Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-15
2002-03-19
Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C439S717000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06358098
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a terminal for a joint connection and a joint connector having such a terminal mounted therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
Joint connectors conventionally are used to connect wires used in a common circuit system, such as a ground line. One such prior art connector is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-306451, and is shown in
FIGS. 24 and 25
of this application. The prior art joint connector of
FIGS. 24 and 25
has terminals
102
that are accommodated in cavities
101
of a connector housing
100
.
The prior art connector housing
100
is formed with the cavities
101
at four stages, and the cavities
101
communicate with each other in the vertical direction through openings. Insertion openings
101
A are formed at the front ends of the cavities
101
. On the other hand, each terminal
102
has first elastic contact pieces
103
at its upper portion, a second elastic contact piece
104
inside, and a connecting portion
105
at its lower portion.
Upper and lower terminals
102
A and
102
B are accommodated in the connector housing
100
, such that the first elastic contact pieces
103
of the lower terminal
102
B contact the connecting portion
105
of the upper terminal
102
A as shown in FIG.
25
. Mating male terminals
106
can be inserted through the insertion openings
101
A, and contact the second elastic contact pieces
104
of the terminals
102
. Thus, these terminals can meet a demand to join an increased number of wires.
However, even if the above-described terminals are used, there is a limit on the number of wires that can be joined due to the number of the cavities
101
in the connector housing
100
. As a result, several kinds of connector housings
100
must be prepared depending upon the required circuit configuration. Further, since the terminals
102
A,
102
B located one over the other always are joined, the connector housing
100
is unsuitable when a circuit to be constructed does not require such a joint connection.
The manufacture of a wiring harness generally requires subassemblies S
1
to S
3
to be assembled first, as shown in FIG.
26
. Terminals at ends of wires that are to be connected with another subassembly are left exposed without being inserted into connectors. These are referred to as later-inserted terminals T
1
to T
3
. The subassemblies S
1
to S
3
are assembled into a final wiring harness W/H on a worktable, and the later-inserted terminals T
1
to T
3
are inserted into the connectors of the other subassemblies at this stage, or are joined by being inserted into the joint connector. However, the assembling of the final wiring harness W/H is not efficient because it is essential to insert the later-inserted terminal during the final assembling. Further, since the assembling of the subassemblies S
1
to S
3
and the assembling of the final wiring harness W/H usually are performed at separate locations, the later-inserted terminals T
1
to T
3
are likely to be deformed or damaged during transportation if left exposed in the subassemblies S
1
to S
3
. Once these terminals T
1
to T
3
are deformed or damaged, it is difficult to insert them into the connector housings.
The present invention was developed to solve the above problem of later-inserted terminals, and an object thereof is to provide a terminal and a corresponding joint connector that facilitates use with an increase of wires to be joined and a circuit change.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is directed to a terminal, which comprises a wire connecting portion, a terminal connecting portion and a joint portion. The wire connecting portion is for connection with an end of a wire. The terminal connecting portion is for receiving or being connected to another terminal as a joint partner. The joint portion preferably is tab-shaped, and extends forward from the terminal connecting portion substantially along a longitudinal direction and can be folded back or bent. The folded or bent joint portion then can be inserted into connection with a terminal connecting portion of another terminal as a joint partner. However, the joint portion preferably is configured and disposed to be cut off from the terminal connecting portion if the joint portion is not needed.
The invention also is directed to a joint connector, that comprises connector housings. Each connector housing is formed with cavities that extend substantially in forward and backward directions and that preferably are arranged substantially horizontally and side by side. The above-described terminals are at least partly accommodated in the connector housings. The joint portion of each terminal can be folded or bent back and positioned substantially parallel to the corresponding cavity, but outside the corresponding connector housing.
Preferably, the connector housings are assembled substantially one over another. Thus, a joint portion in one connector housing may be inserted into a cavity of a connector housing located one stage above or below, and further into the terminal connecting portions of the terminals accommodated in the corresponding cavities to connect the terminals with each other.
Joining portions preferably are provided on opposing surfaces of connector housings that are located substantially one over the other. The joining portions may comprise projections and recesses in the respective connector housings, and prevent vertical separation of connector housings that are located substantially one over the other. The joining portions also are configured for permitting the connector housings to be slid in forward and backward directions into engagement with each other. Thus the joining portions can be inserted into the terminal connecting portions of the terminals located one stage above or below as the connector housings located one over the other are assembled by a sliding movement.
A cover may be provided for substantially covering the folded sections of the joint portions exposed at the front surfaces of the respective connector housings. The cover may be mounted on a block constructed by assembling the connector housings substantially one over another preferably while engaging the joining portions with each other.
Receiving portions preferably are formed on the outer surfaces of the connector housings. The receiving portions are aligned vertically when the block is constructed by assembling properly aligned connector housings substantially one over another. The cover is formed with a detecting portion that can be slid into the receiving portions substantially in a vertical direction when the block is constructed properly. The detecting portions, however, make it impossible for the cover to slide further when the block is constructed with the connector housings and their receiving portions misaligned.
Most preferably, the cover includes holes in positions substantially corresponding to the cavities for receiving the terminals as joint partners from outside the block.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6123553 (2000-09-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 8-306451 (1996-11-01), None
Casella Anthony J.
Gilman Alexander
Hespos Gerald E.
Paumen Gary
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