Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Coupling part with relatively pivotable concentric...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-17
2001-05-22
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Coupling part with relatively pivotable concentric...
C439S489000, C439S317000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234819
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector in which a pair of connector housings containing electrical terminals are fitted to each other, typically with a relatively low force. Such a connector is used for example to connect wire bundles in a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
An example of a connector of this type is disclosed in JP-A-4-132178. The connector has a pair of female and male circular cross-section connector housings to be fitted to each other. A fixing ring is installed on a peripheral surface of the female housing such that the fixing ring is freely rotatable. A follower pin projects inwardly from the fixing ring. A cam groove is formed on a peripheral surface of the male housing. The housings are temporarily fitted to each other by engaging the follower pin to the cam groove. Then, the fixing ring is rotated, and as a result the housings arrive at the fully fitted state by the camming action of the follower pin in the cam groove.
In the above-described connector, the fixing ring is rotated to a predetermined position and locked, and an operator then determines if the housings are fully fitted. However, when the fixing ring is rotated to a position close to the predetermined position, fitting resistance may be generated (although the degree of the resistance is generally low). Thus, there is a possibility that the operator stops rotating the fixing ring before the housings are fully fitted. That is, the housings may be held in an incompletely fitted state. It may be very difficult for the operator to detect this.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector which allows an operator to detect whether the connector housings have been fully fitted to each other.
The present invention provides a connector having first and second matable connector housings with circular cross-sections, and a fixing ring which is rotatably mounted at an outer circumference of the first connector housing. In use, the fixing ring is engaged with the second connector housing to form a screw-action cam mechanism which draws the connector housings into mating engagement when the fixing ring is rotated in a first rotational direction relative to the connector housings. The connector further has a detent for detaining the fixing ring at a predetermined position corresponding to full mating engagement of the connector housings. The connector also has at least one return spring which applies a return bias to the fixing ring in a second rotational direction opposite to said first rotational direction as the fixing ring is rotated in the first rotational direction.
Preferably, the return spring is a coil spring which is accommodated in a circumferential groove formed in the first connector housing inwardly of the fixing ring, and a loading member is operably connectable to the fixing ring and projects into the circumferential groove. Therefore, when the fixing ring is rotated in the first rotational direction, the loading member travels around the circumferential groove to load the coil spring and generate the return bias.
Preferably, the loading member projects inwardly from a loading ring which is rotatably mounted between the fixing ring and the circumferential groove. The fixing ring has a resiliently deformable latching arm which is engageable with a corresponding portion of the loading ring to operably connect the loading member to the fixing ring. The detent is preferably provided by the latching arm and a locking projection formed on the first connector housing. When the fixing ring reaches the predetermined position of full engagement, to detain the fixing ring the latching arm engages the locking projection with a latching action which involves a deformation of the latching arm. This deformation also disengages the latching arm from the corresponding portion of the loading ring to release the coil spring and at least partially remove the return bias.
Preferably, the latching arm and locking projection are adapted so that when at least a predetermined force is applied to the fixing ring to rotate the fixing ring in the opposite rotational direction, the latching arm disengages from the locking projection.
As described above, according to the present invention, by rotating the fixing ring, the connector housings are fitted to each other. However, if rotation of the fixing ring is stopped before the fixing ring is locked by the detent, the fixing ring when released rotates in the opposite direction by the elastic restoring force of the return spring so that the connector housings separate from each other. Thereby, it is possible to detect whether the housings are fully engaged.
When a coil spring is used for the return spring, it is possible to provide a compact connector.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3869186 (1975-03-01), Vetter
patent: 4239315 (1980-12-01), Lacaze, Jr.
patent: 4255008 (1981-03-01), Synder et al.
patent: 4322121 (1982-03-01), Riches et al.
patent: 4373770 (1983-02-01), Raux et al.
patent: 4-132178 (1992-05-01), None
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Paumen Gary F.
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
Ta Tho D.
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