Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Coupling part or mating part extending into panel opening
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-02
2002-08-06
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Coupling part or mating part extending into panel opening
C439S157000, C439S247000, C439S342000, C439S372000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06428353
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector support mechanism, and more particularly, to a connector support mechanism comprising a pair of male and female connectors to be connected to each other and having a structure in which one of the connectors is temporarily locked to a mounted body.
2. Description of the Related Arts
As a connector of this kind, a connector described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-23725 is known (see FIG.
1
). In this connector, a rear end of a first connector
52
is supported by an instrument panel
51
, and a second connector
53
is fitted to the first connector
52
from its front end side. Engaging levers
54
and
54
are turnably pivoted on the first connector
52
. A rear abutting protrusion
55
abutting a back surface of the instrument panel
51
and a front abutting protrusion
56
abutting a front surface of the instrument panel
51
are formed on a free end of each of the engaging levers
54
and
54
. Further, a lever turning protrusion
57
, which a front end surface of the second connector
53
abuts, protrudes from the engaging lever
54
.
Therefore, when the second connector
53
is fitted to the first connector
52
, a front end surface of the second connector
53
pushes the lever turning protrusion
57
, so as to turn the engaging lever
54
. To separate both the connectors
52
and
53
from each other from a state shown in
FIG. 1
, the second connector
53
is pulled backward. With this pull operation, the rear abutting protrusion
55
receives a reaction force from the instrument panel
51
so as to turn the engaging lever
54
, and the fitted state of both the connectors
52
and
53
is released.
In the above-described conventional connectors, however, when the fitted state is released, the rear abutting protrusion
55
abuts the back surface of the instrument panel
51
diagonally, and this angle &thgr;
1
is greater than 90° with respect to the pull-out direction (backward) of the second connector
53
. Therefore, when the second connector
53
was pulled backward, the component of force for turning the engaging lever
54
becomes small, and there is a problem that the pull-out force can not be converted into a turning force efficiently.
Further, there is a known connector shown in
FIG. 2
as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-3746. As shown in
FIG. 2
, this connector comprises a first connector
51
, a second connector
52
and a guide member
53
for accommodating the first connector
51
. The guide member
53
includes locking means
53
C for holding the first connector
51
, and has a function that guiding the second connector
52
toward the first connector
51
. A rib
53
B protrudes inward from a side wall
53
A of the guide member
53
. A cam protrusion
51
A protrudes from the first connector
51
. The second connector
52
is formed with a straight guide groove
54
for guiding the cam protrusion
51
A. A rotation plate
55
formed with a cam groove
55
A is pivotally supported on the second connector
52
by means of a support shaft
56
. Two lever protrusions
57
A and
57
B protrude from the rotation plate
55
.
According to this connector, if the second connector
52
is allowed to approach the first connector
51
held by the guide member
53
, the lever protrusion
57
A of the rotation plate
55
abuts the rib
53
B to turn the rotation plate
55
, so that the cam protrusion
51
A is pulled into the cam groove
55
A, and the first connector
51
and the second connector
52
are fitted to each other. On the other hand, in order to release the fitted state between these connectors, the second connector
52
is retreated and the lever protrusion
57
B abuts the rib
53
B to rotate the rotation plate
55
in the opposite direction, thereby applying a force for separating the cam protrusion
51
A in the cam groove
55
A from the support shaft
56
, so that the fitted state between both the connectors
51
and
52
is released. The cam groove
55
A of the rotation plate
55
has a function for forcibly bringing the cam protrusion
51
A toward or away from the support shaft
56
. Portion at which the rib
53
B formed on the side wall
53
A of the guide member
53
abuts the lever protrusions
57
A and
57
B, function as a point of force. Therefore, when the lever protrusions
57
A and
57
B abut the rib
53
B, there is an adverse possibility that bending is generated in the rib
53
B. Such a bending of the rib
53
B generates a bending return when the turning operation of the rotation plate
55
is completed. Therefore, there are problems that the bending return hinders proper operation of the cam groove
55
A so that smooth fitting operation or fitting-releasing operation can not be carried out, and a load is applied to the fitted connectors. Thus, it is necessary to enhance the strength of the rib
53
B of the guide member
55
.
Further, there is a known connector shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-111386. This connector comprises two connectors, i.e., one connector
51
accommodated in a holder
50
and the other connector
52
which is fitted to the one connector
51
. If the other connector
52
is fitted to the one connector
51
, the one connector
51
releases a locked state by locking means
53
formed on the holder
50
, and the one connector
51
is released from the holder
50
. This connector has a fitting ensuring function capable of confirming that both the connectors
51
and
52
are fitted to each other if the one connector
51
is released from the holder
50
.
In this connector, however, when the one connector
51
and the other connector
52
are fitted to each other, since there is no mechanism for reducing an insertion force caused when both the connectors are fitted to each other, this connector requires skill and relatively great force in the fitting operation. Further, since the one connector
51
is temporarily locked to the holder
50
, it is necessary to form the locking means
53
on the one connector
51
, and to form a recess for locking the locking means
53
to the inner wall surface of the holder
50
. Therefore, there is a problem that the structure of the holder
50
and the C
51
is complicated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector support mechanism capable of reducing an insertion force required for fitting connectors, and simplifying a structure of a mounted body and the connector which is temporarily locked.
The first aspect of the invention provides a connector support mechanism comprising: a first connector which is temporarily locked to a mounted member and which is provided with a guided protrusion protruding from the first connector; and a second connector turnably supporting a cam lever formed with a cam groove which guides the guided protrusion; wherein the first connector and the second connector are fitted to each other by inserting the guided protrusion of the first connector into the cam groove and turning the cam lever in that state, and wherein the mounted body is provided with a resilient temporarily locking arm for temporarily locking the first connector to the mounted body, and the temporarily locking arm abuts the guided protrusion.
According to the first aspect of the invention, in a state in which a guided protrusion protruding from a first connector is inserted into a cam groove, if a cam lever is turned, the first connector and a second connector can be fitted to each other. A temporarily locking arm formed on the side of a mounted body has resiliency and holds the first connector by the resilient force, and abuts the guided protrusion, thereby preventing the first connector from being retreated when the second connector is pushed against the first connector. Therefore, the guided protrusion which is guided by the cam groove and used for fitting both the connectors to each other functions as an abutment portion of the temporarily locking arm. Thus, it
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Nguyen Truc
Ta Tho D.
Yazaki -Corporation
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