Electrical connectors – Contact comprising cutter – Insulation cutter
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-27
2001-08-14
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Contact comprising cutter
Insulation cutter
C439S397000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273746
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector and a method for producing the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A prior art automotive wiring harness, as shown in
FIG. 14
, has a plurality of main wires “a”. A plurality of branch wires “b” are branched from intermediate positions of the main wires “a” and extend to a variety of electric or electronic devices. The branch wires “b” are connected with blade-type terminal fittings “d” of a joint connector “c” and also connected with crimping terminal fittings “f” of a branching connector “e”. Both terminal fittings “d” and “f” are connected by connecting the two connectors “c” and “e”.
In the prior art branching construction of
FIG. 14
, one branch wire “b” is branched from one main wire “a”. In recent years, there has been a demand for a mode of wire arrangement different from the prior art construction of FIG.
14
. The demanded mode is shown in FIG.
15
and has an arrangement path of a main wire “g” cut. Two branch wires “h” are extended from this cut portion and are connected with an equipment “j”. The two branch wires “h” are not simply branched from the one main wire “g” in this prior art arrangement. Rather, one conductive path extends from one part of the cut main wire “g” to the outward branch wire “h” and returns to the other of the cut main wire “g” via the equipment “j” and the return branch wire “h”.
The prior art method for branching one branch wire “b” from one main wire “a”, as shown in
FIG. 14
cannot be employed for the prior arrangement of FIG.
15
. However, it may be considered efficient to produce the prior art arrangement of
FIG. 15
by making the wire “g” longer than other main wires “k”. Thus a lengthened portion may be used as the branch wires “h” that then are branched from the main path and extended to the equipment “j”. However, according to this possible method, the lengthened portion “h” sticks out from a bundle of a plurality of main wires “g”, “k” forming the wiring harness. This complicates a process of producing the wiring harness and causes a problem that the wire “h” sticking out of the wire bundle gets caught while the wiring harness is handled.
The present invention was developed in view of the above problem and an object thereof is to avoid problems in producing and handling a wiring harness when one conductive path which is branched from a main path of the wiring harness and in particular returns thereto again after passing via branch paths is constructed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a connector for branching at least two branch wires from a cut position of a main wire of a wiring harness. The connector enables construction of one electrically conductive path which extends from one part of the cut main wire and which returns to the other part of the cut main wire via the branch wires. The connector comprising: a joint connector. At least two blade-type terminal fittings are provided in the joint connector for connection with the main wire. A cutter preferably is provided substantially between the two blade-type terminal fittings in the joint connector for cutting the main wire. A branching connector is provided for connection with the joint connector, and two branch terminal fittings are provided in the branching connector. The branch terminal fittings are secured to the branch wires and are connectable with the blade-type terminal fittings.
The main wire is cut between the two blade-type terminal fittings of the cutter when being connected with the two blade-type terminal fittings of the joint connector. As a result the blade-type terminal fittings are connected with the cut ends of the main wire. The branch terminal fittings are connected with the blade-type terminal fittings when the branching connector is connected with the joint connector in such a state. Thus the two branch wires are branched from the cut position of the main wire of the wiring harness to construct one electrically conductive path which extends from the one part of the cut main wire and returns to the other part of the cut main body via the respective branch wires.
The main wires that form the wiring harness are allowed to have the same length before the connector according to the invention is connected with the wiring harness, and can be bundled together regardless of whether they are to be branched or not. Therefore, there is no problem producing and handling the wiring harness.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there also is provided a guide portion in the vicinity of the cutter for displacing cut ends of the main wire cut by the cutter in directions substantially away from each other. The guide portion prevents the cut ends from being shorted.
Preferably, a dummy member is provided with a shorting terminal fitting for shorting the two blade-type terminal fittings. The dummy member is at least partly fittable into a connecting portion of the joint connector into which the branching connector is at least partly fittable.
The two blade-type terminal fittings can be shorted by the shorting terminal fitting until the joint connector is connected with the branching connecter after the main wire is assembled with the joint connector. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a potential difference between the two blade-type terminal fittings when the branching connector is not connected.
The joint connector may comprise a connector cover having one or more pressing portions in positions that correspond to respective terminal fitting(s) for connecting the corresponding wire(s) with the terminal fittings. Accordingly, the wire(s) can be fitted securely into the respective terminal fitting(s).
According to the invention, there further is provided a method for producing a connector for branching at least two branch wires from a cut position of a main wire of a wiring harness to construct one electrically conductive path which extends from one part of the cut main wire and returns to the other part of the cut main wire via the branch wires. The connector comprises a joint connector having at least two blade-type terminal fittings and a branching connector for connecting the two branch wires with the two blade-type terminal fittings. The method comprises the steps of placing the main wire over the two blade-type terminal fittings, cutting the main wire between the two blade-type terminal fittings and connecting the main wire with the two blade-type terminal fittings.
In producing the connector, the main wire is cut between the two blade-type terminal fittings while being placed over them. Then, the branching connector is connected with the joint connector. As a result, the two branch wires are branched from the cut position of the main wire, thereby preferably constructing one electrically conductive path which extends from the one part of the cut main wire and returns to the other part of the cut main body via the one and the other of the branch wires.
According to this inventive method, before the connector according to the invention is connected with the wiring harness, the main wires that form the wiring harness are allowed to have the same length and can be bundled together regardless of whether they are to be branched or not. Therefore, there is no problem in producing and handling the wiring harness.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of connecting the cut ends of the main wire with the two blade-type fittings is performed after the step of cutting the main wire.
Preferably, the cutting step comprises the step of pushing the main wire onto a cutter that is provided between the two blade-type fittings in the joint connector.
Further preferably, a cutter is provided between the two blade-type terminal fittings in the joint connector and, after the main wire is cut by the cutter, the cut ends of the main wire are connected with the two blade-type terminal fittings.
When being cut, the main wire unavoidably is deformed and curved due to a resistance from the cutter. As a result
Chishima Masamitsu
Seko Satomi
Casella Anthony J.
Gushi Ross
Hespos Gerald E.
Paumen Gary F.
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
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