Electrical connectors – Coupling part including flexing insulation – Hinged or flexed detent on insulation engaging to secure...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-22
2003-11-04
Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Coupling part including flexing insulation
Hinged or flexed detent on insulation engaging to secure...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06641437
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a connector with cavities with resin locks for locking terminal fittings inserted into the cavities.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,849 discloses a connector that has a housing formed with cavities into which terminal fittings are insertable. Resilient deflectable locks are cantilevered adjacent the cavities and extend along the inserting direction of the terminal fittings. The terminal fittings are pushed into the cavities and deform the locks about their base ends. The locks are restored resiliently when the terminal fittings are inserted to proper positions. Thus, the leading ends of the locks engage the terminal fittings and prevent them from coming out.
The housing of the above-described connector is molded from a synthetic resin. The molding must be carried out so that clearances exist between the locks and the sidewalls of the cavities so that the locks can deform. The clearances are formed by molding pins that project from a base surface of the mold used to form an end surface of the housing. The molding pins are required to have a specified thickness to ensure sufficient strength and, the clearances corresponding to this thickness are invariably formed at the opposite sides of the locks. Thus, the width of each lock is restricted to a dimension obtained by subtracting the widths of the clearances at the opposite sides of the lock from the entire width of the cavity. Narrow locks may not exhibit sufficient locking force.
The present invention was developed in view of the above problem and an object thereof is to enhance a terminal locking force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to a connector with a housing and at least one cavity formed in the housing. At least one terminal fitting is insertable into the cavity. At least one resiliently deflectable lock is cantilevered in the cavity and extends substantially along the inserting direction of the terminal fitting for locking the terminal fitting in the cavity. A separate front-wall member is mounted to the housing and has sidewall portions for forming sidewalls of the cavity at the opposite sides of the locks.
The lock is formed during molding and spaces are defined at the opposite sides of the lock. The front-wall member then is mounted so that the sidewall portions enter the spaces adjacent the lock. Accordingly, the lock can have a width substantially equal to the entire width of the cavity.
Thus, the lock is engageable with, for example, corners at the opposite sides of an engaging portion of the terminal fitting, thereby enhancing a terminal locking force thereof.
The lock can be thinned while maintaining a specified terminal locking force, and the deformation space can be made smaller as much as the lock is thinned. As a result, the connector advantageously can be miniaturized.
The front-wall member may comprise a retainer that projects into a deformation space for the lock. Thus, the terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity and is engaged by the lock. The front wall member then is mounted so that the retainer projects into the deformation space and prevents deformation of the lock. Accordingly, the terminal fitting is locked doubly.
The front-wall member preferably can be held at a partial locking position where the retainer is retracted forward from the deformation space to permit the resilient deformation of the lock and at a full locking position where the retainer projects into the deformation space.
The terminal fitting is inserted into the cavity with the front-wall member at the partial locking position. The front-wall member then is pushed to the full locking position so that the retainer prevents deformation of the lock and redundantly locks the terminal fitting. The connector is convenient to handle since the front-wall member can be partly assembled with the housing.
A disengagement projection may be formed in the widthwise center of the surface of the lock that faces the deformation space. The retainer may comprise elongated restricting projections that can contact the disengagement projection of the lock. Additionally, an introducing groove may be defined between the elongated restricting projections for receiving a disengagement jig that is engageable with the disengagement projection.
The elongated restricting projections of the retainer contact opposite sides of the lock to prevent deformation of the lock when the front-wall member is at the full locking position. Thus, the terminal fitting is locked redundantly. However, the front-wall member can be returned to the partial locking position. The disengagement jig then can be inserted through the introducing groove between the restricting projections to catch the disengagement projection and deform the lock. The terminal fitting then is freed from its locked state.
The lock preferably is in the deformation space if the terminal fitting is inserted only partly. Thus, the retainer cannot enter the deformation space and the front-wall member cannot be displaced to the full locking position when the terminal fitting is inserted only partly.
A pair of ribs may be formed at the surface of the lock facing the cavity and are spaced apart to permit insertion of the terminal fitting. Thus, the locking can be reinforced while the insertion and withdrawal of the terminal fitting are permitted.
The lock may extend over substantially the entire width of the cavity.
The terminal fitting preferably has an engagement portion for contacting the lock. The engagement portion extends over substantially the entire width of the terminal fitting. Most preferably, the locking engages lateral corners of the engagement portion of the terminal fitting.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description and the drawings. Even though embodiments are described separately, single features may be combined to additional embodiments.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6165011 (2000-12-01), Fukuda
patent: 6244900 (2001-06-01), Ishikawa et al.
patent: 6334790 (2002-01-01), Kashiyama et al.
patent: 6338654 (2002-01-01), Sasaki et al.
patent: 6375502 (2002-04-01), Yoshida et al.
patent: 6390849 (2002-05-01), Yamanashi et al.
Tabata Masaaki
Tsuji Takeshi
Casella Anthony J.
Harvey James R.
Hespos Gerald E.
Paumen Gary
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
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