Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-28
2001-09-11
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287153
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cable connector and more particularly to a cable connector provided with an improved engagement mechanism for securing a terminal within its housing and from preventing disengagement of the terminal when forces are applied to the terminal from different directions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, in the case where a cable connector comprises a molded housing and a stamped and formed terminal, a terminal locking lance engageable with the terminal is provided within the housing, so that after the terminal is inserted into the housing and the above-described lance is elastically deformed, the lance engages and holds the terminal in a predetermined position within the housing.
In known designs, such as is shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-129296 or the like, a backup wall is also formed in the housing at a predetermined position and an engagement piece is provided on the terminal. When the terminal is mounted in the housing, the engagement piece engages the locking lance and the backup wall prevents the lance from being deformed, thereby maintaining the engagement between the terminal and the lance, suppressing the shift or disengagement of the terminal in a direction opposite the insertion direction of the terminal, thus preventing the disengagement between the terminal and the lance.
Although the engagement mechanism between the terminal and the lance according to the above-described prior art is effective for maintaining the engagement between the terminal and the lance in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the terminal, the mechanism is not always effective for the prevention of the release of engagement caused by a force in a direction perpendicular the terminal insertion direction. Accordingly, in the case where force in the perpendicular direction is applied to the cable (directly connected to the terminal), it has heretofore been difficult to eliminate disengagement between the terminal and the lance and therefore the terminal can be pulled out when force is applied to the cable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a cable connector having an engagement mechanism between a terminal and a housing which is effective in preventing the terminal from becoming disengaged when a force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the terminal insertion direction or in a direction opposite the terminal insertion direction.
To accomplish this objective, there is provided a cable connector having an improved engagement mechanism for securing a terminal member within a housing comprising:
a support block extending from a bottom surface of the housing having a first insert groove portion formed therein;
a backup wall extending from a bottom surface of the housing generally parallel to the support block having a second insert groove portion formed therein;
a cantilevered deflectable lance formed on the housing and positioned between and generally parallel to the support block and the backup wall; and
a terminal base portion of the terminal member having a first fitting insert piece extending in a first direction, and a second fitting insert piece extending in an opposite direction;
wherein when the terminal member is inserted into the housing, the first fitting insert piece is inserted into the first insert groove portion and the second fitting insert piece is inserted into the second insert groove portion to secure the terminal member within the housing.
The engagement mechanism further comprises:
an engagement opening portion formed in the terminal base portion of the terminal member; and
an engagement convex portion provided on the deflectable lance, wherein when the terminal member is inserted into the housing, the engagement convex portion is adapted to extend into the engagement opening portion of the terminal member.
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cable connector having an engagement mechanism between a terminal and a housing which is effective for retaining the terminal against forces applied in directions both parallel to and perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the terminal.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5676562 (1997-10-01), Fukuda
Asaoka Motoaki
Tamura Hirotaka
Abrams Neil
Caldwell Stacey E.
Dinh Phuong
Molex Incorporated
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