Connector and cable harness

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9728877-B1
Application number	US-201715475703-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 31, 2017
Priority date	Jun 22, 2016
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A connector is attachable to a first connection object in an up-down direction and is connectable with a second connection object which is to be inserted rearward into the connector along a front-rear direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The connector comprises a plurality of terminals and a holding member. The holding member has a holding portion and a sandwiched portion. Each of the terminals has a connecting portion and a contact portion. The sandwiched portion and the connecting portion at least overlap with each other when the connector is viewed along the up-down direction. One of the sandwiched portion and the connecting portion is visible when the connector is viewed along an upward direction of the up-down direction. A remaining one of the sandwiched portion and the connecting portion is visible when the connector is viewed along a downward direction of the up-down direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector attachable to a first connection object in an up-down direction and connectable with a second connection object which is to be inserted rearward into the connector along a front-rear direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, the second connection object having a sheet-like or plate-like shape, wherein:
the first connection object has a plurality of first connection portions;
the second connection object has a plurality of second connection portions;
the connector comprises a plurality of terminals and a holding member;
the holding member has a holding portion and a sandwiched portion;
each of the terminals is held by the holding portion of the holding member;
the terminals are arranged in a pitch direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the front-rear direction;
each of the terminals has a connecting portion and a contact portion;
the connecting portions of the terminals are connected with the first connection portions, respectively, when the connector is attached to the first connection object;
the contact portions of the terminals are connected with the second connection portions, respectively, when the second connection object is inserted into the connector;
the connecting portion has a plate-like shape intersecting with the up-down direction;
a center of the contact portion and a center of the connecting portion are positioned at positions different from each other in the pitch direction;
the sandwiched portion and the connecting portion at least overlap with each other when the connector is viewed along the up-down direction;
one of the sandwiched portion and the connecting portion is visible when the connector is viewed along an upward direction of the up-down direction; and
a remaining one of the sandwiched portion and the connecting portion is visible when the connector is viewed along a downward direction of the up-down direction.

2. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the holding member has an upper wall portion and a lower wall portion;
the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion are positioned away from each other in the up-down direction;
the connector is formed with a receiving portion between the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion in the up-down direction;
the receiving portion receives a part of the second connection object when the second connection object is connected with the connector;
the contact portion protrudes upward in the up-down direction beyond the lower wall portion; and
the sandwiched portion is positioned upward of the connecting portion in the up-down direction.

3. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the connecting portion is positioned forward of the contact portion in the front-rear direction;
the upper wall portion has a front end in the front-rear direction;
the lower wall portion has a front end in the front-rear direction;
the front end of the upper wall portion is positioned rearward of the front end of the lower wall portion in the front-rear direction;
the sandwiched portion is formed as a part of the lower wall portion; and
the sandwiched portion is visible when the connector is viewed along the downward direction of the up-down direction.

4. The connector as recited in claim 3 , wherein:
at least in a predetermined region, the terminal has no portion protruding upward in the up-down direction beyond the lower wall portion;
the predetermined region is between the front end of the lower wall portion and a predetermined position of the sandwiched portion along the front-rear direction;
the connecting portion has a rear end in the front-rear direction; and
the predetermined position of the sandwiched portion is positioned at a position same as a position of the rear end of the connecting portion in the front-rear direction.

5. The connector as recited in claim 4 , wherein the contact portion is positioned rearward of the front end of the upper wall portion in the front-rear direction.

6. The connector as recited in claim 3 , wherein:
a lower part of the holding member is formed with a receiving recess;
the receiving recess is recessed upward in the up-down direction and is opened rearward in the front-rear direction; and
when the connector is attached to cables which function as the first connection object, the receiving recess receives a part of each of the cables.

7. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sandwiched portion is distinct and separated from the holding portion.

8. The connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the terminal further has a lower-jaw portion, an upper-jaw portion, an intermediate portion and a coupling portion;
the contact portion protrudes upward in the up-down direction from the lower-jaw portion;
the lower-jaw portion and the upper-jaw portion are positioned away from each other in the up-down direction;
the intermediate portion connects the lower-jaw portion and the upper-jaw portion with each other;
the coupling portion couples a lower edge of the lower-jaw portion and the connecting portion with each other; and
the lower edge of the lower-jaw portion and the connecting portion are positioned away from each other in the up-down direction.

9. The connector as recited in claim 8 , wherein:
the holding member is formed with facing portions and recessed portions;
the terminals correspond to the facing portions and the recessed portions, respectively;
each of the facing portions faces each of the lower-jaw portion and the coupling portion of the corresponding terminal in the pitch direction; and
each of the recessed portions is recessed beyond the corresponding facing portion in the pitch direction.

10. The connector as recited in claim 9 , wherein each of the recessed portions is opened both forward and upward.

11. A cable harness comprising the connector as recited in claim 1 and cables, wherein:
the cables function as the first connection object; and
the cables are connected with the connector.

Assignees

• Japan Aviation Electronics Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Nakamura Keisuke

Classifications

• H01R12/79 Primary

  connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures · CPC title

• H01R13/629

  Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure {electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances (separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26)} · CPC title

• H01R13/02

  Contact members · CPC title

• H01R12/61 Primary

  connecting to flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures · CPC title

• H01R13/40

  Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members · CPC title