Connector and cable harness

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11038287-B2
Application number	US-202016896333-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2020
Priority date	Jul 18, 2019
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

A connector is attachable with a composite cable and is connectable with a mating connector having a mating contact portion. The composite cable has at least one cable set which comprises a first cable and two second cables. The connector has a first member, a plurality of terminals and a second member. The first member is attachable with the composite cable. The plurality of terminals include at least one terminal set which comprises a first terminal and two second terminals. Each of the terminals has a contact portion, a held portion and a connecting portion. The connecting portion is connected with the composite cable when the connector is attached with the composite cable. In the at least one terminal set, the connecting portion of the first terminal is positioned between the connecting portions of the second terminals in a horizontal direction. The second member is combined with the first member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector attachable with a composite cable and connectable with a mating connector having a mating contact portion, the composite cable having at least one cable set which comprises a first cable and two second cables, wherein:
the connector has a first member, a plurality of terminals and a second member;
the first member is attachable with the composite cable;
the first member has a base portion and a cable holding portion;
the base portion has a flat-plate shape;
the cable holding portion is provided on the base portion;
the cable holding portion has at least one holding portion set which comprises a first cable holding portion and two second cable holding portions;
in the at least one holding portion set, the first cable holding portion is positioned between the base portion and the second cable holding portion in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the base portion and is positioned between the second cable holding portions in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the perpendicular direction;
in the at least one holding portion set, the second cable holding portions are positioned at the same level as each other in the perpendicular direction;
when the first member is attached with the composite cable, the first cable holding portion holds the first cable and the second cable holding portions hold the second cables, respectively;
the plurality of terminals are held by the second member;
the plurality of terminals include at least one terminal set which comprises a first terminal and two second terminals;
each of the terminals has a contact portion, a held portion and a connecting portion;
the contact portion is brought into contact with the mating contact portion when the connector is connected with the mating connector;
the held portion is held by the second member;
the connecting portion is connected with the composite cable when the connector is attached with the composite cable;
the connecting portion has an end in the perpendicular direction;
in the at least one terminal set, the connecting portion of the first terminal is positioned between the connecting portions of the second terminals in the horizontal direction;
the second member is combined with the first member;
the second member has an accommodating portion;
the accommodating portion accommodates, at least in part, the cable holding portion when the second member is combined with the first member;
under a combined state where the second member is combined with the first member, the connecting portion is exposed in the accommodating portion and protrudes toward an inside of the accommodating portion;
under the combined state, the connecting portion of the first terminal extends toward the first cable holding portion in the perpendicular direction;
under the combined state, the connecting portion of the second terminal extends toward the second cable holding portion in the perpendicular direction; and
under the combined state, the end of the connecting portion of the first terminal is positioned between the end of the connecting portion of the second terminal and the base portion in the perpendicular direction.

2. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first cable holding portion has a first bottom portion and two first side portions;
the first bottom portion regulates movement of the first cable toward the base portion;
the first side portions regulate opposite outward movements, respectively, of the first cable in the horizontal direction;
each of the second cable holding portions has a second bottom portion and a second side portion;
the second bottom portion regulates movement of the second cable toward the base portion;
the second side portion regulates outward movement of the second cable in the horizontal direction;
the second member has a first terminal holding portion;
the first terminal holding portion holds the held portion of the first terminal;
one of the connecting portion of the first terminal and the first terminal holding portion has a movement regulating portion; and
under the combined state, the movement regulating portion regulates inward movement of the second cable in the horizontal direction.

3. The connector as recited in claim 2 , wherein:
the first cable holding portion has a first arc portion;
each of the first bottom portion and the first side portions is a part of the first arc portion;
the second cable holding portion has a second arc portion;
each of the second bottom portion and the second side portion is a part of the second arc portion;
in the at least one holding portion set, the first arc portion and the second arc portion are coupled with each other in a predetermined plane which is defined by the perpendicular direction and the horizontal direction; and
in the at least one holding portion set, the first arc portion of the first cable holding portion is sandwiched between the second arc portions of the second cable holding portions in the predetermined plane.

4. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
in the at least one holding portion set, the first cable holding portion and the second cable holding portions are integrally formed with each other;
in the at least one holding portion set, the first cable holding portion and the second cable holding portions have a common opening which opens in the perpendicular direction;
under the combined state, the connecting portion of the first terminal extends toward the first cable holding portion through the opening; and
under the combined state, the connecting portion of the second terminal extends toward the second cable holding portion through the opening.

5. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first member further has a composite cable holding portion which is configured to hold the composite cable;
the composite cable holding portion is provided on the base portion; and
the composite cable holding portion is positioned away from the cable holding portion in a front-rear direction perpendicular to both the perpendicular direction and the horizontal direction.

6. The connector as recited in claim 5 , wherein:
the cable holding portion has a plurality of the holding portion sets;
the base portion has a first principal surface and a second principal surface;
one of the holding portion sets is positioned on the first principal surface; and
another of the holding portion sets is positioned on the second principal surface.

7. A cable harness comprising the connector as recited in claim 1 and the composite cable, wherein:
the composite cable is attached to the connector;
the composite cable has the at least one cable set which comprises the first cable and the two second cables;
the first cable has a first conductor and a first cover;
the first cover covers the first conductor;
each of the second cables has a second conductor and a second cover;
the second cover covers the second conductor;
the connecting portion of the first terminal pierces the first cover and is connected with the first conductor; and
the connecting portion of the second terminal pierces the second cover and is connected with the second conductor.

8. The cable harness as recited in claim 7 , wherein the first conductor is positioned between the base portion and the second cable holding portion in the perpendicular direction.

9. The cable harness as recited in claim 7 , wherein:
the at least one cable set has two coupling portions;
in the at least one cable set, the coupling portions couple the second covers, respectively, with the first cover; and
in the at least one cable set, the first cable, the second cables and the coupling portions are arranged in a V-shape

Assignees

• Japan Aviation Electronics Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Toda Kentaro

Classifications

• H01R24/60

  Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement · CPC title

• H01R9/031

  for multiphase cables, e.g. with contact members penetrating insulation of a plurality of conductors (insulation penetrating contact members in general H01R4/24) · CPC title

• H01R13/5812

  the cable clamping being achieved by mounting the separate part on the housing of the coupling device · CPC title

• H01R4/2404 Primary

  the contact members having teeth, prongs, pins or needles penetrating the insulation · CPC title

• H01R9/16

  Fastening of connecting parts to base or case; Insulating connecting parts from base or case · CPC title