Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
2003-07-17
2004-03-30
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means
C439S489000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06712635
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a connector with a connection detecting function.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,255 and FIG.
22
(A) herein show a connector with a connection detecting function. With reference to FIG.
22
(A), the connector has first and second housings
1
and
2
. A resiliently inclinable lock arm
3
is provided on the first housing
1
and has an engageable portion
3
A that engages a lock
4
on the second housing
2
when the housings
1
,
2
are connected properly. A detector
5
is detachably mountable along the lock arm
3
and has a resiliently deformable detecting arm
6
. A stopper
7
is provided at the leading end of the detecting arm
6
for contacting and receiving the engageable portion
3
A of the lock arm
3
.
The lock arm
3
and the stopper
7
pass the lock
4
during connection of the housings
1
,
2
, and resiliently deform the detecting arm
6
. The detector
5
may be pushed in during this connection. However, such a pushing movement is hindered by contact of the stopper
7
with the engageable portion
3
A. As a result, the two housings
1
,
2
are detected to have been left partly connected. On the other hand, the engageable portion
3
A engages the lock
4
when the housings
1
,
2
are connected properly to lock the housings
1
,
2
together, and the lock arm
3
makes a returning movement. Thus, the engageable portion
3
A is disengaged from the stopper
7
, and the detector
5
can be pushed in. As a result, proper connection of the housings
1
,
2
can be detected.
However, in the prior art connector, the detecting arm
6
inevitably is deformed resiliently when the detector
5
is pushed to detect the connected state. The detecting arm
6
also is deformed resiliently as the lock arm
3
is inclined during the connecting operation of the two housings
1
,
2
. Thus, an extra time is taken for the resilient deformation of the detecting arm
6
, thereby presenting a problem of poor durability resulting from an excessive load exerted on a supporting point of deformation.
The present invention was developed in view of the above problem and an object thereof is to improve the durability of a detecting member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a connector with first and second housings that are connectable with each other. The first housing has a lock arm and the second housing has a lock engageable with an engageable portion of the lock arm. The lock arm is deflected resiliently as the two housings are being connected. However, the lock arm returns resiliently when the housings reach their properly connected state, and the engageable portion of the lock arm engages the lock to lock the housings together. A detector is detachably mountable into the first housing to detect a connected state of the two housings based on whether the detector can be pushed from a standby position toward a detecting position. The detector comprises a resilient locking piece that is opposed to the engageable portion of the lock arm at its initial position before the two housings are connected and at an initial stage of connection of the two housings. Thus, the resilient locking piece prevents the detector from being pushed in a mounting direction. At least one contact means is provided for preventing the detector from being pushed in by being substantially opposed to the lock arm that has been inclined during the connection of the two housings.
Contact of the resilient locking piece with the engageable portion of the lock arm prevents the detector from being pushed in the mounting direction from the standby position until the housings are connected. The lock arm is inclined during the connection of the housings. A pushing force on the detector in the mounting direction during connection is hindered by contact of the contact means while the lock arm is inclined. As a result, the partial connection of the housings can be detected. On the other hand, the housings may be, connected properly. In this situation, the engageable portion of the lock arm engages the lock as the lock arm returns, and the guiding surface of the lock is substantially opposed to the resilient locking piece. As a result, the resilient locking piece contacts the guiding surface and permits the detector to be pushed in the mounting direction while being resiliently deformed along the guiding surface. As a result, proper connection of the housings can be detected.
The resilient locking piece of the detector preferably is constructed to be deformed resiliently only when the detector is pushed in to detect the connected state. Thus, an excessive load on a supporting point of deformation and the like can be avoided, and durability can be improved.
The lock preferably has a guiding surface that is opposed to the resilient locking piece when the lock arm returns. The guiding surface deforms the resilient locking piece when the detector is pushed in the mounting direction.
The lock arm is inclined as the two housings are connected and engages a cam surface of the contact means. Accordingly, the detector is moved back from the push-preventing position to the standby position. Thus, the detector can be pushed with a large stroke, making the connection detection more distinct.
The first housing preferably has a return-preventing portion and the detector preferably has a deformation-preventing piece. The deformation-preventing piece and the return-preventing portion contact while the detector is held at the push-preventing position by the resilient locking piece and the engageable portion. Thus, the detector cannot move toward the standby position, and the deformation-preventing piece is disengaged from the return-preventing portion while being deformed by the engagement with the lock arm that has been inclined in the process of connecting the two housings. As a result, backward movement of the detector toward the standby position is permitted.
The detector is moved back from the push-preventing position where, the resilient locking piece and the engageable portion hold the detector, to the standby position while the lock arm is inclined as the housings are connected. The detector could shake in forward and backward directions if the detector at the push-preventing position could be moved freely back toward the standby position when the two connectors are partly connected. However, the engagement of the deformation-preventing piece and the return-preventing portion prevents the detector from moving from the push-preventing position to the standby position, and hence prevents loose shaking movements in forward and backward directions. Thus, the detector is held securely at the push-preventing position.
The contact means preferably comprises a deformation-preventing piece and a contact portion formed on the first housing. The detector may be pushed in a partly connected state of the two housings where the lock arm is inclined. However, the deformation-preventing piece that is pushed by the lock arm contacts the contact that is prevented from undergoing a resilient deformation and prevents the detector from being pushed.
The deformation-preventing piece engages the lock arm that is inclined after the deformation-preventing piece disengages from the return-preventing portion. Thus the deformation-preventing piece functions as the contact means for preventing the detector from being pushed in the mounting direction while the lock arm is inclined. However, the deformation-preventing piece is resiliently deformable, and may not function well as a stopper for preventing the detector from being pushed in the mounting direction. However, the deformation-preventing piece is brought into contact with the contact portion to prevent the resilient deformation of the deformation-preventing piece. Hence, the deformation-preventing piece can function as the stopper.
The detector preferably has a restricting surface for slipping under an operable portion used to incline the lock arm, thereby preventing the lock arm from being
Casella Anthony J.
Harvey James R.
Hespos Gerald E.
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
Ta Tho D.
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