Electrical connectors – Having circuit interrupting provision effected by mating or...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-20
2004-08-24
Gilman, Alex (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Having circuit interrupting provision effected by mating or...
C201S045000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06780036
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention belongs in a technical field of an electrical connector assembly. Particularly, the present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly wherein a plug is provided with a locking element which permits electrical contact points of a socket to be short-circuited with each other when the socket and the plug are not adequately connected with each other and permits the short-circuit to be released when they are adequately connected with each other.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An airbag system comprises an airbag assembly and an electric or electronic control system which are assembled in a hidden compartment of a driver's cabin of a vehicle. The control system is connected with the airbag assembly via a wire harness. The wire harness is provided with a typical electrical plug and socket connector assembly, to allow a simple way for the airbag assembly and the control system to be electrically interconnected after assembled separately.
This connector assembly is provided with a so-called short-circuit clip. The short-circuit clip is a small metal element arranged in such a manner that the wires can be electrically short-circuited with each other within the plug or socket before the plug and the socket are engaged. The short-circuit clip is arranged as a safety device to prevent improper operation of the airbag assembly caused by leakage of electrical charge or improper connection in the course of production.
When the connector assembly is accurately connected, the safety device using the short-circuit clip for electrical short circuit must be shifted to a non-short-circuit position. U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,575 and JP Patent No. 2647336 disclose the electrical connector assembly with locking element which is so designed as to release the electrical short circuit provided by the safety device. This electrical connector assembly is so structured that it does not operate until the plug and the socket are both put in their completely engaged position and the locking element is shifted to its locked position. Also, the locking element serves to prevent the plug and the socket from being disconnected accidentally after combined.
The airbag systems using this electrical connector assembly take much account of inflation properties and like aspects of the airbag assembly. In view of this, some of the airbag systems in recent years have two igniters for each airbag, for energizing and igniting a gas generator to inflate the airbag. This type of airbag system requires two pairs of electrical contacts and it takes the formation that the two electrical connector assemblies are placed in proximity, as disclosed by JP Patent No. 2647336.
However, this type one requires a two-step motion for fitting the connector assemblies. It also requires that the connector assemblies be distinguished by using different colors or shapes, in order to prevent improper connection of those two connector assemblies. Further, it requires the confirmation of the fitting position of the connector assemblies. Also, because of working space limitations in the fitting position of the connector assemblies, the confirmation of the fitting position must be done with difficulty, thus presenting the problem with workability. In addition, Effective use of the connection space requires the work that the two sockets are placed in position while making a position adjustment to bring the electrical contacts of each pair into alignment in series in each of the sockets.
In the case of the electrical connector assembly described in JP Patent No. 2647336, for bringing the electrical connector assembly into the completely connected state, a two-step motion is required comprising the first step motion of engaging the plug and the socket with each other and the second step motion of inserting the locking element into the both components to its locked position. Also, the locking element is integrally mounted on either of the plug and the socket via a flexible arm. Because of this, the either of the plug and the socket is increased in size, thus making it hard to handle the electrical connector assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector assembly having a locking part that can provide an improved working efficiency and thus provide excellent connection workability even when two pairs of electrical contacts are connected with each other.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an electrical connector assembly comprising: (1) a socket for supporting two pairs of first electrical connector elements in proximity; (2) a plug for supporting two pairs of second electrical connector elements which are to be engaged with the two pairs of first electrical connector elements, respectively; (3) two short-circuit elements, fitted in the socket, for electrically short-circuit the two pairs of first electrical connector elements, respectively; and (4) a locking element which is locked at a first position with respect to the plug and, when the plug is engaged in the socket, becomes movable to a second position at which the locking element forces the two short-circuit elements to move back to their non-short-circuit positions simultaneously.
According to this construction, since the socket is constructed to support the two pairs of first electrical connector elements in proximity, the two sockets can be so arranged that the electrical contacts of each pair can be aligned in series. This can provide the result of facilitating the effective use of the connection space.
Also, since the plug is constructed to support the two pairs of second electrical connector elements as a unit, the double action commonly required for the engagement of the connector assembly can be reduced in half to the single operation.
Further, since the socket and the plug can be engaged with each other in only a limited orientation, the need to distinguish the two connector assemblies by using different colors or shapes for the purpose of preventing improper connection of the two connector assemblies is eliminated to begin with. In addition, the need to check the fitting positions of the connector assemblies is eliminated to begin with. Thus, in addition to reducing a component count, additional works, such as the color coding, and the checking work of the fitting positions can be cut.
Also, since the integrally formed locking element can allow the two short-circuit elements to move back to their non-short-circuit positions simultaneously, the release of short-circuit can be completed in only a single operation.
Thus, the present invention can provide an electrical connector assembly having a locking part that can provide a drastically improved working efficiency and thus provide excellent connection workability even when two pairs of electrical contacts are connected with each other.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed specification with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5275575 (1994-01-01), Cahaly et al.
patent: 5516299 (1996-05-01), Fukuda et al.
patent: 6364683 (2002-04-01), Kohno
patent: 2647336 (1997-05-01), None
Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 06-208867, Jul. 26, 1994, 1 pg.
Gilman Alex
J.S.T. Mfg. Co. Ltd.
Osha & May L.L.P.
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