JP6955461B2 - Branch connector device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a branch connector device in which a plurality of mating connectors are fitted and cables connected to the mating connectors are electrically connected to each other.

As such a branch connector device, there is known a branch connector device in which three mating connectors are fitted from the T-shape and cables connected to the mating connectors are electrically connected to each other (for example,). See Patent Document 1). Such a branch connector device is used in a wide variety of electric devices, and its usage environment is also various. For example, in a branch connector device used in an environment where water or foreign matter may adhere, such as a food showcase or a connector device for an automobile, water or foreign matter may enter the inside of the housing provided with the contact. In order to prevent this, some housings are provided with a sealing member such as silicone rubber. In addition, some housings are provided with a lock mechanism for holding the fitted state of the housings so that the electrically connected fitting state does not come off due to vibration or the weight of the cable or the like.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-45631

In the T-shaped branch connector device as described above, since the three mating connectors are fitted on a flat surface, the size of the branch connector device becomes large, and the cable laying and wiring directions are limited. There is. Further, as the number of cables increases, the size increases in the cable arrangement direction, so that there is a problem that the branch connector device becomes larger.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a branch connector device that can be miniaturized and can be easily redesigned to have multiple poles.

In order to achieve the above object, the branch connector device according to the present invention includes a branch housing and a plurality of branch contacts held in the branch housing in a state of being arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The branch contact includes a first connecting portion extending to the front side and a plurality of second connecting portions extending in the vertical direction from the base end portion of the first connecting portion and extending to the rear side (for example, the first connector in the embodiment). The branch housing has two connection portions 120 and a third connection portion 130), and the branch housing has a first connector fitting portion that opens to the front side and a plurality of branches that open to the rear side and are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. It has a second connector fitting portion (for example, a second connector fitting portion 221 and a third connector fitting portion 222 in the embodiment), and the first of the branch contacts is inside the first connector fitting portion. The connecting portion is arranged in a protruding state, and the second connecting portion is arranged in a protruding state inside the plurality of second connector fitting portions, and is fitted in the first connector fitting portion. The first cable (for example, the first cable C1 in the embodiment) connected to the first mating connector (for example, the first relay connector 10 in the embodiment) is fitted in the plurality of second contact fitting portions. With a second cable (for example, the second and third cables C2 and C3 in the embodiment) connected to the plurality of second mating connectors (for example, the second and third relay connectors 10', 10 ″ in the embodiment). Are configured to be electrically connected to each other.

In the branch connector device having the above configuration, in the branch housing, the first housing member having the first connector fitting portion and the second housing member having the plurality of second connector fitting portions are fitted to each other. A seal configured to hold the plurality of branch contacts between the first housing member and the second housing member to prevent foreign matter from entering the fitting surfaces of the first and second housing members. It is configured to include a member (for example, the third seal member 43 in the embodiment).

In the branch connector device having the above configuration, the branch contact has a bifurcated contact portion at each of the tip portions of the first connecting portion and the plurality of second connecting portions, and the bifurcated contact portion is formed in the left-right direction. It is preferably held in the branch housing in a separated position.

According to the branch connector device according to the present invention, the branch contact has a first connection portion extending forward and a plurality of second connections branching vertically from the base end portion of the first connection portion and extending rearward. The branch housing has a first connector fitting portion that opens to the front side and a plurality of second connector fitting portions that open to the rear side and are formed side by side in the vertical direction. It is composed. As described above, the branch connector device according to the present invention includes a branch contact branched in the vertical direction and a second contact fitting portion formed side by side in the vertical direction. Therefore, in the present invention, the branch connector device can be miniaturized as compared with the conventional T-shaped branch connector device. Further, even if the number of cables arranged in the left-right direction increases, the size of the branch connector device in the left-right direction only increases according to the number of cables, and does not become extremely large. Further, in the present invention, since the branched contact is branched in the vertical direction, it is easy to change the design to more multipolarization.

In the branch connector device having the above configuration, the branch housing is configured by fitting a first housing member having a first connector fitting portion and a second housing member having a plurality of second connector fitting portions. Is preferable. When the branch housing is made into two parts by combining two housing members in this way, the work of assembling the branch contact becomes easy. Further, if the fitting surfaces of the first and second housing members are provided with a sealing member that prevents foreign matter from entering the inside, the branch can be used even in an environment where water or foreign matter may adhere. It can be a connector device.

In the branch connector device having the above configuration, it is preferable that the branch contact is configured to have a bifurcated contact portion at each of the tip portions of the first connection portion and the plurality of second connection portions. With this configuration, the bifurcated contact portion can make contact with the contact on the other side at a plurality of points, and the connection reliability can be improved.

It is a perspective view seen from diagonally above which shows the state before fitting of the connector device which has a branch connector which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view seen from diagonally above which shows the state after fitting of the said connector device. It is a figure of the connector device, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view. It is a perspective view of the relay connector constituting the connector device seen from diagonally above. It is a figure of the relay connector, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view. (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow VIa-VIa of FIG. 5 (b), and FIG. 5 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow VIb-VIb of FIG. 5 (a). It is a figure of the relay contact constituting the relay connector, (a) is a perspective view seen from obliquely above, and (b) is a plan view. It is a perspective view which looked at the relay contact from diagonally below. It is a cross-sectional view of the connection part of the relay contact. It is a perspective view of the branch connector constituting the connector device seen from diagonally above. It is a figure of the branch connector, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the line XII-XII of FIG. 11A. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XII-XII of FIG. 11A. (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line aa of FIG. 11B, and FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line bb of FIG. 11B. It is a perspective view of the branch contact constituting the branch connector seen from diagonally above. It is a figure of the branch contact, (a) is a side view, (b) is a bottom view. It is a figure of the 1st housing member of the branch housing which constitutes the branch connector, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view. It is a figure of the 1st housing member, (a) is a front view, (b) is a rear view. It is a figure of the 2nd housing member of the branch housing which constitutes the branch connector, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view. It is a figure of the 2nd housing member, (a) is a rear view, (b) is a front view. It is a cross-sectional perspective view seen from diagonally above which shows the state before fitting (partially fitting state) of the said connector device. 3 (b) is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the line cc of FIG. 3 (b). FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line cc of FIG. 3 (b). 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line dd of FIG. 3A. It is a figure which shows the connection state of the relay contact and a branch contact, (a) is the cross-sectional view which shows the state before connection, (b) is the cross-sectional view which shows the state after connection.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The connector device 1 having the branch connector 50 according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the directions of the front-back, left-right, and up-down arrows shown in FIG. 1 and the like are referred to as the front-back direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction, respectively.

The connector device 1 has a first relay connector 10 attached to the ends of four first cables C1 arranged in the left-right direction and a second relay connector 10 attached to the ends of four second cables C2 arranged in the left-right direction. A relay connector 10', a third relay connector 10 "attached to the ends of four third cables C3 arranged in the left-right direction, and a branch connector 50 are provided, and the first to third relays are provided in the branch connector 50. The connectors 10, 10', and 10 "are fitted to each other so that the four first to third cables C1 to C3 are electrically connected to each other. The branch connector 50 corresponds to the branch connector device according to the present invention, the first relay connector 10 corresponds to the "first mating connector" described in the claims, and the second and third relay connectors 10'. , 10 ″ correspond to the “plurality of second mating connectors” described in the claims.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the first relay connector 10 has four relay contacts 20 attached to the ends of the four first cables C1 and four relay contacts 20 in the left-right direction (cable). It is configured to have a relay housing 30 that is housed and held inside in a state of being lined up in the arrangement direction). Each of the four first cables C1 has a core wire C1a (signal wire) formed by bringing together a plurality of thin metal wires and an insulator C1b (insulation coating) that covers the periphery of the core wire C1a formed of an insulating material. It is a cable configured to have and (see FIG. 6). At the end of the first cable C1 on the side to which the relay contact 20 is attached, the insulator C1b is removed so that the core wire C1a is exposed.

The relay contact 20 is formed in a predetermined shape shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 by pressing (punching, bending, etc.) a thin flat plate of a conductive material such as metal. The relay contact 20 is a crimp terminal that is crimp-connected to the end of the first cable C1. The relay contact 20 is connected to a connecting portion 24 having left and right side plate portions 21L and 21R, an upper plate portion 22 and a lower plate portion 23, and a base end portion of the connecting portion 24 in order from the tip side, and a first cable. It is configured to include a core wire crimping portion 28 that holds the core wire C1a of C1 and an insulator crimping portion 29 that is connected to the base end portion of the core wire crimping portion 28 and holds the insulator C1b of the first cable C1. Convex portions 22a and 23a are formed on the upper surface of the upper plate portion 22 and the lower surface of the lower plate portion 23 at positions slightly eccentric from the left and right centers to the left, respectively. Locking holes 21a penetrating left and right are formed in the right side plate portion 21R (see FIG. 6B).

The tip of the connecting portion 24 has left and right side plate portions 21L and 21R extending toward the tip side from the upper plate portion 22 and the lower plate portion 23, and is formed in a bifurcated shape in a plan view. As shown in FIG. 9, the connecting portion 24 is folded inward from the tip end portion of the right side plate portion 21R and extends inward to the proximal end side, and the connecting portion 24 is folded inward from the lower portion of the left side plate portion 21L on the proximal end side. It has a cantilevered elastic piece 26 extending to the tip side. The folded-back portion 25 is bent in a dogleg shape in a plan view, and a flat contact portion 25a is provided at the bent portion. The elastic piece portion 26 is bent in a "he" shape in a plan view, and a convex contact portion 26a is provided at the bent portion. The contact portion 26a is arranged on the free end side (tip side) of the elastic piece portion 26 so as to face the contact portion 25a of the folded portion 25 on the left and right, and the folded portion 25 is arranged according to the elastic deformation of the elastic piece portion 26. It can be displaced in the direction of approaching or separating from the contact portion 25a.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the insulator crimping portion 29 is formed in a "U" shape having a pair of left and right insulator crimping pieces 29a, and is first formed by crimping the left and right insulator crimping pieces 29a. It is configured to be crimpable to the insulator C1b of the cable C1. The core wire crimping portion 28 is formed in a "U" shape having a pair of left and right core wire crimping pieces 28a, and can be crimped to the core wire C1a of the first cable C1 by crimping the left and right core wire crimping pieces 28a. .. In order to connect the first cable C1 to the relay contact 20, the first cable C1 is arranged between the left and right insulator crimping pieces 29a and the core wire crimping piece 28a, and the left and right insulators are attached to the insulator C1b of the first cable C1. The crimping piece 29a is crimped (crimped), and the left and right core wire crimping pieces 28a are crimped (crimped) to the core wire C1a exposed on the end side of the first cable C1. As a result, the relay contact 20 is fixed to the end of the first cable C1, and the relay contact 20 and the first cable C1 are electrically connected.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the relay housing 30 is integrally molded using an electrically insulating material such as synthetic resin, and has a horizontally long substantially rectangular box-shaped relay housing body 31 extending in the left-right direction. It is configured to have a lock arm 35 provided on the left side of the relay housing main body 31. The lock arm 35 is formed in a cantilever shape extending from the front end of the left side portion of the relay housing main body 31 to the rear end side, and a lock convex portion 36 projecting to the left is provided at the tip end portion of the lock arm 35. The lock convex portion 36 can be displaced in a direction closer to or separated from the left side portion of the relay housing main body 31 according to the elastic deformation of the lock arm 35.

On the upper surface and the lower surface of the relay housing main body 31, rectangular convex guide protrusions 32 extending in the front-rear direction are provided at positions on the right side away from the lock arm 35, respectively. Wall portions 33 extending in the left-right direction are provided on the front end portions of the upper surface and the lower surface of the relay housing main body 31, respectively. A concave groove is formed on the rear end side of the relay housing main body 31 so as to go around the outer peripheral surface, and a ring-shaped first seal member 41 is attached to the groove. The first seal member 41 is formed by using a rubber material such as silicon rubber, and has two folds 41a arranged in the front-rear direction.

Inside the relay housing main body 31, four elongated contact holding holes 37 penetrating in the front-rear direction are formed side by side in the left-right direction, and the relay contacts 20 are housed and held in the contact holding holes 37, respectively. It is configured to be possible. A horizontally long rectangular second seal member 42 extending in the left-right direction is attached to the front end portion in the relay housing main body 31. The second seal member 42 is formed of a rubber material such as silicon rubber, and has four cable insertion holes 42a penetrating in the front-rear direction. Each of the four cable insertion holes 42a communicates with the contact holding hole 37. The second seal member 42 is attached in close contact with the inner surface of the relay housing main body 31, and can prevent water or foreign matter from entering the relay housing 30 from between the inner surface of the relay housing main body 31.

In the first relay connector 10, the relay contact 20 attached to the end of the first cable C1 is inserted into the contact holding hole 37 from the front end opening of the cable insertion hole 42a of the second seal member 42, and the relay housing 30 is inserted. It is assembled inside. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6B, the relay contact 20 is formed by inserting the convex portions 22a and 23a of the relay contact 20 into the recesses formed on the upper surface and the lower surface of the contact holding hole 37, respectively. The insertion direction is determined so that it will not be inserted upside down. Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, the relay contact 20 comes into contact with the locking wall portion 38 provided at the rear end portion of the contact holding hole 37. These abutments restrict the rearward movement of the relay contact 20 within the contact holding hole 37. Further, the locking claw portion 37b formed on the inner surface of the contact holding hole 37 is inserted into the locking hole 21a of the relay contact 20, whereby the relay contact 20 is prevented from coming off in the contact holding hole 37 (front). It is designed to be held in a restricted state).

The relay contact 20 assembled in the relay housing 30 in this way has a bifurcated posture in which the tip portion (folded portion 25 and elastic piece portion 26) of the connecting portion 24 is divided in the left-right direction (arrangement direction of the cable and the contact). Is held at. At this time, the inner surface of the cable insertion hole 42a of the second seal member 42 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the insulator C1b of the first cable C1, and water or water or water is introduced into the relay housing 30 from between the outer surface of the insulator C1b. It is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering. Since the relay contact 20 is inserted into the cable insertion hole 42a and assembled as described above, the relay contact 20 is configured to have a size that allows it to be inserted into the cable insertion hole 42a, and each corner of the relay contact 20 is configured so as not to damage the inner surface of the cable insertion hole 42a. The part is chamfered.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the second relay connector 10'and the third relay connector 10'have the same configuration as the first relay contact 10 described above, and the four relay contacts 20 described above and the four relay contacts 20 described above. The second cable C2 and the third cable C3 are configured to include the relay housing 30, respectively. The cable is composed of C3a (signal line) and insulators C2b and C3b (insulation coating) that cover the core wires C2a and C3a formed of an insulating material, and is electrically connected to each relay contact 20. Connected to.

As shown in FIGS. 10 to 14, the branch connector 50 internally accommodates and holds four branch contacts 100 and four branch contacts 100 in a state of being arranged in the left-right direction (the cable arrangement direction of the relay connector). It is configured to have a branch housing 200 to be provided.

The branch contact 100 is formed in a predetermined shape shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 by pressing (punching, bending, etc.) a thin flat plate of a conductive material such as metal. The branch contact 100 includes a flat plate-shaped base portion 101 extending in the vertical direction, a first connecting portion 110 extending forward from the vertical center portion of the base portion 101, and a second connecting portion 120 extending rearward from the upper end portion of the base portion 101. And a third connecting portion 130 extending rearward from the lower end portion of the base portion 101. Two upper and lower locking convex portions 102 are provided on the left side surface of the base portion 101. Locking claws 103 are provided on the upper and lower side surfaces of the base 101, respectively.

Each of the first to third connection portions 110 to 130 of the branch contact 100 is configured in the same manner as the connection portion 24 of the relay contact 20. The first connecting portion 110 has left and right side plate portions 111L and 111R and an upper plate portion 112 connecting the left and right side plate portions 111L and 111R, and the left and right side plate portions 111L and 111R are on the tip side of the upper plate portion 112. It extends to and is formed in a bifurcated shape in a plan view. As shown in FIG. 16B, the right side plate portion 111R has a folded portion 115 that is folded inward from the tip portion and extends toward the base end side. The folded-back portion 115 is bent in a dogleg shape in a plan view, and a flat contact portion 115a is provided at the bent portion. The left side plate portion 111L has a cantilever shape that is folded downward from the base end side left portion of the upper plate portion 112 and extends toward the tip end side. The left side plate portion 111L is bent in a "he" shape in a plan view, and a convex contact portion 116a is provided at the bent portion. The contact portion 116a is arranged to face the contact portion 115a of the folded-back portion 115 on the left and right sides on the free end side (tip side) of the left plate portion 111L, and the folded-back portion 115 responds to the elastic deformation of the left plate portion 111L. It can be displaced in the direction of approaching or separating from the contact portion 115a.

The second connection unit 120 has the same configuration as the first connection unit 110. The second connecting portion 120 has left and right side plate portions 121L and 121R and a lower plate portion 122 connecting the left and right side plate portions 121L and 121R, and the left and right side plate portions 121L and 121R are on the tip side of the lower plate portion 122. It extends to and is formed in a bifurcated shape in a plan view. The right side plate portion 121R has a folded-back portion 125 that is folded inward from the tip portion and extends toward the base end side, and a flat contact portion 125a is provided in the intermediate portion thereof. The left side plate portion 121L has a cantilever shape that is folded upward from the left portion on the base end side of the lower plate portion 122 and extends toward the tip side, and a convex contact portion 126a is provided on the inner surface of the left side plate portion 121L on the tip end side. It is provided. The contact portion 126a is arranged to face the contact portion 125a of the folded portion 125 on the left and right sides on the free end side (tip side) of the left plate portion 121L, and the folded portion 125 is arranged according to the elastic deformation of the left plate portion 121L. It can be displaced in the direction of approaching or separating from the contact portion 125a.

The third connection unit 130 also has the same configuration as the first connection unit 110. The third connection portion 130 has left and right side plate portions 131L and 131R and an upper plate portion 132 connecting the left and right side plate portions 131L and 131R, and the left and right side plate portions 131L and 131R are on the tip side of the upper plate portion 132. It extends to and is formed in a bifurcated shape in a plan view. The right plate portion 131R has a folded portion 135 that is folded inward from the tip portion and extends toward the base end side, and a flat contact portion 135a is provided in the intermediate portion thereof. The left side plate portion 131L has a cantilever shape that is folded downward from the left portion on the base end side of the upper plate portion 132 and extends toward the tip side, and a convex contact portion 136a is provided on the inner surface of the left side plate portion 131L on the tip end side. It is provided. The contact portion 136a is arranged to face the contact portion 135a of the folded-back portion 135 on the left and right sides on the free end side (tip side) of the left plate portion 131L, and the folded-back portion 135 is arranged according to the elastic deformation of the left plate portion 131L. It can be displaced in the direction of approaching or separating from the contact portion 135a.

As shown in FIGS. 10 to 14, the branch housing 200 has a first housing member 210 having a first connector fitting portion 211, and a second having a second connector fitting portion 221 and a third connector fitting portion 222. It has a two-part structure in which the housing member 220 is fitted and combined. The first and second housing members 210 and 220 are integrally molded using an electrically insulating material such as synthetic resin, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the first housing member 210 is connected to a horizontally long substantially rectangular first connector fitting portion 211 extending in the left-right direction and a rear end portion of the first connector fitting portion 211. It is configured to have a first housing fitting portion 212 provided and a first lock recess 215 provided on the left side portion of the first connector fitting portion 211. Inside the first connector fitting portion 211, a first receiving space 213 opened to the front is provided, and the relay housing 30 is inserted into the first receiving space 213 from the front so that the first receiving space 213 can be fitted. ing. The first lock recess 215 is formed in a rectangular hole shape communicating with the first receiving space 213, and the lock convex portion 36 of the lock arm 35 of the relay housing 30 fitted in the first receiving space 213 is the first lock. It is inserted into the recess 215 and can be locked. A rectangular concave first guide recess 214 extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the inner upper surface and the lower surface of the first connector fitting portion 211 at positions on the right side away from the first lock recess 215, respectively (FIG. 14 (FIG. 14). See also b)). The first guide recess 214 is formed in a tapered shape with the front end side widened, and the guide convex portion 32 of the relay housing 30 fitted in the first receiving space 213 can be inserted into the first guide recess 214. ..

Inside the first housing fitting portion 212, four elongated first contact holding holes 217 penetrating in the front-rear direction are formed side by side in the left-right direction, and each branch is formed in the first contact holding holes 217. The first connection portion 110 of the contact 100 can be inserted (see FIG. 13). The front ends of the four first contact holding holes 217 communicate with the first receiving space 213, respectively, and the first connecting portion 110 inserted into the first contact holding hole 217 protrudes into the first receiving space 213. It is designed to be arranged in a state. On the rear end side of the first housing fitting portion 212, a concave groove portion 218 is formed so as to go around the outer peripheral surface, and a ring-shaped third seal member 43 can be mounted in the groove portion 218. (See FIG. 13). The third seal member 43 is formed by using a rubber material such as silicon rubber, similarly to the first seal member 41 described above. Two left and right locking claws 219 are provided on the upper surface and the lower surface of the first housing fitting portion 212, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the second housing member 220 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape as an overall outer shape, and the second connector fitting portions 221 and the third connector fitting are formed side by side in the vertical direction. Part 222, a second housing fitting part 223 provided connected to the second and third connector fitting parts 221,222, and a second lock recess 225 provided on the left side part of the second connector fitting part 221. And a third lock recess 226 provided on the left side of the third connector fitting portion 222.

A second receiving space 221a opened to the rear is provided inside the second connector fitting portion 221, and the relay housing 30 is inserted into the second receiving space 221a from the rear so that the second receiving space 221a can be fitted. ing. The second lock recess 225 is formed in a rectangular hole shape communicating with the second receiving space 221a, and the lock convex portion 36 of the lock arm 35 of the relay housing 30 fitted in the second receiving space 221a is the second lock. It is inserted into the recess 225 and can be locked. A rectangular concave second guide recess 227 extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the inner upper surface and the lower surface of the second connector fitting portion 221 at positions on the right side away from the second lock recess 225, respectively (FIG. 14 (FIG. 14). See also a)). The second guide recess 227 is formed in a tapered shape with the rear end side widened, and the guide convex portion 32 of the relay housing 30 fitted in the second receiving space 221a can be inserted into the second guide recess 227. There is.

Inside the third connector fitting portion 222, a third receiving space 222a opened to the rear is provided, and the relay housing 30 is inserted into the third receiving space 222a from the rear so that the third receiving space 222a can be fitted. ing. The third lock recess 226 is formed in a rectangular hole shape communicating with the third receiving space 222a, and the lock convex portion 36 of the lock arm 35 of the relay housing 30 fitted in the third receiving space 222a is the third lock. It is inserted into the recess 226 and can be locked. A rectangular concave third guide recess 228 extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the inner upper surface and the lower surface of the third connector fitting portion 222 at positions on the right side away from the third lock recess 226, respectively. The third guide recess 228 is formed in a tapered shape with the rear end side widened, and the guide convex portion 32 of the relay housing 30 fitted in the third receiving space 222a can be inserted into the third guide recess 228. There is.

A housing receiving space 231 opened to the front is provided inside the second housing fitting portion 223, and the first housing fitting portion 212 of the first housing member 210 is inserted into the housing receiving space 231 from the front. It is configured to be matable. Inside the second housing fitting portion 223, four second contact holding holes 232 for communicating the housing receiving space 231 and the second receiving space 221a of the second connector fitting portion 221 are formed side by side in the left-right direction. The second connection portion 120 of the branch contact 100 can be inserted into each of the second contact holding holes 232 (see FIG. 13). The second connection portion 120 of the branch contact 100 inserted into the second contact holding hole 232 is arranged in a protruding state in the second receiving space 221a of the second connector fitting portion 221.

Further, inside the second housing fitting portion 223, the housing receiving space 231 and the third receiving space 222a of the third connector fitting portion 222 are communicated with each other at positions below the four second contact holding holes 232. Four elongated third contact holding holes 233 are formed side by side in the left-right direction, and the third connection portion 130 of the branch contact 100 can be inserted into each of the third contact holding holes 233 (FIG. FIG. See 13). The third connection portion 130 of the branch contact 100 inserted into the third contact holding hole 233 is arranged in a protruding state in the third receiving space 222a of the third connector fitting portion 222.

Two left and right locking holes 236 formed through the upper surface and the lower surface of the second housing fitting portion 223 so as to communicate with the housing receiving space 231 and housing receiving outside the left and right locking holes 236, respectively. A slit portion 237 extending in the front-rear direction formed so as to penetrate the space 231 is provided. When the first housing fitting portion 212 of the first housing member 210 is inserted into the housing receiving space 231, the four locking claw portions 219 of the first housing fitting portion 212 can be inserted into the locking holes 236, respectively. It has become. Further, concave mounting recesses 238 extending in the left-right direction are provided on the upper surface and the lower surface of the second housing fitting portion 223, respectively. When the branch connector 50 is fixed at a predetermined position using a binding band or the like, the binding band or the like can be engaged with the mounting recess 238 to regulate the movement of the branch connector 50 in the front-rear direction. There is.

In the branch connector 50, each of the four branch contacts 100 is inserted into the second housing fitting portion 223 (housing receiving space 231) of the second housing member 220, and the second connection portion 120 of the branch contact 100 is second. Along with being inserted into the contact holding hole 232, the third connecting portion 130 is inserted into the third contact holding hole 233 and assembled into the second housing member 220. At this time, as shown in FIG. 13, the branch contact 100 second connection portion 120 is arranged in a state of protruding into the second contact fitting portion 221 (second reception space 221a), and the third connection portion 130 is the third. 3 It is arranged in a protruding state in the contact fitting portion 222 (third receiving space 222a). At this time, the locking convex portion 102 and the locking claw portion 103 of the branch contact 100 are respectively locked to the inner surfaces of the second and third contact holding holes 232 and 233 to hold the second and third contacts. The branch contact 100 is held in the holes 232 and 233 in a state where the branch contact 100 is prevented from coming off (a state in which forward movement is restricted).

Next, the first housing fitting portion 212 of the first housing member 210 is inserted into the second housing fitting portion 223 (housing receiving space 231) of the second housing member 220 to which the four branch contacts 100 are assembled. Then, the first housing member 210 and the second housing member 220 are assembled. At this time, since the slit portion 237 is provided in the second housing fitting portion 223, the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion of the second housing fitting portion 223 are moved vertically and outward by the locking claw portion 219 of the first housing member 210. The first housing fitting portion 212 is inserted into the second housing fitting portion 223 while being pressed and slightly expanding. Then, the locking claw portion 219 is inserted into the locking hole 236 of the second housing member 220, whereby the first housing member 210 is prevented from coming off from the second housing member 220 (movement to the front is restricted). It is held in the same state as it was. At this time, as shown in FIG. 13, the first connection portion 110 of the branch contact 100 is inserted into the first contact holding hole 217 of the first housing member 210, and the first connection portion 110 is the first contact fitting portion. It is arranged in a protruding state in 211 (first receiving space 213).

The branch contact 100 assembled in the branch housing 200 in this way is arranged in a state of being sandwiched between the first housing member 210 and the second housing member 220, and the first to third connection portions 110 to 130. The tip of the cable is held in a bifurcated position divided into the left-right direction (the cable and contact arrangement direction). Further, the third seal member 43 mounted on the first housing member 210 is in close contact with the inner surface of the second housing fitting portion 223 of the second housing member 220, and the first and second housing members 210 and 220 are fitted. It is possible to prevent water and foreign matter from entering the branch housing 200 from the joint portion.

In the connector device 1 configured as described above, in order to connect the first to third relay connectors 10, 10', 10 "and the branch connector 50, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 21, the branch housing 200 is connected. The relay housing 30 of the first relay connector 10 is inserted into the first connector fitting portion 211 (first receiving space 213) from the front, and rearward into the second connector fitting portion 221 (second receiving space 221a). The relay housing 30 of the second relay connector 10'is inserted from the rear. Further, the relay housing 30 of the third relay connector 10 ″ is inserted into the third connector fitting portion 222 (third receiving space 222a) from the rear. go.

At this time, in the first relay connector 10, the guide convex portion 32 of the relay housing 30 is inserted into the first guide concave portion 214 in the first connector fitting portion 211 and slides, whereby the relay housing 30 becomes the first connector. It is guided so as to be inserted linearly (straight) with respect to the fitting portion 211. At this time, the lock convex portion 36 of the lock arm 35 of the relay housing 30 is pressed against the inner surface of the first connector fitting portion 211, and the lock arm 35 is elastically deformed to the right side (direction approaching the relay housing main body 31). ..

When the relay housing 30 of the first relay connector 10 is inserted and fitted into the first connector fitting portion 211 (first receiving space 213) to the state shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the lock arm 35 of the relay housing 30 is fitted. The lock convex portion 36 of the lock arm 35 is inserted into the first lock concave portion 215 of the first connector fitting portion 211 by the elastic force (restoring force) of. At this time, the front surface of the lock convex portion 36 is in contact with the front inner surface of the first lock concave portion 215, whereby the relay housing 30 is removed (forward) with respect to the first connector fitting portion 211 (branch housing 200). ) Is restricted, and the mated state of the relay housing 30 and the branch housing 200 is maintained.

When the relay housing 30 and the branch housing 200 are fitted in this way, the first connection portion 110 is held in the first connector fitting portion 211 of the branch housing 200 in a protruding state in the first receiving space 213. Each of the four branch contacts 100 is inserted into the contact holding hole 37 through the rear end opening of the contact holding hole 37 in the relay housing 30. Then, due to the elastic force (restoring force) of the elastic piece portion 26 of the relay contact 20 held in the contact holding hole 37 and the left plate portion 111L of the branch contact 100, the folded portion 25 of the relay connector 20 and the branch connector 100 The folded-back portion 115 is elastically sandwiched from both the left and right sides and fitted to each other at three points (see FIGS. 24 and 25). The four first cables C1 and the four branch contacts 100 are electrically connected to each other via the relay contact 20 which is contacted at three points in this way. At this time, the first seal member 41 attached to the relay housing 30 is in close contact with the inner surface of the branch housing 200 (first connector fitting portion 211), whereby the relay housing 30 and the branch housing 200 are fitted. It is possible to prevent water or foreign matter from entering the inside where the relay contact 20 and the branch contact 100 are connected from the unit.

Similar to the relay connector 10, in the second relay connector 10', the guide convex portion 32 of the relay housing 30 is inserted into the second guide concave portion 227 in the second connector fitting portion 221 and slides, thereby relaying. The housing 30 is guided so as to be inserted linearly (straight) with respect to the second connector fitting portion 221. At this time, the lock convex portion 36 of the lock arm 35 of the relay housing 30 is pressed against the inner surface of the second connector fitting portion 221 and the lock arm 35 is elastically deformed to the right side (direction approaching the relay housing main body 31). .. Then, the lock convex portion 36 of the lock arm 35 is inserted into the second lock recess 225 of the second connector fitting portion 221 by the elastic force (restoring force) of the lock arm 35 of the relay housing 30. At this time, the rear surface of the lock convex portion 36 is in contact with the rear inner surface of the second lock concave portion 225, whereby the relay housing 30 is removed from the second connector fitting portion 221 (branch housing 200). The movement to the rear) is restricted, and the fitted state of the relay housing 30 and the branch housing 200 is maintained.

When the relay housing 30 and the branch housing 200 are fitted in this way, the second connection portion 120 is held in the second connector fitting portion 221 of the branch housing 200 in a protruding state in the second receiving space 221a. Each of the four branch contacts 100 is inserted into the contact holding hole 37 through the front end opening of the contact holding hole 37 in the relay housing 30. Then, due to the elastic force (restoring force) of the elastic piece portion 26 of the relay contact 20 held in the contact holding hole 37 and the left plate portion 121L of the branch contact 100, the folded portion 25 of the relay connector 20 and the branch connector 100 The folded-back portion 125 is elastically sandwiched from both the left and right sides and fitted to each other at three points (see FIGS. 24 and 25). The four second cables C2 and the four branch contacts 100 are electrically connected to each other via the relay contact 20 which is contacted at three points in this way. At this time, the first seal member 41 attached to the relay housing 30 is in close contact with the inner surface of the branch housing 200 (second connector fitting portion 221), whereby the relay housing 30 and the branch housing 200 are fitted. It is possible to prevent water or foreign matter from entering the inside where the relay contact 20 and the branch contact 100 are connected from the unit.

In the third relay connector 10 ″, similarly to the relay connector 10, the guide convex portion 32 of the relay housing 30 is inserted into the third guide concave portion 228 in the third connector fitting portion 222 and slides, thereby relaying. The housing 30 is guided so as to be inserted linearly (straight) with respect to the third connector fitting portion 222. At this time, the lock convex portion 36 of the lock arm 35 of the relay housing 30 is fitted with the third connector. The lock arm 35 is elastically deformed to the right side (in the direction approaching the relay housing body 31) by being pressed against the inner surface of the portion 222, and the lock arm 35 is elastically deformed (restoring force) by the lock arm 35 of the relay housing 30. The lock convex portion 36 is inserted into the third lock concave portion 226 of the third connector fitting portion 222. At this time, the rear surface of the lock convex portion 36 is in contact with the rear inner surface of the third lock concave portion 226. As a result, the relay housing 30 is restricted from moving in the removal direction (rearward) with respect to the third connector fitting portion 222 (branch housing 200), and the fitted state of the relay housing 30 and the branch housing 200 is maintained.

When the relay housing 30 and the branch housing 200 are fitted in this way, the third connection portion 130 is held in the third connector fitting portion 222 of the branch housing 200 in a protruding state in the third receiving space 222a. Each of the four branch contacts 100 is inserted into the contact holding hole 37 through the front end opening of the contact holding hole 37 in the relay housing 30. Then, due to the elastic force (restoring force) of the elastic piece portion 26 of the relay contact 20 held in the contact holding hole 37 and the left plate portion 131L of the branch contact 100, the folded portion 25 of the relay connector 20 and the branch connector 100 The folded-back portion 135 is elastically sandwiched from both the left and right sides and fitted to each other at three points (see FIGS. 24 and 25). The four third cables C3 and the four branch contacts 100 are electrically connected to each other via the relay contact 20 which is contacted at three points in this way. In this way, the four first to third cables C1 to C3 are electrically connected to each other via the four branch contacts 100. At this time, the first seal member 41 attached to the relay housing 30 is in close contact with the inner surface of the branch housing 200 (third connector fitting portion 222), whereby the relay housing 30 and the branch housing 200 are fitted. It is possible to prevent water or foreign matter from entering the inside where the relay contact 20 and the branch contact 100 are connected from the unit.

To remove the first to third relay connectors 10, 10', 10 "and the branch connector 50 connected in this way, the lock convex portion 36 of the lock arm 35 of the relay housing 30 is moved to the right side (relay housing main body). The lock arm 35 is elastically deformed by a pressing operation (in the direction approaching 31). In this way, the lock arm 35 is elastically deformed so that the lock convex portion 36 and the first to third lock recesses 215, 225, 226 of the branch housing 200 are elastically deformed. By pulling out the relay housing 30 with respect to the branch housing 200, for example, by holding the rear end wall portion 33 of the relay housing 30 in the state of releasing the locked state (contact state) with the relay housing 30, the first to third relays are relayed. The connectors 10, 10', 10 "are removed from the branch connector 50.

At this time, if the relay housing 30 is pulled out from the branch housing 200 while pressing the lock arm 35 (lock convex portion 36) provided only on the left side portion of the relay housing 30, the relay housing 30 is moved to the left. The force to rotate the relay housing 30 is likely to act on the relay housing 30, and the force in the direction of rotation makes it difficult to pull out the relay housing 30. Therefore, when the guide convex portion 32 of the relay housing 30 inserted into the first to third guide recesses 214, 227, 228 of the branch housing 200 pulls out the relay housing 30, the first to third guide recesses 214, 227 By sliding in 228, the relay housing 30 is guided so as to be pulled out linearly (straight) with respect to the branch housing 200. Therefore, even if the above-mentioned force in the rotational direction acts, the first to third relay connectors 10, 10', 10 "can be easily removed from the branch connector 50.

According to the branch connector 50 according to the present embodiment, the branch contact 100 having the second connection portion 120 and the third connection portion 130 branched in the vertical direction from the base end side of the first connection portion 110, and the branch contact 100 having the third connection portion 130 on one side. It is configured to include one contact fitting portion 211, and a branch housing 200 having a second contact fitting portion 221 and a third contact fitting portion 222 formed side by side in the vertical direction on the other side. Therefore, the overall size of the branch connector 50 can be reduced as compared with the conventional T-shaped branch connector device. Further, in the branch connector 50, even if the number of cables arranged in the left-right direction increases, the size of the branch connector 50 in the left-right direction only increases according to the number of cables, and does not become extremely large. .. Further, in the branch connector 50, since the branch contact 100 is branched in the vertical direction, it is easy to change the design to more multipolarization.

Further, in the branch connector 50, the branch housing 200 fits the first housing member 210 having the first connector fitting portion 211 and the second housing member 220 having the second and third connector fitting portions 221,222. It has a two-part structure that is combined and combined. Therefore, the assembling work of the branch contact 100 becomes easy. Further, since the third sealing member 43 for preventing foreign matter from entering the fitting surface of the first and second housing members 210 and 220 is provided, it can be used even in an environment where water or foreign matter may adhere. It can be a branch connector that can be used. Further, in the branch connector 50, the tips of the first to third connection portions 110, 120, and 130 of the branch contact 100 are formed in a bifurcated shape, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to make three-point contact with the relay contact 20 having the bifurcated connecting portion 24 in the same manner, and the connection reliability can be improved.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, the scope of the present invention is not limited to those shown in the above-described embodiments. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the branch connector 50 has the first to third connector fitting portions 211,221,222, but is provided with four or more connector fitting portions to have more multipolarization. It may be a configuration. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the lock arm 35 (lock convex portion 36) and the first to third lock recesses 215, 225 and 226, which are lock mechanisms, are provided only on the left side portion of the relay housing 30 and the branch housing 200. However, the lock mechanism may be provided only on the right side of the relay housing 30 and the branch housing 200. Further, the lock mechanism may be provided on both the left side portion and the right side portion of the relay housing 30 and the branch housing 200. Further, the lock mechanism including the lock arm 35 and the first to third lock recesses 215, 225, 226 is an example, and may be a lock mechanism having another configuration. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the first to third relay connectors 10, 10', 10 "and the branch connector 50 are provided with four relay contacts 20 and branch contacts 100, respectively, has been described, but this is an example. However, the number of contacts may be any number.

1 Connector device 43 Third seal member (seal member)
50 Branch connector 100 Branch contact 110 1st connection 120 2nd connection 130 3rd connection 200 Branch housing 210 1st housing member 211 1st connector fitting 220 2nd housing member 221 2nd connector fitting 222 3 Connector fitting part

Claims (2)

With a branch housing
It is provided with a plurality of branch contacts that are held side by side in the branch housing.
The branch contact has a first connecting portion extending to the front side and a plurality of second connecting portions branching in the vertical direction from the base end portion of the first connecting portion and extending to the rear side.
The branch housing has a first connector fitting portion that opens to the front side and a plurality of second connector fitting portions that open to the rear side and are formed side by side in the vertical direction, and the first connector fitting portion is formed. The first connection portion of the branch contact is disposed inside the joint portion in a protruding state, and the second connection portion is disposed inside the plurality of second connector fitting portions in a protruding state. Being done
A first cable connected to a first mating connector fitted in the first connector fitting portion and a second cable connected to a plurality of second mating connectors fitted in the plurality of second contact fitting portions. It is configured to electrically connect each cable.
In the branch housing, the first housing member having the first connector fitting portion and the second housing member having the plurality of second connector fitting portions are fitted, and the first housing member and the second housing member are fitted. It is configured to hold the plurality of branch contacts between housing members.
A branch connector device characterized in that the fitting surfaces of the first and second housing members are provided with a sealing member for preventing foreign matter from entering the inside. The branch contact has a bifurcated contact portion at each of the tip portions of the first connection portion and the plurality of second connection portions, and the bifurcated contact portion is inside the branch housing in a posture in which the bifurcated contact portions are divided in the left-right direction. The branch connector device according to claim 1 , wherein the branch connector device is held in a.

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