JP2008300064A - Flat harness connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A flat harness connector capable of improving assembly while realizing a tension relaxation mechanism that suppresses the influence of external force on the flat harness as much as possible.
A flat harness connector (1) includes a connector housing (10) in which a terminal portion of a flat harness (30) including a plurality of strip-shaped conductors (31) is accommodated. And a cap housing 20 and a base housing 50 as a pair of terminal pinching portions formed on the base end side and configured to open and close in the thickness direction so that the flat harness 30 can be pinched. A plurality of fitting grooves 23 are formed on the clamping surface of the cap housing 20, and a plurality of fitting portions 53 that are fitted to the fitting grooves 23 are formed on the clamping surface of the base housing 50, The flat harness 30 is sandwiched in a wavy shape.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a flat such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) or a flexible flat cable (FFC) in which a plurality of conductors of a wire harness mounted on an automobile or the like are arranged in a plane. The present invention relates to a flat harness connector used in a harness.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, flat harnesses having a structure in which a plurality of conductors are arranged side by side in a plane are widely used among wire harnesses mounted on automobiles and the like. When connecting flat harnesses having such a structure or connecting a flat harness and another electrical connecting member (for example, a connector), a flat harness connector is usually used.

  In general, such a flat harness connector is desired to have a structure that can be manufactured at low cost and is hardly affected by external force. For example, the connector has the following configuration. That is, the connector described in Patent Document 1 includes a groove in the extension of the housing member of the case housing, and a post and a surface in the center of the extension. Then, the opening formed in the flexible board engages with the post, and the flexible board is positioned with respect to the housing member and has a pull-out resistance, and is sandwiched between the groove and the protrusion of the housing member by the surface. Since it is sandwiched, it has a structure with sufficient strain relief.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-270142

  However, in the connector described in Patent Document 1, an opening is provided in the flexible board, and a measure is taken against the positioning and extraction by engaging with the post of the housing member. However, a conductor pattern is provided at a position corresponding to the opening. If the substrate is made of a thin and weak material, the flexible substrate cannot withstand external forces such as a force in the pulling direction and may be broken from the peripheral portion of the opening. For this reason, there exists a problem that it is necessary to raise the intensity | strength of a board | substrate or to expand the width | variety of a board | substrate and to reduce the influence of external force.

  In addition, when the housing member is closed, the posts and protrusions of the housing member must be accurately fitted, so that the post may be folded or the fitting may not be successful, resulting in poor assembly. There is also the problem of being.

  This invention is made in view of such a problem, and provides the connector for flat harnesses which can improve assembly property, implement | achieving the tension relaxation mechanism which suppresses the influence of the external force to a flat harness as much as possible. Objective.

  A first flat harness connector according to the present invention is a connector housing in which a plurality of strip-like conductors are arranged side by side in a plane, and a flat harness terminal portion is housed having a structure in which an insulating coating is provided around each conductor. The connector housing is connected to a mating connector housing formed on the distal end side, and a pair formed on the proximal end side that can be opened and closed in the thickness direction to sandwich the terminal portion of the flat harness. Terminal clamping portions, and a pair of terminal clamping portions are provided with a plurality of concave fitting grooves having a depth in the thickness direction on one clamping surface of the pair of terminal clamping portions. A plurality of convex fitting portions that can be respectively fitted to the plurality of fitting grooves when the pair of terminal holding portions are closed are provided on the other clamping surface of the plurality of fitting grooves. And the plurality of fitting portions. Characterized by clamping in a state of being curved in shape waving harness.

  By having such a configuration, the first flat harness connector according to the present invention is configured such that the flat harness is fitted into the plurality of fitting grooves and fitting portions in the pair of terminal clamping portions of the connector housing. And sandwiched in a wavy shape. For this reason, even if an external force is applied due to the frictional force between the plurality of fitting grooves and fitting portions and the flat harness, the flat harness does not easily detach from the connector housing, and the pair of terminal clamping portions are connected to the flat harness. Since it can be clamped as described above by simply closing the terminal portion so as to sandwich the terminal portion, assemblability can be improved while realizing a tension relaxation mechanism that suppresses the influence of external force as much as possible.

  A second flat harness connector according to the present invention is a connector housing in which a plurality of strip-shaped conductors are arranged side by side in a plane and a terminal portion of a flat harness having a structure in which an insulating coating is provided around each conductor is accommodated. The connector housing is connected to a mating connector housing formed on the distal end side, and a pair formed on the proximal end side that can be opened and closed in the thickness direction to sandwich the terminal portion of the flat harness. Terminal clamping portions, and at both ends in the width direction of one clamping surface of the pair of terminal clamping portions, there are convex bosses for positioning when the pair of terminal clamping portions are closed, The pair of terminal clamping portions have concave fitting holes for fitting the bosses at both ends in the width direction of the other clamping surface, and the bosses and the fitting holes lock the pair of terminal clamping portions. In a position different from the locking mechanism Vignetting wherein the are.

  According to the second flat harness connector of the present invention, the boss and the fitting provided at a position different from the locking mechanism when the pair of terminal clamping portions of the connector housing are closed are configured as described above. Positioning is performed by fitting the fitting hole. For this reason, for example, it is not necessary to provide a positioning opening or the like in the engaging claw of the locking mechanism, and the strength of the engaging claw can be improved. In addition, while improving the torsional strength in the lateral direction of the pair of terminal clamping parts, even if a dimensional error related to manufacturing occurs, it is possible to clamp the flat harness after absorbing the dimensional error and accurately positioning it. It becomes.

  Further, in the first flat harness connector, the connector housing has a convex shape for positioning when the pair of terminal clamping portions are closed at both ends in the width direction of one clamping surface of the pair of terminal clamping portions. A pair of terminal pinching portions, each having a concave fitting hole into which the boss fits at both ends in the width direction of the pair of terminal pinching portions. You may be set as the structure currently formed in the position different from the latching mechanism which latches and fixes a clamping part. If comprised in this way, when closing a pair of terminal clamping part, since a flat harness is clamped after a boss | hub and a fitting hole fit and positioning is performed, the flat in a pair of terminal clamping part The torsional strength in the width direction (that is, the lateral direction) of the harness is improved, and even if a dimensional error related to manufacturing occurs, for example, an alignment error (displacement) hardly occurs and assembly can be easily performed.

  Furthermore, in the first connector for a flat harness, the connector housing includes the plurality of fitting grooves and the plurality of fitting portions of the pair of terminal holding portions, and the flat harness is moved in the length direction and the width direction. You may be set as the structure clamped in the state curved in the waveform. If comprised in this way, a flat harness in a pair of terminal clamping part of a connector housing will be the state where it curved in the length direction and the width direction in the wavy shape by fitting a plurality of fitting grooves and fitting parts Therefore, it can be configured to further suppress the influence of external force as much as possible.

  Further, in the first flat harness connector, the plurality of fitting grooves and the plurality of fitting portions are respectively predetermined on the holding surfaces of the pair of terminal holding portions in the length direction and the width direction of the flat harness. May be configured to be regularly arranged with an interval of. If comprised in this way, a flat harness can be effectively curved in the length direction and the width direction, and the contact area of the fitting groove in a terminal clamping part and a fitting part, and a flat harness can be increased. Thus, the tensile resistance can be improved.

  Note that at least one of the pair of terminal clamping portions may be configured to be provided in the connector housing so as to be openable and closable in the length direction of the flat harness via a hinge portion with respect to the connection portion. . In addition, at least one of the pair of terminal holding portions may be configured to be provided in the connector housing so that it can be opened and closed in the width direction of the flat harness via a hinge portion with respect to the connection portion. Further, the pair of terminal clamping portions may be configured such that one is formed integrally with the connection portion and the other is formed detachably with respect to the connector housing.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the connector for flat harnesses which can improve assembly property can be provided, implement | achieving the tension relaxation mechanism which suppresses the influence of the external force to a flat harness as much as possible.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a flat harness connector according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a flat harness connector according to an embodiment of the present invention when the terminal holding portion is opened, FIG. 2 is a side view of the flat harness connector when the terminal holding portion is closed, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB ′ of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC ′ of FIG. .

  The flat harness connector 1 according to the present embodiment is connected to, for example, a flat harness 30 in which a plurality of strip-shaped conductors 31 having a rectangular cross section are arranged in a plane, and each conductor 31 of the flat harness 30. The connector housing 10 includes a plurality of connection terminals 40 (to be described later) and accommodates the terminal portions of the flat harness 30 together with the plurality of connection terminals 40.

  The flat harness 30 has a structure in which the periphery of each conductor 31 is covered with an insulating coating 32, and is provided with a flexible flexibility. In the terminal portion, the insulating coating 32 on one surface side is removed and each conductor is removed. 31 is exposed. In addition, at the end portion of the flat harness 30, the insulating coating 32 near each conductor 31 is further removed to form a plurality of opening holes 33.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of connection terminals 40 are formed by bending a plate-like metal member, and can be connected to the terminal connection portion 41 </ b> A of the mating connection terminal 40 </ b> A formed in a plate shape on the tip side. A cylindrical terminal connecting portion 41, a locking hole portion 42 formed in a part of the connecting portion 41, a base end side of the locking hole portion 42, and a terminal portion of the flat harness 30. And a plurality of plate-like connecting plate portions 43a and 43b connected so as to sandwich the exposed conductor 31 portion in the thickness direction.

  Of the plurality of connection plate portions 43a and 43b, a plurality of barrel portions 43c for caulking are formed at the end in the width direction of the connection plate portion 43b. As shown in FIGS. In the connection terminal 40 of the example, the conductor 31 is sandwiched between the plurality of connection plate portions 43a and 43b, and the barrel portion 43c inserted through the opening hole 33 is caulked in the thickness direction of the conductor 31, thereby It has a structure that enables reliable connection. Therefore, the opening hole 33 of the flat harness 30 also plays a role of positioning at the terminal portion of the flat harness 30 of each connection terminal 40. In addition to the above structure, the connection terminal 40 may include a connection plate portion having a structure that is directly connected to the conductor 31 of the flat harness 30 by, for example, welding.

  The connector housing 10 is made of a resin molded member, and has a connector connection portion 11 connected to the mating connector housing 10A on the distal end side and the terminal connection portions 41 of the connection terminals 40 from the proximal end side of the connector connection portion 11 to the distal end side. A plurality of terminal insertion holes 12 to be inserted into the cap housing 20, and a cap housing 20 and a base housing 50 formed on the proximal end side of the terminal insertion holes 12 and configured to open and close in the thickness direction and sandwich the flat harness 30. And is configured.

  The cap housing 20 and the base housing 50 constitute a pair of terminal clamping portions that clamp the terminal portion of the flat harness 30 when closed so as to contact each other. In addition, in the terminal insertion hole 12, the front-end | tip protrusion of the lance 13 which engages with the latching hole part 42 of each connection terminal 40 protrudes.

  The cap housing 20 is provided so as to be openable and closable in the thickness direction via the hinge portion 14 with respect to the base end side of the connector connection portion 11, for example, and the base housing 50 is left as it is from the base end side of the connector connection portion 11. It is integrally molded in such a state that it extends.

  The cap housing 20 is formed on the front end side of the end surface (clamping surface) facing the base housing 50, and a base, which will be described later, is a connection portion between the connection plate portions 43a, 43b of each connection terminal 40 and each conductor 31 of the flat harness 30. Formed to have a depth in the thickness direction of the cap housing 20 through a support surface 21 supported together with the housing 50 and an oblique step 22 protruding in the thickness direction on the base end side of the support surface 21. And a plurality of recessed fitting grooves 23 formed therein.

  Further, the cap housing 20 has a piece-like engagement claw 24 for maintaining the engagement state with the base housing 50 when the cap housing 20 is closed at both ends in the width direction of the positions where the plurality of fitting grooves 23 are formed. And a semi-elliptical fitting hole 25 which is provided on the tip side of the position where these engagement claws 24 are formed and is formed in a state where both ends in the width direction are opened.

  The fitting holes 25 are engaged with the bosses 55 of the base housing 50 described later at positions different from the engaging claws 24 and the engaging projections 54 described later, so that the cap housing 20 when closed. And the positioning mechanism which positions the base housing 50 correctly is comprised. Even if some dimensional error (deviation) occurs in the cap housing 20 and the base housing 50 by this positioning mechanism, the deviation can be absorbed and closed at an accurate position.

  The base housing 50 is formed on the distal end side of the end surface (clamping surface) facing the cap housing 20, and together with the support surface 21 described above, the connection plate portions 43 a and 43 b of the connection terminals 40 and the conductors 31 of the flat harness 30. It is formed to have a height in the thickness direction of the base housing 50 through a support surface 51 that supports the connecting portion and an inclined step 52 that is recessed in the thickness direction on the base end side of the support surface 51. And a plurality of convex fitting portions 53. These fitting portions 53 are fitted into the fitting grooves 23 described above when the cap housing 20 is closed.

  Further, the base housing 50 has an engaging protrusion 54 that engages with the engaging claw 24 described above when the cap housing 20 is closed on the both ends in the width direction of the positions where the plurality of fitting portions 53 are formed, and these engaging protrusions. 54 is provided with a cylindrical boss 55 that is provided on the distal end side of the formation position, and is formed in a state of projecting toward the opposing end surface of the cap housing 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, these bosses 55 are formed at positions where the outer peripheral surface comes into contact with the arc-shaped inner peripheral surface of the fitting hole 25 when the cap housing 20 is closed. A positioning mechanism for the housing 20 and the base housing 50 is configured together with the fitting hole 25.

  The flat harness connector 1 of this example includes a positioning mechanism including the fitting hole 25 and the boss 55, so that, for example, a hole is provided in the engaging claw 24, and the engaging protrusion 54 is engaged with the hole. As compared with a positioning mechanism that plays a role of positioning and engagement in a form in which protrusions are provided, the role can be distributed. Further, for example, since there is no need to provide a hole or the like in the engaging claw 24, the strength can be improved, and more accurate positioning can be performed by simply closing the cap housing 20. Therefore, the assemblability of the flat harness connector 1 can be improved.

  Further, the fitting groove 23 of the cap housing 20 and the fitting portion 53 of the base housing 50 are regularly arranged in a state in which a predetermined interval is provided in the length direction and the width direction of the flat harness 30 to be sandwiched. ing. The depth and height of the fitting groove 23 and the fitting portion 53 are set to dimensions that do not apply excessive pressure to the flat harness 30 to be sandwiched. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the flat harness 30 can be sandwiched in a wavy shape in the length direction and the width direction when the cap housing 20 is closed.

  Therefore, the flat harness 30 is sandwiched between the opposing end surfaces of the cap housing 20 and the base housing 50 in a state of being twisted in the length direction and the width direction. The contact area is also increased, and a sufficient strain relief effect can be exhibited.

  In such a structure, for example, it is not necessary to provide an opening in the flat harness 30 for strain relief, so that the degree of freedom in circuit design can be improved and the breakage factor of the flat harness 30 can be reduced. Thereby, even if the external force which pulls out the flat harness 30 from the connector housing 10 generate | occur | produces, the influence can be suppressed as much as possible.

  Further, the flat harness connector 1 of the present example also realizes a strain relief structure in which the flat harness 30 is obliquely sandwiched by the steps 22 and 52 in addition to the strain relief by the fitting groove 23 and the fitting portion 53. Further, it becomes possible to effectively suppress the influence of external force such as pulling force.

  In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the cap housing 20 is integrally formed with the connector connection part 11, for example, and the base housing 50 is provided in the state connected to the connector connection part 11 via the hinge part so that opening and closing was possible. Alternatively, both the housings 20 and 50 may be provided so as to be freely opened and closed.

  Further, at least one of the cap housing 20 and the base housing 50 may be provided so as to be openable and closable in the width direction of the flat harness 30 to be sandwiched, and any one of these housings 20 and 50 is provided in the connector housing 10. On the other hand, it may be detachably provided.

  In such cases, the fitting hole 25 and the boss 55, and the engaging claw 24 and the engaging protrusion 54 are appropriately formed at positions where the housings 20 and 50 can be reliably positioned and engaged. Just do it.

  As described above, the embodiments of the flat harness connector according to the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications, additions, and substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Etc. are possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the structure in which the fitting groove 23 is formed on the cap housing 20 side and the fitting portion 53 is formed on the base housing 50 side has been described, but the fitting groove 23 and the fitting portion 53 are both formed. The housings 20 and 50 may be alternately formed, or may be formed in a random arrangement while being able to be fitted. Moreover, the shape of the fitting hole 25 and the boss | hub 55 does not need to be a semi-elliptical shape or a column shape, and can employ | adopt the various shapes which can be positioned.

It is an external appearance perspective view at the time of the terminal clamping part opening operation | movement of the connector for flat harnesses which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view at the time of the terminal clamping part closing operation | movement of the connector for flat harnesses. It is A-A 'sectional drawing of FIG. It is B-B 'sectional drawing of FIG. It is C-C 'sectional drawing of FIG. It is D-D 'sectional drawing of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Connector for flat harnesses, 10 ... Connector housing, 11 ... Connector connection part, 12 ... Terminal insertion hole, 13 ... Lance, 14 ... Hinge part, 20 ... Cap housing, 21, 51 ... Support surface, 22, 52 ... Step , 23 ... fitting groove, 24 ... engagement claw, 25 ... fitting hole, 30 ... flat harness, 31 ... conductor, 32 ... insulation coating, 33 ... opening hole, 40 ... connection terminal, 41 ... terminal connection part, 42 ... Locking hole part, 43 ... Connection plate part, 50 ... Base housing, 53 ... Fitting part, 54 ... Engaging protrusion, 55 ... Boss.

Claims (8)

A connector housing in which a plurality of strip-shaped conductors are arranged side by side and a terminal portion of a flat harness having a structure in which an insulating coating is provided around each conductor is accommodated,
The connector housing is
A connecting portion connected to the mating connector housing formed on the distal end side, and a pair of terminal clamping portions formed on the proximal end side and capable of clamping the terminal portion of the flat harness by opening and closing in the thickness direction Configured,
One clamping surface of the pair of terminal clamping parts is provided with a plurality of concave fitting grooves having a depth in the thickness direction, and the other clamping surface of the pair of terminal clamping parts is provided with the pair of terminal clamping parts. When the terminal clamping portion is closed, there are provided a plurality of convex fitting portions that can be fitted into the plurality of fitting grooves, respectively, and the flats are formed by the plurality of fitting grooves and the plurality of fitting portions. A flat harness connector characterized in that the harness is clamped in a wavy shape. A connector housing in which a plurality of strip-shaped conductors are arranged side by side and a terminal portion of a flat harness having a structure in which an insulating coating is provided around each conductor is accommodated,
The connector housing is
A connecting portion connected to the mating connector housing formed on the distal end side, and a pair of terminal clamping portions formed on the proximal end side and capable of clamping the terminal portion of the flat harness by opening and closing in the thickness direction Configured,
There are convex bosses for positioning when the pair of terminal clamping parts are closed at both ends in the width direction of one clamping surface of the pair of terminal clamping parts, and the other clamping surface of the pair of terminal clamping parts The boss and the fitting hole are provided at different positions from the locking mechanism for locking and fixing the pair of terminal clamping portions. A connector for a flat harness, characterized in that The connector housing is
There are convex bosses for positioning when the pair of terminal clamping parts are closed at both ends in the width direction of one clamping surface of the pair of terminal clamping parts, and the other clamping surface of the pair of terminal clamping parts The boss and the fitting hole are formed at different positions from the locking mechanism for locking and fixing the pair of terminal clamping portions. The flat harness connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is a flat harness. The connector housing is
The plurality of fitting grooves and the plurality of fitting portions of the pair of terminal holding portions hold the flat harness in a state of being curved in a wavy shape in the length direction and the width direction. The connector for flat harnesses of 1 or 3.   The plurality of fitting grooves and the plurality of fitting portions are regularly arranged on the holding surfaces of the pair of terminal holding portions at predetermined intervals in the length direction and the width direction of the flat harness. The flat harness connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is for flat harness.   The pair of terminal clamping parts are provided in the connector housing such that at least one of the pair of terminal clamping parts can be opened and closed in a length direction of the flat harness via a hinge part with respect to the connection part. The flat harness connector according to any one of 5.   The pair of terminal clamping parts are provided in the connector housing so that at least one of the pair of terminal clamping parts can be opened and closed in the width direction of the flat harness via a hinge part with respect to the connection part. The connector for flat harnesses of any one of these.   6. The pair of terminal clamping portions, wherein one of the pair of terminal clamping portions is formed integrally with the connection portion, and the other is formed detachably with respect to the connector housing. Flat harness connector.

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