Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-10
2001-10-02
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296508
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to its housing structure. The electrical connectors and their configuration according to the present invention may apply to the manufacture of a unipolar connector. Unipolar connectors are used in various types of electrical wiring. For instance, they may be used in an electric power generator which uses solar radiation, and in snow-melting tiles.
2. Description of Background Information
A unipolar connector is disclosed in a Japanese patent application published under No. SHO 61-279077. The disclosed unipolar connector comprises a pair of connector housings including metal terminals, and is engaged or released along its axial direction. It further comprises a locking means for holding a pair of connector housings together. The locking means comprises a locking arm formed on one outer rim of the connector housings, and a detent formed on the other outer rim thereof. When the pair of connector housings is being fitted, the locking arm interferes with the detent, and is elastically flexed along the radius of the connector housings. When the connector housings reach their normal fit position, the locking arm elastically returns, and is hooked by the detent. The pair of connector housings is thus locked into a non-releasable state. When the pair of connector housings is to be separated, the locking arm is flexed so as to be released from the detent.
When the connector is unipolar, the connector housings are formed in a cylindrical shape, so that they enclose the unipolar metal terminal extending along the central axis. The pair of connector housings must be rotatable relatively to each other around the central axis. The locking arm and the detent are formed at given positions in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, when the connector housings are to be fitted, the positions of the locking arm and detent must be adjusted in the circumferential direction.
The prior art connector housings envision no means for positioning the locking arm and the detent. The positioning is therefore effected by visually adjusting their mutual positions.
However, fitting work is sometimes performed under conditions where visual inspection is not possible. Connector fitting is then effected by touch. In such cases, working efficiency is greatly deteriorated.
The present invention has therefore a primary object to remedy such a situation, and to provide an electrical connector in which locking devices can be positioned without recourse to visual positioning.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an electrical connector including first and second connector housings respectively having a cylindrical shape with a concentric axis and having a circumferential direction. The first and second connector housings are engaged with each other by being brought together along a concentric axis.
The first and second connector housings include corresponding first and second metallic terminals connected to each other by mutually engaging the first and second connector housings.
The first connector housing include at least one locking arm which is elastic and flexible, while the second connector housing includes a corresponding number of locking dent(s) engageable with the locking arm(s), so that the first and second connector housings are mutually lockable.
The first and second connector housings further include positioning devices, the latter including at least one positioning groove formed in the first connector housing, and a corresponding number of positioning rib(s) formed in the second connector housing. The positioning groove(s) and rib(s) are arranged such that they can be fitted only when the locking arm(s) and detent(s) are positioned and fitted in the circumferential direction of the first and second connector housings, so that, when the positioning groove(s) and rib(s) are fitted, the first and second connector housings cannot rotate in the circumferential direction, but can only move along the concentric axis, relative to each other.
The first and second connector housings further include a guide enabling the first and second connector housings to rotate in the circumferential direction and move along the concentric axis, relative to each other when the positioning groove(s) and rib(s) are not fitted with each other.
The invention further concerns an electrical connector, in which the guide is formed in the first connector housing and includes a guiding portion into which the second connector housing is guided, and a fitting portion, and further includes a tapered guide step having a diameter reducing from the guiding portion towards the fitting portion. In this structure, the tapered guide step communicates with the positioning groove(s). The positioning rib(s) further has or have a tapered rib edge which rubs against the tapered guide step, when the tapered rib edge is biased from the positioning groove(s).
The invention further concerns the electrical connector, in which the locking arm(s) include a hook in the form of an overhang adapted for being hooked by the locking detent(s).
The invention further relates to a unipolar connector using the above-mentioned structure.
When both connector housings are being fitted, the positions of the locking arms and locking detents may be biased in the circumferential direction. In such a case, both connector housings may be pushed toward the fitting direction through the guiding mechanism, and rotated relative to each other. When the positions of the locking arms and detents are matched, the positioning grooves and ribs are fitted. As the fitting procedure progresses, both connector housings are fixed at a predetermined circumferential position. When the normal fitting state is attained, the locking arms and detents are locked. As the connector housings include a guide for matching the locking arms and detents, it is no longer needed to position them by visual matching.
When the positioning grooves and the positioning ribs are not matched, both connector housings are pushed toward the fitting direction along the concentric axis. Both connector housings are then automatically maintained in the concentric state. Accordingly, when the positioning grooves and ribs come to a matched position, they are engaged smoothly and securely.
While the hooking portion of the locking arms is locked with the locking detents along the direction of concentric axis, there may exist forces tending to separate the two connector housings. In such a case, the locking arms are subjected to flexing forces so as to be biased from the locking detents, due to the pressing actions between the hooking portion of the locking arms and the locking detents. However, as the hooking portion is overhung toward the locking detents, the flexure biasing the locking arms is obviated. The locked state is thus securely maintained.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2877437 (1959-03-01), Flanagan, Jr.
patent: 4211461 (1980-07-01), Wescott
patent: 4973266 (1990-11-01), Bullard
patent: 5376013 (1994-12-01), Sawada
patent: 5536103 (1996-07-01), Sawada
patent: 5586897 (1996-12-01), Shinji et al.
patent: 5596138 (1997-01-01), Onodera et al.
patent: 5984705 (1999-11-01), Miyazaki et al.
patent: 5993239 (1998-07-01), Wright
patent: 61279077 (1986-12-01), None
Higashikozono Makoto
Kuwahara Masanori
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.
Nasri Javaid
Sircus Brian
Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Co.
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