Electrical connectors – Coupling part including flexing insulation – Hinged or flexed detent on insulation engaging to secure...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-17
2001-06-12
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Coupling part including flexing insulation
Hinged or flexed detent on insulation engaging to secure...
C439S744000, C439S752500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244900
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector and is particularly designed to strengthen a front-stop construction for a terminal fitting inserted into a cavity.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known construction for mounting a terminal fitting in a connector is shown in FIG.
11
. In this example, the prior art connector is a male connector. The prior art connector has a male terminal fitting a with a tab c that projects from the front surface of a box-shaped main body b. A wire d is connected with the rear end of the main body b, and a locking hole e is formed in the bottom surface of the main body b. The prior art connector further includes a male connector housing f with a cavity g into which the male terminal fitting a is insertable from behind. A front wall h is formed at the front surface of the cavity g. The front wall h has an opening i through which the tab c of the male terminal fitting a is projectable. Alternatively, a jig may be insertable into the opening I to disengage the terminal fitting a. A locking portion j is formed in the bottom surface of the cavity g. The locking portion j has a locking projection k that is fittable into the locking hole e of the male terminal fitting a and that projects forwardly with the leading end hanging free so as to be elastically deformable.
The male terminal fitting a is pushed forwardly during insertion into the cavity g. The pushing of the male terminal fitting a elastically deforms the locking portion j and the forward movement of the male terminal fitting a stops when the front surface of the main body b comes into contact with the front wall h. Simultaneously, the locking portion j is restored elastically to its original shape and the locking projection k thereof is fitted into the locking hole e. In other words, the male terminal fitting a has its forward movement stopped by the front wall h of the cavity g while being locked by the locking portion j so as not to be withdrawn backwardly.
As described above, the forward movement of the male terminal fitting a inserted into the cavity g is stopped by the contact of the front surface of the main body b with the front wall h, specifically with an opening edge at the rear side of the opening i. However, since the tab c is a narrowed part of the male terminal fitting a, the front surface of the main body b continuous with the base of the tab c is tapered. Accordingly, a portion of the front surface of the main body b which acts for the front-stop of the terminal fitting a is limited to such a narrow portion m hatched in
FIG. 12
, which presents a problem of insufficient locking strength. Thus, for example, if an impact force would act on the male terminal fitting a in forward direction, the male terminal fitting a might jump out forwardly by breaking or tearing the front wall h.
To strengthen the front-stop construction without changing the overall size of the cavity g and/or the shape of the terminal fitting a, it may be considered, for example, to cause the portion substantially acting for the front-stop of the terminal fitting to bulge inwardly. However, this obliges the width of the locking portion j to be reduced, thereby reducing a force for locking the terminal fitting a so as not to be withdrawn backwardly. Therefore, the above problem cannot easily be coped with by this measure.
The present invention was developed in view of the above problem and an object thereof is to increase a strength for stopping a forward movement of a terminal fitting without substantially affecting a locking force of a locking portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is directed to a connector which comprises a connector housing. The connector housing has at least one cavity into which at least one terminal fitting is at least partly insertable from behind. The connector housing has a front wall with an opening at the front surface of the cavity. The connector housing also has an elastically deformable locking portion with a locking projection that is fittable into a locking hole formed in the terminal fitting. The elastically deformable locking projection is formed in one side surface of the cavity and projects forwardly with the leading end hanging free. Thus the terminal fitting has its forward movement stopped by the front wall and is locked by the locking portion so as not to be withdrawn backwardly. At least one side surface of a portion of the locking portion more toward the leading end thereof than the locking projection is cut off to form a cut surface. Additionally a contact portion to be brought into contact with an engaging portion on the terminal fitting projects inwardly from a corresponding side surface of the cavity that corresponds to or faces the cut surface. At least one contact portion to be brought into contact with at least one engaging portion on the terminal fitting bulges out from a side surface of the locking portion.
Preferably, there is a connector with a connector housing that has a cavity into which a terminal fitting is insertable from behind. A front wall with an opening is formed at the front surface of the cavity. An elastically deformable locking portion is formed in one side surface of the cavity, and projects forwardly with the leading end hanging free. The elastically deformable locking portion has a locking projection that is fittable into a locking hole in the terminal fitting. Thus the terminal fitting has its forward movement stopped by the front wall and is locked by the locking portion so as not to be withdrawn backwardly. At least one side surface of a portion of the locking portion more toward the leading end thereof than the locking projection is cut off to form a cut surface, and a contact portion to be brought into contact with an engaging portion provided on the terminal fitting projects inwardly from a corresponding side surface of the cavity facing the cut surface.
The terminal fitting inserted into the cavity has its forward movement stopped by the contact with the front wall of the cavity and the contact of the engaging portion with the contact portion on the side surface of the cavity. This strengthens a locking force against the forward movement of the terminal fitting and prevents the terminal fitting from projecting forwardly by more than a specified distance. Further, since the contact portion is formed taking advantage of a space obtained by cutting off a portion of the locking portion, it does not cause any enlargement of the cavity. The portion of the locking portion more toward the leading end than the locking projection has almost no influence on the strength for locking the terminal fitting so as not to be withdrawn backward, and the same degree of the locking force against the backward withdrawing movement of the terminal fitting as the prior art described above can be secured.
The portion of the locking portion more toward the leading end thereof than the locking projection preferably is narrowed to have a step-like shape. This portion of the locking portion more toward the leading end thereof than the locking projection is used to disengage the locking portion from the terminal fitting by pressing the locking portion with a jig or the like to deform it elastically. In this invention, the leading end of the locking portion is narrowed by cutting off the side surface to have a step-like shape, i.e. to have a rectangular cross section. Accordingly, as compared to a case where the side surface of the leading end of the locking portion is so cut off as to, for example, have a triangular cross section, the leading end of the locking portion has a larger strength against the jig pressed to disengage the locking portion.
Further preferably, there is provided a connector with a connector housing. The connector housing has a cavity into which a terminal fitting is insertable from behind. A front wall with an opening is formed at the front surface of the cavity. An elastically deformable locking portion is formed in one side surface of the cavity and projects forw
Ishikawa Ryotaro
Kawase Hajime
Nishide Satoru
Casella Anthony J.
Hespos Gerald E.
Hyeon Hae Moon
Porco Michael J.
Sircus Brian
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