Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-01
2001-12-04
Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means
C439S358000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325656
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a lock structure for locking or holding a condition in which male and female connector housings mutually fit together.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 13
shows a connector
1
(disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication No. 56-7287) using a lock device. In this Figure, this connector
1
comprises a male connector housing
2
, and a female connector housing
4
having a hood portion
3
into which the male connector housing
2
is inserted and fitted. The male connector housing
2
has an elastic lock arm
6
supported thereon in a cantilever manner on a fitting side
5
of the housing. A lock projection
7
is formed on the lock arm
6
at an intermediate portion thereof, and an operating portion
8
is provided at a free end of the lock arm
6
.
A groove
9
for receiving the lock arm
6
is formed in the hood portion
3
of the female connector housing
4
, and a retaining member
10
, extending between opposite sides of the groove
9
, is provided on the hood portion
3
. When the male and female connector housings
2
and
4
are fitted together, the lock arm
6
is inserted into the groove
9
, and the lock projection
7
engages with the retaining member
10
.
In this case, when the male connector housing
2
is inserted into the hood portion
3
, the lock projection
7
abuts against the retaining member
10
. When the male connector housing
2
is further inserted deep into the hood portion
3
, the lock arm
6
is flexed (i.e., elastically deformed) to allow the lock projection
7
to pass the retaining member
10
. The lock arm
6
is thereafter restored to its initial position because of its own elasticity, so that the lock projection
7
engages with the retaining member
10
. When the lock projection
7
is thus engaged with the retaining member
10
, there is achieved a locked condition in which the male and female connector housings
2
and
4
are held in a mutually fitted condition.
However, connectors such as the one shown in
FIG. 13
suffer from drawbacks. If the lock arm
6
is kept flexed under the influence of an external force, the lock projection
7
on the lock arm
6
will fail to properly engage with the retaining member
10
when the male connector housing
2
is inserted into the hood portion
3
. There may be a sensation of incongruous operation, as compared with an ordinary operation. Additionally, the lock projection
7
will not properly engage with the retaining member
10
, even after the lock projection
7
passes the retaining member
10
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a lock structure in which a sensation of good operation can be obtained when achieving a locked condition, and the locking can be effected positively.
According to the invention, there is provided a lock structure comprising a male connector housing, a female connector, an elastic lock arm, a lock-retaining portion and a correction portion. The female connector housing is to be fitted with the male connector housing in an opposing manner. The elastic lock arm is provided on one of the male and female connector housings and has a lock projection. The lock-retaining portion is provided on the one of the male and female connector housings that is not provided with the elastic lock arm. The lock projection of the lock arm is engageable with the lock-retaining portion. The correction portion corrects elastic deformation of the lock arm when the male and female connector housings are fitted together.
In this lock structure, even if the lock arm is elastically deformed upon application of an external force before the male and female connector housings are fitted together, the correction portion corrects the elastic deformation of the lock arm to bring the lock arm into its normal condition when the male and female connector housings are fitted together. As a result, the lock projection properly engages with the lock-retaining portion, thus achieving proper locking. Therefore, a sensation of good operation can be obtained when achieving the locked condition, and a positively-locked condition can be obtained.
The lock arm may be provided on the male connector housing, and the lock-retaining portion provided on a hood portion of the female connector housing, wherein the male connector housing may be inserted and fitted into the hood portion. The correction portion may be provided within said hood portion.
In this lock structure, when the male connector housing is inserted into the hood portion of the female connector housing, the lock projection abuts against the lock-retaining portion, so that the lock arm is flexed. The lock projection therefore passes the lock-retaining portion, and the lock arm is restored to its original position due to its own elasticity. As a results the lock projection is retainingly engaged with the lock-retaining portion, thus achieving the locked condition.
At this time, even if the lock arm is elastically deformed upon application of an external force, the correction portion corrects the elastically-deformed lock arm into its original position when the male and female connector housings are fitted together. The lock arm is therefore properly flexed, so that the lock projection engages with the lock-retaining portion. As a result, a sensation of good operation can be obtained when achieving the locked condition, and a positively-locked condition can be obtained.
The lock structure of the invention may also have the lock arm supported by the male connector housing at an intermediate portion between opposite ends of the lock arm. The lock arm may further comprise a correction receiving portion provided at a front end portion of the lock arm disposed forwardly in a direction of fitting the male connector housing into the female connector housing, wherein the correction receiving portion slides in contact with the correction portion. A lock projection may be formed on a rear end portion of the lock arm.
In this lock structure, when the male connector housing is inserted into the female connector housing, with the lock arm kept elastically deformed upon application of an external force, the correction receiving portion of the lock arm slides in contact with the correction portion, so that the lock arm is corrected into the normal position. As a result, the lock projection is engaged with the lock-retaining portion in a proper condition, and therefore a sensation of good operation can be obtained when achieving the locked condition, and a positively-locked condition can be obtained.
The lock structure of the invention may also have the lock arm supported on the male connector housing through a support portion located at a front end of the lock arm, disposed forwardly in a direction of fitting of the male connector housing into the female connector housing. The correction portion passes through the support portion, and is brought into sliding contact with a flexed surface of the lock arm.
In this lock structure, even if the lock arm, supported in a cantilever manner, is flexed upon application of an external force, the correction portion is brought into sliding contact with the surface of the lock arm facing the flexure space, to return the lock arm into the normal position when the male and female connector housings are fitted together. As a result, a sensation of good operation can be obtained when achieving the locked condition. Also, a positively-locked condition can be obtained.
The lock structure of the invention may also have a lock arm supported on the male connector housing at front and rear ends of the lock arm, respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly in a direction of fitting the male connector housing into the female connector housing. Also, the correction portion passes through the front support portion, and is brought into sliding contact with a flexed surface of the lock arm.
In this lock structure, even if the lock arm, supported at its opposite ends thereof, is flexed upon application of
Fukuda Masaru
Ohsumi Hideki
Gushi Ross
Morgan & Lewis & Bockius, LLP
Paumen Gary
Yazaki -Corporation
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