JPH0869844A - Joint connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a joint connector substantially adoptable as a harness. CONSTITUTION: Four female side terminal metal fittings (terminal parts) 21 are respectively connected a pair by a pair in a straight line shape to each other, and intermediate parts of respective groups being a stright line shape are connected to each other, and are integrally formed so as to become an almost H shape when viewed from above, and a plate piece is raised up in a connecting part so as to face with the inserting direction of the female side terminal metal fittings 21, and a notch is formed from above, and a pressure contact edge 22 is formed, and a branch terminal metal fitting 20 is constituted. Therefore, an electric wire 30 being a master wire is connected in pressure contact by the pressure contact edge 22, and a male side terminal metal fitting 40 to which an electric wire 50 being a slave wire is crimped and connected is fitted and connected to the female side terminal metal fittings 21, and when it is housed in a connector housing 10, the direction of the master wire and the direction of the slave wire coincides with each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a joint connector, and more particularly to a joint connector suitable for branching from a wire harness or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of joint connector, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-67579 shown in FIG. 11 is known. The connector housing 1 holds two electric wires 2 arranged in parallel and holds two branch terminal fittings 3 in a direction perpendicular to the orientation direction of the electric wires 2. The connector housing 1 has a hinge portion 1a.
The upper lid 1b and the lower lid 1c, which are formed substantially symmetrically with respect to each other, are formed to be openable and closable, and the semicircular groove 1d formed at each opening edge portion closes the upper lid 1b and the lower lid 1c. A circular hole is sometimes formed to form a through path for the electric wire 2 parallel to the hinge portion 1a. At the ends of the upper lid 1b and the lower lid 1c on the side opposite to the hinge portion 1a, a recess 1e is formed which forms an opening into which the mating flat terminal fitting 4 can be inserted. is there.

The branch terminal fitting 3 formed of a flat metal plate has a pressure contact blade 3a which is open at one end in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
And a slit 3b is formed at the other end in parallel with the longitudinal direction and opens to the tip side, and when the two branch terminal fittings 3 are arranged with the slits 3b side aligned, the press contact blade 3a at the other end is formed. Is displaced in accordance with the two electric wires 2 held by the connector housing 1. Then, in the inside of the connector housing 1, the slit 3b is formed in the recess 1
The pressure contact blades 3a are arranged so as to cross the through-paths of the two electric wires 2 in a state of facing the side e. The two branch terminal fittings 3 are fixed inside the connector housing 1, and the electric wire 2 serving as the parent wire is pushed toward the press contact blade 3a for press contact connection. When the upper lid 1b and the lower lid 1c are closed together and the terminal fitting 4 is inserted into the recess 1e on the side opposite to the hinge,
The tip of the terminal fitting 4 enters into the slit 3b and is fitted and connected. An electric wire 5 serving as a subsidiary wire is connected to the terminal fitting 4, and the electric wire 5 is connected to the electric wire 2 in a T-shape through the terminal fitting 4 and the branch terminal fitting 3.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional joint connector, since the electric wire 5 of the sub-wire is connected to the electric wire 2 of the main wire in a T-shape, the state where the electric wire 5 protrudes from the wiring path of the main wire. Becomes an obstacle. In particular, in the case where an extra space cannot be secured in the wiring path as in the case of an automobile harness, such a joint connector cannot be practically adopted when the parent wire and the child wire intersect vertically. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a joint connector that can be substantially adopted as a harness.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has a pressure contact blade capable of pressure contact connection with another electric wire and a terminal portion capable of fitting connection with another terminal fitting. A joint connector in which a branch terminal metal fitting is housed in a casing and is crimped and connected to an electric wire to be a parent wire by the pressure contact blade and a terminal metal fitting to which an electric wire to be a child wire is connected is fitted and connected to the terminal portion for branch connection. The branch terminal fitting is formed so that the connecting direction of the terminal portion is parallel to the parent wire when the crimping blade is press-fitted to the parent wire.

[0006]

In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, the pressure contact blade of the branch terminal fitting housed in the casing is pressure-connected to the electric wire serving as the parent wire, and the other terminal fitting is fitted to the terminal portion. When connected, this connecting direction is parallel to the same parent wire, so that the child wire connected to the same terminal fitting is pulled out in parallel with the parent wire.

[0007]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the subsidiary wire is drawn out in parallel from the parent wire, when used in a harness, the subsidiary wire is drawn out along the harness and substantially branches even from a narrow space. It is possible to provide a joint connector capable of performing the above.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a joint connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the connector housing 10 is formed in a generally rectangular thin housing type, and a thin piece-like hinge portion 11 is formed on a side surface in the longitudinal direction so that a lower half housing portion 12 and an upper half lid portion 13 are opened and closed. It is possible. The mating surfaces of the housing portion 12 and the lid portion 13 are formed in the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction, and semi-circular recesses 14a to 14c are cut out in three places on the mating surface in the lateral direction. Since each of the recesses 14a to 14c has a semicircular shape, a circular through passage is formed when the housing 12 and the lid 13 are closed. A projection 15a for holding the housing 12 and the lid 13 in a closed state and a lock piece 15b engageable with the projection 15a on the side of the longitudinal direction where the hinge 11 is not formed. And are formed. In addition, the lower surface of the connector housing 10 forms a generally arcuate concave surface, and the upper surface thereof forms a generally arcuate convex surface.

On the inner peripheral wall surface in the longitudinal direction of the housing portion 12, there are formed convex walls 12a, 12a which protrude inward in the horizontal direction, and the convex terminal walls 12a, 12a hold the branch terminal fitting 20. The branch terminal fitting 20 connects the four female-side terminal fittings (terminal portions) 21 in a pair in a straight line, and also connects the intermediate portions of each set in a straight line, and when viewed from above, it is generally It is integrally formed to have an H shape. Further, a plate piece is caused to face the insertion direction of the female-side terminal fitting 21 at the connecting portion, and a press contact blade 22 is formed by forming a notch from above. The slit of the press contact blade 22 has a shape that widens toward the end of the opening to facilitate insertion of the electric wire 30, which serves as a parent wire, and has a slit having a uniform width toward the rear end.

The lateral width of the branch terminal fitting 20 can be accommodated in the housing portion 12 and is formed wider than the distance between the tips of the convex walls 12a, 12a. The walls 12a, 12a are bent to enter below, and the bottom surface and side surfaces of the housing part 12 and the convex walls 12a,
It is held from all sides by 12a. Branch terminal fitting 2
Male terminal fitting 4 that can be fitted and connected to female terminal fitting 21 of 0
In No. 0, a flat plate-shaped terminal portion 41 is formed at one end and a barrel portion 42 is formed at the other end, and the electric wire 50 serving as a subsidiary wire can be crimped and connected at the barrel portion 42. Further, a convex portion 43 is formed in the middle of the terminal portion 41 and the barrel portion 42, and the lid portion 1 is engaged with the convex portion 43.
A wall-shaped lock piece 13a is formed on the back side of the housing 3 so as to protrude toward the inside of the housing portion 12. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, when the male terminal fitting 40 in which the electric wire 50 serving as a subsidiary wire is connected to the female terminal fitting 21 of the branch terminal fitting 20 is fitted and inserted into the housing portion 12, the lid body When the portion 13 is closed, the lock piece 13a is provided with the convex portion 4 of each male side terminal fitting 40.
3 and the barrel portion 42 are brought into contact with each other.

Next, the assembling method of this embodiment having the above-mentioned structure will be described. The electric wire 30, which is the parent wire, is pushed into the press contact blade 22 of the branch terminal metal fitting 20 to make the pressure contact connection, and the male terminal metal fitting 40 of the electric wire 50, which is the child wire that has been crimped and connected in advance, is fitted to each female terminal metal fitting 21. Connect. When the four subsidiary wires are connected, the branch terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the housing portion 12. When the convex walls 12a, 12a are bent and pushed in, the branch terminal fitting 20 is held below the convex walls 12a, 12a. The electric wire 30 is housed in the recesses 14b, 14b of the housing part 12, and the four electric wires 50 are respectively housed in the recesses 14a, 14a, 14c, 14c of the housing part 12, and then the lid body part 13 is placed on the housing part 12 side. close. When the lid portion 13 is completely closed, the protrusion 15a on the side surface engages with the lock piece 15b, and the lock piece 13a abuts between the convex portion 43 of the male terminal fitting 40 and the barrel portion 42. . Also,
Since the concave portions 14a to 14c on the side of the lid portion 12 face the concave portions 14a to 14c of the housing portion 12, a circular through passage is formed, and the electric wires 30 and 50 are led out from the through passage. As shown in FIG. 2, with respect to the external electric wire 50, the convex portion 43 of the male terminal fitting 40 is the lock piece 1 of the lid portion 13.
Since it is located inside 3a, it can be prevented from coming off. The male side terminal fitting 40 may be prevented from coming off by any other known shape. FIG. 3 shows an electric wire 3 that is a parent wire pulled out from the harness 60.
0 shows the state where the four electric wires 50 are branched. The diameter of the harness 60 is large, and the concave surface of the connector housing 10 substantially coincides with the outer peripheral surface of the harness 60 for good sitting. Also,
Since the direction of the parent line and the direction of the child line are the same, the state where the parent line and the child line do not protrude with respect to the harness 60 does not occur. After that, the connector housing 10 is wound by taping as shown in the figure. In the embodiment described above, the branch terminal fitting 20 is formed in an H shape so that it can be branched into four strands, but as shown in FIG. It is also possible to increase the number. Also,
Although the terminal portion is the female-side terminal fitting 21, the male and female parts may be replaced as necessary, or the terminal fitting may have a different shape.

As described above, the four female-side terminal fittings (terminal portions) 21 are linearly connected to each other, and the intermediate portions of the linear sets are connected to each other when viewed from above. Formed integrally so as to be substantially H-shaped, and causing the plate piece to face the insertion direction of the female side terminal metal fitting 21 at the connecting portion, and forming a press contact blade 22 by making a notch from above, The branch terminal fitting 20 is configured. For this reason, the electric wire 30 that serves as a parent wire at the press contact blade 22
When the male side terminal fitting 40 in which the electric wire 50 serving as the subsidiary wire is crimped and connected is fitted and connected to the female side terminal fitting 21 and accommodated in the connector housing 10, the orientation of the parent wire and the orientation of the subsidiary wire And match.

5 and 6 show another embodiment of the present invention. The connector housing 110 includes a housing part 112 formed in a substantially linear shape and a gutter shape, and the housing part 1
The lid body portion 113 that covers the opening surface of the hinge portion 12
It is configured to be openably and closably connected via 11. The housing portion 112 is composed of a linear main chamber portion 112a and a sub chamber portion 112b protruding from the central portion thereof.
Two terminal accommodating chambers 112a1 and 112a1 are formed by partitioning 2a by a central partition wall 114. The partition wall 114 is formed with a recess 114a that linearly communicates with both the terminal accommodating chambers 112a1 and 112a1, and the recess 114a also communicates with the sub chamber 112b. Like the main chamber 112a, the sub chamber 112b has an upper surface opened, and openings 112b1, 11 through which electric wires 130 serving as parent wires can be inserted on the left and right side surfaces along the axial direction.
2b1. In addition, the housing portion 112 and the lid portion 11
3, a protrusion 115a and a lock piece 115b engageable with the protrusion 115a are formed on the side opposite to the side on which the hinge portion 111 is formed.

The branch terminal fitting 120 includes the recess 114a.
Has a flat-shaped male-side terminal portion 121 protruding from both terminal accommodating chambers 112a1 and 112a1.
4a to the sub chamber 112b, and the sub chamber 112b
Of the flat plate-shaped press-contact blade 12 which is caused to rise from the bottom surface of the male member 121 so as to be orthogonal to the extending direction of the male-side terminal portion 121.
Have two. The press contact blade 122 has a slit that opens upward, and the cover body portion 1 of the connector housing 110 is
In the portion of 13 that covers the sub chamber portion 112b, pressing pieces 113a and 113a that can be inserted into the sub chamber portion 112b are formed to project along both surfaces of the press contact blade 122.

Each terminal accommodating chamber 11 in the main chamber 112a
A cantilevered arm-shaped lance 116 having a protrusion protruding like a wedge is formed on the bottom surfaces of the 2a1 and 112a1. The lance 116 is formed when the female terminal fitting 140 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 112a1. Same female side terminal fitting 14
It is locked in the opening formed in the lower surface of 0 to prevent it from coming off.
When the branch terminal fitting 120 is inserted into the recess 114a, the male-side terminal portion 121 projects into each of the terminal accommodating chambers 112a1 and 112a1, and the press contact blade 122 is held in a state of being erected in the sub-chamber portion 112b. When the electric wire 130 is placed on the press contact blade 122 so as to cross the sub chamber 112b and the lid 113 is closed, the pressing piece 1 protruding from the lid 113 is pressed.
13a and 113a are the same electric wire 13 from both sides of the press contact blade 122.
0 is pressed toward the press contact blade 122. Therefore, the electric wire 130 is pushed into the slit of the press contact blade 122 to be press contacted and connected.

The housing portion 112 and the lid portion 113 are projections 11
Since it is fixed in a closed state by 5a and the lock piece 115b, when the female-side terminal metal fitting 140 to which the electric wire 150 to be the subsidiary wire is crimp-connected is inserted into each terminal accommodating chamber 112a1, 112a1, the male-side terminal portion It is fitted and connected to 121 and fixed by lance 116. In this state, the electric wire 130 is drawn out in parallel with the main chamber 112a across the sub chamber 112b, and the electric wires 150, 150 are also drawn out in parallel with the main chamber 112a. As in the example, you can branch without getting in the way. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of branch connection.

FIG. 8 shows a modification of the joint connector shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, in which the hinge portion 111 is not provided and the housing portion 112 and the lid portion 113 are separate bodies. Is. Further, in FIG. 9, the terminal accommodating chambers 112a1 and 112a1 which are in a straight line are arranged in parallel on the left and right, and are folded back and connected by a partition wall 114 which communicates with the sub chamber portion 112b. Along with this, the male side terminal portion 121 of the branch terminal fitting 120 is also separated by the partition wall 114.
Both terminal accommodating chambers 112a1, 112a
It is formed in a U shape so as to project to 2a1. By the way, in the joint connector shown in FIG.
2 in which the terminal accommodating chamber 212a linearly connected
Similarly, a partition wall 214 is formed in the center of each of the 1, 212a 1, and the sub chamber portion 212 is formed on the upper surface of the partition wall 214.
b is formed. Further, a lid body portion 213 that covers the upper surface opening of the housing portion 212 is connected to the upper side via a hinge. The branch terminal fitting 220 has a flat male-side terminal portion 221 projecting from the sub-chamber portion 212b to the terminal accommodating chambers 212a1 and 212a1 on both sides, and the pressure contact blade 222 extending from the side surface of the central portion is folded back upward. Has been formed. The press contact blade 222 is folded back 90 degrees as it is along the side edge of the branch terminal fitting 220, and a slit is formed from above. Therefore, the electric wire 230 is attached to the pressure contact blade 2
When the wire 230 is pressed into and pressed against the wire 22, the wire 230 and the male-side terminal portion 221 of the branch terminal fitting 220 are orthogonal to each other. In addition, pressing pieces 213a and 213a that can be inserted into the sub chamber portion 212b are formed so as to project along both surfaces of the press contact blade 222 on the side of the lid portion 213 that covers the sub chamber portion 212b.

The branch terminal fitting 220 is inserted into the sub chamber portion 212b, and the electric wire 23 is inserted into the slit opening of the press contact blade 222.
When 0 is placed and the lid portion 213 is closed, the pressing piece 213
The a and 213a push the electric wire 230 into the press contact blade 222. Female-side terminal fitting 24 crimped with an electric wire 250 to be a subsidiary wire
When 0 is inserted and connected in the terminal accommodating chambers 212a1 and 212a1, the electric wire 250 and the electric wire 230 are orthogonal to each other.
Therefore, in the case of such a configuration, the child wire protrudes from the harness, so that the size cannot be reduced. However, the shape of the joint connector alone can be made relatively simple.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a joint connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a joint connector.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the joint connector showing a use state of the harness.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the branch terminal fitting in the joint connector.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a joint connector according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a joint connector.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a joint connector.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a joint connector according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a joint connector according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of another joint connector.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional joint connector.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a joint connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Connector housing 20 ... Branch terminal metal fitting 21 ... Female side terminal metal fitting 22 ... Pressure contact blade 30 ... Electric wire 40 ... Male side terminal metal fitting 50 ... Electric wire 110 ... Connector housing 120 ... Branch terminal metal fitting 121 ... Male side terminal part 122 ... Pressure contact blade 130 ... Electric wire 140 ... Female terminal fitting 150 ... Electric wire 220 ... Branch terminal fitting 221 ... Male terminal part 222 ... Pressing blade 230 ... Electric wire 250 ... Electric wire

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electric wire serving as a parent wire, wherein a branch terminal fitting having a press-contact blade capable of press-connecting with another electric wire and a terminal portion capable of being fitted and connected with another terminal fitting is accommodated in a casing In the joint connector, which is connected by pressure connection to the terminal wire to which the electric wire to be the subsidiary wire is connected and is connected to the terminal part by branching, when the press contact blade is connected to the electric wire to be the parent wire by pressure contact, A joint connector, wherein the branch terminal fitting is formed so that the connection direction is parallel to the same main line.