Half fit preventive connector

Electrical connectors – Coupling part including flexing insulation – Hinged or flexed detent on insulation engaging to secure...

Reexamination Certificate

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C439S357000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06592404

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a half fit preventive connector which separates them from each other to thereby recognize that they are fitted with each other imperfectly in case where the two connectors are imperfectly engaged, and secures them to each other unremovably in case where the two connectors are engaged perfectly, when a set of male and female connectors are fitted with each other.
The present application is based on the Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-167539 which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in a vehicle such as a car, when connecting wires together or connecting together various pieces of electronic equipment, there is often used a connecting method in which they are connected together by fitting a set of male and female connectors with each other. When a set of male and female connectors are fitted with each other, in case where they are half fitted (imperfectly fitted), connecting terminals respectively stored within the two connectors are imperfectly connected with each other, which causes poor contact between them or, what is worse, causes the two connectors to be separated from each other; and, as a result of this, there is a fear that the vehicle fails to run.
To solve the above problems, conventionally, there has been proposed a connector lock mechanism for preventing the connector imperfect fit. Description will be given below of an example of the conventional connector lock mechanism with reference to
FIGS. 8 and 9
.
In a connector lock mechanism
41
shown in
FIG. 8
, of a set of male and female connectors
42
and
43
, one male connector
42
is extended along the fitting direction (in
FIG. 8
, the direction of an arrow mark B) where it is fitted with the other female connector
43
, and includes a pair of flexible arms
45
and
46
each with an engaging portion
48
formed in the leading end portion thereof. Also, the male connector
42
further includes a terminal storage chamber
42
a
; and, in the terminal storage chamber
42
a
, there are stored two female-type terminals.
The two flexible arms
45
and
46
respectively rise from the rear end side of the upper wall of the housing of the male connector
42
and are extended toward the front end side of the housing upper wall, while the rising base portions of the two flexible arms
45
and
46
join each other to provide a united body. Also, the two flexible arms
45
and
46
are spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction of the connector
42
and are arranged in parallel to each other. The two engaging portions
48
are respectively projections which project outwardly in the lateral direction of the connector
42
from the leading end portions of their associated flexible arms
45
and
46
; and, each projection
48
includes a tapered surface which is gradually inclined outwardly from the front end side of the connector housing toward the rear end side thereof.
The female connector
43
comprises a pair of arm guide surfaces
50
and
51
respectively including securing means which not only allow the flexible arms
45
and
46
to flex until the connector mutual fit length reaches a specified length, in other words, until the two connectors are fitted with each other perfectly but also, when the male connector
42
is inserted up to the perfect fit position of the female connector
43
, lock the connector fitted state. The female connector
43
stores therein two male-type terminals corresponding to the two female-type terminals of the male connector
42
with which the female connector
43
is to be fitted.
Next, description will be given below of the fitting operation of the male and female connectors
42
and
43
.
In the fitting operation starting stage of the male and female connectors
42
and
43
, the male connector
42
is fitted into the female connector
43
in such a manner as shown by an arrow mark B. In this case, the two engaging portions
48
formed in the leading end portions of the pair of flexible arms
45
and
46
are respectively inserted into their associated arm guide surfaces
50
and
51
but, in this stage, they are not yet flexed or deformed.
And, in case where the insertion of the male connector
42
is kept on, as shown in
FIG. 9
, the pair of flexible arms
45
and
46
are flexed and deformed inwardly according to the inclination of the arm guide surfaces
50
and
51
. Since the pair of flexible arms
45
and
46
are respectively formed elastic, in these arms
45
and
46
, there is generated repulsive force which allows them to return back to their original shapes and thus, due to this repulsive force, the male connector
42
is pushed back in the direction of an arrow mark F shown in FIG.
9
.
Therefore, in case where the insertion of the connector
42
is stopped while the two engaging portions
48
formed in the pair of flexible arms
45
and
46
are respectively in contact with the arm guide surfaces
50
and
51
, the male connector
42
is removed from the female connector
43
, thereby being able to prevent the imperfect fit between the male and female connectors
42
and
43
.
And, in case where the male connector
42
is fitted into the female connector
43
perfectly, the two engaging portions
48
respectively get over their associated arm guide surfaces
50
,
51
and are then secured to securing means
53
, thereby holding the male and female connectors
42
and
43
in a perfectly fitted state where disengagement between the two connectors is impossible. In this state, a connecting terminal embedded in the male connector
42
is contacted with a male-type terminal
55
embedded in the female connector
43
, so that the two connectors
42
and
43
are electrically connected with each other.
In the above-mentioned connector lock mechanism, since the repulsive force, that is, the force to separate the male and female connectors
42
and
43
from each other is simply generated by the mutual contact between the pair of flexible arms
45
,
46
and the pair of arm guide surfaces
50
,
51
, the repulsive force is weak.
Therefore, in case where the insertion of the male connector
42
is stopped in a state that the male connector
42
is inserted into the female connector
43
to a certain degree, there is a possibility that the male connector
42
cannot be pushed back and thus an operator can mistake such imperfect fit for perfect fit.
In case where the above-mentioned imperfect fit is left as it is, not only poor electric contact can occur between the two connectors but also the mutual fit between them can be removed during use, thereby raising a fear that the vehicle can fail to run.
Also, in the fitting operation starting stage of the male and female connectors
42
and
43
, since the projecting length of the male connector
42
from the female connector
43
can be clearly confirmed through visual observation, there is no possibility that the operator can mistake the imperfect fit for the perfect fit.
On the other hand, in a stage where the fitting operation of the two connectors has advanced, it is difficult for the operator to judge through visual observation whether the connector fitted state is perfect or not. And, in the case of the imperfect fit, the male and female connectors must be positively separated from each other. However, in the above-mentioned conventional connector lock mechanism, actually, for the above-mentioned reason, the male and female connectors are easy to be fitted together imperfectly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention aims at eliminating the above drawbacks found in the conventional connector lock mechanism. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a half fit preventive connector which, when fitting male and female connectors with each other, is positively capable of preventing the male and female connectors from being fitted together imperfectly.
In attaining the above object, according to the invention, there is provided a half fit preventive connector

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