Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-28
2001-10-02
Easthom, Karl D. (Department: 2832)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C439S607560
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296523
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a male and female connector pair and to a set of mating connectors comprising a plurality of such male and female connector pairs.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional male and female connector pairs are shown in FIG.
6
. These pairs comprise two male housings “b” having receptacles “a” and two female housings “c” to be fittable into the receptacles “a”. Identification means are provided for permitting the connector housings to be connected with each other only in a proper combination.
This identification means comprises a rib “d” that extends in a direction of connection at a right end position of the upper surface of the female housing “c,” as shown on a right side in FIG.
6
. The rib “d” is fittable in a receiving groove (not shown) formed in a corresponding position of the inner surface of the receptacle “a” of the male housing “b” with which the female housing “c” is to be connected. The identification means further comprises a rib “e” formed in a left end position of the upper surface of the female housing “c” as shown in a left side in FIG.
6
. The rib “e” is fittable in a receiving groove (not shown) formed in a corresponding position of the inner surface of the receptacle “a” of the male housing “b” with which the female housing “c” is to be connected.
The ribs “d” and “e” and the receiving grooves engage with each other only if a proper combination of male and female housings are connected. On the other hand, a transversely reversed combination of the male and female housings, cannot be connected because the ribs “d” and “e” come into contact with the leading ends of the receptacles “a”.
In the above conventional connector, the ribs “d” and “e” are formed on the female housings “c” and the receiving grooves are formed in the male housings “b” to prevent an assembly error. However, only the ribs “d” and “e” of the female housings “c” can be easily identified by seeing or touching the connector housings. The confirmation of the receiving grooves of the male housings is accompanied by a cumbersome operation of looking into the receptacles “a” or inserting a finger thereinto.
Further, under the condition that the connector housings are connected by feeling without seeing them, operability is further reduced since the ribs “d” and “e” need to be searched by the finger tip. Particularly, if the connector housings are so small that the finger cannot be inserted into the receptacles “a”, operability is even poorer.
In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to improve a function of preventing an error of assembling of male and female connectors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a male and female connector pair that are connectable with each other. Identification means are provided on outer surfaces of the both connectors for showing that male and female connectors are a proper mating pair. The provision of the identification means on the outer surfaces of both connectors, enables an easy visual or tactile determination of whether the combination of the connectors is proper. Therefore, the connectors have an excellent function of preventing an assembling error.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the identification means are in the form of a projection and/or a recess so as to be recognizable by touching. Thus, an assembling error can be prevented securely even in the case that the connectors are connected by feeling without seeing the connectors.
Preferably, the identification means comprise an error assembling preventing portion which is formed on the upper surface of one connector to extend in or along a direction of connection of the connectors. The error assembling preventing portion is at least partially engageable with or fittable with or into a receiving portion formed preferably in an inner surface of a receptacle of the other connector into which the one connector is at least partially fittable. The receiving portion is located in a position substantially corresponding to that of the error assembling preventing portion and substantially extending in or along the direction of connection. The error assembling preventing portion may be a projection or a recess and the receiving portion is the other of a projection and a recess.
An identification portion preferably is formed on the upper surface of the other connector, and preferably extends on the same straight line as the error assembling preventing portion of the one connector when the connectors face each other.
A discrimination of whether the combination of the connectors is proper is made by touching the outer surfaces of the connectors and judging whether the error assembling preventing portion of the one connector and the identification portion of the other connector correspond. Preferably this discrimination is made to determine whether the error assembling preventing portion and the identification portion are aligned substantially on the same straight line when the two connectors face each other. The identification means aligned on the same straight line, or otherwise correspond, only if the combination of the two connectors is proper. Thus the connectors can be identified easily.
Further preferably, the identification means is in a form to be only visually identifiable. Most preferably, the identification means is in the form of one or more colors. According to the invention, there is further provided a set of mating connectors, comprising at least two male and female connector pairs which are appropriately connectable with each other. The identification means provided on each male and female connector pair are different.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the error assembling preventing portion and/or the identification portion of each male and female connector pair are positioned in different positions. Preferably the positions are laterally displaced or shifted with respect to each other in a direction at an angle different from 0° or 180° relative to the connection direction.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5660782 (1997-08-01), Davis
patent: 5709831 (1998-01-01), Endo et al.
patent: 5814356 (1998-09-01), Ito et al.
patent: 5861120 (1999-01-01), Yagi et al.
patent: 5915760 (1999-06-01), Kawase et al.
patent: 6024552 (2000-02-01), Wada et al.
patent: 6045739 (2000-04-01), Abe
patent: 36 01 115 (1987-07-01), None
patent: 0 349 460 (1990-01-01), None
patent: 0 495 505 (1992-07-01), None
patent: 2 233 596 (1991-01-01), None
patent: 2 303 817 (1997-03-01), None
patent: 60-152272 (1985-08-01), None
patent: 61211010 (1986-09-01), None
patent: 03049174 (1991-03-01), None
patent: 5-41257 (1993-02-01), None
patent: 6-35400 (1994-09-01), None
Casella Anthony J.
Easthom Karl D.
Hespos Gerald E.
Lee Kyung S.
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
LandOfFree
Male and female connector pair and set of mating connectors does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Male and female connector pair and set of mating connectors, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Male and female connector pair and set of mating connectors will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2611783