Electrical connectors – With coupling separator – Including retainer or joiner
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-13
2001-05-01
Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2832)
Electrical connectors
With coupling separator
Including retainer or joiner
C439S160000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224403
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lever-fitting type connector in which a connector is fitted into a mating connector by pivotally moving a lever.
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 10-102984, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 6
shows a lever-fitting type connector, in which a lever
2
is pivotally mounted on a connector
1
. The connector
1
includes a connector housing
3
for receiving terminals, and bosses
4
are formed respectively on opposite (right and left) side walls
3
a
of the connector housing
3
. The lever
2
includes an operating portion
5
, and lever walls
6
extending respectively from opposite ends of the operating portion
5
. Rotation holes
7
are formed respectively through the lever walls
6
, and the bosses
4
on the connector
1
are inserted respectively into the rotation holes
7
, so that the lever
2
is pivotally supported on the connector
1
. A cam groove
8
is formed in each lever wall
6
, and pins, formed on a mating connector (not shown), are brought into engagement in these cam grooves
8
, respectively, and in this condition, when the lever
2
is pivotally moved, the mating connector is moved relative to the connector
1
, so that the two connectors are fitted together.
For mounting the lever
2
on the connector
1
, the lever walls
6
are spread out by the fingers
6
, as shown in
FIG. 7
, and in this condition the rotation holes
7
are aligned respectively with the bosses
4
, with the connector housing
3
disposed between the lever walls
6
, and the bosses
4
are inserted respectively into the rotation holes
7
, thereby mounting the lever
2
on the connector
1
. In this assembled condition, the bosses
4
pass respectively through the rotation holes
7
, as shown in FIG.
8
.
In the above-described construction, however, it is necessary to spread out the lever walls
6
when mounting the lever
2
on the connector
1
, and this operation is cumbersome, and requires a relatively large force. And besides, if the lever is excessively spread, the lever
2
can be broken, and therefore this operation must be carried out while controlling the force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lever-fitting type connector in which a lever can be easily mounted on a connector with a small force without the need for spreading the lever.
To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lever-fitting type connector which comprises a connector fittable to a mating connector, the connector having bosses formed thereon and slots extending in a fitting direction of the connector to the mating connector, a lever having rotation holes into which the bosses are respectively inserted, the lever being pivotally moved about the bosses so as to fit the connector into the mating connector, projected portions formed on the lever, the projected portions serving as pivot fulcrums while engaging respectively with the slots when the bosses are respectively inserted into the rotation holes, and slanting guide surfaces formed on the lever, the slanting guide surfaces respectively guiding the bosses to the rotation holes when the bosses are about to be respectively inserted into the rotation holes, wherein the bosses, the rotation holes and the slanting guide surfaces are disposed along a path of pivotal movement of the lever about the pivot fulcrums respectively defined by the projected portions. Therefore, during the pivotal movement of the lever, the bosses of the connector are brought into sliding contact respectively with the slanting guide surfaces disposed in the pivotal movement path, so that the lever is automatically spread, and then the rotation holes, disposed in the pivotal movement path, reach the bosses, respectively.
With this construction, by pivotally moving the lever about the pivot fulcrums, the lever can be mounted on the connector, and therefore this mounting operation can be effected easily with a small force without much spreading the lever. And besides, since the lever is not much spread, the lever will not be broken.
According to the second aspect of the present invention depending from the first aspect, preferably, the lever includes a pair of lever walls pivotally supported respectively on opposite side walls of the connector, and an operating portion interconnecting proximal end portions of the lever walls, and wherein the slanting guide surfaces are respectively formed at end portions of inner surfaces of the lever walls facing the connector. In this construction, the pair of lever walls are interconnected by the operating portion, and by pressing the operating portion, the pair of lever walls can be pivotally mounted on the connector at the same time. At this time, the lever walls are spread out simultaneously when the operating portion is pressed, since the slanting guide surfaces are formed respectively at the end portions of the lever walls. Therefore, the mounting operation can be effected rapidly.
According to the third aspect of the present invention depending from the second aspect, preferably, the end portions of the lever walls, on which the slanting guide surfaces are respectively formed, respectively taper in respective extending directions of the lever walls. In this construction, the slanting guide surface is slanting toward the inner side of the lever wall away from the outer side of the lever wall, and therefore the bosses, sliding respectively over the slanting guide surfaces, spread out the lever walls. Therefore, the bosses can be smoothly inserted into the rotation holes, respectively.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5362245 (1994-11-01), Suguro et al.
patent: 5431573 (1995-07-01), Endo et al.
patent: 5476390 (1995-12-01), Taguchi et al.
patent: 5551885 (1996-09-01), Yamanashi et al.
patent: 5711682 (1998-01-01), Maejima
patent: 5938458 (1999-08-01), Krehbiel et al.
patent: 5964604 (1999-10-01), Kashiyama et al.
patent: 5980283 (1999-11-01), Okabe
patent: 43 34 929 (1995-06-01), None
patent: 43 36 711 (1995-08-01), None
patent: 654 862 (1995-05-01), None
Donovan Lincoln
Lee Kyung S.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
Yazaki -Corporation
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