Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Metallic connector or contact secured to insulation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-07
2001-08-28
Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Metallic connector or contact secured to insulation
C439S595000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280262
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
Connectors used in an automotive vehicle and in similar environments are subjected to vibration, and have had a problem of abrasion due to fine sliding (fretting corrosion or micromovement) between female and male terminal fittings. A prior art terminal fitting that is intended to avoid abrasion due to vibration related micromovement is identified by the numeral
102
in FIG.
20
and is disclosed further in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 10-149855. This prior art terminal fitting
102
is provided with a receptacle
103
to be connected with a mating terminal fitting. A surrounding element
104
loosely and moveably surrounds the receptacle
103
and a lead
105
integrally extends from the receptacle
103
. A problem of fine sliding is solved by fastening the lead
105
to a barrel
106
together with a wire conductor.
However, the prior art terminal fitting
102
can not solve the problem of fine sliding completely since it is shaken in a housing
101
as shown in
FIG. 21
if a wire W is shaken due to the vibration of an automotive vehicle.
The present invention was developed in view of the above problem, and an object thereof is to provide a connector which can more securely solve the problem of fine sliding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a connector, comprising one or more terminal fittings connected or connectable with wires. A housing is formed with one or more cavities for at least partly accommodating the terminal fittings, and a mount member is mounted on the housing. The wires are prevented from shaking or are engaged by a wire fixing means behind the terminal fittings when the mount member is mounted on the housing. Accordingly, since the wires are held or engaged by the wire fixing portion behind the terminal fittings so as not to shake, even if the wires are subjected to vibration, this vibration does not reach the terminal fittings. Therefore, the problem of fine sliding can be solved.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mount member is a retainer to lock the terminal fittings and to prevent them from coming out of their respective cavity. Accordingly, the terminal fittings can be locked and the wires can be fixed by mounting the retainer as a mount member on the housing.
Preferably, the wire fixing means is provided on a selected one of the housings and the mount member and comprises one or more holders for holding the wires. Accordingly, the wires are held by the holders with the mount member mounted with the housing.
The wire fixing means may comprise a wire fixing portion provided on the mount member for tightly holding the wires in cooperation with corresponding inner wall surfaces of the cavities. Accordingly, the wires are squeezed between the wire fixing portion and the inner wall surfaces of the cavities. Thus, even if the wires are subjected to vibration, this vibration does not reach the terminal fittings.
A wire bending portion preferably is provided for receiving and bending the wire when the wire is tightly held by the wire fixing portion. The wire bending portion may be formed in the inner wall surface of each cavity. Accordingly, the wires are squeezed between the wire fixing portion and the inner wall surfaces of the cavities and, at the same time, are forcibly bent by the wire bending portions. Thus, the wires can be pushed more stably.
Still further preferably, the wire fixing means can substantially elastically fix the wires. Accordingly, since the wire fixing means can elastically fix the wires, the wires are held stably even if the outer diameters of the wires to be connected with the terminal fittings vary.
Most preferably, the mount member comprises a rear wall which substantially faces the rear end surface of the housing, and substantially in close contact therewith. The wire fixing portion preferably is provided in a position of this rear wall facing rear openings of the cavities in the rear end surface of the housing, and can push the wires against the edges of the rear openings of the cavities by being displaced in a direction crossing the longitudinal axes of the wires as the mount member is mounted on the housing.
It should be noted that “direction crossing the longitudinal axes of the wires” may vertically or transversely cross the longitudinal axes of the wires.
Accordingly, the wires are displaced by the wire fixing portion in the direction crossing the longitudinal axes of the wires as the mount member is mounted on the housing. Thus, the wires are pushed against the opening edges of the exits of the cavities, thereby preventing the terminal fittings from shaking.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5033976 (1991-07-01), Sarian et al.
patent: 5183418 (1993-02-01), Yamanashi et al.
patent: 5277619 (1994-01-01), Yamamoto
patent: 5516984 (1996-05-01), Soes et al.
patent: 5575681 (1996-11-01), Muzslay et al.
patent: 5616045 (1997-04-01), Gauker
patent: 5651692 (1997-07-01), Hatagishi
patent: 5716242 (1998-02-01), Myer
patent: 0 596 707 (1994-05-01), None
patent: 6-151002 (1994-05-01), None
patent: 7-240247 (1995-09-01), None
patent: 8-287991 (1996-11-01), None
patent: 10-149855 (1998-06-01), None
Casella Anthony J.
Gilman Alexander
Hespos Gerald E.
Paumen Gary
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
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