Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Metallic connector or contact secured to insulation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-20
2003-11-18
Bradley, P. Austin (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Metallic connector or contact secured to insulation
C439S733100, C439S595000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06648699
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector and is particularly designed to improve operability and functionability when a retainer for locking terminal fitting(s) is held in its partial locking position and full locking position.
2. Description of the Related Art
A prior art connector provided with a retainer is shown in FIG.
6
. The prior art connector includes a housing
1
with a cavity
1
a
. A terminal fitting
2
is inserted into the cavity
1
a
from the rear end portion of the housing
1
. A retainer
3
is inserted through one side surface of the housing
1
to prevent the terminal fitting
2
from moving in its withdrawing direction. Partial and full locking arms
3
a
and
3
b
project from the retainer
3
to define a fork shape, and locking projections
3
c
,
3
d
project outwardly from the leading ends of the partial and full locking arms
3
a
,
3
b
respectively. Locking projections
3
c
and
3
d
can be engaged with locking steps
1
c
,
1
d
formed on inner walls of a retainer insertion portion
1
b
. Thus the retainer
3
can be held in two positions: a partial locking position
4
and a full locking position
5
(position in phantom line in FIG.
7
).
In the partial locking position
4
where the retainer
3
is not yet fully inserted, the retainer
3
does not interfere the insertion of the terminal fitting
2
into the cavity
1
a
as indicated in solid line in FIG.
6
. On the other hand, in the full locking position
5
where the retainer
3
is fully inserted, a part of the retainer
3
is engaged with the terminal fitting
2
to prevent the movement of the terminal fitting
2
in its withdrawing direction as indicated in phantom line in FIG.
6
. During the insertion of the retainer
3
to the partial locking position
4
, the partial locking arm
3
a
is deflected inwardly when the locking projection
3
c
moves over the partial locking step
1
c
, with the result that the retainer
3
reaches the partial locking position
4
. Here, the retainer
3
is positioned by the contact of the locking projection
3
d
of the full locking arm
3
b
with the lower surface of the full locking step
1
d
. Similarly, the retainer
3
reaches the full locking position
5
after the full locking arm
3
b
is deflected inwardly.
In inserting the retainer
3
, it is desirable to push the retainer
3
with a small force before reaching the partial locking position
4
and to stably hold the retainer
3
in the partial locking position thereafter. This is because the retainer
3
may be pushed straight to the full locking position
5
if an attempt is made to insert the retainer
3
to the partial locking position
4
with a strong force. In this case, the retainer
3
needs to be pulled back using a jig or like device, requiring extra time and labor. On the other hand, an external matter may strike against the retainer
3
during transportation or the like after the retainer
3
has reached the partial locking position
4
and before the terminal fittings
2
are inserted.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector having an improved operability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a connector, comprising a housing with one or more cavities for at least partly accommodating at least one terminal fitting to be inserted through a rear end portion of the housing. The connector further comprises a retainer which is partly insertable into the cavities through a retainer insertion portion. The retainer can be held in a partial locking position where the retainer permits the insertion and withdrawal of the at least one terminal fitting, and in a full locking position where the retainer substantially engages the inserted at least one terminal fitting to prevent the movement thereof in a withdrawing direction. One or more partial locking arms and one or more full locking arms project from the retainer, and locking steps for the partial and full locking arms are formed on inner walls of the retainer insertion portion to hold the retainer in the partial locking position and in the full locking position, respectively. The width and/or thickness of the partial locking arms are set smaller than those of the full locking arms to thereby set the elastic forces of the partial locking arms smaller than those of the full locking arms.
Accordingly, the retainer is pushed to the partial locking position with a smaller force, whereas it is pushed from the partial locking position to the full locking position with a larger force. This prevents the retainer from inadvertently being pushed straight to the full locking position when being pushed to the partial locking position. Simultaneously, the retainer also may be prevented from inadvertently falling while being in the partial locking position, before the terminal fittings are inserted. When the retainer is pushed to the full locking position, an operator preferably can properly feel the retainer having reached the full locking position and the retainer can stably keep locking the terminal fittings in its full locking position. Thus, operability during the insertion of the retainer and a function of locking the terminal fittings can be improved.
According to a preferred embodiment, a pair of partial and full locking arms project from each of the substantially opposite sides of the retainer. Thus the retainer can be securely positioned in its partial and full lock positions.
Preferably, the one or more partial locking arms and the one or more full locking arms are fork-shaped and are arranged along forward and backward directions of the retainer.
Further preferably, the locking steps engage one or more partial locking projections and one or more full locking projections that project preferably outward from the partial and full locking arms, respectively, to hold the retainer in the partial locking position and in the full locking position, respectively. Thus the locking arms have a simple but effective construction.
Most preferably, the one or more partial locking projections are engageable with the corresponding locking steps after the partial locking arms are deflected preferably inwardly, and when the retainer is pushed to the partial locking position. The one or more full locking projections are engageable with the corresponding locking steps after the full locking arms are deflected, preferably inwardly, and when the retainer is pushed from the partial locking position to the full locking position.
According to a further preferred embodiment, there is provided a connector, comprising a housing provided with cavities for accommodating at least one terminal fitting to be inserted through a rear end of the housing. The connector further comprises a retainer which is partly insertable into cavities through a retainer insertion portion, which is open in one side surface of the housing. The retainer can be held in a partial locking position where the retainer permits the insertion and withdrawal of the at least one terminal fitting and in a full locking position where the retainer engages the inserted at least one terminal fitting to prevent the movement thereof in a withdrawing direction. A pair of partial and full locking arms which are fork-shaped and arranged along forward and backward directions project from each of the opposite sides of the retainer. Locking steps are formed on inner walls of the retainer insertion portion for engaging partial and full locking projections projecting outwardly from the partial and full locking arms to hold the retainer in the partial locking position and in the full locking position, respectively. The partial locking arms deflect inwardly and partial locking projections engage with the corresponding locking steps when the retainer is pushed to the partial locking position. Similarly the full locking arms deflect inwardly and the full locking projections engage with the locking steps when the retainer is pushed from the partial locking position to the full locking position. The width a
Makino Hirotaka
Okada Hajime
Bradley P. Austin
Casella Anthony J.
Hespos Gerald E.
León Edwin A.
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
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