Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
2003-10-27
2004-11-09
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means
C439S299000, C439S924200, C439S144000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06814606
ABSTRACT:
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a locking mechanism for an electrical connector; specifically, a locking mechanism that prevents the separation of a connector from the opposing connector to which it is joined.
2. Description of Related Art
A double locking mechanism is conventionally employed to increase the security of an electrical connection by preventing an electrical connector, which is attached to the terminal end of a wiring harness, from separating from a connector receptacle in an electrical connector box.
FIG. 6A
illustrates such locking mechanism as described by Japanese Utility Model Patent H5-45063.
As shown in
FIG. 6A
, first receptacle
2
is located adjacent to second receptacle
3
on the external surface of electrical connector box
1
. Lock cover
4
, which is generally L-shaped in cross section, is pivotably supported by a pivot base located between connector receptacles
2
and
3
through pivot pin
5
, and energized by coil spring
6
installed to the pivot pin
5
. The energy from coil spring
6
is applied in a direction that presses lock cover
4
against the top of connector receptacle
3
. Moreover, latch window
4
a
is formed on the side of lock cover
4
, and latch pawl
2
a
is formed on the sidewall of first receptacle
2
at a location corresponding to that of latch window
4
a.
As shown in
FIG. 6B
, after first connector
7
(which is connected to the ends of wiring harness wires) is installed within first receptacle
2
, lock cover
4
is pivoted against the pressure applied by coil spring
6
in order to bring latch window
4
a
to a position that engages latch pawl
2
a
on first receptacle
2
. A double locking mechanism is thus formed in which lock cover
4
presses downward on first connector
7
as means of preventing connector
7
from loosening, and also as means of preventing connector
7
from being installed incompletely.
Second connector
8
is installed to second receptacle
3
after lock cover
4
has been pivoted to the locking position over first connector
7
. Second connector
8
cannot be installed to second receptacle
3
if lock cover
4
has not been moved to the position locking first connector
7
. A mechanism is thus formed insuring that lock cover
4
will be placed in the locking position before the insertion of second connector
8
.
The structure shown in
FIGS. 6A and 6B
demonstrates an inherent shortcoming in that shocks induced by transport and/or attachment of the connector box to the vehicle may result in the inadvertent pivoting movement of lock cover
4
to the extent that latch window
4
a
accidentally engages latch pawl
2
a
, even though coil spring
6
energizes lock cover
4
in the unlocking direction. In this case, a special tool must be used to release lock cover
4
, thus necessitating a troublesome and time-consuming operation to return lock cover
4
to an unlocked position.
Furthermore, component costs increase because the prior art structure requires that a separate energizing component, in the form of coil spring
6
, be used to energize lock cover
4
. Moreover, the expense and time required for the extra assembly operation, through which coil spring
6
must be installed to pivot pin
5
, also increases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention, having considered the aforesaid shortcomings of the prior art structure, puts forth an electrical connector locking mechanism capable of preventing accidental engagement of the lock cover before the electrical connector is installed, reducing component cost, and improving the efficiency of the connector installation process.
The invention resolves the prior art shortcomings and provides an electrical connector locking system that includes a first connector receptacle provided on an electrical connector box; a lock cover joinable to the first electrical connector insertable into the first connector receptacle, and a first engagement portion provided on the lock cover. The lock cover is pivotably supported by a pivot base and the first engagement portion is engageable with a second engagement portion provided on the first electrical connector.
A double locking mechanism is thus formed by the first electrical connector engaging with the first connector receptacle upon insertion therein, and by the lock cover pivoting to a position where the first engagement portion engages with the second engagement portion on the first electrical connector.
Because the aforesaid engagement portion is provided on the electrical connector rather than the receptacle, the above-described structure is able to prevent the engagement portion on the lock cover from joining to the engagement portion on the electrical connector when the electrical connector box is in transport or being installed to the vehicle; that is, the time during which the electrical connector is not installed to the connector receptacle in the connector box. The lock cover is thus prevented from accidentally moving to the locked position when the electrical connector is not present in the receptacle.
Moreover, after the electrical connector and receptacle have been joined, separation of the connector from the receptacle is prevented, as well as its partial connection thereto, as a result of the double locking structure enforced together with the lock cover. Furthermore, the invention provides a highly dependable non-loosening circuit connection for important safety-related electrical circuits such as those used for the deployment of an automotive airbag.
The aforesaid electrical connector locking system may be provided with an interference flange located in a vicinity of the first connector receptacle, and a stopper block provided on the lock cover. The stopper block is engageable with the interference flange to restrict the pivoting movement of the lock cover and to keep the lock cover away from the first connector receptacle.
Pivoting movement of the lock cover toward the first connector receptacle results in the stopper block riding over the interference flange, and the first engagement portion of the lock cover engaging with the second engagement portion of the first electrical connector.
The electrical connector locking system may further include a second connector receptacle configured to receive and engage with a second electrical connector.
The pivot base can be located between the first connector receptacle and the second connector receptacle, and the lock cover is pivotable between the first connector receptacle and the second connector receptacle. The interference flange can be located between the first connector receptacle and the second connector receptacle. The lock cover prevents insertion of the second electrical connector in the second connector receptacle when the interference flange contacts the stopper block. The pivoting movement of the lock cover into engagement with the first connector receptacle allows the insertion of the second electrical connector to the second connector receptacle.
This structure eliminates the coil spring, which was previously required to hold the lock cover in an unlocked position, because the lock cover can be maintained at the second receptacle side, at the open position, through the friction created by the stopper block being placed in contact with the interference flange. This structure thus reduces the number of connector box components, eliminates the assembly operation for one component, and reduces the number of manufacturing steps.
Moreover, the second connector cannot be inserted into the second receptacle if the lock cover is not engaged to the first connector when the first connector has been inserted into the first receptacle. The insertion operation of the second connector thus assures that the technician has forcefully moved the lock cover into the engaged position over the first connector.
Furthermore, a stopper block contact edge may be provided including an upper edge on a second connector receptacle side of the interference flange, and a deflection portion is provided on the stopper block and is engageable with the
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
Ta Tho D.
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