Electrical connectors – With sealing element or material for cooperation with...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-23
2001-02-13
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With sealing element or material for cooperation with...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186814
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a watertight connector provided with an inertial locking mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a pair of connector housings of a watertight connector are connected with each other, an operator might mistakenly judge that the connection is completed when connection resistance of the entire connector increases. The increase of a connection resistance could be caused by a waterproof ring provided between the two connector housings, a connection resistance acting between terminals, and the like even though the connector housings are still being connected. An inertial locking mechanism is used in the prior art to prevent the connector housings from being left partly connected. The inertial locking mechanism includes a connection resistance generating means for temporarily generating a connection resistance larger than the connection resistances by the waterproof ring and by the terminal fittings during the connecting operation. The operation can feel a sudden decrease in connection resistance when the connecting operation overcomes the connection resistance generated by the connection resistance generating means and passes a connection resistance generating area. The two connector housings then can be connected properly by a force exerted to pass the generating area, i.e. an inertial force.
A prior art watertight connector provided with such an inertial locking mechanism was developed by the applicant of the present application, and is shown in FIG.
9
. The prior art connector includes a pair of resistance arms
3
provided in a female housing
1
and a pair of contact ribs
5
provided in a male housing
4
. The resistance arms
3
and the contact ribs
5
are brought into contact with each other during the connection of the two housings
1
,
4
, thereby generating a large connection resistance. When the housings
1
,
4
are pushed in connection directions with a force equal to or larger than a specified value, the resistance arms
3
and the contact ribs
5
suddenly are disengaged from each other, and the housings
1
,
4
reach their connection completion position by inertial force and are locked into each other by a lock arm
2
. Further, a waterproof ring
8
is mounted in the female housing
1
. A pair of annular projections
6
formed on the outer circumferential surface of the waterproof ring
8
are to be pushed and deformed by a receptacle
7
of the male housing
4
.
FIG. 10
shows changes in connection resistance values of the respective elements as the housings
1
,
4
of the watertight connector are connected. Here, the connection resistance value of the watertight ring
8
is confirmed to change in such a manner that peaks P
1
(see
FIG. 10
) are reached when the leading end of the receptacle
7
move over the respective annular projections
6
. In this watertight connector, the peaks P
1
of the connection resistance value of the annular projections
6
are reached after a peak P
2
of the connection resistance value of the inertial locking mechanism comprised of the resistance arms
3
and the contact ribs
5
is reached. Accordingly, a difference between the resistance value during the restriction of the connecting operation by the inertial locking mechanism and that after the cancellation of the restriction cannot be made clear and, therefore, the operator cannot sufficiently feel and notice that the connection has been completed.
Published European Application No. 0 803 937 discloses a watertight connector similar to the above one. This watertight connector has a waterproof ring having three annular projections formed thereon, but still has a problem similar to the above.
In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a watertight connector with an inertial locking mechanism, housings of which can be connected while making an operator feel and notice the completion of a connecting operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a watertight connector, comprising at least two connector housings connectable with each other. The connector also has an inertial locking mechanism respectively provided between two connector housings for restricting a connecting operation while the connector housings are being connected. A waterproof ring is provided in one of the connector housings and has at least one projection formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof so that the projection is pushed and deformed by a corresponding surface of the other connector housing at least in the connection completion position. The waterproof ring holds the connector housings substantially watertight in the connection completion position. A connection resistance by the waterproof ring which acts during the connecting operation of the connector housings reaches its peak value when the leading end of the other connector housing moves over the projection and thereafter decreases. The projection is arranged on the waterproof ring along a connection direction to be brought into contact with the leading end of the other connector housing when the inertial locking mechanism is brought to its restricting state. Thus the peak of the connection resistance value of the waterproof ring and a peak of a connection resistance value of the inertial locking mechanism are reached at substantially the same timing or stroke of one connector housing into the other during the connecting operation of the connector housings.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inertial locking mechanism substantially cancels the restriction when the connector housings are pushed to be further connected with a force equal to or exceeding a specified value, and brings the connector housings to their connection completion position by its inertial force to lock them into each other.
Preferably, the projection provided on the waterproof ring is an annular projection, which is pushed and deformed by a circumferential surface as the corresponding surface of the other connector housing in the connection completion position to substantially hold the connector housings watertight.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided a watertight connector, comprising two connector housings to be connectable with each other. An inertial locking mechanism is provided between the two connector housings for restricting a connecting operation while the connector housings are being connected, cancelling the restriction when the connector housings are pushed to be further connected with a force equal to or exceeding a specified value, and bringing the connector housings to their connection completion position by its inertial force to lock them into each other. A waterproof ring is provided in one of the connector housings and has an annular projection formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof so that the annular projection is pushed and deformed by a circumferential surface of the other connector housing in the connection completion position to hold the connector housings watertight. A connection resistance by the waterproof ring which acts during the connecting operation of the connector housings reaches its peak value when the leading end of the other connector housing moves over the annular projection and thereafter decreases. Additionally the annular projection is arranged to be brought into contact with the leading end of the other connector housing when the inertial locking mechanism is brought to its restricting state. Thus the peak of the connection resistance value of the waterproof ring and a peak of a connection resistance value of the inertial locking mechanism are reached at the same timing during the connecting operation of the connector housings.
Accordingly, the annular projection of the waterproof ring is brought or bringable into contact with the leading end of the other connector housing when the inertial locking mechanism is brought to its restricting state during the connecting operation of th
Bradley Paula
Casella Anthony J.
Hespos Gerald E.
Pocro Michael J.
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
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