Electrical connectors – With coupling separator – Including retainer or joiner
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-02
2001-11-13
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling separator
Including retainer or joiner
C439S488000, C439S489000, C439S923000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315585
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lever-type electrical connector, for example a connector suitable for use in a motor vehicle to connect wire bundles.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is necessary to connect multipolar electrical connector components to each other with a high fitting force. For this purpose a lever-type connector is employed. In a lever-type connector, for example, a lever having a cam groove is rotatably mounted on a male housing, and a follower fitting in the cam groove is provided on a mating female housing. When the two housings are fitted to each other, with the lever at an initial position, the follower enters the entrance of the cam groove. With rotation of the lever, the housings are drawn together, as the follower moving in the cam groove. The construction is intended to permit fitting of the housings to each other with a small applied force, utilizing the action of the lever. This type of lever-type connector is disclosed in JP-A-6-275337. A similar connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,390.
In the above-described lever-type connector, when the lever has rotated to its rotational termination, the two housings are normally fully fitted in each other. As the lever approaches its rotational termination, the fitting resistance becomes large, while the applied force remains low. Thus, there is a danger that the lever-rotating operation is stopped before the housings are fully fitted to each other. As a result, the housings are left in an incompletely fitted state. Further, even if the lever is rotated to its rotational termination, the housings may be left in an incompletely fitted state owing to an error in the manufacture of component parts of the housings. In either case, it may be very difficult for the operator to detect such incomplete fitting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lever-type connector permitting detection of whether the two connector housings have been normally fitted in each other.
With a view to achieving this object, according to the invention there is provided a lever-type electrical connector having first and second connector housings adapted to be detachably fitted together in a connected position by relative movement in a fitting direction, and a lever rotatably mounted on the connector for drawing the connector housings in said fitting direction towards said connected position. Locking means are provided on the connector housings for locking them together in the connected position. Spring means are provided to act operatively between the connector housings so as to be resiliently deformed when the connector housings are being moved towards the connected position, thereby to create a force urging the connector housings in their separation direction at least during the movement of the connector housings towards the connected position.
In this construction, to fit the two connector housings to each other, the lever is rotated. When the connector housings have achieved a normal connected or fitted state, the locking means holds the fitted state. If the fitting operation is stopped before the connector housings are in the normal fitted state, the urging force of the spring means causes the connector housings to separate from each other. Irrespective of the position of the lever therefore, it is possible to securely detect whether or not the connector housings have been fitted in each other normally.
Preferably the spring means comprises at least one spring having a front end and a rear end, the first connector housing acting upon the front end of the spring to compress it during fitting of the connector housings together, and the second connector housing has a spring holder restraining the rear end of the spring. In this embodiment, the spring holder is arranged to cooperate with the locking means so that, during fitting of the connector housings together, (i) before the locking means locks the connector housings in the connected position the spring holder restrains the spring from relaxation of its compressed state, and (ii) when the locking means has locked the connector housings in the connected position the locking means releases the restraint of the spring to allow at least partial relaxation of the spring. In this embodiment, when the connector housings are fitted to each other, the spring incorporated in the second connector housing is acted on by the first connector housing. At this time, the spring holder restrains the rear end of the spring. Thus, with the progress of the fitting operation, the spring is gradually compressed. Accordingly, if the fitting operation is stopped before the connector housings are fitted on each other normally, they are separated from each other by the spring force. The spring force is relaxed on normal fitting, and this may be detectable by the user.
Preferably the locking means comprises cooperating members in the form of at least one locking projection provided on the first connector housing and correspondingly at least one resiliently deformable locking arm provided on the second connector housing. The locking projection and locking arm are arranged and shaped so that, when the connector housings are moved towards the connected position, the locking arm engages and is deflected by the locking projection and thereafter locks behind the locking projection in a latch manner. The locking arm when so deflected prevents the spring holder releasing the compressed state of the spring. With the progress of the fit-in operation, the locking arm rides on the locking projection. When the housings have been fitted in each other, the locking arm returns to its original state by its elastic or resilient deformation and is locked to the locking projection. As a result, the connector housings are prevented from separating from each other. In association with this restoring operation of the locking arm, the spring holder releases the rear end of the spring. Thus, the spring is released from the compressed state. Accordingly, after the connector housings are fitted in each other normally, the spring force does not act as a connector separating force.
When the connector housings are long and narrow, there is a fear that they may be locked to each other with the longitudinal ends dislocated forward or rearward and inclining upward or downward. As a result, the connector housings may not be fitted normally on each other. Preferably, in this case, the locking means act to lock the connector housings together at both ends of the connector housings in their elongation direction and the spring means comprises springs likewise act on the housings at both their ends.
Preferably, one of the connector housings comprises a housing portion to receive electrical terminals and a casing which receives the housing portion, the housing portion being slidable in the casing in the direction of fitting of the connector housings to each other. The lever is rotatably mounted on the housing portion and has a cam surface, while the other connector housing has a cam follower which engages this cam surface during fitting of the connector housings together. The casing is engageable with the lever so that by its rotation the lever holds the casing and the housing portion together. The locking means and spring means are provided on, and act between, the casing and the other connector housing. With the connector housing portion accommodated in the casing located at the front side, this connector portion is fitted in the other connector housing. Then, the casing is pressed. As a result, the lever rotates. The connector housings are fitted to each other with a small force owing to the action of the lever. When they are normally fitted in each other, the casing is locked to the other connector housing, and the connector housings are held in a normal fitting state. If they are left in an incomplete state, the casing is pressed backward by the urging force of the spring means. This state is detected. In particular, the spring means is
Bradley Paula
McCamey Ann
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
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