Electrical connectors – Interrelated connectors relatively movable during use – Movement about axis
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-29
2001-10-09
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Interrelated connectors relatively movable during use
Movement about axis
C439S164000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299453
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotary connector for electrically connecting the body and the steering wheel of an automobile, and more particularly to a rotary connector having a rotor housing that can be locked to a stator housing.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional rotary connector is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Preliminary Publication (KOKAI) No. 1-83287. This conventional rotary connector is provided with a fastening means for fixing a rotor housing, the fastening means engaging a cancel cam sleeve of a turn signal switch such that the fastening means is movable in axial directions of the cancel cam.
When the steering wheel of a vehicle is rotated, the rotary connector mounted on the vehicle is also allowed to rotate through approximately two rotations in each of a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction, from a neutral position of the steering wheel at which the vehicle runs straight.
If this rotary connector is assembled to the vehicle at an off-neutral position by mistake, the steering wheel cannot be rotated through two rotations either clockwise or counterclockwise. Forcibly rotating the steering wheel causes the cutting off of the flat cable assembled inside the rotary connector. In order to prevent such an accident, the prior art rotary connectors have a variety of fastening means.
The fastening means disclosed in the aforementioned prior art document is constructed such that when a rotary connector is disposed on the turn signal switch and the steering wheel has not been assembled on the rotary connector, a projection of the rotary connector moves into a cutout formed in a cancel cam of the turn signal switch to prevent rotation of the rotary connector.
When the steering wheel has been assembled on the rotary connector, the cancel cam is pressed against the lower surface of the steering wheel, so that the projection moves out of the cutout to allow the cancel cam to rotate.
The prior art rotary connector and turn signal switch are manufactured at separate plants and delivered separately to a final assembly plant. The rotary connector is assembled on the turn signal switch immediately before the steering wheel is assembled on the rotary connector.
However, the aforementioned prior art rotary connector suffers from the problem that after the turn signal switch has been disengaged from the rotary connector, the projection is out of the cutout and no longer performs a locking function. Thus, the aforementioned prior art rotary connector does not have a locking function if the turn signal switch is not to be assembled to the underside of the rotary connector. Accordingly, the prior art connector cannot be applied to a turn signal switch of a cluster switch type in which the turn signal switch is located beside an instrument panel.
Another type of locking means for a rotary connector is one in which a locking pin is inserted into both the rotor housing and the stator housing to prevent the rotor housing from rotating. With this type of locking means, the locking pin is pulled out of the rotary connector and put aside once the rotary connector has been assembled to the vehicle. Thus, it is uneconomical.
When the rotary connector is disengaged from the steering wheel for the purposes of checking and repairing the steering wheel, the rotor housing cannot be locked since the locking pin has been thrown away and the rotary connector no longer has the locking pin accordingly. If the rotor housing cannot be locked at a predetermined rotational position, the steering wheel may not be assembled properly.
As mentioned above, the rotary connector assembled in the wrong way is unable to rotate through two complete rotations either clockwise or counterclockwise. Attempting to forcibly rotate the steering wheel will cause the cutting off of the flat cable. The cutting of the flat cable leads to a drawback that an air bag, a horn, and the like provided on the steering wheel cannot operate properly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and to provide a rotary connector that can be locked even if the turn signal is not to be assembled under the steering wheel.
The present invention provides a rotary connector having a stator housing provided on a body of an automobile, a rotor housing that is rotatably assembled to the stator housing and is coupled to a steering wheel, and a flat cable that is accommodated in a space defined between the rotor housing and the stator housing. The rotary connector comprises a rotor having a projection, and the stator housing is formed with an engagement portion. The projection engages the engagement portion to prevent the rotor housing from rotating.
The rotor comprises a cylinder inserted into a hollow shaft cylinder of the rotor housing. The projection is formed on a circumference of the cylinder. A pressing surface is formed on the rotor that presses a lower surface of the steering wheel when the steering wheel is assembled to the rotary connector.
The projection of the rotor is one of a plurality of projections that project from a lower portion of the cylinder. The engagement portion of the stator housing is a projection that projects from a bottom surface of the stator housing.
The rotor is assembled to an attachment that couples the stator housing and the rotor housing together such that the rotor housing is rotatable relative to the stator housing. The attachment supports a spring that urges the rotor. The spring has an upper end in pressure contact with the projections and a lower end received between an annular groove formed in the attachment and a projection formed on an inner side of the annular groove.
The rotor and annular groove are formed such that when the steering wheel has been assembled on the rotary connect or and the rotor is pushed down by the steering wheel, the projections of the rotor lower into the annular groove. The attachment has vertical grooves into which the projections enter such that the projections are vertically movable in the vertical grooves.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4966334 (1990-10-01), Bannai
patent: 5429517 (1995-07-01), Bolen
patent: 5630723 (1997-05-01), Kawamoto
patent: 5752843 (1998-05-01), Kawamoto et al.
patent: 1-83287 (1989-06-01), None
Kananen Ronald P.
Niles Parts Co., Ltd.
Rader Fishman & Grauer
Ta Tho D.
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