Press-connecting connector

Electrical connectors – Coupling part including flexing insulation – Coupling part housing hinged for coupling part assembly

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C439S752000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06482035

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a press-connecting connector. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved rear holder-equipped press-connecting connector in which an open portion,. formed above terminal receiving chambers, is covered with a rear holder, thereby protecting press-connecting terminals, received respectively in the terminal receiving chambers, and also preventing the withdrawal of wires connected respectively to the press-connecting terminals.
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-199026, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a vehicle (e.g., an automobile etc.), connectors have been extensively used for connecting wire harnesses together and for connecting an electronic equipment to a wire harness. Such connectors have various constructions, and one example of rear holder-equipped press-connecting connectors will be described below with reference to FIGS.
6
and
7
.
As shown in
FIG. 6
, the press-connecting connector
21
comprises a housing body
22
, and rear holders
24
which are pivotally connected respectively to upper and lower walls
22
C of the housing body
22
through hinges
23
so as to respectively close open portions
27
formed respectively in rear end portions of the upper and lower walls.
A plurality of juxtaposed terminal receiving chambers
25
are formed in the housing body
22
, and a press-connecting terminal
31
is received in each of the terminal receiving chambers
25
.
The press-connecting terminal
31
includes a press-connecting portion
31
A provided generally at a central portion of its elongate body, an electrical connection portion
31
B (see
FIG. 7
) provided forwardly of the press-connecting portion
31
A, and a wire clamping portion
31
C provided rearwardly of the press-connecting portion
31
A.
As shown in
FIG. 7
, pocket portions
25
for receiving the electrical contact portions
31
B are provided at a front portion of the housing body
22
at which the upper and lower walls
22
C exist, and retaining grooves
22
B are formed respectively in inner surfaces of rear end portions of right and left side walls
22
A of the housing body
22
.
Each rear holder
24
covers the terminal receiving chambers
25
to protect the press-connecting terminals
31
and also to prevent the withdrawal of wires
32
, connected respectively to the press-connecting terminals
31
, from the housing body
22
. Basically, the rear holder
24
has a plate-like body as shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7
.
Retaining protuberances
26
are formed on and protect from an inner surface (that is, an upper surface in
FIG. 6
) of the rear holder
24
, and are so arranged as to be disposed in registry with the corresponding terminal receiving chambers
25
, respectively. When the rear holder
24
is closed, the retaining protuberances
26
retain the press-connecting terminals
31
, received respectively in the terminal receiving chambers
25
, respectively, thereby preventing the lifting of the press-connecting terminals
31
.
Retaining projections
24
A are formed at right and left side ends of the rear holder
24
, respectively, and when the rear holder
24
is closed, these retaining projections
24
A are engaged respectively in the retaining grooves
22
B in the housing body
22
to hold the rear holder
24
in its closed condition.
In the press-connecting connector
21
of the above construction, when the rear holder
24
is pivotally moved through the hinges
23
into its closed position, the retaining projections
24
A can be retainingly engaged in the retaining grooves
22
B, respectively. In this closed condition, the rear holder
24
itself is prevented from lifting as shown in
FIG. 7
, and therefore each retaining protuberance
26
is pressed against the upper side of the corresponding wire
32
to prevent it from being withdrawn from the press-connecting terminal
31
, and at the same time the retaining protuberance
26
holds the press-connecting terminal
31
in a predetermined position within the terminal receiving chamber
25
.
In the above construction, however, the hinges
23
have a band-like shape, and have flexibility, and therefore when closing the rear holder
24
, these hinges are deformed, that is, curved and straightened. And besides, when an external force is applied laterally to the rear holder
24
, the hinges can be easily flexibly deformed in a direction of the width of the rear holder
24
. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the whole of the rear holder
24
is displaced in a direction of the axis of pivotal movement thereof, so that it becomes difficult to close the rear holder in the proper position. Thus, it would invite a possibility that the efficiency of the assembling operation is lowered.
The retaining projections
24
A are engaged respectively in the retaining grooves
22
B in the housing body
22
, thereby maintaining the closed condition of the rear holder in a proper manner. However, when a large impact is applied to the rear side of the rear holder, there is a possibility that the side edges of the hinges
23
are raised beyond the surface of the upper (lower) wall
22
C, so that the rear holder is opened.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above possibilities, and an object of the present invention is to provide a press-connecting connector in which when closing a rear holder pivotally connected to a housing body through hinges, an undesirable displacement of the rear holder is prevented, thereby enhancing the efficiency of an assembling operation, and besides the closed condition of the rear holder can be maintained.
To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a press-connecting connector which comprises a housing body having an upwardly-open portion, and a plurality of juxtaposed terminal receiving chambers into which a plurality of press-connecting terminals are respectively insertable; a rear holder pivotally connected to the housing body through a hinge, so that the rear holder can close the upwardly-open portion; a guide space formed in the housing body so as to extend in a connector forward/rearward direction; and a slide lever projected on a hinge-connected end portion of the rear holder, wherein when the rear holder is pivotally moved to close the upwardly-open portion, the slide lever is engaged in the guide space so as to prevent displacement of the rear holder in an axial direction of pivotal movement thereof.
In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, even when an external force is applied laterally (in a right-left direction) to the rear holder, the displacement of the rear holder is prevented by the slide lever engaged in the guide space, thus preventing the lateral displacement in comparison with the related art.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that a distal end portion of the slide lever is slanted in a chamfered manner, so that the slide lever is smoothly introduced and guided into the guide space.
In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, in an initial condition of the rear holder, the slide lever is not engaged in the guide space, and as the rear holder is pivotally moved, the distal end portion of the slide lever, which is slanting in a chamfered manner, is brought into engagement in the guide space. Therefore, the housing body absorbs a slight lateral displacement of the rear holder so as to achieve the introducing and guiding operation, thereby enhancing the rear holder-attaching ability.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that an engagement surface is formed within the guide space, and the distal end portion of the slide lever is slid on the engagement surface in accordance with the pivotal movement of the rear holder.
In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, the rear holder is pivotally moved while support

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