Connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12586947-B2
Application number	US-202218279849-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2022
Priority date	Mar 5, 2021
Publication date	Mar 24, 2026
Grant date	Mar 24, 2026

Abstract

A connector (A) is provided with a terminal fitting ( 10 ) and a housing ( 20 ) for holding the terminal fitting ( 10 ). The housing ( 20 ) includes a first function portion ( 30 ) made of a flexible synthetic resin material and a second function portion ( 32 ) made of a synthetic resin material having a smaller specific weight than the first function portion ( 30 ). The connector (A) is lighter by a weight obtained by multiplying a specific weight difference of the first function portion ( 30 ) and the second function portion ( 32 ) by a volume of the second function portion ( 32 ) as compared to a connector in which the entire housing ( 10 ) is made of the same material as the first function portion ( 30 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A connector, comprising:
a terminal fitting; and a housing for holding the terminal fitting, the housing including a first portion made of a flexible synthetic resin material and a second portion made of a synthetic resin material having a smaller specific weight than the first portion, wherein the first portion includes a lock arm for holding the housing and a mating housing in a connected state, and anchor portions for integrating the first and second portions are formed on a supporting portion serving as a deflection fulcrum of the lock arm.

2 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are integrated by two-color molding.

3 . The connector of claim 2 , wherein the first and second portions include the anchor portions for holding the first and second portions in an integrated state by being fit to each other.

4 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein a volume of the first portion is smaller than that of the second portion.

5 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the housing includes a terminal accommodation chamber for accommodating the terminal fitting and a locking lance for retaining the terminal fitting by locking the terminal fitting in the terminal accommodation chamber, the first portion is formed with a terminal holding portion constituting the terminal accommodation chamber, the terminal holding portion holding a part of the terminal fitting in a fitting state, and the locking lance is integrally formed to the first portion.

6 . A connector, comprising:
a terminal fitting; and a housing for holding the terminal fitting, the housing including a first portion made of a flexible synthetic resin material and a second portion made of a synthetic resin material having a smaller specific weight than the first portion, wherein the housing includes a terminal accommodation chamber for accommodating the terminal fitting and a locking lance for retaining the terminal fitting by locking the terminal fitting in the terminal accommodation chamber, the first portion is formed with a terminal holding portion constituting the terminal accommodation chamber, the terminal holding portion holding a part of the terminal fitting in a fitting state, the locking lance is integrally formed to the first portion, a plurality of the terminal accommodation chambers are arranged side by side in a width direction of the housing, and anchor portions for integrating the first and second portions are arranged in both end parts and a central part in the width direction of the housing.

7 . A connector, comprising:
a terminal fitting; and a housing for holding the terminal fitting, the housing including a first portion made of a flexible synthetic resin material and a second portion made of a synthetic resin material having a smaller specific weight than the first portion, wherein the housing includes a terminal accommodation chamber for accommodating the terminal fitting, a locking lance for retaining the terminal fitting by locking the terminal fitting in the terminal accommodation chamber and a lock arm for holding the housing and a mating housing in a connected state, and the first portion includes a retaining member constituting a part of an inner wall part of the terminal accommodation chamber and integrally formed with the locking lance, and the lock arm arranged apart from the retaining member.

8 . The connector of claim 7 , wherein:
the first portion includes a plurality of the retaining members, and the plurality of retaining members are arranged apart from each other.

Assignees

• Autonetworks Technologies Ltd
• Sumitomo Wiring Systems
• Sumitomo Electric Industries

Inventors

• Miyamura Tetsuya
• Saito Daisuke

Classifications

• H01R13/506

  assembled by snap action of the parts · CPC title

• H01R13/504

  different pieces being moulded, cemented, welded, e.g. ultrasonic welding, or swaged together · CPC title

• B29C45/16

  Making multilayered or multicoloured articles {(B29C45/0062 takes precedence; feeding colouring materials into the injection unit B29C45/1816)} · CPC title

• B29L2031/36

  Plugs, connectors, or parts thereof · CPC title

• H01R13/4368

  comprising a temporary and a final locking position · CPC title