Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-27
2001-12-25
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C439S717000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332812
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector assembly in which an upper connector housing and a lower connector housing, each having male terminals mounted therein, are combined together in a stacked manner, with these male terminals directed in the same direction. Particularly, the present invention relates to a connector housing-combining structure.
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 11-182035, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to increase a packaging density in a connector, there has been proposed a connector assembly in which a plurality of connector housings are connected or combined together in a stacked manner.
FIG. 4
shows such a connector assembly. This connector assembly
20
comprises an upper connector housing (hereinafter referred to as “upper housing”)
22
, having many juxtaposed male terminals
21
, a lower connector housing (hereinafter referred to as “lower housing”)
24
, having many juxtaposed male terminals
23
, and a cover
25
.
Claws
26
are formed respectively on inner surfaces of opposite side walls of the upper housing
22
at a front end thereof, and projections
27
are formed respectively on outer surfaces of the opposite side walls at a rear end portion of the upper housing
22
. Claws
28
for engagement respectively with the claws
26
on the upper housing
22
are formed respectively on inner surfaces of opposite side walls of the lower housing
24
at a front end thereof, and upstanding tongue portions
29
are formed respectively on rear end portions of the opposite side walls of the lower housing
24
, and holes
30
, in which the projections
27
on the upper housing
22
can be engaged, respectively, are formed in the tongue portions
29
, respectively. A hole
31
, used for attaching the cover
25
, is formed in each of the tongue portions
29
, and is disposed below the hole
30
. Projections
32
for engagement respectively in the holes
31
in the lower housing
24
, are formed respectively on outer surfaces of opposite side walls of the cover
25
at a rear end portion thereof.
In this connector assembly
20
, the cover
25
is placed on the lower housing
24
, and the projections
32
on the cover
25
are fitted respectively in the holes
31
in the lower housing
24
, thereby connecting the cover
25
to the lower housing
24
. Then, the upper housing
22
is placed on this assembly, and the claws
26
on the upper housing
22
are engaged respectively with the claws
28
on the lower housing
24
while the projections
27
on the upper housing
22
are engaged respectively in the holes
30
in the lower housing
24
, thereby connecting the upper housing
22
to the lower housing
24
.
In the above connector assembly
20
, when connecting the upper housing to the lower housing, the front end of the upper housing is first engaged with the front end of the lower housing, and then the upper housing is pivotally moved about this front end portion so as to engage the rear end of the upper housing with the rear end of the lower housing.
Therefore, during this operation, there is a possibility that the male terminals in the upper housing are brought into contact with the male terminals in the lower housing, so that these male terminals may be bent.
To overcome this problem, there may be proposed a connector assembly in which an upper housing is slid relative to a lower housing in a direction of extending of male terminals in the lower housing, and is fitted relative thereto.
In this connector assembly, the upper housing is brought into engagement with the lower housing in a direction parallel to the male terminals in the lower housing, and therefore there is no chance that male terminals in the upper housing interfere with the male terminals in the lower housing.
However, in such a connector assembly, projections, formed respectively on rear portions of opposite side walls of the upper housing, are engaged respectively in holes, formed respectively in tongue portions formed respectively on rear portions of opposite side walls of the lower housing, so as to combine the upper housing with the lower housing, and therefore there is a possibility that the front end of the upper housing is separated from the lower housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector assembly in which an upper housing can be firmly combined with a lower housing in such a manner that the upper housing will not be separated from the lower housing.
To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector assembly which comprises a lower connector housing having a first engagement portion, an upper connector housing being able to be stacked on and combined with the lower connector housing, the upper connector housing having a second engagement portions a plurality of terminals respectively insertable into the upper and lower connector housings, the terminals being directed in the substantially same direction when the upper and lower connector housings are completely combined together, at least one dovetail groove formed in one of the first and second engagement portions, and at least one elongate projection formed on the other one of the first and second engagement portions, the at least one elongate projection being fitted in the at least one dovetail groove while the upper connector housing is slid relative to the lower connector housing in an extending direction of the terminals.
In the above connector assembly, the elongate projection is fitted in the dovetail groove, thereby combining the two connector housings together without separation.
Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the upper connector housing has one of a projection and a hole at a rear end portion thereof, the lower connector housing has the other one of the projection and the hole at a rear end portion thereof, the upper connector housing has the second engagement portion at a front end portion thereof, and the lower connector housing has the first engagement portion at a front end portion thereof, and wherein the upper connector housing is slid relative to the lower connector housing in the extending direction of the terminals, and is completely combined with the lower connector housing, so that the at least one elongate projection is fitted in the at least one dovetail groove, and the projection and the hole are engaged with each other.
In the above connector assembly, the upper connector housing can be engaged with the lower connector housing merely by sliding the upper connector housing relative to the lower connector housing. Therefore, the combining operation is easy, and besides the elongate projection, formed on one of the upper and lower connector housings, is fitted in the dovetail groove formed in the other connector housing, so that the two connector housings are combined together, and therefore the two connector housings can be combined together without being displaced relative to each other in the direction of the width and also without being separated from each other. Accordingly, it is more preferable that the projection has a tapering surface which is tapered toward a rear end of one of the upper and lower connector housings in a direction in which the upper connector housing is slid relative to the lower connector housing to be completely combined with the lower connector housing.
Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the connector assembly may further comprise a cover attachable to be located between the upper and lower connector housings so as to partially cover the terminals respectively arranged in the upper and lower connector housings.
Furthermore, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the at least one elongate projection being fitted in the at least one dovetail groove to prevent separation of the upp
Bradley Paula
Figueroa Felix O.
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
Yazaki -Corporation
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