U.S. patent application number 09/748383 was filed with the patent office on 2001-06-28 for connector having rear holders and method of manufacturing thereof.
Invention is credited to Kashiyama, Motohisa.
Application Number | 20010005657 09/748383 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18497919 |
Filed Date | 2001-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010005657 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kashiyama, Motohisa |
June 28, 2001 |
Connector having rear holders and method of manufacturing
thereof
Abstract
A connector (1) with rear holders, which connector comprises a
housing (2) having a plurality of terminal housing chambers (3),
and the rear holders (20a) and (20b) which are laid across the
housing (2) and temporarily and regularly retained in the housing.
One of the rear holders (20a) and (20b) includes a retaining hole
(22) and a retaining pawl (23). On each side of the housing exist a
temporarily retaining projection (4) having a tapered surface (5)
over the whole of its surface, and a tapered retaining step (6). A
stooping contact face (7) is also provided on the surface of the
rear end portion of the housing (2). Therefore, as the rear holders
(20a) and (20b) are pivoted when the retaining holes (22) are mated
with the respective temporarily retaining projections (4, the
retaining pawls (23) are mated with the retaining steps (6) and the
undersurfaces of the rear holders (20a) and (20b) are brought into
contact with the respective contact faces (7), whereby the rear
holders (20a) and (20b) are temporarily retained in the housing
(2).
Inventors: |
Kashiyama, Motohisa;
(Shizuoka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE, MION, ZINN, MACPEAK & SEAS, PLLC.
2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington
DC
20037
US
|
Family ID: |
18497919 |
Appl. No.: |
09/748383 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/752 ;
439/595 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/4362
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/752 ;
439/595 |
International
Class: |
H01R 013/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 27, 1999 |
JP |
P. HEI. 11-370974 |
Claims
What is claimed is
1. A connector comprising: a housing; a plurality of terminal
housing chambers for respectively housing connecting terminals
provided at said housing; a rear holder adapted to be retained at a
temporarily retaining position of said housing which said
connecting terminals are respectively housed in said plurality of
terminal housing chambers and a regularly retaining position of
said housing which said connecting terminals are respectively
retained in said plurality of terminal housing chambers; a
retaining hole provided at inside said rear holder; a retaining
pawl having a tilting face provided at inside said rear holder; a
temporarily retaining projection having a tapered surface engaged
with said retaining hole provided at said housing; a tapered
retaining step engaged with said retaining pawl provided at said
housing; and a contact face tilted forwardly downwardly for guiding
said rear holder provided at said housing, wherein said rear holder
is pivoted by contacting said temporarily retaining projection and
said retaining step before said rear holder is retained in said
temporarily retaining position.
2. A connector comprising: a housing; a plurality of terminal
chambers for respectively housing connecting terminals provided at
said housing; a temporarily retaining projection provided at said
housing; a rear holder adapted to be retained at a temporarily
retaining position of said housing which said connecting terminals
are respectively housed in said plurality of terminal housing
chambers and a regularly retaining position of said housing which
said connecting terminals are respectively retained in said
plurality of terminal housing chambers; and a retaining hole
pivotally engageable with said temporarily retaining projection
provided at said rear holder, wherein said temporarily retaining
projection is engaged with said retaining hole when said rear
holder is retained in said temporarily retaining position, said
temporarily retaining projection is disengaged from said retaining
hole when said rear holder is retained in said regularly retaining
position.
3. a method of manufacturing a connector including a housing having
a plurality of terminal housing chambers, and a rear holder adapted
to be retained at a temporarily retaining position of said housing
which connecting terminals are respectively housed in said
plurality of terminal housing chambers and a regularly retaining
position of said housing which said connecting terminals are
respectively retained in said plurality of terminal housing
chambers, said method comprising the steps of: providing a
temporarily retaining mold for molding and temporarily retaining
said housing and said rear holder, said temporarily retaining mold
including a fixed mold and a plurality of movable mold movable with
respect to said fixed mold; molding said housing and said rear
holder in said temporarily retaining mold; moving at least one said
plurality of movable mold so that said rear holder are rotated with
respect to said housing and retained at said temporarily retaining
position.
4. A method of manufacturing a connector including a housing having
a plurality of terminal housing chambers, and a rear holder adapted
to be retained at a temporarily retaining position of said housing
which connecting terminals are respectively housed in said
plurality of terminal housing chambers and a regularly retaining
position of said housing which said connecting terminals are
respectively retained in said plurality of terminal housing
chambers, said method comprising the steps of: providing a
temporarily retaining mold for molding and temporarily retaining
said housing and said rear holder, said temporarily retaining mold
including a fixed mold, a first movable mold for molding an outer
shell of said housing and an inner shell of said rear holder, a
second movable mold for movably supporting said first movable mold
in an axial direction, a third movable mold for molding an outer
shell of said rear holder, and a forth movable mold for molding and
retaining a central portion of said housing; molding said housing
and said rear holder in said temporarily retaining mold; separating
said second movable mold from said fixed mold; moving said first
movable mold with respect to said second movable mold and said
housing so that said fourth movable mold partially retains said
housing; moving said third movable mold to a space which produced
inside said third movable mold so that said rear holder are rotated
with respect to said housing and retained at said temporarily
retaining position.
5. A method of manufacturing a connector according to claim 4,
wherein said second movable mold is separated from said fixed mold
in said axial direction.
6. A method of manufacturing a connector according to claim 5,
wherein said first movable mold is moved in said axial direction
with respect to said second movable mold.
7. A method of manufacturing a connector according to claim 6,
wherein said third movable mold is moved in a direction
substantially perpendicular to said axial direction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a connector. The connector
has rear holders which are first molded together with a housing in
a plurality of molds. Then, the rear holders are temporarily
retained in the housing as the molds are removed and regularly
retained therein after connecting terminals are inserted. And the
present invention relates to a method of manufacturing thereof.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] Heretofore, there exist various connectors with rear holders
and methods of manufacturing such connectors with rear holders
known to the art as disclosed in JP-A-8-250183, for example.
[0005] In a connector 51 with related rear holders shown in FIGS.
16 to 18, rear holders 70a and 70b that are temporarily and
regularly retained in such a manner as to be laid across opposite
side portions of a housing 52 are held in the temporarily retaining
positions. The housing has a plurality of terminal housing chambers
53. Then connecting terminals 32 are inserted from the rear end of
the housing 52 and respectively retained by housing lances 81 in
the terminal housing chambers 53. Further, the rear holders 70a and
70b are retained in the regularly retaining positions, so that the
connecting terminals 32 are doubly retained therein.
[0006] More specifically, stooping guide holes 72 are provided in
the respective side pieces of the rear holder 70a. Secondary
retaining projections 73 for secondarily retaining each connecting
terminal 32 are provided in the front end portion of the
undersurface of the rear holder 70a. Openings 53a for inserting the
secondary retaining projection 73 obliquely above from the
temporarily retaining position to the regularly retaining position
is provided in the upper central portion of each terminal housing
chamber 53. On opposite sides 52b of the housing 52, there are also
provided a stooping guide rail 54 having a tapered surface engaged
with the guide hole 72, and a regularly retaining projection 55
that is obliquely positioned in front of each guide rail 54.
[0007] As opposite sides 52b, where the guide rails 54 and the
regularly retaining projections 55 are projected, are set narrower
than the whole width of the opposite sides 52a of the front
portion, jutties 56 are set to opposite sides 52b in parallel to
and below the guide rails 54 and the regularly retaining
projections 55 whereby to make opposite sides 52b equal in width to
opposite sides 52a. Because the lower rear holder 70b in the
drawings is substantially equal in structure to the rear holder
70a, the description thereof will be omitted.
[0008] In the connector 51 with the related rear holders, the
tapered surface provided on the surface of each guide rail 54
causes the side pieces 71 are bent to opposite directions when the
rear holder 70a on one side is forced in from above the rear end
portion of the housing 52. Thus the guide holes 72 are mated with
the guide rails 54, so that the rear holder 70a is held in the
temporarily retaining position of the housing 52. Moreover, the
rear holder 70b is also held in the temporarily retaining position
of the housing 52.
[0009] When the connecting terminal 32 is subsequently inserted
from behind the terminal housing chamber 53, it is primarily
retained by the housing lance 81. When the rear holder 70a and the
rear holder 70b are pressed forward, the guide holes 72 are guided
by the guide rail 54s and the front ends of the side pieces 71
climb over the regularly retaining projections 55. Then the front
end portions of the guide holes 72 is retained by the regularly
retaining projections 55 and the secondary retaining projections 73
are caused to enter the terminal housing chambers 53 from the
openings 53a.
[0010] In a case where the housing 52 and the rear holders 70a and
70b are separately formed before being gathered at one place for
the assembly of them, however, it becomes necessary carrying them
to fabrication places and performing not only assembly but also
inspection steps in addition to individually controlling such parts
as housings 52 and rear holders 70a and 70b.
[0011] In order to improve this situation, it has also be proposed
to provide a connector with rear holders through the steps of
temporarily retaining and incorporating the rear holders 70a and
70b in the housing 52 simultaneously with the use of a mold shown
in FIG. 19, and then taking the rear holders out of the mold.
[0012] A temporarily retaining mold 90 shown in FIG. 19 is formed
with a front fixed mold (not shown), a first movable mold 92 that
is moved vertically, a pair of second movable molds 93 and 93 that
are moved laterally, and a pair of third movable molds 94 and 94
that are moved longitudinally.
[0013] The central housing 52 in FIG. 19 is molded inside the first
and second movable molds 92 and 93. The rear holders 70a and 70b
are molded outside the first movable mold 92, inside the second
movable mold 93 and inside the third movable mold 94.
[0014] In other words, the housing 52 and the rear holders 70a and
70b are formed in such a condition that the fixed and the movable
molds have been joined together and then the first movable mold 92
is pulled up and subsequently the second movable molds 93 and 93
are separated laterally. Consequently, a space is produced between
the rear holders 70a and 70b and the housing 52, and the third
movable molds 94 and 94 are moved in the direction of the housing.
Then the guide holes 72 of the rear holders 70a and 70b are
retained by the guide rails 54 of the housing 52, and the rear
holders 70a and 70b are temporarily retained by the housing 52.
Further, the third movable molds 94 are separated from the housing
52, whereby the housing 52 in which the rear holders 70a and 70b
have been retained temporarily is taken out of the temporarily
retaining mold 90.
[0015] In the connector 51 with the related rear holders, high
dimensional precision is required during the molding process to
have the slot-like guide holes 72 respectively retained by the
guide rails 54 and the regularly retaining projections 55 so as to
have the rear holders 70a and 70b temporarily and regularly
retained in the housing 52. Therefore, the retaining operation
above is problematical as it has resulted in not only lowering
productivity but also increasing the production cost.
[0016] Another problem is that the molding structure becomes
complicated because it is necessary for the first movable mold 92
of the temporarily retaining mold 90 to move vertically, for the
second movable molds 93 to move laterally and moreover for the
third movable molds 94 to move longitudinally.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] An object of the present invention made in view of the
foregoing problems is to provide an inexpensive connector with rear
holders requiring no high dimensional precision in particular for
the rear holders to be molded during molding operation for which
employable movable molds need less moving.
[0018] The foregoing problems can be solved by a connector with
rear holders according to the invention as described in the
following items 1) to 3):
[0019] 1) A connector comprising:
[0020] a housing;
[0021] a plurality of terminal housing chambers for respectively
housing connecting terminals provided at the housing;
[0022] a rear holder adapted to be retained at a temporarily
retaining position of the housing which the connecting terminals
are respectively housed in the plurality of terminal housing
chambers and a regularly retaining position of the housing which
the connecting terminals are respectively retained in the plurality
of terminal housing chambers;
[0023] a retaining hole provided at inside the rear holder;
[0024] a retaining pawl having a tilting face provided at inside
the rear holder;
[0025] a temporarily retaining projection having a tapered surface
engaged with the retaining hole provided at the housing;
[0026] a tapered retaining step engaged with the retaining pawl
provided at the housing; and
[0027] a contact face tilted forwardly downwardly for guiding the
rear holder provided at the housing,
[0028] wherein the rear holder is pivoted by contacting the
temporarily retaining projection and the retaining step before the
rear holder is retained in the temporarily retaining position.
[0029] 2) A method of manufacturing a connector including a housing
having a plurality of terminal housing chambers, and a rear holder
adapted to be retained at a temporarily retaining position of the
housing which connecting terminals are respectively housed in the
plurality of terminal housing chambers and a regularly retaining
position of the housing which the connecting terminals are
respectively retained in the plurality of terminal housing
chambers, the method comprising the steps of:
[0030] providing a temporarily retaining mold for molding and
temporarily retaining the housing and the rear holder, the
temporarily retaining mold including a fixed mold and a plurality
of movable mold movable with respect to the fixed mold;
[0031] molding the housing and the rear holder in the temporarily
retaining mold;
[0032] moving at least one the plurality of movable mold so that
the rear holder are rotated with respect to the housing and
retained at the temporarily retaining position.
[0033] 3) a method of manufacturing a connector including a housing
having a plurality of terminal housing chambers, and a rear holder
adapted to be retained at a temporarily retaining position of the
housing which connecting terminals are respectively housed in the
plurality of terminal housing chambers and a regularly retaining
position of the housing which the connecting terminals are
respectively retained in the plurality of terminal housing
chambers, the method comprising the steps of:
[0034] providing a temporarily retaining mold for molding and
temporarily retaining the housing and the rear holder, the
temporarily retaining mold including a fixed mold, a first movable
mold for molding an outer shell of the housing and an inner shell
of the rear holder, a second movable mold for movably supporting
the first movable mold in an axial direction, a third movable mold
for molding an outer shell of the rear holder, and a forth movable
mold for molding and retaining a central portion of the
housing;
[0035] molding the housing and the rear holder in the temporarily
retaining mold;
[0036] separating the second movable mold from the fixed mold;
[0037] moving the first movable mold with respect to the second
movable mold and the housing so that the fourth movable mold
partially retains the housing;
[0038] moving the third movable mold to a space which produced
inside the third movable mold so that the rear holder are rotated
with respect to the housing and retained at the temporarily
retaining position.
[0039] In the connector with the rear holders thus arranged as
described above, one of the rear holders includes the retaining
hole and the retaining pawl having the stooping face inside the
side piece of the rear holder; the temporarily retaining projection
engaged with the retaining hole and having the tapered surface over
its whole surface is provided on the side of the rear end portion
of the housing, and the tapered retaining step engaged with the
retaining pawl is provided in the vicinity of the temporarily
retaining projection; the stooping contact face for guiding the
rear holder is provided on the surface of the rear end portion of
the housing; and the rear holders both are pivoted by respectively
contacting the temporarily retaining projections and the retaining
steps before being temporarily retained.
[0040] Therefore, the rear holders are temporarily retained in the
housing while being pivoted when the retaining holes and the
retaining pawls of the rear holders are brought into contact with
the respective temporarily retaining projections and the retaining
steps of the housing and when the undersurfaces of the rear holders
are brought into contact with the contact faces. In other words, as
the retaining step and the contact face are pivoted on a relatively
long slope, no high dimensional precision is essential, which makes
it possible to not only improve productivity but also obtain an
inexpensive connector with rear holders.
[0041] In the method of producing a connector with rear holders
thus arranged as described above, the temporarily retaining mold
for molding and temporarily retaining the housing and the rear
holders includes the fixed mold and the plurality of movable molds
which are movable with respect to the fixed mold; and after the
housing and the rear holders are molded in the molds, the rear
holders are pivoted and temporarily retained when at least one of
the movable molds or part of the mold is subjected to parallel
movement.
[0042] Therefore, as the rear holders are pivoted and temporarily
retained only when part of the movable mold is moved, a relatively
simple structure and a driving method can be adopted, which makes
it possible to not only improve productivity but also obtain an
inexpensive connector with rear holders.
[0043] In the method of producing a connector with rear holders
thus arranged as described above, the temporarily retaining mold
for molding and temporarily retaining the housing and the rear
holders includes the fixed mold, the first movable mold for forming
the outer shell of the housing and the inner shells of the rear
holders, the second movable molds for movably supporting the first
movable mold in the axial direction of the housing, the third
movable molds for forming the outer shells of the rear holders, and
the fourth movable mold for forming and holding the central portion
of the housing; and after the housing and the rear holders are
molded in the mold, the second movable molds are estranged from the
fixed mold and the first movable mold is moved back up to a
position where the first movable mold holds the rear end portion of
the housing, and the third movable molds are moved into the space
produced inside the third movable molds, whereby the retaining
holes of the rear holders are mated with the respective temporarily
retaining projections; the rear holders are pivoted stoopingly on
the temporarily retaining projections; the retaining pawls are
mated with the retaining steps; and simultaneously the
undersurfaces of the respective rear holders are brought into
contact with the contact faces, so that the rear holders are
temporarily retained in the housing.
[0044] Therefore, as the first, second and fourth movable molds can
be moved laterally only by vertically moving the third movable
molds, a relatively simple structure and a driving method can be
adopted, which makes it possible to not only improve productivity
but also obtain an inexpensive connector with rear holders.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a female connector
with rear holders as an embodiment of the invention.
[0046] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear holders in FIG. 1
in a temporarily retained condition.
[0047] FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the
temporarily retained projection of the housing in FIG. 1.
[0048] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the side
piece portion of the rear holder in FIG. 1.
[0049] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the rear holders in FIG. 1 in
a temporarily retained condition.
[0050] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the rear holders in FIG. 1 in
a regularly retained condition.
[0051] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of rear holders in a temporarily
retained condition as another embodiment of the invention.
[0052] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the rear holders in FIG. 7 in
a regularly retained condition.
[0053] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a male connector
with rear holders embodying the invention.
[0054] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the rear holders in FIG. 9
in a temporarily retained condition.
[0055] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of rear holders in a temporarily
retained condition as still another embodiment of the
invention.
[0056] FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the rear holders in FIG. 11
in a regularly retained condition.
[0057] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a temporarily retaining mold
for molding the connector with the rear holders during the process
of injection molding.
[0058] FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the temporarily retaining
mold in FIG. 13 in its partially moved condition.
[0059] FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the rear holders temporarily
retained in the housing by the third movable molds in FIG. 13.
[0060] FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of a connector with
conventional rear holders by way of example.
[0061] FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the rear holders in FIG. 16
in a temporarily retaining condition.
[0062] FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the rear holders in FIG. 16
in a regularly retaining condition.
[0063] FIG. 19 is a partial perspective view of a mold for
temporarily retaining the rear holders in a housing after the
connector with the rear holders in FIG. 16 is molded.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0064] A connector having rear holders embodying the present
invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1
to 11. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a female connector
having rear holders as an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a
perspective view of the rear holders in FIG. 1 in a temporarily
retained condition. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view
of the temporarily retained projection of the housing in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the side piece
portion of the rear holder in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of
the rear holders in FIG. 1 in a temporarily retained condition.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the rear holders in FIG. 1 in a
regularly retained condition. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of rear
holders in a temporarily retained condition as another embodiment
of the invention. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the rear holders in
FIG. 7 in a regularly retained condition.
[0065] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a male connector
with rear holders embodying the invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective
view of the rear holders in FIG. 9 in a temporarily retained
condition. FIG. 11 is a sectional view of rear holders in a
temporarily retained condition as still another embodiment of the
invention. FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the rear holders in FIG.
11 in a regularly retained condition. FIG. 13 is a sectional view
of a temporarily retaining mold for molding the connector with the
rear holders in FIGS. 1 to 12 during the process of injection
molding. FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the temporarily retaining
mold in FIG. 13 in its partially moved condition. FIG. 15 is a
sectional view of the rear holders temporarily retained in the
housing by the third movable molds in FIG. 13.
[0066] First, a female connector with rear holders according to the
invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to
6.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 1, a female connector 1 having rear holders
includes: a housing 2 having a plurality of terminal housing
chambers 3; a rear holder 20a on the upper side of FIG. 1; a rear
holder 20b on the lower side thereof; and a plurality of connecting
terminals 30 to be inserted into the respective terminal housing
chambers 3 (see FIG. 5). The rear holders 20a and 20b being
temporarily and regularly retained in such a manner as to be laid
across opposite side portions of the housing 2.
[0068] More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a retaining
hole 22 and a retaining pawl 23 having a forwardly and downwardly
tilting face 23 are provided inside the side piece 21 of each of
the rear holders 20a and 20b. A temporarily retaining projections 4
engaged with the retaining hole 22 and having a tapered surface 5
over the whole of its surface are provided on the opposite sides 2a
of the rear end portion of the housing 2.
[0069] A tapered retaining step 6 engaged with the retaining pawl
23 and tilting by an angle of .alpha. forwardly and downwardly with
respect to the horizontal plane is provided on the side 2b that is
continuous to the side 2a of the rear end portion above. Moreover,
a contact face 7 that tilts forwardly and downwardly and is used to
hold and guide the undersurfaces of the rear holders 20a and 20b is
provided on the surface of the rear end portion of the housing
2.
[0070] A guide rail 8 in parallel to the retaining step 6 is
provided below the retaining step. A regularly retaining projection
19 as a regularly retaining means is provided on the side the guide
rail. A protective rib 10 having a width B is provided between the
upper and lower terminal housing chambers 3 and 3 corresponding to
the rear holders 20a and 20b as shown in FIG. 1. The width B is set
greater than the width A of the rear holders 20a and 20b to prevent
the rear holders 20a and 20b temporarily retained by the housing 2
within the mold from releasing and dropping from the mold.
[0071] In the connector 1 having the rear holders thus arranged,
the retaining holes 22 are engaged with the respective temporarily
retaining projections 4 when the rear holders 20a and 20b are
pressed by movable molds as described later against the rear
portion of the housing 2 formed in the temporarily retaining mold.
At this time, the rear holders 20a and 20b are pivoted forward on
the temporarily retaining projections 4. The retaining pawls 23 are
engaged with the respective retaining steps 6. The undersurfaces of
the rear holders 20a and 20b are brought into contact with the
contact face 7. Whereby the rear holders 20a and 20b are
temporarily retained in the housing 2 as shown in FIG. 2.
[0072] A procedure for incorporating connecting terminals 30 into
the connector 1 with the rear holders according to this embodiment
of the invention is described as following. The rear holders 20a
and 20b are held in a temporarily retaining position. The
connecting terminals 30 are inserted into the terminal housing
chamber 3 from the rear end of the housing so that the connecting
terminals 30 are retain in the terminal housing chamber 3 by
housing lances 31.
[0073] Then, the retaining pawls 23 are guided to the retaining
steps 6 while the undersurfaces of the rear holders 20a and 20b are
guided by the contact face 7 and moved forwardly due to pushing the
rear holders 20a and 20b forwardly. Therefore, the retaining holes
22 are retained by a regularly retaining projection 9. At this
time, the secondary retaining projections 24 of the rear holders
20a and 20b are allowed to enter openings 3a from the intermediate
portion of the terminal housing chambers 3, whereby the connecting
terminals 30 are doubly retained therein as shown in FIG. 6.
[0074] In the connector 1 having the rear holders as described
above according to this embodiment of the invention, the retaining
hole 22 and the retaining pawl 23 having the forwardly downwardly
tilting face 23 are provided inside the side piece 21 of each of
the rear holders 20a and 20b. The temporarily retaining projection
4 engaged with the retaining hole 22 and having the tapered surface
5 over the whole of its surface is provided on the side 2a of the
rear end portion of the housing 2. The tapered retaining step 6
engaged with the retaining pawl 23 is provided on the side 2b that
is continuous to the side 2a of the rear end portion above. The
contact face 7 tilting forwardly and downwardly for holding and
guiding the undersurfaces of the rear holders 20a and 20b is
provided on the surface of the rear end portion of the housing
2.
[0075] In order to temporarily retain the rear holders 20a and 20b
in the housing 2, the retaining holes 22 are respectively mated
with the temporarily retaining projections 4, and the rear holders
20a and 20b are pivoted. Therefore, the retaining pawls 23 are
engaged with the respective retaining steps 6, and the
undersurfaces of the rear holders 20a and 20b are brought into
contact with the contact face 7 with the effect of temporarily
retaining the rear holders 20a and 20b. In other words, as each of
the retaining step 6 and the contact face 7 has a relatively long
slope with the rear holders 20a and 20b being pivoted thereon, no
high dimensional precision is essential, which makes it possible to
not only improve productivity but also obtain an inexpensive
connector with rear holders.
[0076] Although the female connector with the rear holders
described above is in such a form that the connecting terminals 30
are doubly retained by the rear holders 20a and 20b according to
this embodiment of the invention, the invention is also applicable
to a connector with rear holders without housing lances wherein
connecting terminals are retained only by rear holders in terminal
housing chambers.
[0077] More specifically, in order to incorporate connecting
terminals 30A into a connector 1A with rear holders, the connecting
terminals 30A are inserted from the rear end of a housing 2A after
rear holders 20c and 20d are held in a temporarily retained
condition in the respective openings 3a in the side wall of the
housing 2A as shown in FIG. 7. When the rear holders 20c and 20d
are pushed forward as shown in FIG. 8 while being guided by the
contact faces 7, the connecting terminals are moved forward and
downward before being regularly retained in the respective terminal
housing chambers 3 and further retained by part of the retaining
projection 24 of each of the rear holders 20c and 20d to prevent
the connecting terminals 30A from slipping off backward.
[0078] A male connector with rear holders embodying the invention
will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. Like reference
characters in a connector 11 with rear holders designate like
component parts of the aforementioned connector 1 with the rear
holders and the detail description thereof will be omitted.
[0079] As shown in FIG. 9, the male connector 11 with rear holders
includes: a housing 12 having a plurality of terminal housing
chambers 13 and 14; rear holders 25a and 25b to be temporarily
retained in such a manner to be laid vertically across both side
portions of the housing; and a plurality of terminal housing
chambers 30 to be inserted into the respective terminal housing
chambers 13 and 14 (see FIG. 5).
[0080] Openings 13a where the front end portion of the rear holder
25a enters are provided in the intermediate portion of the terminal
housing chamber 13 on one side of the housing 12. Openings (not
shown) are provided in the intermediate portion of the other
terminal housing chamber 14.
[0081] The terminal housing chambers 13 of the upper-stage housing
12 are provided over its whole width (four of them in FIG. 9). Only
two terminal housing chambers 14 (as shown in FIG. 9) of the
lower-stage are provided in opposite sides of the housing because
the fitting lock means 16 is provided on the central portion of the
lower-stage housing.
[0082] Four of the secondary retaining projections 24 are provided
to one rear holder 25a to prevent the connecting terminals from
being doubly retained. Two of the secondary retaining projection 24
are respectively provided on opposite ends of the other rear holder
25b due to a space 26 being provided in the central portion to
prevent interference with the fitting lock means 16.
[0083] A regular retaining step 19 as a regularly retaining means
for regularly retaining the rear holders 25a and 25b in the housing
12 is provided on the front side of each retaining step 6. Since
the tilting angle of the regularly retaining step 19 becomes
parallel to the axis as shown in FIG. 6 when the rear holders 25a
and 25b are regularly retained, that angle is set smaller than the
tilting angle .alpha..degree. of the retaining step 6. As the rest
of the arrangement and the operation/working-effect are similar to
those of the connector 1 with the rear holders described above, the
description thereof will be omitted.
[0084] The male connector 11 having the rear holders according to
the above embodiment of the invention is in the form of doubly
retaining the connecting terminals by the rear holders 25a and 25b,
the invention is also applicable to a connector with rear holders
without housing lances wherein connecting terminals are retained
only by rear holders in terminal housing chambers.
[0085] In order to incorporate a female connecting terminal 32A
into a connector 11A with rear holders, the connecting terminal 32A
is inserted from the rear end of a housing 12A after a rear holder
25c is held in a temporarily retained condition in the opening 13a
in the side wall of the housing 12A as shown in FIG. 11. When the
rear holder 25c is pushed forward as shown in FIG. 12 while being
guided by the contact face 7, the connecting terminal is moved
forward downwardly before being regularly retained in the terminal
housing chamber 13 and the front end portion of the retaining
projection of the rear holder 25c prevents the connecting terminal
32A from slipping off backward.
[0086] A method of manufacturing a connector with rear holders
embodying the invention will be described in detail with reference
to FIGS. 13 to 15.
[0087] As shown in FIG. 13, a temporarily retaining mold 40 for
molding the housings 2 and 12 and the rear holders 20a, 20b, 25a
and 25b includes a fixed mold having a gate (not shown). A
plurality of movable molds 42, 43, 44 and 45 that are movable with
respect to the fixed mold 41.
[0088] The movable molds include: a first mold 42 for forming the
outer shells of the housings 2 and 12 and the inner shells of the
rear holders 20a, 20b, 25a and 25b and for supporting a fourth
movable mold (as will be described below); second movable molds 43
for supporting the first movable mold 42 movably in the axial
direction of the housing and for supporting third movable molds (as
will be described below) movably in a direction perpendicular to
the axial direction thereof; the third movable molds 44 for forming
the outer shells of the rear holders 20a, 20b, 25a and 25b; and the
fourth movable mold 45 for forming and holding the central portions
of the housings 2 and 12. In this case, compression springs 46 are
provided between the first and second movable molds 42 and 43, so
that the molds 42 and 43 are separated from each other by a
distance of D or pushed and brought into contact with each
other.
[0089] While the fixed mold 41 and the movable molds 42, 43, 44 and
45 are joined together as shown in FIG. 13, resin material is
injected through the gate (not shown) whereby to mold the housings
2 and 12 and the rear holders 20a, 20b, 25a and 25b within the
mold.
[0090] Subsequently, the movable molds 42, 43, 44 and 45 are
separated from the fixed mold 41 by a gap of C as shown in FIG. 14
and simultaneously the first movable mold 42 is moved back by the
compression springs 46 up to a position where the rear end portions
of the molded housings 2 and 12 are held by the fourth movable mold
45, that is, by the distance of D.
[0091] The third movable mold 44 is moved into the space 47
produced in the third movable mold 44 toward the housings 2 and 12
as shown in FIG. 15 and then retaining holes 22 of the molded rear
holders 20a, 20b, 25a and 25b are mated with the respective
temporarily retaining projections 4. At this time, the rear holders
20a, 20b, 25a and 25b are forwardly and downwardly pivoted on the
temporarily retaining projections 4. Then the retaining pawls 23
are mated with the retaining steps 6, and the undersurfaces of the
rear holders are brought into contact with the contact faces 7,
whereby the rear holders 20a, 20b, 25a and 25b are temporarily
retained in the housings 2 and 12.
[0092] While the rear holders 20a, 20b, 25a and 25b are temporarily
retained in the housings 2 and 12, the rear holders 20a, 20b, 25a
and 25b are discharged from the temporarily retaining mold 40. As
the protect ribs 10 having a width of B greater than the width A of
the rear holders 20a, 20b, 25a and 25b are provided to the housings
2 and 12, the temporarily retained rear holders 20a, 20b, 25a and
25b are never removed from the housings 2 and 12 even though the
rear holders are discharged and dropped from the mold.
[0093] In the temporarily retaining mold 40 according to this
embodiment of the invention, as the first, second and fourth
movable molds 42, 43 and 45 can be moved laterally only by
vertically moving the third movable molds 44, it is possible to not
only improve productivity but also obtain an inexpensive connector
with rear holders that are relatively simple in structure.
[0094] Moreover, the driving structure and driving method of the
temporarily retaining mold 40 is such that when the first movable
mold 42, for example, is pressed by a fluid pressure cylinder or
the like in the direction of the fixed mold 41, the closed
condition of the mold is established as shown in FIG. 13. When the
first movable mold 42 is moved by the fluid pressure cylinder in
the direction of estranging it from the fixed mold 41, the urging
force of the compression springs 46 causes the first movable mold
42 to be separated from the second movable molds 43 by the distance
of D and the third movable molds 44 are also separated from the
fixed mold 41 by the gap of C as shown in FIG. 14. Consequently, it
is ensured to set the gap C and the like by providing stoppers on
the guide rails for slidably holding the second movable molds
43.
[0095] Although such a fluid cylinder may be used to vertically
drive the third movable molds 44 as shown in FIG. 15, the motion of
the second movable molds 43 driven from the fixed mold 42 by the
gap of C may also be utilized for readily driving the third movable
molds with links or a cam mechanism. Therefore, as the temporarily
retaining mold 40 is simpler in the structure and driving method
than the related temporarily retaining mold 90, it is possible to
not only improve productivity but also obtain an inexpensive
connector with rear holders.
[0096] The connectors having the rear holders according to the
invention are not limited to the aforementioned mode for carrying
it out but may be implemented in any other mode. Although the
direction in which the third movable molds 44 of the temporarily
retaining mold 40 are driven has been vertical in the methods
according to this embodiment of the invention, they may be moved
horizontally as long as they are movable in a direction
perpendicular to the fitting axis of the housing.
[0097] As set forth above, the connector having the rear holders
according to the invention is such that one of the rear holders
includes: the retaining hole and the retaining pawl having the
forwardly and downwardly tilting face inside the side piece of the
rear holder; the temporarily retaining projection engaged with the
retaining hole and having the tapered surface over the whole of its
surface, the tapered retaining step engaged with the retaining pawl
in the vicinity of the temporarily retaining projection; and the
contact face that tilts forwardly and downwardly and is used to
guide the rear holder on the surface of the rear end portion of the
housing, so that when the rear holders are pivoted when the rear
holders are brought into contact with the temporarily retaining
projections and the retaining steps, the rear holders are
temporarily retained in the housing.
[0098] Therefore, the rear holders are temporarily retained in the
housing while being pivoted when the retaining holes and the
retaining pawls of the rear holders are brought into contact with
the respective temporarily retaining projections and the retaining
steps of the housing and when the undersurfaces of the rear holders
are brought into contact with the contact faces.
[0099] In the method of producing the connector with the rear
holders according to the invention, the temporarily retaining mold
for molding and temporarily retaining the housing and the rear
holders includes the fixed mold and the plurality of movable molds
which are movable with respect to the fixed mold; and after the
housing and the rear holders are molded in the molds, the rear
holders are pivoted and temporarily retained when at least one of
the molds or some mold is run in parallel to another out of the
movable molds.
[0100] Therefore, as the rear holders are pivoted and temporarily
retained only when some movable mold of the temporarily retaining
mold is moved, a relatively simple structure and a driving method
can be adopted, which makes it possible to not only improve
productivity but also obtain an inexpensive connector with rear
holders.
[0101] In the method of producing the connector with the rear
holders according to the invention, the temporarily retaining mold
for molding and temporarily retaining the housing and the rear
holders includes the fixed mold, the first movable mold for forming
the outer shell of the housing and the inner shells of the rear
holders, the second movable molds for movably supporting the first
movable mold in the axial direction of the first movable mold, the
third movable molds for forming the outer shells of the rear
holders, and the fourth movable molds for forming and holding the
central portion of the housing; and after the housing and the rear
holders are molded in the molds, the second movable molds are
estranged from the fixed mold and moved back up to the position
where the first movable mold holds the rear end portion of the
housing, and the third movable molds are moved into the space
produced inside the third movable molds, whereby the retaining
holes of the rear holders are mated with the respective temporarily
retaining projections; each of the rear holders is pivoted
forwardly and downwardly on the temporarily retaining projection;
the retaining pawl is mated with the retaining step; and
simultaneously the undersurface of each of the rear holders is
brought into contact with the contact face, so that the rear
holders are temporarily retained in the housing.
[0102] Therefore, as the first, second and fourth movable molds can
be moved laterally only by vertically moving the third movable
molds, a relatively simple structure and a driving method can be
adopted, which makes it possible to not only improve productivity
but also obtain an inexpensive connector with rear holders.
* * * * *