JP7740932B2 - Connector and splice connector structure - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a connector that electrically connects multiple terminals, and to a connector structure configured to allow male and female connectors to be connected to each other.

Conventionally, joint connectors have been used in a variety of locations in various forms suited to their respective applications, such as as relay connectors interposed between a pair of mating connectors and configured to allow insertion and insertion of each of the pair of mating connectors from both directions, as end treatment caps (joint caps) attached to the ends of the electrical wires that make up a wire harness, or as terminal connectors provided on one end of a circuit board for connecting to a cable.

The joint connector of Patent Document 1 is a joint connector used as a relay connector, and includes a connector housing and a bus bar.
The connector housing has connection ports at one end and the other end for inserting mating connectors (female connectors in Patent Document 1), and has a partition wall in the center. The bus bar has a central portion embedded and fixed in the partition wall, and has branch terminal portions extending from the central portion to one end and the other end.

As a result, the joint connector of Patent Document 1 forms a predetermined connection pattern (circuit) by electrically connecting multiple branch terminal sections via a path provided in the center of the bus bar.

The joint connector of Patent Document 1 is configured with multiple bus bars of the same shape that are provided as components of the joint connector, but different connection patterns (conduction patterns) can be created depending on the number and shape of the bus bars (the number and arrangement of branch terminals, the path in the center, etc.).

However, conventional joint connectors have the following problems, not only when used as relay connectors like the joint connector in Patent Document 1, but also when used as the end treatment caps or terminal connectors mentioned above.

In conventional joint connectors, the connector housing and bus bar are formed as a single unit using insert molding, making it impractical to separate them or replace them with different bus bars, and they can only be joined in predetermined connection patterns.

As a result, to obtain a joint connector with the desired circuit pattern, it is necessary to manufacture a new joint connector. Furthermore, if there are multiple types (specifications) of connection patterns, it is necessary to prepare multiple joint connectors corresponding to each connection pattern, which can increase manufacturing and management costs.

Patent No. 3038116

The present invention aims to provide a connector and connector structure that can easily achieve the desired connection pattern (circuit specifications) without the need to prepare a joint connector for each type (specification) of electrical connection pattern between multiple terminals.

The connector of the present invention comprises a connector housing made of an insulating material and a plurality of terminals made of a conductive material, the connector housing having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers for accommodating the terminals, a fitting hole portion communicating between adjacent terminal accommodating chambers, and a window portion opened to expose at least a portion of the plurality of terminals accommodated inside the housing, the window portion and the fitting hole portion communicating with each other, a conductive joint member inserted into the housing through the window portion, and inside the housing, a conductive joint member connecting any of the plurality of terminals to each other in a conductive manner, and a closing member closing the window portion, the conductive joint member being inserted into the fitting hole portion and being formed so as to be insertable between at least one pair of adjacent terminals among the plurality of terminals, the adjacent terminals being conductive to each other via the conductive joint member inserted into the fitting hole portion .

With this configuration, when the terminals are electrically connected to each other via a conductive joint member, the electrical connection pattern between the multiple terminals can be freely configured depending on which of the multiple terminals are connected to each other via the conductive joint member.

For example, by inserting a conductive joint member into the housing through the window so that it connects to terminals that will be conductive according to the desired connection pattern, multiple terminals can be electrically connected to each other via the conductive joint member to achieve the desired connection pattern.

Therefore, there is no need to prepare a joint connector for each type of electrical connection pattern between multiple terminals, and desired connection patterns can be easily accommodated, which in turn allows for standardization of components and reduces manufacturing and management costs.

Furthermore, after connecting the terminals via the conductive joint member, the window portion can be closed with a closing member, making it easy to form a connector housing in which the terminals are connected in the desired connection pattern.

Furthermore, according to a configuration in which the conductive joint member is formed so as to be insertable between at least one pair of adjacent terminals among the plurality of terminals, by inserting the conductive joint member between the pair of terminals, the pair of terminals can be firmly connected to each other in a conductive state.

In another aspect of the present invention, the blocking member may be configured to hold the conductive joint member.
According to the above configuration, by holding the conductive joint member with the blocking member, the terminals can be maintained in a state where they are electrically connected to each other, and stable conductivity can be ensured.

Furthermore, by fitting the blocking member into the window portion, the window portion is blocked and the conductive joint member can be inserted into the housing so that the terminals are electrically connected to each other by the conductive joint member.
Furthermore, when the plurality of conductive joint members are held by the blocking member, the window portions are blocked by the blocking member, so that the plurality of terminals can be electrically connected together.

In another aspect of the present invention, the closing member may be formed as a retainer that holds the terminals housed inside the housing.
According to the above configuration, by accommodating the blocking member, which functions as a retainer, inside the housing, it is possible not only to block the window portion but also to hold not only the terminal but also the conductive joint member, thereby reducing the number of parts compared to when the blocking member and the retainer are provided separately and simplifying the operation of fitting them into the window portion.

Another aspect of the present invention may be a configuration in which a connecting joint member is formed by including a plurality of the above-mentioned conductive joint members and connecting the plurality of conductive joint members to each other via connecting portions so that they are electrically conductive.

With the above configuration, it is possible to electrically connect not only a pair of adjacent terminals but also multiple terminals separated by at least one terminal via the connecting joint member. In addition, it is possible to electrically connect two or more terminals via the connecting joint member.

This allows for even greater variation in the electrical connection patterns between multiple terminals.

In another aspect of the present invention, the plurality of conductive joint members may be arranged offset from one another in the axial direction of the terminal.
According to the above configuration, even in a layout in which a plurality of the conductive joint members are provided corresponding to a plurality of terminals arranged in parallel, the conductive joint members can be distributed not only in the parallel arrangement of the terminals but also in the axial direction, which makes it easier to avoid a conductive state (short-circuit state) caused by inadvertent interference between the connecting portions connecting the plurality of conductive joint members, and therefore makes it possible to achieve a configuration in which there are fewer restrictions on the number and paths of the conductive joint members.
Therefore, it is possible to easily configure a configuration with an increased variety of electrical connection patterns between a plurality of terminals.

In one aspect of this invention, in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the axial direction of the terminals, the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction in which the conductive joint member is inserted between the terminals is set as the orthogonal direction, and the housing may include a terminal row formed of a plurality of the terminals arranged in parallel and spaced apart along the orthogonal direction, with the plurality of terminal rows spaced apart in the insertion direction, and the conductive joint member may be formed to have a length that extends from the terminal row closest to the blocking member to the terminal row farthest from the terminal row.

According to the above configuration, for any of the multiple terminal rows arranged in parallel along the insertion direction inside the housing, the terminals can be electrically connected to each other via the conductive joint member.
Therefore, it is possible to further increase the variety of electrical connection patterns between a plurality of terminals.

In another aspect of the present invention, the multiple terminals provided in each of the multiple terminal rows may be arranged in parallel in a layout in which the positions and spacing in the orthogonal direction are the same for all of the multiple terminal rows.

According to the above configuration, for any of the plurality of terminal rows arranged in multiple stages in the insertion direction, the conductive joint member can be inserted between a pair of terminals in the terminal row by inserting it into the housing through the window in the insertion direction, thereby ensuring electrical continuity between the pair of terminals via the conductive joint member.
Therefore, it is possible to further increase the variety of electrical connection patterns between a plurality of terminals.

The conductive joint member may be configured to have a conductive portion that is inserted between a pair of terminals in one of the plurality of terminal rows spaced apart in the insertion direction, and that directly contacts and conducts electricity with the pair of terminals, and a non-conductive portion that is inserted between adjacent pairs of terminals in another of the plurality of terminal rows spaced apart in the insertion direction, and that separates the pair of terminals by a gap to bring them into a non-conductive state.

With the above configuration, it is not necessary to necessarily establish electrical continuity between the terminal and the conductive joint member at the point of contact; by interposing a non-conductive portion, it is possible to establish a non-conductive state between them even at the point of contact.

This allows for even greater variation in the electrical connection patterns between multiple terminals, depending on whether the contact points are conductive or non-conductive.

Another aspect of the present invention may be a connector that is configured to connect to a mating connector, with the terminal provided with a terminal connection portion that electrically connects to a mating terminal provided on the mating connector.

With the above configuration, in addition to functioning as a joint connector that electrically connects multiple terminals, it can also function as a connecting connector that holds terminals at the ends of multiple electric wires and connects them to a mating connector.

As a result, the connector of the present invention can be made smaller than connectors that are provided separately. Furthermore, unlike conventional joint connectors, the connector of the present invention does not require connecting connectors from both sides; instead, it is sufficient to connect the mating connector from one side, simplifying the effort required for connection work.

In another aspect of the present invention, the connector housing may be provided with a connector-side locking portion that locks the connector in a connected state with the mating connector, and the window portion may be provided on a surface of the connector housing that faces the surface on which the connector-side locking portion is provided, across the interior of the housing (the opposite surface).

The above configuration allows the connector of the present invention, which functions as a connecting connector, to be locked in a connected state with the mating connector.

Furthermore, by providing the window on the surface opposite to the surface on which the connector-side locking portion is provided, the terminal can be inserted into the housing through the window, and the window can be closed with a closing member smoothly without being obstructed by the connector-side locking portion.

Furthermore, by providing a window on the surface opposite the surface on which the connector-side locking portion is provided, the connector of the present invention can be connected to a mating connector, and even in the locked state, terminals can be inserted into the housing through the window, or the window can be blocked by a blocking member.

On the other hand, by providing the window on the surface opposite the side on which the connector-side locking portion is provided, the connector and mating connector can be locked in a connected state smoothly without being obstructed by a blocking member or the like.

In addition, by providing the window on the side opposite the side on which the connector-side locking portion is provided, the connector housing as a whole can be made more compact than if they were provided on the same side.

In another aspect of the present invention, the connecting connector may be a female connector that is connected to the male connector serving as the mating connector, the terminals may be female terminals having box portions (receiving portions) into which the connecting portions (connection tabs) of the male terminals serving as the mating terminals can be inserted, and the conductive joint member may be configured to be inserted between the box portions of any pair of adjacent female terminals among the plurality of female terminals.

With the above configuration, the box portion has a box-like shape, making it highly rigid in the axial direction of the terminal. Therefore, even when the conductive joint member is inserted between a pair of adjacent box portions, the box portions do not unintentionally deform, and the conductive state can be maintained by firmly contacting the box portions.

Furthermore, when the conductive joint member is inserted between a pair of adjacent box sections, it abuts against the outer side of the box sections, so when a male terminal is inserted into the box section, it can be inserted smoothly without interfering with the male terminal.

The present invention also provides a connector structure configured to be connectable to a male connector and a female connector, wherein at least one of the male connector and the female connector is configured as the connector described above.

According to the above configuration, the terminals of each connector can be connected in a predetermined connection pattern simply by connecting the male connector and the female connector without the need for a separate relay connector between them.
Therefore, compared to conventional joint connectors that connect mating connectors from both sides, the number of parts can be reduced and the effort required to connect the connectors can be reduced.

The objective of this invention is to provide a connector and connector structure that can easily obtain the desired connection pattern without the need to prepare a joint connector for each type of electrical connection pattern between multiple terminals.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; A bottom view of the connector housing without the hole insertion member attached to the housing body. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1 with the hole insertion member attached to the housing body. 4A is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 3. 4A is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a plan view of the hole insertion member. FIG. 5( a ) is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5( a ), illustrating a state in which the hole insertion member is inserted into the housing main body and attached; 4A is a cross-sectional view of a connector structure of Modification A, corresponding to FIG. 4A; FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the same connector structure, corresponding to FIG. 4B; 5A is a cross-sectional view of a connector structure of Modification A, corresponding to FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5B is a plan view of the same, corresponding to FIG. 5B. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 8 showing a state before the hole insertion member is inserted into the housing main body. 8A is a cross-sectional view of a connector structure according to a modified example B; FIG. 11(a) is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 10 showing a state before the hole insertion member is inserted into the housing main body, FIG. 11(b) is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 10 showing a state in which the hole insertion member has been inserted into the housing main body up to a temporary insertion position, and FIG. 11(c) is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 10 showing a state in which the female terminal has been inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber from the state of FIG. 11(b). 8A is an enlarged view showing a cross section of the connector structure of the modified example C1 corresponding to region Z1 in FIG. 8A; FIG. 8B is a cross section of the connector structure of the modified example C2 corresponding to FIG. 12A; FIG. 8C is a cross section of the connector structure of the modified example C3 corresponding to FIG. 12A; and FIG. 8D is a cross section of the connector structure of the modified example C4 corresponding to FIG. 12A. 13A is a cross-sectional view of a connector structure of Modified Example D corresponding to a main part in FIG. 3 , and FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the connector structure of Modified Example D taken along the arrow E-E in FIG. 13A . FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a hole insertion member of a modified example D, partly in phantom lines; 15A is an enlarged view of a connector structure of a modified example E1, which corresponds to a main part in FIG. 3; FIG. 15B is an enlarged view of a connector structure of a modified example E2, which corresponds to a main part in FIG. 15A; 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views of a connector structure according to a modification E3; 4A is a cross-sectional view of a joint cap of modified example F, corresponding to FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the joint cap of modified example F, corresponding to FIG. 4B. 12(a) is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section of a conductive joint pin of a first modified example corresponding to FIG. 12(a); FIG. 12(b) is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section of a conductive joint pin of a second modified example corresponding to FIG. 12(a); and FIG. 12(c) is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section of a conductive joint pin of a third modified example corresponding to FIG. 12(a).

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a connector structure 1 of this embodiment includes a female connector 2 as a connecting connector and a male connector 3 as a mating connector, and is configured to be connectable to each other.

In the figure, arrow Z indicates the up-down direction (height direction) of the connector structure 1, arrow X indicates the left-right direction (width direction), and arrow Y indicates the front-to-back direction (depth direction). Furthermore, in the figure, arrow Xr indicates the right direction, arrow Xl indicates the left direction, arrow Yf indicates the forward direction, and arrow Yr indicates the rearward direction.

As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the female connector 2 is composed of a connector housing 11 and five female terminals 4 (see Figures 2 to 5(a)).

The connector housing 11 comprises a housing body 13 and a hole insertion member 21 attached to the housing body 13.

The housing body 13 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin into a wide, block-like shape that is flat in the thickness direction (vertical direction Z). The housing body 13 has multiple hollow terminal accommodating chambers 121 that extend in the depth direction Y. The multiple (five in this example) terminal accommodating chambers 121 are arranged in parallel at equal intervals in the width direction X (see Figures 2-3 and 5(a)). The terminal accommodating chambers 121 correspond in number to the multiple female terminals 4 and are configured to accommodate the female terminals 4 individually.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4(a), the terminal accommodating chamber 121 has a length in the depth direction Y that is sufficient to accommodate the entire axial length of the female terminal 4, and is formed linearly over substantially the entire length of the housing main body 13 in the depth direction Y. The female terminal 4 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 121 so that the terminal axial direction coincides with the depth direction Y of the housing main body 13.

As shown in the figure, the front surface of the housing body 13 is formed with multiple male terminal insertion openings 122 corresponding to the multiple terminal accommodating chambers 121. As a result, the terminal accommodating chambers 121 open to the front Yf of the housing body 13 via the male terminal insertion openings 122, allowing the tab portions 18 of the male terminals 8 (described later, see Figure 4(a)) to be inserted from the front Yf of the housing body 13.

The rear surface of the housing body 13 is formed with multiple female terminal insertion openings 123 corresponding to the multiple terminal accommodating chambers 121. As a result, the terminal accommodating chambers 121 open to the rear Yr via the female terminal insertion openings 123, allowing female terminals 4 to be inserted from the rear Yr of the housing body 13.

The female terminal 4 is formed by stamping and bending a metal plate made of a single conductive material into a predetermined shape. As shown in Figures 3 and 4(a), it has a wire connection portion 5 at one end (rear side) in the terminal axial direction, which coincides with the depth direction Y, and a box portion 6 at the other end (front side). The wire connection portion 5 and box portion 6 are connected to each other via a transition portion 7.

The wire connection portion 5 is the portion that connects the conductor 101 to the end portion 100T of the wire 100, which is covered with an insulating covering material 102, and has a wire barrel portion 5a on the front side and an insulation barrel portion 5b on the rear side.

The wire barrel portion 5a crimps and connects the conductor exposed portion 101a at the end portion 100T of the electric wire 100, where the insulating coating material 102 is stripped to expose the conductor 101, and the insulation barrel portion 5b crimps and connects the end portion 102a of the insulating coating material 102 at the end portion 100T of the electric wire 100, which is located behind the conductor exposed portion 101a (opposite the end side).
The terminal accommodating chamber 121 accommodates not only the female terminal 4 but also the portion of the electric wire 100 extending rearward Yr from the female terminal 4 (see FIGS. 3 and 4A).

As shown in Figure 4(a), the box portion 6 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape (an inverted rectangular parallelepiped) so that the tab portion 18 (connection portion) of the mating male terminal 8 can be inserted into it. The box portion 6 is provided with a resilient contact piece 6a inside that can come into contact with the tab portion 18 inserted from the front Yf.

As shown in Figure 4(a), a flexible tongue-like lance 15 projects into the terminal accommodating chamber 121 from the rear underside of the terminal accommodating chamber 121. This lance 15 can engage with the rear end of the female terminal 4 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 121. The lance 15 allows the female terminal 4 to be inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 121 through the female terminal insertion opening 123, and also functions to prevent the inserted female terminal 4 from slipping out of the female terminal insertion opening 123.

As shown in Figures 1, 4(a), and 5(a), a lock arm 16 is provided at the center of the width direction X of the upper surface 13b of the housing main body 13. As shown in Figure 4(a), the lock arm 16 has a base 16a that protrudes upward from the front of the upper surface 13b, and a tip side 16b that extends substantially horizontally rearward Yr beyond the base 16a to the rear of the upper surface 13b, with a lock portion 16c protruding upward from the tip (rear).

In addition, as shown in Figures 1 and 5(a), upward protrusions 17 that protrude above the upper ends of the locking arms 16 are provided on both sides of the upper surface 13b of the housing main body 13 in the width direction X.

As shown in Figures 2, 3, 4(a)(b), and 6, a hole portion 41 is formed at a predetermined location in the depth direction Y on the lower surface 13a (bottom surface) of the housing main body 13, the hole portion 41 being opened through a window portion 41a so that at least a portion of the female terminal 4 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 121 is exposed.
In the following description, the location in the depth direction Y of the lower surface 13a of the housing main body 13 where the window 41a is formed will be referred to as a window forming location P41.

In this embodiment, the window formation location P41 is set at a location corresponding to approximately the middle of the box portion 6 in the depth direction Y (terminal axis direction) on the underside 13a of the housing main body 13, as shown in Figure 3, but it may also be set at another location.
The hole insertion member 21 is inserted into the hole 41 of the housing body 13 through the window 41a (see FIGS. 5A and 6). The hole 41 and the hole insertion member 21 will be described later.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4(a), the male connector 3 serving as a mating connector comprises a connector housing 31 and male terminals 8 (see Figure 4(a)). The connector housing 31 has a block-shaped terminal mounting portion 32 to which multiple male terminals 8 are attached, and a rectangular cylindrical hood portion 33 extending rearward Yr from the terminal mounting portion 32, and is integrally formed by molding from an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

The terminal mounting portion 32 has terminal accommodating chambers 34 (see FIG. 4A) capable of accommodating the male terminals 8, which are arranged in parallel in the width direction X in correspondence with the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 121 provided in the housing body 13 of the female connector 2. The interior of the hood portion 33 is provided with a female connector fitting space 35 (see FIG. 1) that opens toward the rear Yr so that the female connector 2 can be fitted thereto.
As shown in FIG. 1, the female connector fitting space 35 has upward protruding spaces 35a that protrude upward on both sides in the width direction X in correspondence with the pair of upward protruding portions 17 on the housing body 13 of the female connector 2.

In other words, when the connector housing 11 of the female connector 2 is fitted into the female connector mating space 35 of the male connector 3, the inner wall of the upper protruding space 35a of the hood portion 33 serves as a guide portion, and the upper protruding portion 17 of the housing main body 13 serves as a guided portion that is guided by the guide portion.

In addition, as shown in Figure 4(a), a locked portion 33a protrudes downward from the inner surface of the upper wall of the hood portion 33. This locking portion 33a engages with the locking portion 16c provided on the female connector 2 when the female connector 2 is mated into the female connector mating space 35.

The male terminal 8 is formed by bending a metal plate made of a conductive material into a predetermined shape, and like the male terminal 8 shown in Figure 16, it has a wire connection portion 5 at the other end (front side) of the terminal axis, which coincides with the depth direction Y, and an elongated tab portion 18 at one end (rear side). The wire connection portion 5 and tab portion 18 are connected to each other via a transition portion 19.

The wire connection portion 5 of the male terminal 8 has the same structure as the wire connection portion 5 of the female terminal 4, so it is designated by the same reference numeral and its description will be omitted.

As with the male terminal 8 shown in Figure 16, the wire connection portion 5 and transition portion 19 of the male terminal 8 are positioned and accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 34 of the terminal mounting portion 32, and the tab portion 18 protrudes rearward Yr from the rear end of the terminal mounting portion 32 into the female connector mating space 35 of the hood portion 33.

When the connector housing 11 of the female connector 2 is mated with the female connector mating space 35 of the male connector 3, the locking portion 16c and the locked portion 33a engage, maintaining the female connector 2 and the male connector 3 in a mated state. At this time, the tab portion 18 of the male terminal 8 is inserted into the box portion 6 of the female terminal 4 from the front Yf and electrically connected to the resilient contact piece 6a (see Figure 4(a)).

Next, the hole 41 provided in the housing body 13 of the female connector 2 and the hole insertion member 21 inserted into the hole 41 will be described.
1, 5(a) and 5(b), and 6, the hole insertion member 21 is formed by a lid 22, a conductive joint pin 23 (short pin), and an engagement arm 24. Of these, the lid 22 and the engagement arm 24 are integrally molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and the conductive joint pin 23 is fixed in a fixed position relative to the lid 22 by being incorporated into a molding die and insert-molded.

As shown in Figures 1 and 5(b), the lid 22 is integrally formed with a rectangular plate-like lid main body portion 25 extending in the width direction X by a length corresponding to approximately the entire length of the housing main body 13 in the width direction X, and multiple terminal pressing portions 26 protruding upward from the upper surface 25a of the lid main body portion 25.

As shown in Figures 5(a), (b) and 6, the multiple terminal pressing portions 26 are arranged in the width direction X of the lid main body portion 25 at positions corresponding to the multiple terminal accommodating chambers 121. The upper surface 26a of each of the multiple terminal pressing portions 26 is formed flat so that it can press from below against the box portion 6 of the female terminal 4 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 121.

As shown in Figures 4(a) and 5(a), the lid 22 holds the female terminal 4 in place by pressing the box portion 6 of the female terminal 4 housed in the terminal accommodating chamber 121 from below with the terminal pressing portion 26. In other words, by including the terminal pressing portion 26, the lid 22 is formed as a retainer that holds the female terminal 4 housed in the terminal accommodating chamber 121.

As shown in Figures 1, 4(b), 5(a), and 6, the conductive joint pin 23 is formed from a conductive material such as metal into a long, thin cylindrical shape that extends linearly in the vertical direction Z. The base 23f (lower part) of the conductive joint pin 23 is embedded in the lid main body 25 by insert molding, as described above. This allows the multiple conductive joint pins 23 to be held in the lid main body 25.

As shown in Figures 1, 5(a), 5(b), and 6, these conductive joint pins 23 are arranged between the terminal pressing portions 26 in the width direction X of the upper surface 25a of the lid main body portion 25, and each is formed to protrude above the upper surface 26a of the terminal pressing portion 26.

In other words, as shown in Figures 3, 4(b), and 5(a), when the hole insertion member 21 is inserted into the hole portion 41, multiple conductive joint pins 23 are arranged at positions corresponding to the spaces between the multiple female terminals 4 (terminal accommodating chambers 121) in the width direction X of the housing main body 13, and each is formed to protrude long enough to be inserted between a pair of adjacent female terminals 4.

That is, when the conductive joint pin 23 is inserted between a pair of adjacent box sections 6, it is formed with a diameter that allows its outer surface to be pressed against both of the side sections facing each other in the width direction X of the pair of box sections 6 (see Figures 3 and 5(a)).
In this embodiment, the plurality of conductive joint pins 23 have the same shape and protrude upward from the upper surface 25a of the lid main body 25 so as to be parallel to one another and have the same protruding length.

As shown in Figures 1, 5(a), and 6, a pair of engagement arms 24 are provided on each side of the lid main body 25 in the width direction X, and each is formed to protrude from the lid main body 25 above the conductive joint pin 23.

The engaging arm 24 has a tip end portion 27 that is thinner in the width direction X than the base portion 28, allowing it to flex and deform in the width direction X. An engaging portion 24a that can engage with the housing main body 13 protrudes outward in the width direction X from the tip of the tip end portion 27 of the engaging arm 24.

As shown in Figures 2 to 6, particularly Figure 6, the hole 41 inside the housing main body 13 is divided into a lid insertion hole 42 (see Figures 2, 5(b), and 6) into which the lid main body 25 is housed, a pin insertion hole 43 (see Figures 2, 3, 4(b), 5(a), and 6) into which the conductive joint pin 23 is inserted, and an engagement arm insertion hole 44 into which the engagement arm 24 is inserted.

As shown in Figure 6, the lid insertion hole 42 is formed in a concave shape extending upward from the underside 13a of the housing body 13 at a window formation location P41 in the depth direction Y of the underside of the housing body 13, extending over the entire length of the housing body 13 in the width direction X, with a depth that reaches at least the terminal accommodating chamber 121.

As a result, the multiple terminal accommodating chambers 121 communicate with the outer lower space of the housing main body 13 at the window forming area P41 via the lid insertion hole 42. Therefore, as shown in Figures 2 and 6, the female terminal 4 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 121 is exposed to the outside of the housing main body 13 at the window forming area P41 when the window 41a is not blocked by the hole insertion member 21.

As shown in Figures 4(a) and 5(a), the lid insertion hole 42 is formed to be able to accommodate the entire lid main body 25 when the hole insertion member 21 is inserted into the hole 41 through the window 41a. Therefore, as shown in Figures 4(a) and (b), when the lid main body 25 is inserted into the lid insertion hole 42, the window 41a is closed by the lid main body 25, and the lower surface 25b of the lid main body 25 is flush with the lower surface 13a of the housing main body 13.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 4(a) and 5(a), when the lid main body 25 is accommodated in the lid insertion hole 42, the terminal pressing portion 26 protrudes from below into the terminal accommodating chamber 121, and the upper surface 26a of the terminal pressing portion 26 abuts (presses) from below against the lower surface of the box portion 6 of the female terminal 4 in the terminal accommodating chamber 121. As a result, the box portion 6 is held in a sandwiched state from above and below between the upper surface 131a of the inner wall of the terminal accommodating chamber 121 and the upper surface 26a of the terminal pressing portion 26.

As shown in Figures 3, 5(a), and 6, multiple pin insertion holes 43 are formed corresponding to the spaces between the multiple terminal accommodating chambers 121 arranged in the width direction X, and each is formed in a concave shape further upward than the lid insertion hole 42 so that the conductive joint pin 23 can be inserted therein.

As a result, the multiple terminal accommodating chambers 121 communicate in the width direction X via the pin insertion holes 43 between adjacent terminal accommodating chambers 121, and the multiple pin insertion holes 43 communicate with the outer lower space of the housing main body 13 via the lid insertion holes 42. In other words, the conductive joint pin 23 inserted into the pin insertion hole 43 is in direct contact with the box portion 6 of the adjacent female terminal 4 (see Figures 3 and 5(a)).

As shown in Figures 3, 5(a), and 6, the engagement arm insertion holes 44 are formed in a concave shape further upward than the lid insertion holes 42 on both sides of the terminal accommodating chambers 121 in the width direction X of the housing body 13, allowing the corresponding engagement arms 24 to be inserted therein.

As shown in Figures 5(a) and 6, the upper space 44a of the engagement arm insertion hole 44 corresponds to the internal space of the upper protrusion 17 of the housing main body 13, and is large enough to accommodate the tip end portion 27 of the engagement arm 24 and to allow for flexible deformation.

Meanwhile, an engaged portion 33b that can engage with the engaging portion 24a of the engaging arm 24 protrudes inward in the width direction X from the outer inner wall of the upper space 44a of the engaging arm insertion hole 44 in the width direction X. As shown in Figure 6, the engaging arm insertion hole 44 communicates with the outer lower space of the housing main body 13 via the lid insertion hole 42.

When the operator inserts the engaging arm 24 from the state shown in Figure 6 into the engaging arm insertion hole 44 through the window 41a, the inclined upper surface of the engaging portion 24a of the engaging arm 24 abuts against the inclined lower surface of the engaged portion 33b provided on the housing main body 13. This insertion position of the engaging arm 24 is the temporary insertion position (see the engaging arm 24 shown in phantom lines in Figure 6).

When the operator pushes the engagement arm 24, which is in the temporary insertion position, further upward, the engagement arm 24 can be inserted further into the engagement arm insertion hole 44. This allows the engagement portion 24a of the engagement arm 24 to engage with the engaged portion 33b provided on the housing main body 13. This insertion position of the engagement arm 24 is the complete insertion position. When the engagement arm 24 is in the complete insertion position, the hole insertion member 21 remains fully inserted into the hole 41 of the housing main body 13.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 5, the female terminals 4 are held in the terminal accommodating chambers 121 by the pressure of the terminal pressing portions 26, as described above. Furthermore, the conductive joint pins 23 inserted into the pin insertion holes 43 are fitted between adjacent female terminals 4. This allows multiple female terminals 4 lined up in a row in the width direction X to be electrically connected to each other via the conductive joint pins 23.

As shown in FIG. 1, the female connector 2 (joint connector) included in the connector structure 1 of this embodiment described above includes a connector housing 11 made of an insulating material and a plurality of female terminals 4 (terminals) (see FIG. 2) made of a conductive material. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the connector housing 11 is formed with a window 41a that exposes at least a portion of the plurality of female terminals 4 housed within the housing main body 13 (housing interior). Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the connector housing 11 is characterized by including a conductive joint pin 23 (conductive joint member) (see FIGS. 1, 3, 4(b), 5(a)(b), and 6) that is inserted through the window 41a into a hole 41 within the housing main body 13 and electrically connects some of the plurality of female terminals 4 together within the hole 41, and a lid 22 (closing member) that closes the window 41a (see FIGS. 1, 3, 4(a)(b), 5(a)(b), and 6).

With the above configuration, when the female terminals 4 are electrically connected to each other via the conductive joint pins 23, the electrical connection pattern between the multiple female terminals 4 can be freely configured depending on which of the multiple female terminals 4 are connected to each other via the conductive joint pins 23.

Therefore, there is no need to prepare a female connector 2 for each type (specification) of electrical connection pattern between multiple female terminals 4, and it is possible to easily accommodate the desired connection pattern (circuit specification), thereby enabling the use of standardized components and reducing manufacturing and management costs.

Furthermore, after connecting the female terminals 4 via the conductive joint pins 23, the window portion 41a can be closed with the lid 22, making it easy to form a connector housing 11 in which the female terminals 4 are connected in the desired connection pattern.

In addition, by closing the window portion 41a with the lid 22, the conductive joint pin 23 can be protected from unintentional removal from the window portion 41a to the outside of the connector housing 11, and the conductive joint pin 23 and female terminal 4 can be protected from contact with surrounding conductive members, preventing unintentional short circuits.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 5(b), the conductive joint pin 23 can be formed so that it can be inserted between at least one pair of adjacent female terminals 4 among the multiple female terminals 4.

According to the above configuration, by inserting the conductive joint pin 23 between the pair of female terminals 4, the pair of female terminals 4 can be securely connected to each other in a conductive state.
Specifically, the conductive joint pin 23 is not simply pressed against the female terminals 4, but is inserted into the gap between a pair of adjacent female terminals 4, thereby making it possible to bring the conductive joint pin 23 into tight contact with both of the adjacent female terminals 4 without being affected by misalignment in the axial direction (vertical direction Z) of the conductive joint pin 23. Therefore, a stable conductive state can be maintained between the multiple female terminals 4 via the conductive joint pin 23.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1, 4(b), 5(a) and (b), and 6, the lid 22 is configured to hold the conductive joint pin 23.

With the above configuration, the lid 22 holds the conductive joint pin 23, maintaining the female terminals 4 in a conductively connected state via the conductive joint pin 23, ensuring stable conductivity between the female terminals 4.

In addition, by inserting the lid 22 into the hole 41 through the window 41a, the conductive joint pin 23 can also be inserted into the hole 41, making it easy to establish electrical conductivity between the female terminals 4 via the conductive joint pin 23.

Also, as shown in Figures 4(b) and 5(a), the lid 22 is formed as a retainer that holds the female terminal 4 housed inside the housing main body 13 by pressing the terminal pressing portion 26.

With the above configuration, the lid 22 can hold not only the conductive joint pin 23 but also the female terminal 4. This reduces the number of parts compared to a configuration in which the female connector 2 is separately equipped with a lid main body 25 that holds the conductive joint pin 23 and a terminal pressing portion 26 that holds the female terminal 4, and simplifies the insertion operation into the hole 41.

Also, as shown in Figure 4(a), the female connector 2 of this embodiment is configured as a connector for connection with a male connector 3 (mating connector), and the female terminal 4 is provided with a box portion 6 (terminal connection portion) that is electrically connected to a male terminal 8 (mating terminal) (see Figures 1 and 4(a)) provided on the male connector 3.

With the above configuration, the female connector 2 not only functions as a joint connector that electrically connects (joins) multiple female terminals 4 together using a desired electrical conduction pattern, but also functions as a connection connector that electrically connects all of the female terminals 4 at the end portions 100T of multiple electric wires 100 together to the male connector 3.

The female connector 2 of this embodiment therefore reduces the number of parts and size compared to a joint connector that has two male connectors, such as a joint connector that allows male connectors to be inserted from both directions, and also reduces the labor required for connection compared to a joint connector that requires male connectors to be inserted from both directions.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4(a), the female connector 2 of this embodiment is provided with a locking portion 16c on the top surface (13b) of the connector housing 11 that locks the connector 2 in a connected state with the male connector 3, and a window portion 41a is provided on the surface of the connector housing 11 that faces the top surface (13b) across the hole 41, i.e., the bottom surface (13a).

With the above configuration, by providing a window 41a on the underside (13a) of the connector housing 11 (housing main body 13), the locking portion 16c is not hindered from locking onto the male connector 3, allowing for smooth insertion into the male connector 3.

On the other hand, the operation of inserting the conductive joint pin 23 and lid 22 into the hole 41 through the window 41a can be carried out smoothly without being hindered by the locking portion 16c.

As shown in Figures 3 and 5(a), the conductive joint pin 23 is configured to be inserted between the box portions 6 of adjacent pairs of female terminals 4 among the multiple female terminals 4.

With the above configuration, the box portion 6 has a box-like shape, which provides high rigidity in the axial direction of the female terminals 4. Therefore, even when a conductive joint pin 23 is inserted between a pair of adjacent box portions 6, the box portion 6 does not deform unintentionally, and it makes firm contact with the female terminals 4, maintaining a stable electrical connection.

In addition, because the conductive joint pin 23 abuts against the outer side of the box portion 6, there is no risk that the conductive joint pin 23 contacting the box portion 6 will adversely affect the insertion of the male terminal 8 into the box portion 6. Therefore, the male terminal 8 can be inserted smoothly into the box portion 6.

The connector assembly of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the connector assembly 1 of the present embodiment described above, and other embodiments may be employed.
Modifications of the present embodiment will be described below, but the same or similar components as those of the connector structure 1 of the present embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

(Variation A)
Figures 7 to 9 show the female connector 2A provided in the connection connector structure 1A of modified example A, with Figure 7(a) corresponding to Figure 4(a) of the female connector 2A of modified example A, and Figure 7(b) corresponding to Figure 4(b) of the same.

Figure 8(a) is a view of the female connector 2A of Modification A, corresponding to Figure 5(a), and Figure 8(b) is a view of the female connector 2A of Modification A, corresponding to Figure 5(b). Figure 9 is a view of the female connector 2A of Modification A, corresponding to Figure 6.

As shown in Figure 8, the female connector 2A of variant A has two upper and lower rows of terminal rows 40a, 40b, each consisting of a plurality of female terminals 4A (five in this example) arranged in parallel in the width direction X, for a total of 10 terminals.

That is, the connector housing 11 of the female connector 2A is provided with two upper and lower terminal accommodating chambers 121 corresponding to the female terminals 4A of each of the terminal rows 40a and 40b.

Note that the male connector of variant A is not shown, but it has two upper and lower terminal rows (not shown) corresponding to the female connector 2A of variant A.

The female connector 2A of variant A is formed so that its length in the vertical direction Z is longer than that of the female connector 2 of this embodiment, corresponding to the two upper and lower terminal rows 40a, 40b.

As shown in Figure 8(a), the two upper and lower terminal rows 40a, 40b are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction Z of the female connector 2A, and are arranged in a grid pattern overall so that they have the same layout in the width direction X (i.e., the spacing in the width direction X and the formation locations in the width direction X are the same).

As shown in Figures 7(b) and 8(a), the conductive joint pin 23A extends linearly upward from the upper surface 25a of the lid main body 25 to a length that allows it to be inserted between adjacent female terminals 4A in the lower terminal row 40a (referred to as the "lower terminal row 40a") of the two upper and lower terminal rows 40a, 40b, as well as to a length that allows it to be inserted between adjacent female terminals 4A in the upper terminal row 40b (referred to as the "upper terminal row 40b").

Similarly, the pin insertion hole portion 43A is formed with a depth that allows the conductive joint pin 23A to be inserted between adjacent female terminals 4A in the upper terminal row 40b.

As shown in Figure 8(a), when the conductive joint pin 23A is inserted into the pin insertion hole 43A, its upper portion (tip portion) is perpendicular to the upper terminal row 40b, and its lower portion (base portion) is perpendicular to the lower terminal row 40a.

More specifically, as shown in Figure 8(a), in the female connector 2A of variant A, the positions and sizes between a pair of female terminals 4A in the upper terminal row 40b and between a pair of female terminals 4A in the lower terminal row 40a coincide in the width direction X.

In other words, by inserting each linear conductive joint pin 23A into the pin insertion hole 43A, it is possible to simultaneously insert the conductive joint pin 23A between adjacent female terminals 4A in both the lower terminal row 40a and the upper terminal row 40b.

In Modification A, the multiple female terminals 4A are electrically connected to each other in the width direction X via the conductive joint pins 23A in both the upper and lower terminal rows 40a and 40b, and are also electrically connected to each other in the vertical direction Z via the conductive joint pins 23A between the upper terminal row 40b and the lower terminal row 40a. In other words, in Modification A, all female terminals 4A can be electrically connected to each other.

As shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b) and 9, the cover 22A of Modification A does not have a terminal pressing portion 26, the upper surface 22Aa is formed flat, and it does not have a retainer function. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 7(a) and 7(b), the lance 15 (see Figure 4(a)) is not provided on the lower wall of the inner wall of the terminal accommodating chamber 121 of the housing main body 13A of Modification A.

For this reason, the female connector 2A of variant A has a configuration that replaces the terminal pressing portion 26 and the lance 15 (see Figure 4 (a)) as a terminal holding means (to prevent the terminal from slipping out) for keeping the female terminal 4A accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 121 in a held state.
7(a), 7(b) and 8(a), a flexible flap 4aa is formed on a part of the upper surface of the box portion 6 of the female terminal 4A of Modification A. The flap 4aa is cut and raised so as to face upward and rearward Yr relative to the surrounding area. Meanwhile, a flap engaging protrusion 131 is formed on the upper surface of the inner wall of the terminal accommodating chamber 121 and protrudes downward to engage with the flap 4aa when the female terminal 4A is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 121.

In the female connector 2A of variant A, when the female terminal 4A is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 121 through the female terminal insertion opening 123, the flap piece 4aa bends and deforms downward as it abuts against the flap piece engaging protrusion 131, and does not impede the insertion of the female terminal 4A into the terminal accommodating chamber 121.

Furthermore, in the female connector 2A of Modification A, when the female terminal 4A is accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 121, the flap piece 4aa, which has been restored upward, engages with the flap piece engaging protrusion 131. As a result, the female connector 2A of Modification A can ensure the retention function of the female terminal 4A in the terminal accommodating chamber 121 without having the terminal pressing portion 26, lance 15, or the like. Note that, as described above, the retention function of the female terminal 4A is not limited to the terminal pressing portion 26, lance 15, or flap piece 4aa, and other configurations may be used as long as they have the function of retaining the female terminal 4A in the terminal accommodating chamber 121.

As shown in Figure 8(a), the female connector 2A of the above-mentioned variant A has terminal rows 40a, 40b composed of multiple female terminals 4A arranged in parallel and spaced apart in the width direction X (orthogonal direction) in the hole 41, and multiple terminal rows 40a, 40b (upper terminal row 40b and lower terminal row 40a) are spaced apart in the vertical direction Z (insertion direction).As shown in Figures 7(b) and 8(a), the conductive joint pin 23A is formed with a length that extends from the lower terminal row 40a (the terminal row of the multiple terminal rows 40a, 40b that is closest to the lid 22A) to the upper terminal row 40b (the terminal row that is furthest apart).

According to the above configuration, in the hole portion 41, for both the upper terminal row 40b and the lower terminal row 40a (multiple terminal rows spaced apart in the vertical direction Z), the female terminals 4A adjacent to each other in the width direction X can be electrically connected to each other via the conductive joint pin 23A.
Therefore, the female connector 2A of the modified example A can further increase the variety of electrical connection patterns between the plurality of female terminals 4A.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8(a), in the female connector 2A of the above-described variant A, the multiple female terminals 4A provided in each of the multiple terminal rows 40a, 40b are arranged in a layout in which the positions and spacing in the width direction X are the same for each of the multiple terminal rows 40a, 40b.

With the above configuration, when the conductive joint pin 23A is inserted between a pair of female terminals 4A in the lower terminal row 40a, the conductive joint pin 23A can also be reliably inserted between a pair of female terminals 4A in the upper terminal row 40b. In other words, the conductive joint pin 23A common to the lower terminal row 40a and the upper terminal row 40b can be reliably inserted between the pairs of female terminals 4A provided in each terminal row 40a, 40b.

Therefore, the female connector 2A of variant A can further increase the variety of electrical connection patterns between multiple female terminals 4A.

(Variation B)
Figures 10, 11(a), 11(b) and 11(c) show the female connector 2B provided in the connection connector structure 1B of modified example B, where Figure 10 is a view corresponding to Figure 5(a) of the female connector 2B of modified example B, Figure 11(a) is a view corresponding to Figure 6, Figure 11(b) is a view corresponding to Figure 6 in the state where the engagement arm 24 has been inserted to the temporary insertion position and before the female terminal 4 has been inserted, and Figure 11(c) is a view corresponding to Figure 6 in the state where the engagement arm 24 has been inserted to the temporary insertion position and after the female terminal 4 has been inserted.

As shown in Figure 10, the female connector 2B of variant B is configured with two upper and lower terminal rows 40a, 40b, but is configured with a terminal pressing portion 26 on the lid 22B. In other words, the female connector 2B of variant B is equipped with multiple terminal pressing portions 26 corresponding to all of the female terminals 4 (terminal accommodating chambers 121) not only in the lower terminal row 40a but also in the upper terminal row 40b.

Specifically, as shown in Figures 10 and 11(a), a plurality of terminal pressing portions 26 are arranged on the upper surface 22Ba of the lid 22B in the width direction X, at locations corresponding to each female terminal 4 in the lower terminal row 40a. Also, as shown in Figure 10, the lid 22B is provided with a horizontal bridge portion 29 that spans across the two upper and lower terminal rows 40a, 40b when inserted into the hole 41. The horizontal bridge portion 29 extends linearly in the width direction X so that both ends are connected to the bases 28 of the pair of engagement arms 24. A plurality of terminal pressing portions 26 are arranged on the upper surface of the horizontal bridge portion 29 in the width direction X, corresponding to each female terminal 4 in the upper terminal row 40b.

As shown in Figure 10, when the hole insertion member 21B is inserted into the hole 41, the inner surfaces of the bases 28 of the pair of engagement arms 24 in the width direction X form the outer inner walls of the terminal accommodating chambers 121 located on the outer side in the width direction X, among the multiple terminal accommodating chambers 121.

Next, we will explain an example of the procedure for assembling the female connector 2B of variant B from a state in which the female terminal 4 is not accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 121 and the hole insertion member 21B is not inserted into the hole 41 of the housing main body 13B (the state shown in Figure 11(a)) to the state shown in Figure 10.

First, insert the hole insertion member 21B into the hole 41 through the window 41a of the housing main body 13B up to the temporary insertion position, so as to change from the state shown in Figure 11(a) to the state shown in Figure 11(b). Furthermore, in this state, insert the female terminal 4 into the terminal accommodating chamber 121 through the female terminal insertion opening 123, to reach the state shown in Figure 11(c).

In this way, by inserting the hole insertion member 21B to the temporary insertion position in the hole portion 41 before inserting the female terminal 4 into the terminal accommodating chamber 121, the cross section 29 does not interfere with the female terminal 4 in the lower terminal row 40a, and the hole insertion member 21B can be properly inserted to the temporary insertion position.

Furthermore, when the hole insertion member 21B is in the temporary insertion position, the terminal pressing portion 26 does not protrude (enter) the interior of the terminal accommodating chamber 121 from below (see Figure 11(b)), allowing the female terminal 4 to be smoothly inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 121, as shown in Figure 11(c). Furthermore, when the female terminals 4 are inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 121, the conductive joint pins 23A are inserted between adjacent female terminals 4, allowing multiple female terminals 4 to be electrically connected via the conductive joint pins 23A.

Next, from the state shown in FIG. 11(c), the hole insertion member 21B can be inserted into the hole 41 of the housing main body 13B from the temporary insertion position to the fully inserted position, thereby achieving the state shown in FIG. 10. At this time, the female terminals 4 in the upper and lower terminal rows 40a, 40b can be pressed by the corresponding terminal pressing portions 26, allowing the female terminals 4 to be held in the terminal accommodating chambers 121 by the terminal pressing portions 26.

On the other hand, the multiple female terminals 4 maintain a conductive state even when the hole insertion member 21B is inserted from the temporary insertion position to the fully inserted position. In other words, the female terminals 4 can be maintained in a conductive state between the upper and lower terminal rows 40a, 40b and in the width direction X.

(Modifications C1 to C4)
FIG. 12(a) schematically shows a portion of a female connector 2Ca provided in a connector structure 1Ca of the modification C1, which corresponds to the region Z1 in FIG.

The present invention may also be configured in such a way that an insulating portion 50 is interposed between the female terminal 4A and the conductive joint pin 23A at the contact point (between them) to prevent electrical conduction between them, as in the female connector 2Ca of modified example C1 shown in Figure 12(a).

Specifically, the female connector 2Ca of variant C1 is configured so that layered insulating portions 50 are interposed between all contact points between the female terminals 4A and the conductive joint pins 23A in the upper terminal row 40b, as shown in Figure 12(a). This allows the female connector 2Ca to maintain a mutually conductive state between the female terminals 4A in the upper terminal row 40b, while maintaining a mutually conductive state between the female terminals 4A in the lower terminal row 40a.

This insulating portion 50 can be formed by, for example, applying an insulating coating agent or adhering insulating adhesive tape to at least one of the contact points between the female terminal 4A and the conductive joint pin 23A.

Furthermore, the present invention may also be configured in such a way that, for example, an insulating portion 50 is not interposed at the contact point between the female terminal 4A and the conductive joint pin 23A in the upper terminal row 40b, as in the female connector 2Cb provided in the connection connector structure 1Cb of modified example C2 shown in Figure 12 (b), but an insulating portion 50 is interposed at the contact point between the female terminal 4A and the conductive joint pin 23A in the lower terminal row 40a.
In this configuration, only the plurality of female terminals 4A provided in the upper terminal row 40b can be brought into a state of electrical continuity with each other via the conductive joint pins 23A.

Furthermore, the present invention may be configured such that an insulating portion 50 is interposed at the contact point between one of a pair of adjacent female terminals 4A in the upper terminal row 40b and the conductive joint pin 23A, as in the female connector 2Cc provided in the connector structure 1Cc of modified example C3 shown in Figure 12(c), and at the contact point between the other of a pair of adjacent female terminals 4A in the lower terminal row 40a and the conductive joint pin 23A.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the conductive joint pin 23A described above, but may be configured, for example, as a conductive joint pin 23C provided in a connector structure 1Cd of modified example C4 shown in FIG. 12(d).
Specifically, the conductive joint pin 23C provided in the female connector 2Cd of variant C4 is configured to have a cylindrical insulating pin 51 formed from an insulating material such as synthetic resin and extending in the vertical direction Z, and conductive portions 52 on the outer periphery of the insulating pin 51 corresponding to the height of each of the upper and lower terminal rows 40a, 40b.

This conductive portion 52 can be formed, for example, by applying a conductive coating to the outer surface of the insulating pin 51 or by adhering a thin, conductive material such as metal foil to the outer surface.

In variant C4, the conductive portion 52 is provided around the entire circumference of the conductive joint pin 23C, thereby electrically connecting a pair of adjacent female terminals 4A separated by the conductive joint pin 23C in each of the upper and lower terminal rows 40a, 40b.

In other words, the multiple female terminals 4A can be electrically connected to each other in the width direction X in both the upper terminal row 40b and the lower terminal row 40a, while being electrically non-conductive to each other between the upper terminal row 40b and the lower terminal row 40a.

The female connector of the present invention, like the female connectors 2Ca, 2Cb, and 2Cc of the above-described variations C1, C2, and C3, can be configured so that an insulating portion 50 is interposed between at least one of the adjacent female terminals 4A and the conductive joint pin 23C, regardless of whether it is in the upper or lower terminal row 40a or 40b.

Furthermore, in the female connector of the present invention, at least one of the multiple conductive joint pins 23A may be the conductive joint pin 23C of variant C4 described above.

As a result, the female connector of the present invention can further increase the variety of electrical connection patterns between the multiple female terminals 4A.
(Variation D)
Fig. 13(a) shows a cross section of a female connector 2D provided in a connector structure 1D of Modification D, corresponding to the main part of Fig. 3. Fig. 13(b) shows a schematic cross section taken along line E-E in Fig. 13(a). Fig. 14 shows the main part of a connecting joint member 55 provided in the female connector 2D of Modification D.

The present invention may include a connecting joint member 55, as in a female connector 2D of modified example D shown in Figures 13(a) and 13(b).
As shown in FIG. 14, the connecting joint member 55 is made up of a plurality of conductive joint pins 23 and a connecting portion 56 that connects these conductive joint pins 23 to each other in an electrically conductive manner.

Specifically, as shown in Figures 13(a) and 13(b), the female connector 2D of variant D is configured with a terminal row 40 in which four female terminals 4 are arranged in parallel in the width direction X, and is provided with four conductive joint pins 23 corresponding to each female terminal 4.

Here, the multiple female terminals 4 are arranged as follows, from one side to the other in the width direction X: first female terminal 4a, second female terminal 4b, third female terminal 4c, and fourth female terminal 4d, and the multiple conductive joint pins 23 are arranged as follows, from one side to the other in the width direction X: first conductive joint pin 23a, second conductive joint pin 23b, third conductive joint pin 23c, and fourth conductive joint pin 23d.

As shown in Figures 13(a) and 13(b), the first conductive joint pin 23a is inserted between the first female terminal 4a and the second female terminal 4b. The first female terminal 4a and the first conductive joint pin 23a are in direct contact with each other to ensure electrical continuity, whereas the second female terminal 4b and the first conductive joint pin 23a are not connected to each other by the presence of an insulating portion 50.

Similarly, the second female terminal 4b and the second conductive joint pin 23b are in a conductive state, while the third female terminal 4c and the second conductive joint pin 23b are in a non-conductive state. Furthermore, the third female terminal 4c and the third conductive joint pin 23c are in a conductive state, while the fourth female terminal 4d and the third conductive joint pin 23c are in a non-conductive state. Furthermore, the fourth female terminal 4d and the fourth conductive joint pin 23d are in a conductive state.

As shown in Figures 13(a) and 13(b) and 14, the first conductive joint pin 23a and the third conductive joint pin 23c are electrically connected to each other via a connecting portion 56 (also referred to as the "first connecting portion 56a"). This ensures that the first female terminal 4a and the third female terminal 4c are electrically connected to each other via the first conductive joint pin 23a, the third conductive joint pin 23c, and the first connecting portion 56a.

The second conductive joint pin 23b and the fourth conductive joint pin 23d are electrically connected to each other via the connecting portion 56 (also referred to as the "second connecting portion 56b"). This ensures that the second female terminal 4b and the fourth female terminal 4d are electrically connected to each other via the second conductive joint pin 23b, the fourth conductive joint pin 23d, and the second connecting portion 56b.

The first connecting portion 56a and the second connecting portion 56b are both formed from a conductive material such as metal foil or a bus bar, and are embedded in the lid main body 25 by insert molding or the like so as to maintain the above-described connecting pattern (circuit pattern), as shown in Figures 13(b) and 14.

Needless to say, the connection pattern for connecting multiple conductive joint pins 23 by the connecting portions 56 is not limited to the above embodiment, and various connection patterns are possible.

For this reason, the female connector of the present invention is not limited to electrically connecting adjacent pairs of female terminals 4 arranged in parallel in the width direction X via the conductive joint pins 23, but can also electrically connect any combination of pairs via the conductive joint pins 23 and connecting portions 56, as in the female connector 2D of variant D. Therefore, the female connector of the present invention can increase the variety of electrical connection patterns (circuit patterns) of the multiple female terminals 4.

(Modifications E1 to E3)
FIG. 15(a) shows a cross section of a female connector 2Ea of the modified example E1, which corresponds to the main part of FIG.

The present invention may also be configured such that multiple conductive joint pins 23 are offset from one another in the depth direction Y of the housing main body 13 (the axial direction of the female terminals 4), as in the female connector 2Ea of modified example E1 shown in Figure 15(a).

Specifically, the female connector 2Ea of variant E1 is configured such that the first conductive joint pin 23a and the third conductive joint pin 23c are shifted rearward relative to the second conductive joint pin 23b and the fourth conductive joint pin 23d.

In the female connector 2Ea of variant E1, the window 41a in the housing main body 13 is correspondingly formed wider in the depth direction Y, and the position of the pin insertion hole 43 is appropriately shifted to correspond to the position of the conductive joint pin 23.

In this way, the female connector 2Ea of variant E1 has multiple conductive joint pins 23 arranged in a staggered arrangement in the depth direction Y, rather than arranged in a line parallel to one another along the width direction X.

As a result, the first connecting portion 56a can connect the first conductive joint pin 23a and the third conductive joint pin 23c in a straight line, as shown in Figure 15(a), without connecting the second conductive joint pin 23b and the fourth conductive joint pin 23d via a detour in the depth direction Y.

Similarly, the second connecting portion 56b can connect the second conductive joint pin 23b and the fourth conductive joint pin 23d in a straight line, as shown in Figure 15(a), without connecting the first conductive joint pin 23a and the third conductive joint pin 23c via a detour in the depth direction Y.

In other words, the female connector 2Ea of variant E1 can be configured to be less subject to restrictions on the number of conductive joint pins 23 and the paths of the connecting parts 56, as it is easier to avoid a conductive state (short-circuit state) caused by inadvertent interference between the multiple connecting parts 56 that connect the multiple conductive joint pins 23 to each other.
Therefore, it is possible to easily configure a configuration with an increased variety of electrical connection patterns between a plurality of terminals.

The female connector of the present invention is not limited to arranging multiple conductive joint pins 23 in two rows in the depth direction Y, as in the female connector 2Ea of variant E1, but may also be arranged in three or more rows. In this case, the window portion 41a does not necessarily need to be provided in common across multiple rows of conductive joint pins 23, but may be provided independently for each row.

FIG. 15B shows a cross section of a female connector 2Eb of the modified example E2, which corresponds to the main part of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 15B, the female connector 2Eb of the modification E2 has a pair (two) of conductive joint pins 23A arranged in parallel in the depth direction Y between a predetermined pair of adjacent female terminals 4.

Furthermore, the female connector 2Eb of variant E2 is configured with two upper and lower terminal rows 40a, 40b, similar to variant A (see Figure 8) described above, and each of the pair of conductive joint pins 23A is formed with a length that reaches not only the lower terminal row 40a but also the upper terminal row 40b.

Here, as shown in Figure 15(b), the conductive joint pin 23A located on one side in the width direction X is set as the one-side conductive joint pin 23Aa, and the conductive joint pin 23A located on the other side in the width direction X is set as the other-side conductive joint pin 23Ab.

Of the pair of conductive joint pins 23Aa, 23Ab, one conductive joint pin 23Aa has insulating portions 50 formed at each contact point with an adjacent pair of female terminals 4 in the upper terminal row 40b, as shown in Figure 12(a), which is a cross-section taken along line F-F in Figure 15(b). On the other hand, the other conductive joint pin 23Ab has insulating portions 50 formed at each contact point with an adjacent pair of female terminals 4 in the lower terminal row 40a, as shown in Figure 12(b), which is a cross-section taken along line G-G in Figure 15(b).

With this configuration, adjacent pairs of female terminals 4 can be electrically connected to each other in the lower terminal row 40a via the conductive joint pin 23Aa on one side (see FIG. 12(a)), and can be electrically connected to each other in the upper terminal row 40b via the conductive joint pin 23Ab on the other side (see FIG. 12(b)). Furthermore, adjacent pairs of female terminals 4 can be electrically disconnected from each other between the upper terminal row 40b and the lower terminal row 40a.

In other words, the pair of conductive joint pins 23Aa, 23Ab provided on the female connector 2Eb of variant E2 can form a conduction pattern similar to that of the conductive joint pin 23C shown in Figure 12 (d).

Figure 16 shows a cross section of the connector structure 1Ec of variant E3, corresponding to Figure 3, showing the state in which the female connector 2Ec and the male connector 3Ec are mated.

According to the present invention, as in a connector structure 1Ec of a modified example E3 shown in FIG. 16, the conductive joint pin 23 and the hole 41' may be provided not only on the female connector 2Ec but also on the male connector 3Ec side.
Specifically, as shown in Figure 16, the connector housing 31E in the male connector 3Ec of variant E3 has a hole 41' formed in the terminal mounting portion 32E, and is provided with a hole insertion member 21E' that is inserted into the hole 41' through a window portion 41a'.

The male connector 3Ec of variant E3 is configured with multiple (four) male terminals 8 arranged in a row along the width direction X, i.e., a single terminal row 40'. The four male terminals 8 are designated, in order from one side of the width direction X to the other, as the first male terminal 8a, the second male terminal 8b, the third male terminal 8c, and the fourth male terminal 8d.

The hole 41' on the male connector 3Ec side is formed over substantially the entire length in the width direction X at a position in the depth direction Y of the terminal mounting portion 32E that corresponds to the transition portion 19 of the male terminal 8. Furthermore, the hole insertion member 21E' on the male connector 3Ec side is equipped with a first conductive joint pin 23a and a third conductive joint pin 23c as conductive joint pins 23.

The first conductive joint pin 23a and the second male terminal 8b on the male connector 3Ec side have an insulating portion 50 interposed between them at their contact points, making them non-conductive to each other, while the third conductive joint pin 23c and the fourth male terminal 8d have an insulating portion 50 interposed between them at their contact points, making them non-conductive to each other.

Furthermore, the first conductive joint pin 23a and the third conductive joint pin 23c are electrically connected by a connecting portion 56 (referred to as the "male terminal side connecting portion 56c"). As a result, the first male terminal 8a and the third male terminal 8c are electrically connected via the first conductive joint pin 23a, the third conductive joint pin 23c, and the male terminal side connecting portion 56c.

In addition, since the hole insertion member 21E' on the male connector 3Ec side is provided with the first conductive joint pin 23a and the third conductive joint pin 23c, the hole portion 41' on the male connector 3Ec side is provided with a first pin insertion hole portion 43a and a third pin insertion hole portion 43c.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 16, the female connector 2Ec of variant E4 is configured to have a plurality (four) of female terminals 4, i.e., a single terminal row 40, arranged in the width direction X corresponding to the male connector 3Ec.
The four female terminals 4 are designated as a first female terminal 4a, a second female terminal 4b, a third female terminal 4c, and a fourth female terminal 4d in this order from one side to the other side in the width direction X.

The window portion 41a on the female connector 2Ec side is formed over substantially the entire length in the width direction X at a position in the depth direction Y of the housing body 13 that corresponds to the box portion 6 of the female terminal 4. Furthermore, the hole insertion member 21E on the female connector 2Ec side is provided with a second conductive joint pin 23b and a fourth conductive joint pin 23d as the conductive joint pins 23.
The second conductive joint pin 23b and the third female terminal 4c on the female connector 2Ec side are in a non-conductive state with an insulating portion 50 interposed between them at their contact points.

Furthermore, the second conductive joint pin 23b and the fourth conductive joint pin 23d are electrically connected by a connecting portion 56 (referred to as the "female terminal side connecting portion 56d"). As a result, the second female terminal 4b and the fourth female terminal 4d are electrically connected via the second conductive joint pin 23b, the fourth conductive joint pin 23d, and the female terminal side connecting portion 56d.

In addition, since the hole insertion member 21E on the female connector 2Ec side is provided with the second conductive joint pin 23b and the fourth conductive joint pin 23d, the hole portion 41 on the female connector 2Ec side is provided with a second pin insertion hole portion 43b and a fourth pin insertion hole portion 43d.

With the above configuration, when the female connector 2Ec is mated with the male connector 3Ec, a conduction pattern similar to that of the female connector 2D of variant D (see Figures 13(a) and (b)) can be formed.

Note that the present invention is not limited to providing the hole 41' at a location corresponding to the transition portion 19 in the depth direction Y of the terminal mounting portion 32E, as in the male connector 3Ec of variant E3, and the hole 41' may be provided at any location in the depth direction Y.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to a configuration in which the hole portion and hole insertion member are provided only on the female connector 2 side, as in the above-described embodiment, or on both the female connector 2Ec and the male connector 3Ec, as in the connector structure 1Ec of variant E3, but may also be provided only on the male connector 3Ec side.

(Modification F)
17(a) shows a cross section of the joint cap 2F of modified example F, which corresponds to FIG. 4(a), and FIG. 17(b) shows a cross section of the joint cap 2F of modified example F, which corresponds to FIG. 4(b).
The joint connector of the present invention is not limited to being configured as a female connector or a male connector, but may also be configured as a joint cap 2F of modified example F as shown in FIGS. 17(a) and 17(b).

Specifically, the joint cap 2F of variant F is configured, for example, similar to the female connector 2 of the embodiment described above, to include a housing main body 13F and a hole insertion member 21 that is inserted into a hole 41 provided in the housing main body 13F.

As shown in Figures 17(a) and 17(b), the joint cap 2F of Modification F does not have a male terminal insertion opening 122 (see Figures 4(a) and 4(b)) on the front wall of the housing main body 13F, and the front end of the terminal accommodating chamber 121 is closed. Furthermore, the joint cap 2F of Modification F is configured without providing a locking portion 16c (see the same figure) on the housing main body 13F for locking it in place when fitted into the male connector 3Ec.

This type of joint cap 2F accommodates a terminal 4F in the terminal accommodating chamber 121, but the terminal 4F is formed only with the wire connection portion 5, without a mating connection portion such as a box portion 6 or tab portion 18.

In this embodiment, with terminals 4F accommodated in the terminal accommodating chambers 121, the joint cap 2F inserts the hole insertion member 21 into the hole 41, thereby fitting the conductive joint pin 23 between adjacent terminals 4F (see Figure 17(b)).

As a result, when the joint cap 2F is used as an electric wire holder for holding the end portions 100T of multiple electric wires 100, it can hold the end portions 100T of multiple electric wires 100 while the terminals 4F connected to the end portions 100T are electrically connected to each other.

As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modified examples, but can be formed in various embodiments.
For example, the present invention can be configured such that a non-conductive portion is provided at at least one of the contact points between the terminal and the conductive joint member, which keeps them non-conductive to each other. However, as in the female connector 2Ca of the above-mentioned modified example C1 (see FIG. 12(a)), the non-conductive portion is not limited to being formed by the insulating portion 50, but may also be formed by a gap portion 50s as shown in FIG. 18(a).

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 18(a), the conductive joint pin 23D of Modification 1 has a large diameter portion 61 at its axial tip end and a small diameter portion 62 at its axial base end. The large diameter portion 61 has an outer diameter that allows it to come into contact with the box portion 6 of the female terminal 4A when inserted into the pin insertion hole 43, while the small diameter portion 62 has an outer diameter that is smaller than the large diameter portion 61 so that it does not come into contact with the box portion 6 when inserted into the pin insertion hole 43.

When the conductive joint pin 23D of variant 1 is inserted into the pin insertion hole 43, the large diameter portion 61 corresponds to the contact point with the female terminal 4A in the upper terminal row 40b, and the small diameter portion 62 corresponds to the contact point with the female terminal 4A in the lower terminal row 40a.

The conductive joint pin 23D is positioned in the upper terminal row 40b with its large diameter portion 61 in direct contact with the box portion 6 of the adjacent female terminal 4A (see Figure 8(a)).

On the other hand, the small diameter portion 62 does not directly contact the box portion 6 of the adjacent female terminal 4A in the lower terminal row 40a, but faces the box portion 6 across a gap portion 50s (gap) that serves as a non-conductive portion.

As a result, when the conductive joint pin 23D of variant 1 is inserted into the pin insertion hole 43, the large diameter portion 61 can be electrically connected to the female terminal 4A in the upper terminal row 40b, while the small diameter portion 62 is not in contact with the female terminal 4A in the lower terminal row 40a, resulting in a mutually non-conductive state.

In addition, the conductive joint member of the present invention does not have to have the small diameter portion 62 located at a position corresponding to the lower terminal row 40a, as in the conductive joint pin 23D described above, but can be formed in at least a portion of the axial and/or circumferential direction, for example, at a position corresponding to the upper terminal row 40b.

Furthermore, the conductive joint member of the present invention can be formed into a shape having a small diameter portion 62 by, for example, performing cutting on a pin-shaped member having an outer diameter corresponding to the large diameter portion 61 over the entire axial length, but the manufacturing method of a conductive joint pin having a small diameter portion 62 is not particularly limited.

The conductive joint member of the present invention may also be configured, as in the conductive joint pin 23E of Modification 2 shown in Figure 18(b), with a pin main body 63 formed with an outer diameter equivalent to the small diameter portion 62 over substantially the entire body except for the axial base end and tip end, and an elastic protruding piece 64 protruding radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the pin main body 63. The elastic protruding piece 64 protrudes in a tongue-like shape from at least a portion of the axial and circumferential directions of the pin main body 63 radially outward beyond the large diameter portion 61 and is capable of elastic deformation (flexible deformation).

The elastic protrusion 64 and the pin body 63 are both formed to be conductive, and are electrically connected to each other. However, the elastic protrusion 64 does not have to be formed integrally with the pin body 63, and may be formed separately. The elastic protrusion 64 may also be formed to be detachable from the pin body 63, in which case its attachment position relative to the pin body 63 may be adjustable both circumferentially and axially.

When the conductive joint pin 23E of variant 2 is inserted into the pin insertion hole 43, a pair of elastic protrusions 64 are formed on each of the tip and base sides of the pin body 63. Specifically, the pair of elastic protrusions 64 on the tip side are formed to correspond to the respective abutment points of adjacent female terminals 4A in the upper terminal row 40b, and the pair of elastic protrusions 64 on the base side are formed to correspond to the respective abutment points of adjacent female terminals 4A in the lower terminal row 40a.

In addition, when the conductive joint pin 23E is inserted into the pin insertion hole 43, each of the elastic protruding pieces 64 abuts against the corresponding female terminal 4A, causing the conductive joint pin 23E to elastically deform (flex) radially inward.

The conductive joint pins 23E can maintain firm contact with their corresponding female terminals 4A by utilizing the elastic force (restoring force) of these elastic protrusions 64. In other words, the conductive joint pins 23E of Variation 2 can reliably maintain electrical continuity with the female terminals 4A when inserted into the pin insertion holes 43.

The conductive joint pin 23F of Modification 3 shown in Figure 18(c) is a modification accompanying Modification 2. As shown in Figure 18(c), the conductive joint pin 23F of Modification 3 is configured without the elastic protruding piece 64 at the portion of the pin main body 63 that is intended to be non-conductive with the female terminal 4A.

With this configuration, when the conductive joint pin 23 is inserted into the pin insertion hole 43, the pin body 63, which has an outer diameter equivalent to the small diameter portion 62, and the corresponding female terminal 4A can be positioned opposite each other across the gap 50s in the area that is to be the non-conductive portion.

As a result, the pin body 63, like the small diameter portion 62 described above, is in a non-contact state with the corresponding female terminal 4A, resulting in a mutual non-conductive state.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to a configuration in which the hole insertion member 21 is maintained inserted into the hole portion 41 by engaging the engagement arm 24 provided on the lid 22 of the hole insertion member 21 with the housing main body 13F, as in the female connector 2 of the embodiment described above (see Figure 5).

Specifically, although not shown, the lid 22 of the hole insertion member 21 may not have an engagement arm 24, and may be configured to be attached by inserting (fitting) the lid 22 into the lid insertion hole 42, or by fastening the lid 22 to the hole 41 with screws or other fasteners while inserted.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to providing the window portion 41a at the window formation location P41 on the underside 13a of the housing main body 13, as in the female connector 2 of the embodiment described above, but may also provide the window portion 41a at a location other than the window formation location P41 on the underside 13a or on a surface other than the underside 13a. For example, the female connector of the present invention may be configured such that the lock portion 16c is provided on the underside 13a of the housing main body 13 and the window portion 41a is provided on the upper surface of the housing main body 13, or the window portion 41a may be provided on the same surface as the lock portion 16c, as long as the function of the lock portion 16c is not impaired. Furthermore, the female connector 2 is not limited to providing one window portion 41a, and multiple windows may be provided.

The present invention is not limited to forming the conductive joint pin 23 and the lid 22 integrally as in the female connector 2 of the above-described embodiment, but the conductive joint pin 23 may be configured to be detachable from the lid 22 (lid main body portion 25). Needless to say, configurations such as the above-described modified examples A, B, C1 to C3, D, E1 to E4, and F may be configured in combination with each other, such as being applied to other modified examples.
Furthermore, the female connector or male connector of the present invention is not limited to the terminal layout adopted in the above-described embodiments and modified examples in terms of the number of terminals arranged in the width direction X or the number of rows in the vertical direction Z, and may be configured with various terminal layouts other than those described above.

1, 1A, 1B, 1Ca, 1Cb, 1Cc, 1Cd, 1D, 1Ec...connection connector structure 2F...joint cap (connector)
2, 2A, 2B, 2Ca, 2Cb, 2Cc, 2D, 2Ea, 2Eb, 2Ec...female connector (female connector, connector)
2...Female connector (connector)
3, 3F...Male connector (male connector, mating connector, connector)
4...Female terminal (terminal)
4F...Terminal (Terminal)
6...Box section (terminal connection section)
8...Male terminal (mating terminal)
11... Connector housing 13a... Lower surface of housing main body 13 (surface of the connector housing opposite to the surface on which the connector-side locking portion is provided, across the interior of the housing)
13b: Upper surface of the housing body (surface of the connector housing on which the connector-side locking portion is provided)
16c...locking portion (connector side locking portion)
22... Lid (closing member)
23, 23A, 23B, 23C, 23C', 23D, 23E, 23F...Conductive joint pins (conductive joint members)
26... Terminal pressing portions 40, 40a, 40b... Terminal row 40a... Lower terminal row (terminal row closest to the blocking member)
40b: Upper terminal row (the most distant terminal row)
41...hole (inside the housing)
41a...window portion 55...connecting joint member 56...connecting portion 50...insulating portion (non-conductive portion)
50s...Gap part (non-conducting part)
121...Terminal accommodating chamber (inside the housing)
X: Width direction (orthogonal direction)
Z...Vertical direction (insertion direction)

Claims (12)

The connector includes a connector housing made of an insulating material and a plurality of terminals made of a conductive material.
The connector housing is
a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers for accommodating the terminals;
a fitting hole portion communicating between the adjacent terminal accommodating chambers;
a window portion is formed in the housing so that at least a portion of the plurality of terminals housed inside the housing is exposed;
the window portion and the insertion hole portion communicate with each other,
a conductive joint member that is inserted into the housing through the window portion and that electrically connects any of the plurality of terminals to each other within the housing; and
a closing member that closes the window portion ,
the conductive joint member is inserted into the insertion hole portion and is formed so as to be insertable between at least a pair of adjacent terminals among the plurality of terminals,
The adjacent terminals are electrically connected to each other via the conductive joint member inserted into the insertion hole.
connector. 2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the blocking member is configured to hold the conductive joint member. 3. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the closing member is formed as a retainer for holding the terminals housed inside the housing. 4. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a plurality of the conductive joint members, and the plurality of conductive joint members are connected to each other by connecting portions so as to be electrically conductive to each other, thereby forming a connecting joint member. 5. The connector according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of conductive joint members are arranged offset from one another in the axial direction of the terminals. In a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the axial direction of the terminals, a direction perpendicular to an insertion direction in which the conductive joint member is inserted between the terminals is set as an orthogonal direction;
a terminal row formed of a plurality of the terminals arranged in parallel and spaced apart from one another along the orthogonal direction is provided inside the housing, and the plurality of terminal rows are spaced apart from one another in the insertion direction;
6. A connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the conductive joint member is formed to have a length extending from the terminal row closest to the blocking member to the terminal row farthest from the multiple terminal rows. 7. The connector according to claim 6 , wherein the terminals provided in each of the plurality of terminal rows are arranged in parallel in a layout in which the positions and spacing in the orthogonal direction are the same for each of the plurality of terminal rows. The conductive joint member is
a conductive portion that is inserted between a pair of the terminals in any one of the plurality of terminal rows spaced apart in the insertion direction and that is in direct contact with the pair of terminals to establish electrical continuity;
8. A connector as described in claim 6 or claim 7, further comprising a non-conductive portion that is inserted between a pair of adjacent terminals in another terminal row among the plurality of terminal rows spaced apart in the insertion direction, and that separates the pair of terminals from each other by a gap to create a non-conductive state. It is configured as a connector that connects to a mating connector,
9. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal is provided with a terminal connection portion for electrically connecting to a mating terminal provided in the mating connector. a connector-side locking portion is provided in the connector housing to lock the connector in a connected state with the mating connector,
10. The connector according to claim 9 , wherein the window portion is provided on a surface of the connector housing opposite to a surface on which the connector-side locking portion is provided, across the interior of the housing. The connector is a female connector that is connected to the male connector as the mating connector,
the terminal is a female terminal having a box portion into which a connecting portion of the male terminal as the mating terminal can be inserted,
The connector according to claim 10 , wherein the conductive joint member is inserted between the box portions of any pair of adjacent female terminals among the plurality of female terminals. A connector structure configured so that a male connector and a female connector can be connected to each other,
A connector structure, wherein at least one of the male connector and the female connector is constructed by the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8 .