric wire 102 connected to the mating connector 101 is also shown, and only a part of the electric wire 102 is shown.

The connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided as a connector for electrically connecting a plurality of electric wires 100 and a mating connector 101. The connector 1 includes a plurality of terminals 11, a housing 12, and a plurality of elastic engaging portions 13. In the connector 1, a plurality of terminals 11 and elastic engaging portions 13 are provided, and the same number are provided.

Each of the plurality of terminals 11 of the connector 1 is mechanically and electrically connected to the electric wire 100, and is also mechanically and electrically connected to the mating terminal 103 of the mating connector 101. It is configured in. Each terminal 11 is made of a conductive metal material. Each terminal 11 is inserted into and mounted on the housing 12 with the electric wire 100 connected, for example. The details of the configuration of the terminal 11 will be described later.

The housing 12 of the connector 1 is made of an insulating resin material and is configured to hold a plurality of terminals 11. The housing 12 is provided as an element that is mechanically connected to the mating connector 101. By mechanically connecting the housing 12 to the mating connector 101, the plurality of terminals 11 and the plurality of mating terminals 103 of the mating connector 101 are electrically and mechanically connected, respectively. The details of the configuration of the housing 12 will be described later.

Each of the plurality of elastic engaging portions 13 of the connector 1 is provided so as to extend like a cantilever in the housing 12, and is integrally provided with the housing 12 inside the housing 12. Therefore, each elastic engaging portion 13 is made of a resin material having an insulating property. Each elastic engaging portion 13 is provided as an element in the connector 1 that comes into contact with the terminal 11 inserted into the housing 12 and elastically deforms and bends, and after elastically deforming, elastically recovers and engages with the terminal 11. ing. The details of the configuration of the elastic engaging portion 13 will be described later.

The mating side connector 101 to which the connector 1 is connected is provided as a connector for electrically connecting a plurality of electric wires 102 and the connector 1. The mating side connector 101 includes a plurality of mating side terminals 103, a mating side housing 104, and a plurality of elastic engaging portions 105.

Each of the plurality of mating terminals 103 of the mating connector 101 is mechanically and electrically connected to the electric wire 102, and is also mechanically and electrically connected to the terminal 11 of the connector 1. It is configured in. Each mating terminal 103 is made of a conductive metal material. Each mating terminal 103 is inserted into and mounted on the mating housing 104 with the electric wire 102 connected. In this embodiment, the terminal 11 of the connector 1 is configured as a female terminal, and the mating terminal 103 of the mating connector 101 is configured as a male terminal.

The mating housing 104 of the mating connector 101 is made of an insulating resin material and is configured to hold a plurality of mating terminals 103. The mating housing 104 is provided as an element that is mechanically connected to the connector 1. By mechanically connecting the mating housing 104 to the connector 1, the plurality of mating terminals 103 and the plurality of terminals 11 of the connector 1 are electrically and mechanically connected, respectively. In this embodiment, the connector 1 is configured as a plug type connector, and the mating side connector 101 is configured as a receptacle type connector. Therefore, in the mating side connector 101 and the connector 1, the housing 12 is inserted so as to be fitted into the fitting hole 104a of the mating side housing 104, whereby the mating side housing 104 and the housing 12 are fitted. It is configured as follows. By fitting the housing 12 and the mating housing 104, the plurality of terminals 11 and the plurality of mating terminals 103 are connected to each other, and the connector 1 and the mating connector 101 are electrically and mechanically connected. Will be done. Further, by connecting the connector 1 and the mating connector 101, the plurality of electric wires 100 and the plurality of electric wires 102 are electrically connected to each other.

Each of the plurality of elastic engaging portions 105 of the mating side connector 101 is provided so as to extend like a cantilever in the mating side housing 104, and is provided integrally with the mating side housing 104 inside the mating side housing 104. There is. Therefore, each elastic engaging portion 105 is made of a resin material having an insulating property. Then, each elastic engaging portion 105 abuts on the mating side terminal 103 inserted into the mating side housing 104 in the mating side connector 101, elastically deforms and bends, and after elastically deforming, elastically recovers and the mating side terminal 103. It is provided as an element that engages with.

[Terminal]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the terminal 11 of the connector 1, which is shown together with the electric wire 100. In FIG. 3, only one terminal 11 of the connector 1 is shown. Further, in FIG. 3, only a part of the electric wire 100 is shown. A plurality of terminals 11 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are provided in the connector 1, and in the present embodiment, a mode in which six terminals 11 are provided is exemplified.

The terminal 11 is inserted into and held in the housing 12 while the electric wire 100 is connected. Further, while being held by the housing 12, it is connected to the mating terminal 103. The terminal 11 is configured to include a main body portion 11a, an electric wire connecting portion 11b, a terminal connecting portion 11c, an engaging recess 11d, and the like. The terminal 11 is formed by, for example, bending a single metal plate that has been appropriately punched and cut.

The main body portion 11a of the terminal 11 has a substantially square tubular basic outer shape, and is configured to be attached to and held in the housing 12 by being inserted into an insertion port 21 described later in the housing 12. The outer shape of the cross section of the substantially square tubular basic outer shape portion of the main body portion 11a is formed so as to substantially correspond to the shape of the cross section of the insertion port 21.

The electric wire connecting portion 11b is provided integrally with the main body portion 11a on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the substantially square tubular main body portion 11a. The electric wire connecting portion 11b is configured as a portion that is electrically connected to the conductor 100a of the electric wire 100. More specifically, the electric wire connecting portion 11b is configured to be connected by being crimped and crimped to the conductor 100a of the electric wire 100.

The electric wire 100 includes a conductor 100a made of a conductive metal wire and a covering portion 100b made of an insulating rubber material or the like and covering the periphery of the conductor 100a. .. The conductor 100a of the electric wire 100 is configured as, for example, a stranded wire formed by twisting a plurality of metal wires. Further, a part of the covering portion 100b is removed from the tip portion of the electric wire 100 so that the conductor 100a is exposed to the outside. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the cross sections of the conductor 100a and the covering portion 100b are schematically shown by the same hatching. Further, in the terminal 11, a covering caulking portion 11e is also provided adjacent to the electric wire connecting portion 11b. The coated caulking portion 11e is provided as a portion to be crimped to the coated portion 100b of the electric wire 100, and is provided to firmly fix the terminal 11 to the electric wire 100.

The terminal connection portion 11c is integrally provided with the main body portion 11a, and is configured as a portion that is electrically connected to the mating terminal 103. The terminal connection portion 11c is provided with respect to the mating terminal 103 inserted from the terminal connection port 22 described later in the housing 12 in a state where the terminal 11 is inserted into the housing 12 from the insertion port 21 of the housing 12 and held in the housing 12. Contact. As a result, the terminal connection portion 11c is electrically connected to the mating terminal 103.

Further, the terminal connecting portion 11c is provided integrally with the main body portion 11a at an end portion opposite to the end portion on the wire connecting portion 11b side in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 11a. The end of the main body 11a where the terminal connection 11c is provided is provided with an opening into which the mating terminal 103 is inserted. Further, the terminal connection portion 11c is provided with a spring structure for ensuring a contact pressure with respect to the mating terminal 103. In the present embodiment, the spring structure is configured as a leaf spring-like spring structure that is bent and formed in a semicircular shape over approximately 180 degrees.

The engaging recess 11d is provided as a portion that engages with the elastic engaging portion 13 arranged inside the housing 12 in a state where the terminal 11 is inserted into the housing 12 from the insertion port 21 of the housing 12. The engaging recess 11d is provided as a portion formed so as to partition a hole-shaped or recessed region in a part of the main body portion 11a. In the present embodiment, the embodiment in which the engaging recess 11d is provided as an edge portion of a hole-shaped portion cut out so that a part of the main body portion 11a penetrates inward is illustrated.

[housing]
4A and 4B are views showing the housing 12 of the connector 1, FIG. 4A is a rear view, FIG. 4B is a plan view, and FIG. 4C is a front view. be. 5A and 5B are perspective views of the housing 12, FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing the entire housing 12, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing a cross section of the housing 12. 6A and 6B are perspective views of the housing 12, FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing the entire housing 12, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing a cross section of the housing 12. Note that FIGS. 5 and 6 show perspective views of the housing 12 as viewed from different angles. 7A and 7B are views showing the housing 12, FIG. 7A is a plan view, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X4-X4 of FIG. 7A. Yes, FIG. 7 (C) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X5-X5 of FIG. 7 (A). 4 to 7 show a state in which the terminal 11 is not inserted in the housing 12 and the terminal 11 is not held in the housing 12.

The housing 12 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 to 7 is made of an insulating resin material, and is provided as a member having a housing-like portion that holds a plurality of terminals 11. The housing 12 is configured to include a plurality of insertion ports 21, a plurality of terminal connection ports 22, a plurality of partition wall portions 23, and the like.

Each of the plurality of insertion ports 21 of the housing 12 is provided as a hole into which each of the plurality of terminals 11 is inserted, and is open to the outside. Each terminal 11 is inserted into the housing 12 from each insertion port 21. The housing 12 is configured to hold each of the plurality of terminals 11 inserted from each of the plurality of insertion ports 21. Further, the plurality of insertion ports 21 are opened in the housing 12 at an end portion opposite to the end portion on the side connected to the mating connector 101. Therefore, each terminal 11 is inserted into each insertion port 21 of the housing 12 from the side opposite to the side connected to the mating connector 101.

Further, the plurality of insertion ports 21 are provided side by side along the height direction and the width direction of the housing 12. Therefore, the plurality of insertion ports 21 are arranged side by side in a grid arrangement at the end of the housing 12. The height direction and width direction of the housing 12 are parallel to the plane perpendicular to the depth direction of the housing 12, which is the direction parallel to the direction in which the terminal 11 is inserted into the housing 12 from the insertion port 21. .. The height direction of the housing 12 is indicated by arrows X1 at both ends in FIGS. 4 to 7. Further, the width direction of the housing 12 is indicated by arrows X2 at both ends in FIGS. 4 to 7. The depth direction of the housing 12 is indicated by arrows X3 at both ends in FIGS. 4 to 7. The height direction, width direction, and depth direction of the housing 12 are the height direction, the width direction, and the depth direction of the connector 1, respectively.

As described above, the plurality of insertion ports 21 are arranged side by side in a grid arrangement along the height direction and the width direction of the housing 12. Therefore, the plurality of terminals 11 that are inserted into the plurality of insertion ports 21 and held in the housing 12 are also arranged in a grid arrangement in the housing 12 along the height direction and the width direction of the housing 12. NS. In the present embodiment, a mode in which six terminals 11 are arranged side by side in a grid arrangement is exemplified in the housing 12. More specifically, in the present embodiment, a mode in which two rows of terminals 11 arranged in the height direction of the housing 12 are arranged in three rows in the width direction of the housing 12 is exemplified in the housing 12. In addition, in FIGS. 4 to 7, since the terminal 11 is not inserted in the housing 12 and the terminal 11 is not held in the housing 12, the terminal 11 is not shown.

Each of the plurality of terminal connection ports 22 of the housing 12 is provided as a hole for connecting each terminal 11 and each mating terminal 103 when connecting the connector 1 and the mating connector 101, and is provided with respect to the outside. It is open. Therefore, each terminal connection port 22 is provided as a hole into which each mating terminal 103 is inserted when each terminal 11 and each mating terminal 103 are connected, and is provided with each insertion port 21 inside the housing 12. Communicating. The plurality of terminal connection ports 22 are opened at the ends of the housing 12 on the side connected to the mating connector 101.

The plurality of partition wall portions 23 of the housing 12 are provided as a plurality of wall portions extending in parallel with each other in the housing 12. Each of the plurality of partition wall portions 23 is provided in the housing 12 as a wall portion extending along the height direction of the housing 12. Further, in the housing 12, a partition wall portion 23a and a partition wall portion 23b are provided as the partition wall portion 23.

The partition wall portion 23a is provided as a partition wall portion 23 extending downward in the height direction of the housing 12 from the upper surface portion 12a of the housing 12 toward the central region in the height direction of the housing 12 inside the housing 12. .. The partition wall portion 23b is provided as a partition wall portion 23 extending upward in the height direction of the housing 12 from the bottom surface portion 12b of the housing 12 toward the central region in the height direction of the housing 12 inside the housing 12. .. Further, each partition wall portion 23 extends from the insertion port 21 along a direction parallel to the direction in which the terminal 11 is inserted into the housing 12 inside the housing 12.

By arranging the plurality of partition wall portions 23 in the housing 12 as described above, the plurality of partition wall portions 23 are inserted between the terminals 11 inserted from the adjacent insertion ports 21 in the width direction of the housing 12 and held in the housing 12. It is configured to partition in the housing 12. That is, each of the plurality of partition wall portions 23 is provided so as to extend in the housing 12 so as to partition between the terminals 11 arranged in the width direction of the housing 12. In the housing 12, each of the three terminals 11 arranged in the width direction of the housing 12 on the upper surface portion 12a side is partitioned by the partition wall portion 23a. Then, in the housing 12, each of the three terminals 11 arranged in the width direction of the housing 12 on the bottom surface portion 12b side is partitioned by the partition wall portion 23b.

[Elastic engagement part]
A plurality of elastic engaging portions 13 shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 are provided in the connector 1, and in the present embodiment, an embodiment in which six elastic engaging portions 13 are provided, which is the same number as the terminals 11, is exemplified. Each of the plurality of elastic engaging portions 13 is provided so as to extend like a cantilever in the housing 12. Each elastic engaging portion 13 is integrally provided with the central wall portion 27 of the housing 12 at the root portion of each elastic engaging portion 13 extending like a cantilever. The central wall portion 27 is a wall extending toward the inside of the housing 12 from the end portion on the insertion port 21 side along a plane perpendicular to the height direction of the housing 12 in the central portion in the height direction of the housing 12. It is provided as a part. Further, the central wall portion 27 extends from the end portion on the insertion port 21 side to the central portion in the depth direction of the housing 12 inside the housing 12.

Each elastic engaging portion 13 whose root portion is integrally provided with respect to the central wall portion 27 of the housing 12 is an end of the central wall portion 27 along a direction parallel to the depth direction of the housing 12 inside the housing 12. It extends like a cantilever from the part. Further, each elastic engaging portion 13 extends in a cantilever shape from the insertion port 21 side toward the terminal connection port 22 side along a direction parallel to the depth direction of the housing 12 inside the housing 12. Each elastic engaging portion 13 is provided as an element in the connector 1 that comes into contact with the terminal 11 inserted into the housing 12 and elastically deforms and bends, and after elastically deforming, elastically recovers and engages with the terminal 11. ing.

As described above, the connector 1 is provided with a plurality of elastic engaging portions 13. The plurality of elastic engaging portions 13 include an elastic engaging portion unit 14 configured as two elastic engaging portions 13 arranged side by side in the height direction of the housing 12. In this embodiment, the form of the connector 1 including the six elastic engaging portions 13 and the three elastic engaging portion units 14 is exemplified.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing one elastic engaging unit 14 in the connector 1. 9A and 9B are views showing one elastic engaging unit 14 in the connector 1, FIG. 9A is a plan view, FIG. 9B is a front view, and FIG. 9C is a front view. ) Is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X8-X8 of FIG. 9A, and FIG. 9D is a side view. In addition, in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, only one elastic engaging portion unit 14 and a portion in the vicinity thereof are schematically shown in a notched state. Hereinafter, the elastic engaging portion 13 and the elastic engaging portion unit 14 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 in addition to FIGS. 1 to 7.

The elastic engaging portions 13 shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 include a first beam portion 24 and a second beam portion 25 that are integrally provided side by side in the thickness direction of the elastic engaging portion 13 and have different dimensions in the width direction. is doing. The thickness direction of the elastic engaging portion 13 is the same as the thickness direction of the first beam portion 24 and the second beam portion 25, and is indicated by arrows X6 at both ends in FIGS. 8 and 9. The thickness direction of the elastic engaging portion 13, the first beam portion 24, and the second beam portion 25 is parallel to the height direction of the housing 12. The width direction of the first beam portion 24 and the second beam portion 25 is the same as the width direction of the elastic engaging portion 13, and is indicated by arrows X7 at both ends in FIGS. 8 and 9. The width direction of the elastic engaging portion 13, the first beam portion 24, and the second beam portion 25 is parallel to the width direction of the housing 12.

The first beam portion 24 is provided as a portion extending on the terminal insertion region 28 side, which is a region in which the terminal is inserted in the region inside the housing 12. On the other hand, the second beam portion 25 is provided as a portion extending on the bending region 29 side, which is a region in which the elastic engaging portion 13 elastically deforms and bends in the region inside the housing 12. The first beam portion 24 extending on the terminal insertion region 28 side in the housing 12 and the second beam portion 25 extending on the bending region 29 side in the housing 12 are integrally overlapped in the thickness direction of the elastic engaging portion 13. In this state, it is provided so as to extend along the depth direction of the housing 12.

Further, the first beam portion 24 extending on the terminal insertion region 28 side is configured to extend along a direction parallel to the depth direction of the housing 12 with a rectangular cross section having a substantially constant area. That is, the first beam portion 24 is a rectangle whose thickness direction and width direction are substantially constant over the longitudinal direction of the elastic engagement portion 13, which is the direction in which the elastic engagement portion 13 extends like a cantilever. It is configured to have a cross section.

On the other hand, the second beam portion 25 extending on the bending region 29 side is configured to extend along a direction parallel to the depth direction of the housing 12 while gradually changing the area of the rectangular cross section. More specifically, the rectangular cross section of the second beam portion 25 is configured so that the area of the rectangle gradually increases toward the root side of the elastic engaging portion 13. That is, the rectangular cross section of the second beam portion 25 is configured such that the rectangular area increases toward the root side of the elastic engaging portion 13 in the longitudinal direction of the elastic engaging portion 13. More specifically, in the rectangular cross section of the second beam portion 25, in the longitudinal direction of the elastic engaging portion 13, the dimension in the width direction is substantially constant and the dimension in the thickness direction is toward the root side of the elastic engaging portion 13. It is configured to be large. Therefore, in the second beam portion 25, the dimension of the elastic engaging portion 13 in the thickness direction (thickness direction of the second beam portion 25) increases toward the root side of the elastic engaging portion 13 extending like a cantilever. It is configured to be.

Further, the first beam portion 24 and the second beam portion 25 are configured so that the width direction dimension of the second beam portion 25 is larger than the width direction dimension of the first beam portion 24. .. Therefore, in the elastic engaging portion 13, the portion of the first beam portion 24 extending on the terminal insertion region 28 side is provided as a narrow portion having a small width direction and a narrow width, and the elastic engaging portion 13 extends on the bending region 29 side. The portion of the beam portion 25 is provided as a wide portion having a large dimension in the width direction and a wide width. The width direction of the first beam portion 24 provided as the narrow portion of the elastic engaging portion 13 is substantially constant in the longitudinal direction of the elastic engaging portion 13. The width direction of the second beam portion 25 provided as the wide portion of the elastic engaging portion 13 is substantially constant in the longitudinal direction of the elastic engaging portion 13.

Further, on the tip end side of the first beam portion 24, a protruding portion 26 is provided that projects in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the first beam portion 24 and that the terminals 11 abut and engage with each other. .. The tip end side of the first beam portion 24 is the end side opposite to the central wall portion 27 side in the longitudinal direction of the elastic engaging portion 13 extending from the central wall portion 27 in a cantilever shape. The protruding portion 26 is provided integrally with the first beam portion 24, and is provided as a portion protruding from the first beam portion 24 toward the terminal insertion region 28 side on the tip end side of the first beam portion 24. ..

When the terminal 11 is inserted from the insertion port 21 of the housing 12, the inserted terminal 11 is inserted into the housing 12 along the depth direction of the housing 12 in the terminal insertion region 28. Then, the terminal 11 inserted into the terminal insertion region 28 moves in parallel with the direction in which the first beam portion 24 extends, and comes into contact with the protruding portion 26 at the end portion of the main body portion 11a. When the terminal 11 comes into contact with the protruding portion 26, the elastic engaging portion 13 is elastically deformed so as to bend toward the bending space 29 side. Then, when the end portion of the main body portion 11a of the terminal 11 passes through the protruding portion 26, the elastic engaging portion 13 elastically recovers while the protruding portion 26 is fitted into the engaging recess 11d of the terminal 11. In a state where the protruding portion 26 is fitted into the engaging recess 11d and the elastic engaging portion 13 is elastically recovered, the protruding portion 26 engages with the engaging recess 11d. In this way, the elastic engaging portion 13 is configured to come into contact with the terminal 11 inserted from the insertion port 21, elastically deform and bend, and after elastically deforming, elastically recover and engage with the terminal 11. ..

The protruding portion 26 is provided with an inclined surface that extends obliquely with respect to the direction in which the terminal 11 is inserted from the insertion port 21 as a surface that the terminal 11 abuts. Since the protruding portion 26 is provided with an inclined surface, the elastic engaging portion 13 is configured to be elastically deformed and easily bent when the terminal 11 inserted from the insertion port 21 comes into contact with the protruding portion 26. ing. Further, the surface of the protruding portion 26 that engages with the engaging recess 11d of the elastic engaging portion 13 is configured as a surface that extends substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the terminal 11 is inserted from the insertion port 21. Therefore, the elastic engaging portion 13 is configured so that when the protruding portion 26 is fitted into and engaged with the engaging recess 11d, the engagement with the engaging recess 11d is difficult to disengage.

Further, as described above, a plurality of elastic engaging portion units 14 configured as two elastic engaging portions 13 arranged in the height direction of the housing 12 are provided. In this embodiment, an embodiment in which three elastic engaging unit 14s are provided is illustrated. The plurality of elastic engaging unit 14s are arranged side by side in the width direction of the housing 12.

Further, the second beam portion 25 of one elastic engaging portion 13 and the second beam portion 25 of the other elastic engaging portion 13 in each elastic engaging portion unit 14 face each other in the height direction of the housing 12. ing. That is, in each elastic engaging portion unit 14, the second beam portion 25 of the elastic engaging portion 13 arranged on the upper surface portion 12a side and the second beam portion of the elastic engaging portion 13 arranged on the bottom surface portion 12b side. 25 and 25 face each other in the height direction of the housing 12. Therefore, the bending region 29 in which the elastic engaging portion 13 arranged on the upper surface portion 12a side bends and the bending region 29 in which the elastic engaging portion 13 arranged on the bottom surface portion 12b side bends are bounded by a partition wall. It is configured as an integrated space area without any.

Further, in the connector 1, the plurality of terminals 11 are arranged side by side in a grid arrangement along the height direction and the width direction of the housing 12. Therefore, the plurality of terminals 11 are held in the housing 12 in a state of being arranged at least in the width direction of the housing 12. Further, in the connector 1, a plurality of elastic engaging portions 13 are also arranged side by side in a grid arrangement along the height direction and the width direction of the housing 12. Therefore, the plurality of elastic engaging portions 13 are arranged side by side in the housing 12 at least in the width direction of the housing 12.

Then, in the connector 1, each of the plurality of partition wall portions 23 extends so as to partition between the terminals 11 arranged in the width direction of the housing 12 in the housing 12, and reaches a position facing the first beam portion 24. It is configured to extend. The partition wall portion 23a extending from the upper surface portion 12a extends so as to partition between the terminals 11 arranged in the width direction of the housing 12 on the upper surface portion 12a side, and the elastic engaging portion 13 arranged on the upper surface portion 12a side. It is configured to extend to a position facing the first beam portion 24. The partition wall portion 23b extending from the bottom surface portion 12b extends so as to partition between the terminals 11 arranged in the width direction of the housing 12 on the bottom surface portion 12b side, and the elastic engaging portion 13 arranged on the bottom surface portion 12b side. It is configured to extend to a position facing the first beam portion 24.

Further, in the connector 1, the second beam portions 25 of the elastic engaging portions 13 arranged in the width direction of the housing 12 are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other with respect to the space. That is, the partition wall portion 23 does not exist between the second beam portions 25 adjacent to each other in the width direction of the housing 12. The end of the partition wall portion 23a extending from the upper surface portion 12a is arranged on the side of the first beam portion 24 of the elastic engaging portion 13 arranged on the upper surface portion 12a side, and is arranged on the upper surface portion 12a side. It is not arranged on the side of the second beam portion 25 of the elastic engaging portion 13. The end of the partition wall portion 23b extending from the bottom surface portion 12b is arranged on the side of the first beam portion 24 of the elastic engaging portion 13 arranged on the bottom surface portion 12b side, and is arranged on the bottom surface portion 12b side. It is not arranged on the side of the second beam portion 25 of the elastic engaging portion 13.

[Action and effect of this embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, the terminal 11 inserted from the insertion port 21 of the housing 12 comes into contact with the protruding portion 26 on the tip end side of the elastic engaging portion 13 extending like a cantilever in the housing 12. As a result, the elastic engaging portion 13 elastically deforms and bends, and after elastically deforming, elastically recovers and engages with the terminal 11 at the protruding portion 26. When the terminal 11 engages with the elastic engaging portion 13, the terminal 11 is held by the housing 12.

Then, according to the present embodiment, the first beam portion 24 and the second beam portion 25 having different dimensions in the width direction are integrally provided side by side in the thickness direction of the elastic engaging portion 13, and the first beam portion 24 is provided. , The terminal 11 extends on the terminal insertion region 28 side, and the second beam portion 25 extends on the flexion region 29 side where the elastic engaging portion 13 elastically deforms and bends. The width direction dimension of the second beam portion 25 is set to be larger than the width direction dimension of the first beam portion 24. Therefore, in the elastic engaging portion 13 of the connector 1 of the present embodiment, the portion of the first beam portion 24 extending on the terminal insertion region 28 side in the region inside the housing 12 into which the terminal 11 is inserted has a small dimension in the width direction. The portion of the second beam portion 25, which is provided as a narrow portion and extends on the bending region 29 side where the elastic engaging portion 13 elastically deforms and bends in the region inside the housing 12, has a large dimension in the width direction and is wide. Is provided as a wide part. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the first beam portion 24 having a narrow width can ensure the ease of bending and deformation, and the second beam portion 25 having a wide width can suppress a decrease in rigidity. The structure of the engaging portion 13 can be realized. Further, according to the present embodiment, the elastic engaging portion 13 is formed in a simple shape in which the first beam portion 24 and the second beam portion 25 having different dimensions in the width direction are arranged side by side in the thickness direction and integrally provided. , The complication of the shape of the elastic engaging portion 13 is suppressed.

Further, in the elastic engaging portion (elastic locking piece) of the connector of Patent Document 1, since the supporting portions greatly projecting in the thickness direction are provided on both sides in the width direction, the supporting portions are provided when the connector is flexed and deformed. It is easy to come into contact with the facing wall portion in the housing, and the amount of bending deformation of the elastic engaging portion (elastic locking piece) is likely to be limited. However, according to the present embodiment, the elastic engaging portion 13 has a shape in which the first beam portion 24 and the second beam portion 25 having different dimensions in the width direction are integrally provided side by side in the thickness direction. There is no large protruding part. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the limitation on the amount of bending deformation of the elastic engaging portion 13 can be relaxed.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the decrease in rigidity while ensuring the ease of bending and deforming of the elastic engaging portion 13, suppressing the complication of the shape of the elastic engaging portion 13, and further elastically engaging. It is possible to provide a connector 1 capable of relaxing the limitation on the amount of bending deformation of the portion 13.

Further, according to the present embodiment, as described above, the elastic engaging portion 13 has a simple shape in which the first beam portion 24 and the second beam portion 25 having different dimensions in the width direction are integrally provided side by side in the thickness direction. Is configured, so that the shape of the elastic engaging portion 13 is not complicated. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the structure of the mold for forming the housing 12 provided with the elastic engaging portion 13. Further, since the elastic engaging portion 13 has a simple shape in which the first beam portion 24 and the second beam portion 25 having different dimensions in the width direction are integrally provided side by side in the thickness direction, the mold of the housing 12 can be used. It can be easily realized that only the front and rear molds are used without using the left and right molds.

Further, according to the present embodiment, in the elastic engaging portion unit 14, the second beam portion 25 of one elastic engaging portion 13 and the second beam portion 25 of the other elastic engaging portion 13 are at the height of the housing 12. They face each other in the vertical direction. Therefore, in the housing 12, the partition wall between the bending region 29 in which one elastic engaging portion 13 bends and the bending region 29 in which the other elastic engaging portion 13 bends is omitted, and the two elastic engaging portions 13 bend each other. The area can be used effectively and space-efficiently. As a result, the plurality of terminals 11 and the plurality of elastic engaging portions 13 can be more densely arranged in the housing 12 and can be efficiently arranged, and the connector can be further miniaturized. Further, since the partition wall between the bending region 29 in which one elastic engaging portion 13 bends and the bending region 29 in which the other elastic engaging portion 13 bends can be omitted in the housing 12, a plurality of elastic engaging portions can be omitted. Further simplification of the structure of the mold for forming the housing 12 provided with the 13 can be achieved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the elastic engaging portion unit 14 composed of two elastic engaging portions 13 that can effectively utilize the bending regions 29 that flex each other in the height direction of the housing 12 in a space-efficient manner. A plurality of housings 12 are arranged side by side in the width direction. Therefore, more terminals 11 and elastic engaging portions 13 can be arranged more densely and efficiently, and the connector can be further miniaturized.

Further, according to the present embodiment, terminals 11 adjacent to each other in the width direction of the housing 12 are partitioned by a partition wall portion 23. Therefore, it is possible to prevent adjacent terminals 11 from coming into contact with each other in the width direction of the housing 11. According to the present embodiment, the partition wall portion 23 that partitions the terminals 11 adjacent to each other in the width direction of the housing 12 extends only to a position facing the first beam portion 24 of the elastic engaging portion 13, and the housing. The second beam portions 25 of the elastic engaging portions 13 adjacent to each other in the width direction of 12 are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other with respect to the space. That is, the partition wall portion 23 does not exist between the second beam portions 25 adjacent to each other in the width direction of the housing 12. Therefore, in the housing 12, the second beam portion 25, which is wider than the first beam portion 24, can be arranged by effectively utilizing the area where the partition wall portion 23 does not exist in a space-efficient manner. Therefore, the plurality of elastic engaging portions 13 can be more densely arranged in the width direction of the housing 12 and can be efficiently arranged. As a result, the plurality of terminals 11 and the elastic engaging portions 13 can be more densely arranged in the housing 12 and can be efficiently arranged, and the connector can be further miniaturized.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the thickness dimension of the second beam portion 25 is such that the bending moment generated by the urging force from the terminal 11 when the terminal 11 abuts on the protruding portion 26 and the elastic engaging portion 13 bends. It is set so that it increases toward the root side where it acts greatly. Therefore, in the second beam portion 25, a structure is realized in which the cross-sectional area is gradually increased toward the root side on which the bending moment at the time of bending and deformation of the elastic engaging portion 13 acts greatly, and the generated stress is efficiently reduced. can do. As a result, it is possible to further suppress the decrease in rigidity while ensuring the ease of bending and deformation of the elastic engaging portion 13. Further, since the elastic engaging portion 13 has a considerably smaller amount of bending deformation toward the root side, it is possible to easily maintain a state in which the limitation on the amount of bending deformation of the elastic engaging portion 13 is relaxed.

[Modification example]
Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made as long as it is described in the claims. For example, the following changes may be made.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, a mode in which a plurality of terminals and a plurality of elastic engaging portions are provided is described as an example, but this may not be the case. An embodiment may be implemented in which one terminal and one elastic engaging portion are provided. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the embodiment in which six terminals and six elastic engaging portions are provided as an example has been described, but this may not be the case. That is, the number of terminals and elastic engaging portions may not be limited to six.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, a form of a connector in which a plurality of terminals are arranged side by side along the height direction and the width direction of the housing has been described as an example, but this may not be the case. A form of a connector in which a plurality of terminals are arranged side by side only along the height direction of the housing may be implemented. Alternatively, the form of a connector in which a plurality of terminals are arranged side by side only along the width direction of the housing may be implemented. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the form of the connector including the elastic engaging portion unit in which the plurality of elastic engaging portions are arranged as two elastic engaging portions arranged in the height direction of the housing will be described as an example. However, it does not have to be this street. A connector configuration may be implemented that does not include an elastic engaging unit in which the plurality of elastic engaging portions are formed as two elastic engaging portions arranged in the height direction of the housing.

10A and 10B are perspective views showing the connector 2 according to the modified example together with the electric wire 100, FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing the entire connector 2 according to the modified example, and FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing the entire connector 2 according to the modified example. It is a perspective view which shows the cross section of the connector 2 which concerns on a modification. In the following description of the modified example, the elements configured in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment and the elements configured in correspondence with the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals in the drawings, or The description will be omitted by quoting the same code. Further, with respect to the height direction, the width direction, and the depth direction of the housing 31 of the connector 2, the same reference numerals as those in the height direction, the width direction, and the depth direction of the housing 12 of the connector 1 of the above-described embodiment are used in the drawings. By adding it, the description will be omitted.

The connector 2 according to the modified example shown in FIG. 10 is configured as a connector in which a plurality of terminals 11 are arranged side by side only in the width direction of the housing 31. Further, the connector 2 according to the modified example shown in FIG. 10 is configured as a connector 2 having a configuration in which a plurality of elastic engaging portions 13 do not include the elastic engaging portion unit 14.

The housing 31 of the connector 2 is provided with a plurality of insertion ports 21, a plurality of terminal connection ports 22, and a plurality of partition wall portions 23, similarly to the housing 12 of the connector 1 of the above-described embodiment. However, unlike the housing 12 of the above-described embodiment, the housing 31 has a plurality of insertion ports 21 and a plurality of terminal connection ports 22 arranged side by side only in the width direction of the housing 31. In the connector 2, the plurality of terminals 11 that are inserted into the plurality of insertion ports 21 and held in the housing 31 are also arranged side by side in the housing 31 only along the width direction of the housing 31. Further, in the connector 2, a plurality of elastic engaging portions 13 are also arranged side by side in the housing 31 only along the width direction of the housing 31.

Also in the modified example shown in FIG. 10, the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. That is, according to the modification shown in FIG. 10, the decrease in rigidity is suppressed while ensuring the ease of bending deformation of the elastic engaging portion 13, the complicated shape of the elastic engaging portion 13 is suppressed, and further. It is possible to provide a connector 2 capable of relaxing the limitation on the amount of bending deformation of the elastic engaging portion 13.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, a form of a connector having an elastic engaging portion configured so that the dimension in the thickness direction of the second beam portion increases toward the root side of the elastic engaging portion has been described as an example. However, it does not have to be this street. A form of a connector having an elastic engaging portion having substantially the same dimension in the thickness direction of the second beam portion over the longitudinal direction of the elastic engaging portion may be implemented.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, the elastic engaging portions arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction of the housing are configured to extend in a cantilever shape in a separated and independent state, and in the width direction of the housing. An example has been described in which the protruding portions on the tip side of the adjacent elastic engaging portions are also separated from each other and configured in an independent state, but this may not be the case. In the elastic engaging portions arranged adjacent to each other in the width direction of the housing, a form in which the protruding portions provided on the tip end side of the elastic engaging portions are integrally connected may be implemented.

The present invention can be widely applied to a connector provided with a terminal and a housing provided with an insertion slot into which the terminal is inserted and holding a terminal inserted from the insertion slot.

1 Connector 11 Terminal 12 Housing 13 Elastic engagement part 21 Insertion port 24 First beam part 25 Second beam part 26 Protruding part

Claims (4)

A terminal, an insertion port into which the terminal is inserted, a housing for holding the terminal inserted from the insertion port, and a housing extending in a cantilever shape in the housing, and the insertion port is provided. It is provided with an elastic engaging portion that comes into contact with the terminal inserted from the above and elastically deforms and bends, and after elastically deforming, elastically recovers and engages with the terminal.
The elastic engaging portion has a first beam portion and a second beam portion that are integrally provided side by side in the thickness direction of the elastic engaging portion and have different dimensions in the width direction.
The first beam portion is provided as a portion extending on the region side in which the terminal is inserted in the region in the housing, and the second beam portion is elastically deformed by the elastic engaging portion in the region in the housing. It is provided as a part that extends on the side of the flexible region.
On the tip end side of the first beam portion, a protruding portion is provided that projects in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first beam portion extends and that the terminals abut and engage with each other.
The widthwise dimension of the second beam portion is much larger than the width dimension of the first beam portion,
A plurality of the terminals and the elastic engaging portions are provided, respectively.
The plurality of terminals are held in the housing so as to be aligned at least in the width direction of the housing.
The plurality of elastic engaging portions are arranged side by side in the housing at least in the width direction of the housing.
The housing is provided with a plurality of partition walls extending parallel to each other in the housing.
Each of the plurality of partition wall portions is configured to extend in the housing so as to partition between the terminals arranged in the width direction of the housing and to a position facing the first beam portion.
A connector characterized in that the second beam portions of the elastic engaging portions arranged in the width direction of the housing are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other with respect to space. The connector according to claim 1.
A plurality of elastic engaging portions are provided.
The plurality of elastic engaging portions include an elastic engaging portion unit configured as the two elastic engaging portions arranged in the height direction of the housing.
The second beam portion of one elastic engaging portion and the second beam portion of the other elastic engaging portion of the elastic engaging portion unit face each other in the height direction of the housing. Features a connector. The connector according to claim 2.
A plurality of elastic engaging unit units are provided.
A connector, wherein the plurality of elastic engaging unit units are arranged side by side in the width direction of the housing. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The second beam portion is characterized in that the dimension of the elastic engaging portion in the thickness direction increases toward the root side of the elastic engaging portion extending like a cantilever. ,connector.

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