US 12,237,607 B2
Joint connector including branch portions and coupling portion
Hiroki Kobayashi, Mie (JP); Hajime Kawase, Mie (JP); Masaaki Tabata, Mie (JP); Teruo Hara, Mie (JP); and Hajime Matsui, Mie (JP)
Assigned to AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., Mie (JP); SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., Mie (JP); and SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., Osaka (JP)
Appl. No. 17/767,029
Filed by AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., Mie (JP); SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., Mie (JP); and SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., Osaka (JP)
PCT Filed Aug. 18, 2020, PCT No. PCT/JP2020/031060
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 6, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/079596, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 29, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-193602 (JP), filed on Oct. 24, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0368056 A1, Nov. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. H01R 13/42 (2006.01); H01R 4/18 (2006.01); H01R 13/18 (2006.01); H01R 13/28 (2006.01); H01R 13/506 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 13/42 (2013.01) [H01R 4/18 (2013.01); H01R 13/28 (2013.01); H01R 13/506 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A joint connector for electrically connecting a plurality of wires, comprising:
a housing; and
a joint terminal disposed in the housing,
wherein:
the joint terminal includes:
a plurality of branch portions arranged along an arrangement direction;
a plurality of wire connecting portions respectively continuous with the plurality of branch portions and connected to the plurality of wires; and
a coupling portion configured to electrically connect the plurality of branch portions by coupling the plurality of branch portions,
the coupling portion has a plate shape extending in the arrangement direction and is bent, and
the coupling portion is formed by a single body and stretchable in its entirety in the arrangement direction to generate a resilient force, thereby being engaged with the housing.