초록 ▼

A joint connector (JC) has housings ( 20 ) with chambers ( 21 ) therein. Insertion openings ( 22 ) and outlets ( 23 ) extend into each chamber ( 21 ) at the front end of the housing ( 20 ). Terminal fittings ( 10 ) are inserted into chambers ( 21 ) so that joints ( 16 ) of the terminal fittings ( 10

A joint connector (JC) has housings ( 20 ) with chambers ( 21 ) therein. Insertion openings ( 22 ) and outlets ( 23 ) extend into each chamber ( 21 ) at the front end of the housing ( 20 ). Terminal fittings ( 10 ) are inserted into chambers ( 21 ) so that joints ( 16 ) of the terminal fittings ( 10 ) project forward through outlets ( 23 ). A cover ( 60 ) is detachably mounted on each housing ( 20 ) to protect the joints ( 16 ). Insertion holes ( 72 ) and insertion paths ( 73 ) are formed in the cover ( 60 ) and align with the insertion openings ( 22 ) of the housing ( 20 ). A probe ( 80 ) can be inserted through the insertion holes ( 72 ) and the insertion paths ( 73 ) for contacting the terminal fittings ( 10 ) so that an electrical connection test can be performed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A cover for a joint connector having a plurality of housings, each of said housings having at least one chamber with a front opening, terminal fittings accommodated in the corresponding chambers and having joints projecting forward through the respective front opening,wherein the cover is detacha

1. A cover for a joint connector having a plurality of housings, each of said housings having at least one chamber with a front opening, terminal fittings accommodated in the corresponding chambers and having joints projecting forward through the respective front opening,wherein the cover is detachably mountable on one of said housings to substantially cover the joints of the terminal fittings projecting through front openings of the chambers, the cover having a first wall substantially parallel to the joints of the respective terminal fitting and a second wall parallel to and between the joints and the first wall such that an insertion path is defined between the first and second walls, the second wall being formed with a guide surface for guiding the joints to a position outside the insertion path, the cover further being formed with at least one insertion hole providing communication to the insertion path, whereby an electrical connection testing device can be inserted through the insertion hole for electrical contact with the terminal fittings, and whereby the first and second walls prevent the electrical connection testing device from shaking in a direction normal to the first and second walls. 2. The joint cover of claim 1, wherein a third wall and a fourth wall are formed substantially continuously with each insertion hole and the insertion path for permitting the insertion of the electrical connection testing device while preventing the electrical connection testing device from shaking in a direction normal to the third and fourth walls. 3. A cover for a housing of a joint connector, said cover comprising: a front wall, a plurality of interconnected sidewalls extending rearwardly from the front wall to an open rear end, said open rear end being dimensioned for telescoped engagement on said housing, one of said sidewalls of said cover including a raised portion extending from said front end of said cover to a location between said front and rear ends, portions of said cover having said raised portion being cross-sectionally smaller than said housing for limiting the telescoped engagement of said cover onto said housing, locking means formed on at least one of said sidewalls of said cover between said raised portion and said open rear end for releasable locking with said housing, at least one insertion hole extending from the front wall and through the raised portion substantially parallel to the sidewalls, whereby the insertion hole permits insertion of a probe for electrical testing of the joint connector, and whereby said raised portion keeps said front wall spaced from said housing for protecting terminal fittings of said housing. 4. A joint connector, comprising:a plurality of housings configured for being joined with one another;at least one chamber extending substantially in forward and backward directions in each housing, such that said plurality of housings define a plurality of chambers, front openings extending respectively into the chambers;terminal fittings disposed respectively in said chambers, a joints extending forward on the respective terminal fittings and projecting through the front opening of the respective chambers;covers detachably mountable respectively on each of said housings to substantially cover the joints projecting through the front opening of the respective chambers; andretainers formed separately from said housings and said covers and mounted respectively on each of said housings for locking the terminal fittings in the respective housing, said covers being formed respectively with apertures through which the respective retainers can be manipulated. 5. The joint connector of claim 4, wherein each of said covers comprises a resilient lock releasably engageable with the corresponding housing. 6. A joint connector, comprising;a plurality of housings configured for being joined with one another,a guide being provided at least on one side surface of each of said housings, the guides of the h ousings being substantially aligned when the housings are placed substantially one over another to be joined;at least one chamber extending substantially in forward and backward directions in each housing, such that said joint connector has a plurality of chambers, front openings extending respectively into the chambers;a terminal fitting in each of said chambers, a plurality of said terminal fittings comprising a joint extending forward on the terminal fitting and projecting respectively through the front openings of the chambers;a cover detachably mountable on each of said housings to substantially cover the joints projecting through the front openings of the chambers; anda shutter being slideably mountable to substantially cover the front surfaces of the joined housings, and each guide defining a receiving portion for receiving the resilient lock of the corresponding cover. 7. A joint connector comprising:a plurality of housings configured for being joined to one another;at least one chamber extending substantially in forward and backward directions in each housing, such that said joint connector has a plurality of chambers, front openings extending respectively into the chambers;a terminal fitting in each of said chambers, a plurality of said terminal fittings comprising a joint extending forward from the terminal connecting portion and projecting respectively through the front openings of the chambers; andcovers detachably mountable respectively on each of said housings to substantially cover the joints projecting through the front openings of the chambers, wherein each of the covers comprises a front wall and a plurality of sidewalls extending rearwardly from the front wall to an open rear end, portions of each of said covers adjacent the open rear end being dimensioned for telescoped engagement onto one of said housings, one of said sidewalls of each of said covers having a raised portion extending from the front end to a location between the front and rear ends, the raised portion being dimensioned for limiting the telescoped engagement of the cover onto the housing and preventing contact between the cover and the joints. 8. The joint connector of claim 7, wherein at least one of the sidewalls comprises locking means for releasable locked engagement of the cover with the housing. 9. The joint connector of claim 8, wherein the raised portion has insertion openings extending therethrough substantially parallel to the sidewalls for accessing the terminal connecting portions of the terminal fittings with a probe. 10. The joint connector of claim 9, wherein the raised portion has a tapered rear end for guiding the joints away from the insertion openings as the cover is being mounted on the housing. 11. A method of assembling a joint connector, comprising:providing a plurality of housings, each of said housings having at least one chamber,accommodating terminal fittings in the chambers while allowing a tab-shaped joint of at least part of the terminal fittings to project through front openings of the chambers,detachably mounting a cover on each housing to cover the joints of the terminal fittings projecting through the front openings of the chambers,inserting an electrical connection testing device into at least one insertion hole in the cover for bringing the electrical connection testing device into electrical contact with portions of the terminal fittings spaced from the respective joints thereof,performing an electrical connection test,removing the cover from the respective housing,bending the joints of the terminal fittings to project substantially backward, andjoining the plurality of housings to join the joint of one terminal fitting in one of the housings with a corresponding terminal fitting of another of the housings.