Multi-terminal Connector Assembly

Abstract

A multi-terminal connector assembly which comprises a panel connector element including a plurality of blocks with a desired number of terminal plates; an attachable connector element corresponding to each of said blocks; said panel connector being provided with a flange adapted to be fitted to an intercepting wall around its opening; thereby systematically connecting wiring harnesses on the both sides of said wall. Such a multi-terminal connector assembly can be simply and air-tightly attached to an intercepting wall such as a dash panel of a motor-car, and effectively shut off poisonous gases, noises etc.

Description

This invention relates to a multi-terminal connector assembly to be employed for connecting wiring harnesses through an intercepting wall such as a dash panel in a motor-car provided between an engine room and an instrument room.

In the conventional wiring harness in a motor-car passing through the dash panel, there are employed grummets for shutting off from the instrument room poisonous gases, noises etc. which occur in the engine room. However, this method of wire connection has a defect that it requires much trouble and time to fit sets of wires to the dash panel one by one.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a multi-terminal connector assembly which can abbreviate the time of connecting wiring harnesses in the both rooms through an intercepting wall and facilitate a systematic connection of the wiring harnesses according to the number of wires required.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a multi-terminal connector assembly capable of employing terminal plates of the same shape in each unit of the connector assembly thereby to simplify a manufacturing and repairing process, permitting a mass production based on a quality control.

Essentially, according to this invention, there is provided a multi-terminal connector assembly which comprises a panel connector element including a plurality of blocks with a desired number of terminal plates; an attachable connector element corresponding to each of said blocks; said panel connector being provided with a flange adapted to be fitted to an intercepting wall around its opening; thereby systematically connecting wiring harnesses on the both sides of said wall.

Various further and more specific objects, features and advantages of this invention will be made apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 to 6 show a cassette type multi-terminal connector assembly which is one embodiment of this invention and FIGS. 7 to 13 show a combined type multi-terminal connector assembly which is another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a panel connector element of a cassette type multi-terminal connector assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same and attachable connectors partly connected and attached to a dash panel of a motor-car;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a terminal plate employed in this invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the same with a lead wire attached thereto;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an attachable connector having 14 terminals;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a combined type multi-terminal connector assembly fitted to a dash panel of a motor-car;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the same partly shown in section;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of female connectors in their combined state;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a supporting frame;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the combined female connectors with the supporting frame fitted thereto;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of male connectors; and

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the same in their combined state.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 6, there is illustrated a cassette type multi-terminal connector assembly which is one embodiment of the present invention.

Character A designates a panel connector element which comprises, in FIG. 1, four female portions A.sub.1a, A.sub.1b, A.sub.1c and A.sub.1d in its inner part, and four male portions A.sub.2a, A.sub.2b, A.sub.2c and A.sub.2d in its outer part. Said panel connector element is made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. A pair of a female and a male portions A.sub.1a and A.sub.2a form one block having 16 terminals, in FIG. 1, A.sub.1b and A.sub.2b form another block having 14 terminals, A.sub.1c and A.sub.2c form a still another block having 12 terminals and A.sub.1d and A.sub.2d form a still another block having 18 terminals.

Each female and male portion is provided with a terminal plate B as shown in FIG. 3.

The terminal plate B, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, is preferably made of high-conductive metals and has, at its tail portion, a connecting portion 1 to a wire and, in front of said connecting portion 1, a resilient contact plate 2. Under said resilient contact plate 2, there is formed a projection 3 cut and erected out of the terminal plate B, and a pair of wings 4 are formed on both sides of the resilient contact plate 2. The connecting portion 1 to a wire has, at its central portion, an edge 1a cut and erected out of the terminal plate B and, on both sides thereof, a plurality of holding members 1b edged at the top, by which a wire 5 is securely connected to the terminal B through its insulating coating keeping electric connection.

In the female portion A.sub.1 is provided a base plate 6 which is associated with a wall 6' connecting to said base plate 6 to form a room R. A groove 8 for receiving the terminal plate B is formed on said base plate 6 with a partition 7. Inside said groove 8, there are formed, on both lateral walls, a concave 9 for receiving said wings 4 of the terminal plate B, and on the base plate 6, a concave 10 for receiving said projection 3 of the terminal plate B. A bulkhead 11 abutting on said partition 7 is provided in the back portion of the room R.

The male portion A.sub.2 has only a base plate 6 as mentioned above but no wall as denoted by numeral 6'. It is to be noted that the male portion A.sub.2 is defined in a size insertible into the room R of the confronting female portion A.sub.1. Between the female portion A.sub.1 and the male portion A.sub.2 is formed a space into which the base plate 6 of the confronting female portion A.sub.1 can be inserted.

Into the grooves 8 of the female portion A.sub.1 and the male portion A.sub.2, a required number of terminal plates B are inserted slidably from the back. The terminal plate B is so adapted to be securely fixed in the predetermined position with its wings 4 registered in the concaves 9 and with its projection 3 registered in the concave 10.

Referring to FIG. 6, character C designates an attachable connector adapted to be connected to each block of the panel connector element A. The illustrated attachable connector has 14 terminals permitting connection thereof to said female and male portions A.sub.1b and A.sub.2b, one block of the panel connector element, having 14 terminals. The attachable connector C is in its structure identical with the block having a pair of the female and the male portions A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 of the panel connector element, and employs the same terminals B as described in the panel connector element A. A male portion C.sub.2 of the attachable connector C can be inserted into the female portion A.sub.1 of the panel connector element A and, at the same time, a female portion C.sub.1 of the same can receive the male portion A.sub.2 of the panel connector element A.

There is further provided a cut-out portion 12 formed at the central portion of the wall 6' of the female portion C.sub.1 and a hook swingeably supported by a supporting portion 13 over said cut-out portion 12 and adapted to be fitted to a lock projection 15 formed on the outer surface of the panel connector element A.

The attachable connector C is of the type which can be connected to another identical attachable connector by turning one of the two upside down. Therefore, the identical lock projection 15' is formed on said connector C on the opposite side to the hook 14, and a groove 16 is formed in the female portion A.sub.1 of the panel connector element A to receive said projection 15'.

The panel connector element A is provided with an integrally formed flange 17, and springy lock projections 18 are formed thereon as depicted in FIG. 1. Said flange 17 except said lock projections 18 is covered with a grummet which has double ridges formed integrally thereon. Said ridges on the grummet are pressed by the force of insertion when the panel connector element A is attached to an opening 19 in a dash panel P of a motor-car, then, the lock projection 18 are engaged with the dash panel thereby to firmly secure the panel connector element A to the dash panel air-tightly.

As apparent from the foregoing description according to the present embodiment, not only the panel connector element can be simply attached to the dash panel of a motor-car, but also air-tightness can be assured by the grummet provided on the flange of the panel connector element.

Further according to the present embodiment, the panel connector element includes a plurality of blocks each having a pair of the female and the male portions of a desired terminal number, and so, respective wiring harnesses can be connected systematically.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 13, there is illustrated a combined type multi-terminal connector assembly which is another embodiment of this invention.

Character D designates a female connector, E a male connector, Fa supporting frame and G a terminal plate.

In each female connector D are provided a pair of base plates 21 ]-shapedly confronting each other in a sectional view and walls 22 to form a plurality of rooms R. On the both walls 22 forming a room R are formed concaves 23 and on the bottom surface of the room R is formed a stepped portion 24 for securing the terminal plate G. The back portion of a pair of said base plates 21 is divided in two by a central partition 25.

The terminal plate G, identical with the terminal plate B in the former embodiment, has, at its tail portion, a connecting portion 26 to a wire and, in front of said connecting portion 26, a resilient contact plate 28. Under said contact plate 28, there is formed a projection 30 erected out of the terminal plate G, and a pair of wings 29 are formed on both sides of the contact plate 28. The terminal plate G is inserted into the female connector D slidably from the back and so adapted to be securely fixed in the predetermined position with its wings 29 registered in the concaves 23 and with its projection 30 registered in the stepped portion 24.

The female connector D includes a first female connector D.sub.1 and a second female connector D.sub.2.

Each of said first and second female connectors is provided on its both lateral faces with hooks 31 for engaging with the supporting frame F. In the forward portion of the first female connector D.sub.1 are further provided a lock projection 32 for the male connector E and contact projections 33 and 33' to contact with the under surface of the supporting frame F and with a projection 34 of the second female connector D.sub.2 which is also adapted to contact with the under surface of the supporting frame F.

The supporting frame F has a size suitable for holding a desired number of the female connectors D.sub.1, D.sub.2 combined and a flange 38 integrally formed therearound. On the inner faces of the supporting frame F are formed concaves 35 and stepped portions 36 corresponding to said hooks 31 of the female connector D and further formed cut-out portions 37 corresponding to said lock projection 32.

For combining a desired number of the female connectors D, a first and a second female connectors D.sub.1 and D.sub.2 are adequately arranged according to the size of the supporting frame F. Then the supporting frame F is placed on the arranged female connectors and pressed downward until the under surface thereof gets in touch with the projections 33 and 34. The hooks 31 are engaged with the stepped portions 36 of the frame F thereby to securely fasten the female connectors D to the supporting frame F.

The male connector E has a base plate 21 projecting forward from the back portion having the central partition 25 and walls 22 on the both sides of said base plate 21 to form a room R similarly to the female connector D to hold the terminal plate G.

The male connector includes a first male connector E.sub.1 and a second male connector E.sub.2. On the both lateral faces of the first male connector E.sub.1 are provided hooks 39 swingeably supported by a supporting portion 40 for engaging with said projection 32 of the first female connector D.sub.1, and on the upper and lower surfaces thereof are formed projected portions 43 with notches 41.

The second male connector E.sub.2 is provided with projections 42 for engaging with said notches 41 and stepped projections 44 for contacting with said projected portions 43.

A desired number of said first and second male connectors E.sub.1, E.sub.2 are adequately combined by fitting said projection 42 into said notch 41 until the projected portion 43 gets in touch with the stepped projection 44.

The thus combined male connectors E are inserted into the female connectors D previously combined and held by the supporting frame F to enable the terminal plates G respectively in the both connectors D and E to contact with each other.

As apparent from the above description, the female connectors combined and held by the supporting frame serve as a panel connector element to be attached to an intercepting wall and the male connectors combined in one block serve as an attachable connector element.

In FIG. 8, there is shown, in vertical section, the present embodiment employed in a motor-car for connecting the wiring harnesses in the engine room and in the instrument room to each other through the dash panel. The panel connector element comprising female connectors D is inserted in an opening 49 of the dash panel 48 from the engine room. The supporting frame F with its flange 38 covered with a grummet 45 is fitted to the dash panel 48 and secured by bolts 46 and nuts 47 to perfectly separate the instrument room from the engine room.

Then the male connectors connected to the wiring harness in the instrument room and united in one block are inserted into the female connectors to give an electrical connection.

As described above, the female and the male connectors can be adequately combined according to the number of wires required thereby to permit division of wiring work and abbreviate the executing time.

Further according to the present invention, since the connectors are put to use by combining a desired number of the same, a diversed cover can be employed for each block for water proof.

In the both embodiment according to the present invention, the terminal plates of the same structure can be advantageously employed for both the female and the male portions and connectors, thereby to facilitate and simplify a manufacturing process and a quality control.

Since the panel connector element is securely fixed to the intercepting wall such as a dash panel of a motor-car by means of the described fixing members, thereby effectively shutting off poisonous gases, noises etc.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-terminal connector assembly which comprises a panel connector element of cassette type and of insulating material including a plurality of integrally side-by-side formed blocks, said blocks each comprising a male portion and a female portion formed integrally with each other, said male and female portions each comprising a base plate, said base plates of each block and of side-by-side adjacent blocks being parallel and spaced from each other, said female portions each further having a wall parallel to and spaced from the base plate thereof for defining rooms therebetween, female portions of side-by-side adjacent blocks having said walls thereof integrally formed with each other to define a common barrier, further walls extending transversely of and interconnecting the ends of said base plates and said barrier of adjacent female portions and spaced from adjacent male portions, a desired number of conductive terminal plates and means on said base plates for securing ones of said terminal plates thereto in said rooms in spaced relation to the opposed one of said base plates and first-mentioned walls, an attachable connector element corresponding to each of said blocks, each said attachable connector element having a male portion and a female portion formed to correspond to and cooperate with the confronting female and confronting male portions, respectively, of an opposed block of said panel connector element and adapted to mechanically interfit therewith, each said attachable connector element having ones of said terminal plates disposed therein for lateral opposition to terminal plates of the corresponding block of said panel connector element, said panel connector element being provided with an integral flange adapted to be fitted to an intercepting wall over an opening in such intercepting wall for thereby providing for systematic connection of wiring harnesses located on both sides of said wall through terminal plates of interengaged male and female portions of said panel connector element block and said attachable connector elements.

2. A multi-terminal connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which said male portion of the panel connector element has a projection on its outer surface and said female portion of the attachable connector element has a cut-out portion formed at the central portion of its wall and a hook movably supported over said cut-out portion, said male portion of said attachable connector having a further projection and means defining a groove in said barrier for receiving said further projection, thereby ensuring a secure connection of the panel connector element with the attachable connector element.

3. A multi-terminal connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which said flange of the panel connector element has a lock projection which is adapted to engage with the intercepting wall, thereby to ensure a secure connection of the panel connector element with the intercepting wall.

4. A multi-terminal connector assembly which comprises a panel connector element including a plurality of first and second separable female connectors combined together, said panel connector element further including a supporting frame attachable to said combined female connectors for holding same, a flange formed integrally of said supporting frame and adapted to be fitted to intercepting wall over an opening in such wall, an attachable connector element corresponding to combined ones of said female connectors, said attachable connector element including a plurality of first and second separably interconnectible male connectors combined together and adapted to engage said female connectors of the panel connector element, each said female connector and corresponding male connector having a desired number of terminal plates, whereby to provide for systematic connection of wiring harnesses located on opposite sides of said wall, said frame including axial concaves having step portions remote from said intercepting wall, means on said female connectors for gripping said step portions therebetween to positively axially locate said female connectors on said frame, said first female connector having projection means for backing and underlying second female connectors flanking said first female connector for preventing relative sliding movement therebetween.

5. A multi-terminal connector assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which said first male connector of the attachable connector element has a hook and a supporting portion therefore integrally disposed on its outer surface and said first female connector has a projection on its outer surface engageable by said hook for thereby ensuring a secure connection of the panel connector element with the attachable connector element.

6. A multi-terminal connector assembly as claimed in claim 4, including means for interconnecting a first male connector in side-by-side relation with second male connectors, such means including spaced projections on each side of the first male connector, such projections having opposed notches and a further projection on the opposed side of said second male connector receivable snugly between said projections of said first male connector and interengageable with said notches thereof for preventing sideward movement of said first and second male connectors away from each other and a each said second male connector engageable with said projections of said first male connector for preventing relative sliding motion between said first and second male connectors at least in one direction, whereby a group of said first and second male connectors can be assembled together in side-by-side relation preparatory to engagement with said panel connector element.

7. A multi-terminal connector assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which said male connectors each include two rows of rooms for reception of said terminal plates, said two rows being separated by a central partition, said central partition extending beyond said rooms to expose end portions of said terminal plates on opposite sides thereof, said female connectors each having two rows of rooms for receiving terminals plates and separated by a central partition, said female connector having spaced side walls bounding the portion of said rooms remote from said central partition thereof and extending beyond the central partition toward said male connector for backing portions of said terminal plates in said female connector rooms whereby opposed spaced portions of terminal plates in said female connector are adapted to receive therebetween and electrically contact corresponding portions of terminal plates in corresponding rows in said male connector upon insertion of the extended portion of the central partition of said male connector into the space between the extended side walls of said female connector.

8. A multi-terminal connector assembly which comprises a panel connector element including a plurality of first and second separable female connectors combined together, said panel connector element further including a supporting frame attachable to said combined female connectors for holding same, a flange formed integrally of said supporting frame and adapted to be fitted to an intercepting wall over an opening in such with said supporting frame having an opening axially therethrough bounded in part by a pair of opposed walls, said female connectors being receivable in side-by-side relation through said opening, a plurality of axially extending concaves spaced along said frame walls and having step portions extending thereinto adjacent the face of said frame remote from said intercepting wall, hooks extending from the ends of said female connectors engageable in respective ones of said concaves for limiting movement of said female connectors axially of said frame in one direction by engagement with said stepped portions, contact projections on said female connectors engageable wih said face of said frame remote from said intercepting wall for preventing movement of said female connectors axially of said frame in the opposite direction, whereby said female connectors when installed in said frame are prevented at least from axial movement with respect to said intercepting wall, an attachable connector element corresponding to combined ones of said female connectors, said attachable connector element including a plurality of first and second separably interconnectible male connectors combined together and adapted to engage said female connectors of the panel connector element, each said female connector and attachable connector element having a desired number of terminal plates, whereby to provide for systematic connection of wiring harnesses located on opposite sides of said wall.

9. A multi-terminal contact assembly as claimed in claim 8, in which said contact projections of said first and second female connectors are differently configured and have complementary relatively engageable surfaces.

10. A multi-terminal connector assembly as claimed in claim 5, including interengageable means on the adjacent sides of said first and second male connectors for preventing sideward movement of said first and second male connectors away from each other and for preventing movement of said second male connectors away from opposed female connectors when an interengaged first male connector is secured by said hook to said projection of an opposed female connector whereby several second male connectors may be preassembled to a first male connector and held thereby in engagement with corresponding female connectors on said frame.

11. A multi-terminal connector assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which said first connectors differ from said second connectors, interconnector means on said first male connectors and differing interconnection means on said second male connectors cooperable therewith for separably interconnecting several second male connectors to a first male connector to form a male connector group, said first and flanking second female connectors defining a female connector group and lock means for releasably locking said male connector group to said female connector group, said lock means being disposed on said first connectors of said groups.