Electrical connectors – Self aligning contact – Contact mounted in floating nonconductive holder
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-07
2001-04-17
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Self aligning contact
Contact mounted in floating nonconductive holder
C439S248000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217358
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a connector coupling structure which is used in, for example, vehicle door and is preferable for coupling female and male connectors having multiple poles with each other or uncoupling them.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
In a vehicle door, a switch unit such as a power window switch unit is installed on a door trim by fitting a connector of wire harness placed on the door panel to a connector of switch unit to be installed on the door panel through a door trim.
FIG. 1
is a diagram for explaining an installation procedure of a conventional connector for vehicle door.
First, a wire harness
102
is placed on a door panel
101
and next waterproof sheet
103
is bonded to this door panel
101
. A switch unit such as a power window switch unit is installed on a door trim
105
and a connector
107
of the switch unit
104
is fit to a connector
106
which is connected to an end of the wire harness
102
placed in the door panel
101
and finally the door trim
105
is installed on the door panel
101
.
A connector coupling structure suitable for this kind of use has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 9-55262.
FIGS. 2A
to
2
D are diagrams for explaining a conventional connector coupling structure.
In the conventional connector coupling structure, as shown in
FIG. 2A
, a female connector
205
provided on an electrical device
204
is fit to a male connector
201
which is inserted into an insertion hole
208
a
of a connector mounting plate
208
through a mounting opening
209
a
of an instrumental panel
209
. This male connector
201
has a flexible engaging piece
202
. Prior to fitting of the male connector
201
, a protrusion
202
a
provided on the engaging piece
202
is engaged with a fitting hole
208
a
of the connector mounting plate
208
. As shown in
FIGS. 2B
,
2
C, the female connector
205
is inserted through the mounting opening
209
a
of the instrumental panel
209
and fit to the male connector
201
. As a result, when the female connector
205
is normally fit to the male connector
201
, the engaging piece
202
deflects downward so that a hook portion
203
on a front end of the engaging piece
202
is embedded into a recess hole
206
of the female connector
205
. When the electrical device
204
is further pressed from this condition, as shown in
FIG. 2D
, the male connector
201
is forced up to an assembly position, so that the female connector
205
is locked within the mounting opening
209
a
of the instrumental panel
209
through a locking piece
204
a
of the electrical device
204
.
According to the installation procedure of the conventional vehicle connectors, after the switch unit
104
is installed on the door trim
105
, the connector
107
of the switch unit
104
is fit to the connector
106
connected to the end of the wire harness
102
placed in the door panel
101
. Thus, the coupling of both the connectors
106
,
107
is carried out by manual sensing method (the manual sensing work portion is indicated by symbol B in
FIG. 1
) so that work efficiency is poor. Further, because the connector
106
is located at an end of the long wire harness
102
, when the door trim
105
is installed on the door panel
101
after the connector
107
of the switch unit
104
is fit to the connector connected to the end of the wire harness
102
placed in the door panel
101
, catching of the wire harness
102
or the like occurs thereby leading to a connection failure of the wire harness
102
, disconnection or the like.
In the above described conventional connector coupling structure, because there is formed a tapered face
202
b
on a rear portion of the protrusion
202
a
of the engaging piece
202
of the male connector
201
, the male connector
201
is likely to retract on halfway of coupling of both the connectors
201
,
205
, so that it is difficult to install both the connectors
201
,
205
at a normal position with both the connectors being coupled with each other completely. For example, if both the connectors
201
,
205
are uncoupled for maintenance and inspection, the male connector
201
remains drooping behind the connector mounting plate
208
, so that it is impossible to couple both the connectors
201
,
205
with each other again when the maintenance and inspection is completed. If the wire harness connected to the male connector
201
is pulled for some reason after both the connectors
201
,
205
are fit to each other, there is a fear that the connectors
201
,
205
may be uncoupled because there is no locking means provided between both the connectors
201
and
205
. Further, because both the connectors
201
,
205
are fit to each other by only a holding force between a female terminal (not shown) of the male connector
201
and a male terminal
207
of the female connector
205
, the fitting force between both the connectors
201
and
205
is insufficient so that it is weak against a vibration, thereby often producing looseness, abnormal noise and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been achieved with such points in view.
It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a connector coupling structure enabling the female and male connectors to be coupled with each other and preventing a wire connection failure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector coupling structure enabling the female and male connectors to slide easily relative to a holder in a coupling completion condition, capable of preventing an occurrence of abnormal noise and excellent in anti-vibration performance.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a connector coupling structure enabling the coupling of the female and male connectors to be carried out easily and accurately.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a connector coupling structure capable of preventing slippage of both the connectors from the coupling state.
A first aspect of the present invention provides a connector coupling structure in which one of female and male connectors is installed on a mounting base in such a waiting condition that it projects through a holder and the one connector is capable of being freely coupled with the other connector in a direction of the projected waiting condition of the one connector, the connector coupling structure being so that the one connector is provided freely slidably in the holder and after the other connector is coupled with the one connector, both the connectors are freely slidable relative to the holder in a coupling completion condition toward the mounting base.
According to the connector coupling structure, both the female and male connectors can be easily coupled with each other and the coupling thereof can be easily confirmed thereby improving work efficiency. Further because the pulling out of the wire is not needed, catching of the wire or the like is prevented so that a connection failure of the wire, disconnection and the like are prevented.
A second aspect of the present invention provides a connector coupling structure according to the first aspect wherein the holder is cylindrical in shape and both the coupled connectors are slidably provided in the cylindrical holder.
According to the connector coupling structure, both the coupled connectors slide linearly toward the mounting base thereby shortening an installation time to the mounting base.
A third aspect of the present invention provides a connector coupling structure according to the first aspect wherein the switch installed on a other connector is installed in a switch mounting hole provided in another mounting base and the switch installed in the switch mounting hole is lockable with a locking means.
According to the connector coupling structure, an installation error between the mounting base and other mounting base and looseness are absorbed so that both the connectors are never loose or vibrated thereby preventing an occurrence of abnormal noise
Kodama Shinji
Norizuki Teruhisa
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Gilman Alexander
Paumen Gary F.
Yazaki -Corporation
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