Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-12
2002-01-29
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means
C439S489000, C439S354000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06341974
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector with a partial connection preventing function.
2. Description of the Related Art
A connector with a partial connection preventing mechanism is shown, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication NO. 10-134890. This prior art connector is identified by the numeral
1
in
FIGS. 6 and 7
below, and is provided with female and male housings
2
and
3
, which are connectable with each other. The female housing
2
has an upper surface with a locking piece
4
that is vertically elastically deformable. A pushing portion
5
projects from an upper surface of the locking piece
4
and can push a slidable member
13
, which is described later. Wing-like projections
6
are provided on the left and right edges of the locking piece
4
. Each projection
6
has a slanted guide surface
6
A on its front face.
The front surface of the male housing
3
is provided with a receptacle
8
into which the female housing
2
can be fit. Left and right guides
9
project from the upper surface of the receptacle
8
. The guides
9
have inwardly projecting engaging portions
10
for engaging the corresponding projections
6
of the locking piece
4
. Slanted guide surfaces
10
A,
10
B are formed at the front and rear ends of each engaging portion
10
for guiding the projections
6
. Further, a slide groove
11
extends into the rear of the upper surface of the male housing
3
and is configured to receive the slide
13
. The slide
13
has a substantially H-shaped cross section, and can be slid along forward and backward directions on the male housing
3
by holding the edges of the slide groove
11
in groove portions
14
at the left and right sides of the slide
13
. An upper part of the slide
13
projects upward from the upper surface of the male housing
3
and defines a pushable portion
15
. A finger-engageable operable projection
15
A projects at the rear end of the pushable portion
15
and a zigzag spring
16
is mounted behind the slide
13
, so that the slide
13
is constantly biased forward. A cover
17
is mounted on the male housing
3
for locking the slide
13
and the spring
16
against backward movement.
The prior art female housing
2
is fitted into the receptacle
8
of the prior art male housing
3
so that the guide surfaces
6
A of the left and right projections
6
of the locking pieces
4
contact the guide surfaces
10
A of the engaging portions
10
. As a result, the locking piece
4
deforms elastically upward to bring the pushing portion
5
into contact with the front end face of the slide
13
. The female housing
2
can be pushed further so that the pushing portion
5
compresses the spring
16
and pushes the slide
13
backward, as shown in FIG.
8
. When the projections
6
of the locking piece
4
move over the engaging portions
10
, the locking piece
4
is restored elastically to its original position to engage the projections
6
and the engaging portions
10
. The slide
13
then is returned forward to restrict deformation of the locking piece
4
in a disengaging direction (upward). As a result, the housings
2
and
3
are locked in their properly connected state. If the connecting operation of the prior art housings
2
and
3
is interrupted halfway, the pushing portion
5
of the locking piece
4
is biased by the slide
13
, thereby pushing the female housing
2
out. In this way, a partial connection is prevented.
To disconnect the properly connected prior art housings
2
and
3
, a finger is placed on the pushable portion
15
to push the slide
13
against a biasing force of the spring
16
. If the female housing
2
is withdrawn in this way, the projections
6
of the locking piece
4
move up along the guide surfaces
10
B of the engaging portions
10
, thereby elastically deforming the locking piece
4
upward. The housings
2
and
3
are separated upon completely withdrawing the female housing
2
. If the separating operation of the housings
2
and
3
is interrupted halfway, the spring
16
pushes the slide
13
against the pushing portion
5
of the locking piece
4
and urges the female housing
2
out. This prevents the housings
2
and
3
from being left partly connected.
The pushable portion
15
projects out from the outer surface of the prior art male housing
3
. Thus, an external matter may be struck against the pushable portion
15
to exert an external force on the slide
13
, or on portions of the housings
2
,
3
near the pushable portion
15
, thereby deforming and/or damaging them.
In view of the above problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector that can prevent a projecting operable portion, such as a slide and their neighboring members, from being deformed and damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is directed to a connector that comprises first and second housings, each of which has a front side. The housings are at least partly connectable with each other at their front sides. A slide is provided at least partly in the first housing, and can be slid in the connecting directions of the housings. Additionally, the slide is biased forward in the first housing by a biasing means. A locking piece is provided in the second housing and can engage an engaging portion to hold the housings in a properly connected condition. The slide can interact with the locking piece to restrict movement of the locking piece in a disengaging direction from the engaging portion. A pushable portion projects from the slide, and is operable to push the slide up to a position where a disengaging movement of the locking piece from the engaging portion is permitted. The pushable portion does not project out from the outer surface of the first housing, and therefore, is not likely to be struck by external matter.
According to a preferred embodiment, the locking piece is elastically displaceable in a direction substantially normal to the connecting directions of the housings. Additionally, the locking piece pushes the slide against the biasing means while the housings are being connected, and then moves onto the engaging portion that projects in the first housing. The locking piece moves over the engaging portion when the housings are properly connected, and then the locking piece is restored elastically to engage the engaging portion and hold the housings in a properly connected condition.
A biasing force of the biasing means moves the slide forward as the locking piece is restored elastically to its locking position. The sliding member also may be restored elastically and positioned substantially outside the locking piece to restrict elastic deformation of the locking piece in a disengaging direction from the engaging portion.
The first housing may be formed with a slide-accommodating portion for at least partly accommodating the slide, such that the slide is movable along the connecting directions of the housings or in the forward and backward directions of the first housing. The slide-accommodating portion preferably has an operation opening to enable operation of the pushable portion. The pushable portion preferably is exposed to the outside without projecting out from an opening edge of the operation opening. Accordingly, external matter is not likely to contact the slide, and hence the slide and its neighboring parts are not likely to be damaged.
A displacement-operating portion may project from the locking piece for unlocking the locking piece, and may be formed so as not to project out from the outer surface of the other housing. Accordingly, external matter is not likely to contact the displacement-operating portion of the locking piece, and hence the locking piece and its neighboring parts are not likely to be deformed and damaged by an external force.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5820399 (1998-10
Casella Anthony J.
Hespos Gerald E.
McCamey Ann
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
Ta Tho D.
LandOfFree
Connector with a partial connection preventing function does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Connector with a partial connection preventing function, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Connector with a partial connection preventing function will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2828928