Connector supporting structure

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connector supporting structure. More particularly, it relates to a connector supporting structure by which a pair of male and female connectors are engaged with each other and fixed on a connector carrier.

Conventionally, this kind of connector supporting structure includes a connector previously attached to an instrumental panel etc. and another connector to be engaged with the connector by artificial manipulation. Note, in the following descriptions, the former connector on the instrumental panel will be referred as “Immovable connector”, while the latter connector will be referred as “movable connector”. In this structure, the immovable connector is generally provided with a pair guide projections. Correspondingly, the movable connector has a pair of cam levers rotatably attached to a main body of the movable connector. The cam levers have respective cam grooves formed for engagement with the guide projections of the immovable connector. Each cam groove of the movable connector is provided with an inlet for accepting the guide projection of the immovable connector. In process of connecting the movable connector with the immovable connector, since respective leading ends of the cam levers butt against the panel, the cam levers are rotated due to reaction force from the panel. During this rotation of the cam levers, the guide projections of the immovable connector are respectively guided in the guide grooves of the movable connector, so that the movable connector is finally fitted to the immovable connector for integration.

In the above-mentioned conventional structure, however, the cam levers of the movable connector are easy to interfere with obstacles etc. in the handling or transporting stage of the movable connector before fitting to the immovable connector, due to their projecting form from the main body. According to circumferences, it is feared that the cam levers are damaged or broken due to the interference with the obstacles or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Under the circumstances, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector supporting structure which is capable of preventing a cam lever from being damaged thereby to allow the lever to butt against a mounting object, such as panel, certainly.

The object of the present invention described above can be accomplished by a connector supporting structure comprising:

an attachment member;

a first connector to be temporarily engaged with the attachment member, the first connector having a first connector housing on which at least one guide projection is formed; and

a second connector for engagement with the first connector, the second connector having a second connector housing; and

at least one cam lever rotatably supported on the second connector housing, the cam lever having a cam groove formed therein to guide the guide projection of the first connector and a rotating handling part formed for abutment against the attachment member; wherein

the second connector housing has at least one protective cover part formed on one side of the front end of the second connector housing, the front end facing the first connector in arrangement; and

the cam lever is supported on the second connector housing in a manner that the rotating handling part occupies its position behind the protective covering part when the cam lever is arranged in its initial position against the second connector housing in advance of the engagement of the second connector with the first connector;

whereby the approach of the second connector toward the first connector allows the rotating handling part of the cam lever to abut against the attachment member and also causes the cam lever to be rotated thereby to engage the first connector with the second connector.

In the above-mentioned structure, the first connector is engaged with the second connector by the cam lever's rotation while the guide projection is being inserted into the cam groove of the cam lever. When the cam lever is in the initial position, the rotating handling part of the cam lever occupies the position behind the protective covering part of the second connector housing facing the attachment member. Therefore, since the rotating handling part is protected from its outside by the protective covering part, it is possible to prevent the rotating handling part from being damaged by obstacles etc. Thus, it is possible to prevent the cam lever from being broken, also preventing the inappropriate engagement between the first connector and the second connector.

As the second aspect of the invention, in the above connector supporting structure, the attachment member comprises a cylindrical bracket which is fixed on an opening of a plate member to have a cylindrical port communicating with the opening of the plate member, the bracket being adapted so as to have the first connector temporarily engaged therein and also having a guide part formed on an inner face of the bracket to guide the protective cover part to an innermost part of the bracket.

Owing to the provision of the guide part, the positioning of the second connector to the first connector can be easily effected by the movement of the second connector approaching the first connector in a direction to engage the former connector with the latter connector. That is, according to the invention, the fitting operation between the first and second connectors can be accomplished easily and certainly.

As the third aspect of the invention, in the above connector supporting structure, the bracket has an engagement step part formed behind the guide part in a direction to engage the first connector with the second connector, for engagement with the rotating handling part.

Owing to the provision of the engagement step part, the rotating handling part, which has been guided into the innermost part of the bracket by the guide part, is engaged with the engagement step part. Therefore, when the second connector is further moved in the direction to engage the first connector with the second connector, the cam lever having the rotating handling part under the immovable condition is rotated with respect to the second connector housing, allowing the guide projection in the cam groove to be moved. In this way, the engagement (fitting) operation of the first and second connectors can be progressed.

As the fourth aspect of the invention, in the above connector supporting structure, the guide part is in the form of a projection having a slant face inclined to the direction to engage the first connector with the second connector.

Owing to the provision of the slant face, when fitting the second connector to the first connector, the second connector housing is guided on the slant face smoothly. Thus, the positioning of the second connector to the first connector can be effected furthermore.

As the fifth aspect of the invention, in the above connector supporting structure, the cam lever is provided, in the vicinity of the rotating handling part, with a lever temporary-engagement piece which is engaged with the second connector housing, for temporarily engaging the cam lever in the initial position.

Then, in the previous stage before fitting the first connector to the second connector, the positioning of the cam lever in the above initial position can be ensured by the lever temporary-engagement piece engaging with the second connector housing.

As the sixth aspect of the invention, in the above connector supporting structure, the cam groove has at least one part formed so as to gradually approach a rotational center of the cam lever.

Owing to the above formation, the part of the cam groove operates to let the guide projection forcibly come near the rotational center of the cam lever by so-called “force-magnifying” effect. Thus, even if the force to press the second connector is small, it is possible to let the guide projection come near the rotational center certainly, developing the engagement between the first connector and the second connector furthermore.

As the seventh aspect of the invention, in the above connector supporting structure, it is established that a distance between the part of the cam groove and the rotational center is smaller than a distance between the rotating handling part and the rotational center of the cam lever.

Owing to the establishment of the above distances, when releasing the engagement between the first and second connectors, the guide projection is subjected to the “force-magnifying” effect and easily driven in a direction apart from the second connector in spite of the operator's small force to separate the first connector from the second connector.

As the eighth aspect of the invention, in the above connector supporting structure of the third aspect, the bracket has a temporary engagement piece formed for engagement with the guide projection of the first connector thereby to effect the temporarily engagement of the bracket with the first connector.

As the ninth aspect of the invention, in the above connector supporting structure, the temporarily engagement of the bracket with the first connector is released by the cam lever on the second connector when the second connector is engaged with the first connector.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a perspective view of the connector supporting structure in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2

is a front view of an instrumental panel used for the connector supporting structure of the embodiment, showing a bracket opening formed in the panel;

FIG. 3

is a plan view of a bracket forming the connector supporting structure of the embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4

is a front view of the bracket in the embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5

is a cross-sectional view taken along line V—V of

FIG. 3

;

FIG. 6

is a side view of the bracket in the embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7

is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII—VII of

FIG. 3

;

FIG. 8

is a plan view of a female connector housing forming the connector supporting structure of the embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9

is a front view of the female connector housing of the connector supporting structure of the embodiment;

FIG. 10

is a side view of the female connector housing;

FIG. 11

is a front view of an escutcheon of the connector supporting structure of the embodiment;

FIG. 12

is a plan view of a male connector housing forming the connector supporting structure of the embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13

is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII—XIII of

FIG. 12

;

FIG. 14

is a front view of the male connector housing of the embodiment;

FIG. 15

is a rear view of the male connector housing of the embodiment;

FIG. 16

is a side view of the male connector housing of the embodiment;

FIG. 17

is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVII—XVII of

FIG. 15

;

FIG. 18

is a plan view of a cam lever attached to a male connector of the embodiment;

FIG. 19

is a side view of the cam lever of the embodiment;

FIG. 20

is an explanatory partial-sectional view showing a condition directly before fitting the male connector to a female connector of the embodiment;

FIG. 21

is an explanatory sectional view taken along line XXI—XXI of

FIG. 20

;

FIG. 22

is an explanatory partial-sectional view showing a condition where a boss is positioned at the end of a boss-introducing area of a cam groove since the male connector has been fitted to the female connector;

FIG. 23

is an explanatory sectional view taken along line XXIII—XXIII of

FIG. 22

FIG. 24

is an explanatory partial-sectional view showing a condition where the boss is positioned in a force-magnifying area of the cam groove since the male connector has been fitted to the female connector;

FIG. 25

is an explanatory partial-sectional view showing a condition where the boss is positioned at the end of the force-magnifying area of the cam groove since the male connector has been fitted to the female connector;

FIG. 26

is an enlarged view of a part enclosed by a circle of

FIG. 25

;

FIG. 27

is an explanatory partial-sectional view showing a condition where the boss is moving in a racing area of the cam groove since the male connector has been fitted to the female connector;

FIG. 28

is an enlarged view of a part enclosed by a circle of

FIG. 27

;

FIG. 29

is an explanatory partial-sectional view showing a condition where the bending of an instrumental panel is absorbed by the movement of the boss in the racing area of the cam groove since the male connector has been perfectly fitted to the female connector; and

FIG. 30

is an enlarged view of a part enclosed by a circle of FIG.

29

.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a connector supporting structure in accordance with the embodiment of the invention. As shown in this figure, the connector supporting structure of the embodiment generally comprises a mounted part

2

of an instrumental panel

1

arranged on the side of an automotive stay member, a bracket (attachment member)

3

attached to the mounted part

2

, a female connector

4

engaged in the bracket

3

, a male connector

5

joined to the female connector

4

, an appliance's base plate

6

fixed to the male connector

5

and an escutcheon

8

standing on an edge of the base plate

6

and having a connector port

7

allowing the male connector

5

to project outside of the appliance.

First, we now describe the structure of the mounted part

2

of the instrumental panel

1

with reference to FIG.

2

.

The mounted part

2

is arranged on the bottom of a recess formed on the instrumental panel

1

. The mounted part

2

has a bracket port

9

formed in the instrumental panel

1

. The bracket port

9

has a pair of notches

9

A,

9

A formed on an upper edge of the port and a pair of notches

9

B,

9

B formed on a lower edge of the port. Note, the lower notches

9

B,

9

B are respectively positioned inside of the upper notches

9

A,

9

A by distances (t), to accomplish the appropriate positioning of the later-mentioned bracket

3

to be fitted to the port

9

(see FIG.

2

).

The structure of the bracket

3

will be described with reference to

FIGS. 1

,

3

to

7

. In these figures,

FIG. 3

is a plan view of the bracket

3

, showing the front end of the bracket

3

.

FIG. 4

is a front view of the bracket

3

;

FIG. 5

a cross-sectional view taken along line V—V of

FIG. 3

;

FIG. 6

a side view of the bracket

3

, and

FIG. 7

is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII—VII of FIG.

3

.

The bracket

3

has a rectangular-shaped cylinder part

10

for temporary engagement with the connector, and upper and lower flange parts

11

formed along upper and lower edges of a base end of the cylinder part

10

so as to project laterally. Note, the flange parts

11

are formed so as to extend up to both sides of the base end of the bracket

3

(see FIG.

1

).

The cylinder part

10

has a cross section somewhat smaller than a size of the bracket port

9

, allowing the part

10

to pass through the rectangular port

9

. When inserting the cylinder part

10

into the port

9

, the flange parts

11

butt against the circumference of the port

9

. Therefore, it is impossible for the bracket

3

to pass through the port

9

. Repeatedly, the flange parts

11

are formed to project from the base end of the cylinder part

10

to the lateral side by predetermined lengths.

On the outside wall of an upper sidewall

10

A of the cylinder part

10

and in the vicinity of the base end of the part

10

, panel-carrier projections

12

A,

12

A are formed to project sideways, as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 3

. A distance between the projections

12

A,

12

A is established to be equal to a distance between the notches

9

A,

9

A of the upper edge of the port

9

. Further, each projection

12

A is established in size to allow it to pass through the notch

9

A. Similarly, on the outside wall of a lower sidewall

10

B of the cylinder part

10

and in the vicinity of the base end of the part

10

, panel-carrier projections

12

B,

12

B are formed to project sideways, as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

. A distance between the projections

12

B,

12

B is established to be equal to a distance between the notches

9

B,

9

B of the lower edge of the port

9

. Further, each projection

12

B is established in size to allow it to pass through the notch

9

B.

In the positional relationship, these projections

12

A,

12

A,

12

B,

12

B are adapted so as to pass through the notches

9

A,

9

A,

9

B,

9

B formed about the port

9

simultaneously. Thus, the panel-carrier projections

12

B,

12

B are positioned inside of the projections

12

A,

12

A by distances (t), respectively.

The upper sidewall

10

A has a pair of engagement claws

13

A,

13

A formed inside the panel-carrier projections

12

A,

12

A, with elasticity. Each engagement claw

13

A is inclined as if it were gradually standing toward the base end of the bracket

3

. Similarly, the lower sidewall

10

B has a pair of engagement claws

13

B,

13

B formed beside the panel-carrier projections

12

B,

12

B, with elasticity. Each engagement claw

13

B is also inclined as if it were gradually standing toward the base end of the bracket

3

. Additionally, in both sidewalls

10

C,

10

D interposed between the upper sidewall

10

A and the lower sidewall

10

B, the sidewall

10

C has a similar elastic claw

13

C formed as if it were gradually standing toward the base end of the bracket

3

(see

FIGS. 1

,

3

and

4

).

The cylinder part

10

has a pair of temporary-engagement arms

14

,

14

formed on the inside face of each sidewall

10

A,

10

B. On the inside wall of each sidewall

10

A,

10

B, each temporary-engagement arm

14

is formed so as to stand obliquely inward as approaching from the base end of the cylinder part

10

to the leading end. These temporary-engagement arms

14

are adapted so as to engage with the later-mentioned female connector

4

temporarily.

On the inside faces of the sidewalls

10

C,

10

D on both sides of the cylinder part

10

, there are respectively formed, on the side of the leading end of the part

10

, a pair of “lever-seceding” projections

15

,

15

which direct inward as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 5

. On each sidewall

10

C,

10

D, the projections

15

,

15

are separated from each other at a predetermined distance. At the intermediate position between the projections

15

,

15

on the sidewall

10

C and behind them (the side of the base end), a “lever-catching” projecting part

16

is formed toward the interior of the cylinder part

10

to catch later-mentioned cam levers

27

(see FIG.

18

). While, at the intermediate position between the projections

15

,

15

on the sidewall

10

D and behind them, a guide projecting part

17

is formed toward the interior of the cylinder part

10

, with a guide face

17

A for guiding a later-mentioned male connector housing

26

. In assembly, the male connector housing

26

is inserted into a space defined between the “ever-catching” projecting part

16

and the guide projecting part

17

.

As shown in

FIG. 5

, each “lever-seceding” projection

15

has a slanted guide face

15

A for guiding a protective cover part

26

B formed on the male connector housing

26

and a “seceding-force” applying face

15

B for engagement with a rotation handling part

39

at the seceding operation. The faces

15

B of the projections

15

,

15

are formed to be generally perpendicular to the inside faces of the sidewalls

10

C,

10

D.

The constitution of the female connector

4

will be described with reference to FIG.

1

and

FIGS. 8

to

10

.

FIG. 8

is a plan view of the front face of the female connector

4

.

FIG. 9

is a front view of the connector

4

and

FIG. 10

is a side view thereof.

The female connector

4

generally includes a female connector housing

18

, a plurality of blocks

19

formed in the housing

18

and each having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers and a plurality of female terminals

20

accommodated in the terminal accommodating chambers of each block

19

. As shown in

FIG. 8

, the terminals

20

have connecting ports positioned on the side of the front end of the female connector housing

18

. Again, the terminals

20

have their rear ends connected to wires w

1

respectively. These wires w

1

are respectively withdrawn from the rear end of the female connector housing

18

.

On the upper face of the female connector housing

18

and also in the vicinity of the front end of the housing

18

, a pair of bosses

21

,

21

are formed to project at a predetermined distance, as guided projections for engagement with guide grooves of the cam levers mentioned later. Similarly, the lower face of the female connector housing

18

is provided, in the vicinity of the front end, with the bosses

21

,

21

in pairs. These bosses

21

are arranged in respective positions corresponding to the temporary-engagement arms

14

,

14

on the inside face of the bracket

3

when the female connector

4

is inserted into the bracket

3

. Further, the female connector housing

18

has spacers

22

formed on both sides of the upper and lower faces in the direction of width, for separating the housing

18

from the inner wall of the bracket

3

at a designated distance. As shown in

FIGS. 8 and 10

, on both side faces of the female connector housing

18

and also in the vicinity of the front end of the housing

18

, a pair of stoppers

23

,

23

are formed to define the terminus of the female connector

4

when it is inserted into the bracket

3

. Correspondingly, the bracket

3

is provided with stopper receivers

24

which come into contact with the stoppers

23

,

23

to define the terminus of the female connector

4

inserted.

Here, we describe the steps of attaching the bracket

3

to the mounted part

2

and the steps of engaging the female connector

4

with the bracket

3

temporarily, in brief.

First, the cylinder part

10

of the bracket

3

is inserted into the bracket port

9

of the instrumental panel

1

from its backside. Simultaneously, adjust the positions of the four panel-carrier projections

12

A,

12

A,

12

B,

12

B to the four notches

9

A,

9

A,

9

B,

9

B on the edge of the port

9

, respectively. In process of inserting the cylinder part

10

into the bracket port

9

, the flange part

11

of the bracket

3

butts against the opening edge of the bracket port

9

. Subsequently, the bracket

3

is slid along the surface of the instrumental panel

1

in the horizontal direction. Thus, the projections

12

A,

12

B are deviated from the notches

9

A,

9

B in their positions, whereby the cylinder part

10

can be prevented from withdrawing from the instrumental panel

1

backward. Then, the instrumental panel

1

is pinched, at the opening edge of the bracket port

9

, between the flange part

11

and the panel-carrier projections

12

A,

12

B, while the engagement claws

13

A,

13

B,

13

C enter into a gap between the instrumental panel

1

and the female connector housing

18

and lean against the inside wall of the panel

1

with elasticity. In this way, the bracket

3

is carried and secured on the mounted part

2

of the panel

1

.

For the temporary engagement of the female connector

4

with the bracket

3

, it is carried out to insert the leading end of the female connector

4

into the opening (on the side of the base end) of the bracket

3

until the stoppers

23

of the housing

18

butt against the stopper receivers

24

of the bracket

3

. With this action, the bosses

21

on the female connector housing

18

climb over the temporary-engagement arms

14

, so that their tips come into contact with the lateral faces of the bosses

21

. Thus, the return of the female connector

4

can be prevented to effect the temporary engagement. Note, this operation to temporarily engage the female connector

4

with the bracket

3

may be executed before or after the operation to attach the bracket

3

to the instrumental panel

1

.

Next, the constitution of the male connector

5

will be described with reference to FIG.

1

and

FIGS. 11

to

19

.

FIG. 11

is a front view of the escutcheon;

FIG. 12

a plan view of the male connector housing, viewed from the leading end;

FIG. 13

a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII—XIII of

FIG. 12

;

FIG. 14

a front view of the male connector housing;

FIG. 15

is a rear view of the male connector housing;

FIG. 16

a side view of the male connector housing;

FIG. 17

a cross-sectional view taken along line XVII—XVII of

FIG. 15

;

FIG. 18

a plan view of the cam lever; and

FIG. 19

is a side view of the cam lever.

In

FIG. 1

, the male connector

5

has its fixing parts

26

A fixed to the base plate

6

on the appliance's side. The escutcheon

8

is arranged so as to stand on the rear edge of the base plate

6

perpendicularly to the base plate

6

. In

FIG. 11

, the escutcheon

8

has a connector port

7

formed to make the male connector

5

project to the outside. Formed on both sides of the port

7

of the escutcheon

8

are screw holes

25

,

25

which are used to screw the instrumental panel

1

up. Further, the connector port

7

has projecting pieces

8

A,

8

A formed at respective centers of the upper and lower edges, for engagement with the male connector housing

26

.

Roughly speaking, the male connector

5

has the male connector housing

26

and a pair of cam levers

27

rotatably carried by the male connector housing

26

, as shown in FIG.

1

.

As shown in FIGS.

12

,

13

and

17

, the male connector housing

26

is provided, on a front side thereof, with a recess

28

for receiving the female connector housing

18

. On a bottom plate

29

of the recess

28

, a plurality of male terminals

30

are arranged so as to project toward the loading end of the male connector

30

. Penetrating the bottom plate

29

, the male terminals

30

have their rear ends connected with wires w

2

respectively. The wires w

2

are connected with not-shown wires on the base plate

6

to connect them to various circuits, electronic parts, etc. of the instruments.

The male connector housing

26

has an upper wall

31

and a lower wall

32

formed on upper and lower margins of the bottom plate

29

to extend in the front-and-rear direction (fitting direction) of the male connector

5

. The upper wall

31

is parallel with the lower wall

32

. On both sides of the rear end of the lower wall

32

, the above fixing parts

26

A extend backward.

On both sides of the front end of the male connector housing

26

, as shown in

FIGS. 12

to

15

, two pairs of protective cover parts

26

B,

26

B are formed to extend outside the housing

26

in the direction of width. Positioned behind the protective cover parts

26

B are rotating handling parts

39

which are respective portions of the cam levers

27

in the initial positions. Owing to the positioning of the handling parts

39

behind the protective cover parts

26

B, when inserting the male connector

5

into the bracket

3

, the parts

26

B operate to protect the handling parts

39

to prevent them from being damaged. Note, in order to allow the male connector housing

26

to contact with the guide projecting part

17

, the upper and lower protective cover parts

26

B are separated from each other on one side of the front end of the male connector

5

.

In

FIGS. 13 and 14

, Each of the upper wall

31

and the lower wall

32

has a pair of boss-guide slits

33

,

33

formed to guide the bosses

21

of the female connector

4

in the fitting direction when fitting the male connector

5

to the female connector

4

. Additionally, behind the slits

33

(on the rear side in the fitting direction), the upper wall

31

and the lower wall

32

have two pairs of lever-attachment shafts

34

formed to project up and down.

Between the pair of slits

33

,

33

on each of the walls

31

,

32

, there are formed a panel engagement piece

35

which gradually rises from the front end of the male connector

5

toward the rear obliquely and a panel hooking part

36

which stands on the rear end of the piece

35

. In assembly, since each of the projecting pieces

8

A,

8

A of the escutcheon

8

is disposed between the panel engagement piece

35

and the panel hooking part

36

, the male connector housing

26

can be carried by the escutcheon

8

.

Further, on each of the walls

31

,

32

, rotation-control parts

37

in the form of projecting banks are formed on both sides of the panel engagement piece

35

(and also the panel hooking part

36

) to define the rotational terminuses of the cam levers

27

.

The structure of one cam lever

27

will be described with reference to

FIGS. 18 and 19

.

The cam lever

27

has a pair of parallel lever plates

38

,

38

each shaped to be generally triangular and the rod-shaped handling part

39

for connecting one peak of the triangular lever plate

38

to the same of the other lever plate

38

.

Additionally, one lever plate

38

is provided, in the vicinity of the handling part

39

, with a temporary engagement piece

40

which rises obliquely toward the opposing lever plate

38

(see FIG.

19

). The temporary engagement piece

40

is provided to temporarily engage the cam lever

27

with the male connector housing

26

at the initial position.

On the opposite side of the handling part

39

about the center of each lever plate

38

, a shaft hole

41

is formed to accept the lever-attachment shaft

34

projecting from the male connector housing

26

.

On a plate's edge

42

beside the shaft hole

41

, a cam groove

43

is formed to guide the boss

21

with the rotation of the lever plate

38

. The cam groove

43

is provided, at the entrance, with a reinforcing plate

44

. In view of preventing the interference with the boss

21

inserted into the cam groove

43

, this reinforcing plate

44

is formed so as to stride over the cam groove

43

.

The cam groove

43

has a boss-introducing area Al extending from the side edge

42

toward the shaft hole

41

generally linearly, a force-magnifying area A

2

for moving the boss

21

, which has been brought to the inmost part of the area A

1

, to the vicinity of the hole

41

forcibly owing to the magnifying action with the rotation of the lever plate

38

, and a racing area A

3

.

The force-magnifying area A

2

is formed by a groove part which is curved so as to approach the center of the shaft hole

41

gradually. The racing area A

3

is formed by another groove part extending along the circumference about the center of the shaft hole

41

. The groove length of the racing area A

3

is established corresponding to the bending (dimension) of the mounted part

2

of the instrumental panel

1

though the length will be mentioned later in detail.

Each of the cam levers

27

constructed above is rotatably supported by the lever-attachment shafts

34

,

34

projecting on the upper and lower walls

31

,

32

of the male connector housing

26

. At the initial positions of the cam levers

27

,

27

, the side edges

42

of the lever plates

38

are substantially parallel with the front edge of the front connector housing

26

. In this state, the handling parts

39

are respectively positioned behind the protective cover parts

26

B formed on the male connector housing

26

. The respective cam levers

27

are adapted so that the handling parts

39

rotate toward the rear end of the male connector housing

26

when the female and male connectors

4

,

5

are fitted to each other. That is, both of the cam levers

27

are adapted so as to rotate in the opposite directions mutually.

Next, with reference to

FIGS. 20

to

30

, we describe a method of assembling the female connector

4

to the male connector

5

in the connector supporting structure and also its operation.

First, attach the bracket

3

to the bracket port

9

formed in the mounted part

2

of the instrumental panel

1

by using the above-mentioned technique. In this stage, the female connector housing

4

is already engaged with the bracket

3

temporarily. That is, by inserting the leading end of the female connector

4

into the bracket

3

through its opening on the side of the base end, it is carried out to fit the connector

4

to the bracket

3

until the stoppers

23

of the female connector housing

18

butt against the stopper receivers

24

of the bracket

3

. Consequently, as shown in

FIGS. 20 and 21

, there is realized a condition that the bosses

21

of the female connector housing

18

surmount the temporary engagement arms

14

so that their tips butt against the side faces of the bosses

21

, effecting the temporary engagement of the female connector

4

. Note, the operation to engage female connector

4

with the bracket

3

temporarily may be performed before or after the operation to attach the bracket

3

to the instrumental panel

1

.

Next, we describe the operation to fit the female connector

4

, which has been temporarily engaged in the instrumental panel

1

through the bracket

3

, to the male connector

5

.

As shown in

FIG. 20

, bring the male connector

5

and the female connector

4

into a close relationship while the leading face of the male connector

5

on the appliance's side is facing on the leading face of the female connector

4

temporarily engaged in the bracket

3

. Then, the cam levers

27

occupy their initial positions. In detail, the side edges

42

of the lever plates

38

respectively become parallel with the front edge of the male connector

5

, so that the rotating handling parts

39

are on the backside of the protective cover parts

26

B. While, the temporary engagement pieces

40

are temporarily engaged with the male connector housing

26

to maintain the initial positions of the cam levers

27

. In this initial state, when the male connector

5

butts against the female connector

4

, each boss

21

on the female connector housing

18

is inserted into the inlet of the boss-introducing area A

1

of the cam groove

43

.

FIG. 21

is a sectional view taken along line XXI—XXI of

FIG. 20

, showing both of one condition where the bracket

3

temporarily engages with the female connector

4

through the arms

14

and another condition where the boss-introducing areas A

1

are about to collect the bosses

21

.

Next, as shown in

FIGS. 22 and 23

, further push the male connector

5

into the female connector

4

in the fitting direction. Consequently, the protective cover parts

26

B in front of the handling parts

39

are respectively guided by the slanted faces

15

A of the projections

15

and brought into the positions beyond the step parts

16

A. At this time, the rotating handling parts

39

lean on the step parts

16

A, while the protective cover parts

26

B do not interfere with the parts

16

A. When the male connector

5

is pushed furthermore, then each rotating handling part

39

moves outward along the face of the step part

16

A and finally enters into the space on the back side of the projection

15

. Simultaneously, each cam lever

27

is subjected to reaction force to urge the rotating handling part

39

backward of the male connector housing

26

, through a contact between the part

39

and the step part

16

A. The reaction force is converted to a force to rotate the cam lever

27

about the attachment shaft

34

as a fulcrum for rotation.

As a result, the lever plates

38

of each cam lever

27

begin their rotation to release the temporary engagement between the temporary engagement pieces

40

and the male connector housing

26

. Additionally, with the rotation of the cam levers

27

, each lever plate

38

also operates to separate the temporary engagement arm

14

of the bracket

3

, which has temporarily engaged with the female connector housing

18

behind the boss

21

, from the female connector housing

18

outwardly. Consequently, the temporary engagement between the female connector

4

and the bracket

3

is released to establish a condition where the connector

4

is carried by the male connector

5

only through the cam levers

27

. In this way, since the female connector housing

4

is free from the bracket

3

and also the instrumental panel

1

, the moving distance of the male connector

5

in the fitting direction is not restricted by the female connector

4

. Therefore, it is possible to gain both rotating stroke and rotating angle of the cam levers

27

sufficiently and also possible to increase the force-magnifying effect mentioned later.

In other words, despite that the arm of rotational moment of the reaction force applied on the rotating handling part

39

is extremely long in comparison with a distance between the force-magnifying area A

2

and the attachment shaft

34

, it is possible to amplify the force-magnifying effect in the force-magnifying area A

2

owing to the enlarged rotating stroke and rotating angle. The force-magnifying area A

2

operates to let the boss

21

forcibly come near the shaft

34

by the force-magnifying effect since the area A

2

is provided with its contours gradually approaching the shaft

34

. Thus, even if the force to press the male connector

5

is small, it is possible to let the boss

21

come near the shaft

34

certainly, developing the engagement between the male connector

5

and the female connector

4

furthermore.

FIGS. 22 and 23

show a condition where the bosses

21

are respectively positioned in the force-magnifying areas A

2

. Note,

FIG. 23

is a sectional view taken along line XXIII—XXIII of FIG.

22

.

FIG. 24

shows a condition where the bosses

21

are moving from the force-magnifying areas A

2

toward the racing areas A

3

. In this condition, since each rotating handling part

39

thrusts the step part

16

A of the bracket

3

corresponding to the pressing of the male connector

5

, the instrumental panel

1

is slightly deformed backward in the vicinity of the mounted part

2

.

By further pushing the male connector

5

into the female connector

4

, the former is perfectly fitted in the latter to complete the engagement therebetween, as shown in FIG.

25

. Then, each boss

21

on the female connector housing

18

is positioned at the inlet of the racing area A

3

upon passing through the terminus of the area A

2

, as shown in FIG.

26

.

FIG. 26

is an enlarged view of a circle of FIG.

25

. Also in this state, the instrumental panel

1

in the vicinity of the mounted part

2

is still deformed backward, as similar to the condition of FIG.

24

.

Subsequently, when the above bending of the instrumental panel

1

is canceled due to its elasticity instantaneously, the rotating handling part

39

of each cam lever

27

is further rotated backward, as shown in FIG.

27

. Then, the male connector

5

does not change its position. In this state, the cam levers

27

(the lever plates

38

) rotate within a range of the racing areas A

3

, while the bosses

21

only move in the racing areas A

3

relatively without being affected by the cam levers

27

. That is, since each of the racing areas A

3

is shaped along the circumference of a circle about the attachment shaft

34

(the hole

41

), the bosses

21

are not influenced by the rotation of the cam levers

27

. In this way, the recovery of the bending instrumental panel

1

is absorbed by the relative movement of the bosses

21

in the racing areas A

3

, exerting no influence on the engagement between the male connector

5

and the female connector

4

. Note,

FIG. 28

is an enlarged view of a circle of FIG.

27

.

FIGS. 29 and 30

show a condition where the female connector

4

is completely connected with the male connector

5

while the instrumental panel

1

is withdrawn from bending.

FIG. 30

is an enlarged view of a circle of FIG.

29

. Then, each boss

21

is positioned in the racing are A

3

so that the engagement between the female and male connectors

4

,

5

is not affected by the slight shaking of the cam levers

27

. Finally, as shown in

FIG. 29

, the instrument

1

is fixed with the appliance by means of screws

45

, thereby completing the assembling operation of the connector supporting structure of the embodiment.

We describe a method of releasing the so-accomplished connection between the connectors

4

,

5

.

First, unscrew the screws

45

and perform an operation to pull back the appliance equipped with the male connector

5

in the opposite direction to the above-mentioned fitting operation. Consequently, the male and female connectors

5

,

4

begin to move toward the appliance. Then, since the rotating handling parts

39

of the cam levers

27

butt against the “seceding-force” applying faces

15

B (see

FIG. 5

) on the back side of the projections

15

, the above-retreat of the male connector

5

causes the cam levers

27

to be rotated about the attachment shafts

34

in the opposite direction to the fitting direction. With the rotation of the cam levers

27

, each of the bosses

21

in the racing area A

3

moves into the force-magnifying area A

2

.

When moving the male connector

5

back furthermore, each boss

21

in the area A

2

starts to move toward the area Al. During this movement, the boss

21

is subjected to the force-magnifying effect in the force-magnifying area A

2

in the situation where the contact between the rotating handling part

39

and the face

15

B operates as the point of force while the lever-attachment shaft

34

operates as the fulcrum. Consequently, by moving the male connector

5

back with a slight force, it is possible to release the engagement between the male and female connectors

5

,

4

forcibly.

At the same time of disengagement of the female connector

4

from the male connector

5

, the temporary-engagement arms

14

, which have been deformed in the release positions by the lever plates

38

, are released from the lever plates

38

to carry the female connector housing

18

again (see FIG.

23

).

When the position of each boss

21

is shifted from the area A

2

to the area A

1

with the retreat of the male connector

5

, the generally-straight shape of the area A

1

allows the boss

21

to move outside the cam groove

43

with ease. Note, during this movement, a force required to move the male connector

5

back is remarkably small due to the shallow engagement between the connectors

4

,

5

. It is noted that when the engagement of the connectors

4

,

5

is released, the rotating handling parts

39

of the cam levers

27

are free to rotate toward the front end of the male connector

5

. Therefore, the rotating handling parts

39

,

39

of both cam levers

27

can approach each other thereby to allow each part

39

to be withdrawn from a gap between the projection

15

and the male connector housing

26

. In this way, the female connector

4

can be separated from the male connector

5

perfectly. Even in this state, there is no possibility that the female connector

4

falls from the instrumental panel

1

due to the temporarily engagement by the bracket

3

.

According to the connector supporting structure of the embodiment, the temporary engagement of the female connector housing in the bracket is canceled when the male connector begins to be fitted to the female connector. Therefore, it is possible to lengthen the stroke of the male connector

5

in the fitting direction. Then, since the rotating handling parts

39

of the cam levers

27

are fixed by the step parts

16

A of the projections

16

, it is possible to increase the rotating angle of the cam levers

27

by the long stroke of the male connector

5

in the fitting direction. In this way, owing to the increased rotating angle of the cam levers

27

, each of the force-magnifying areas A

2

is shaped so as not to abruptly approach the attachment shaft

34

(the hole

41

) but gradually, in other word, drawing a gentle arc, whereby it is possible to reduce a force to push the male connector

5

(fitting load). According to the embodiment, the female and male connectors

4

,

5

can be easily joined to each other by only the operator's adjusting their front ends in position.

As mentioned before, since the female connector

4

is not supported by the instrumental panel

1

in the fitting condition of the female and male connectors

4

,

5

, (releasing of the temporary engagement), it is possible to restrict the vibration of the instrumental panel

1

from being transmitted to female connector

4

. Thus, it is possible to reduce the influence of relative vibrations, which are derived from the difference in weight between the instrumental panel

1

and the appliance (on the male connector's side), on the connecting part between the connectors, providing the advantageous electrical connection without noise, failures in connection, etc.

Additionally, since the above-mentioned temporary engagement is accomplished by making use of the bosses

21

formed on the female connector housing

18

, there is no need to provide the housing

18

with an exclusive element for the temporary engagement, whereby the structure of the housing

18

can be simplified.

According to the embodiment, the bracket

3

for temporary engagement with the female connector

4

has the projections

15

formed with the slant faces

15

A for picking up the protective cover parts

26

B of the male connector housing

26

and also positioning the front end of the female connector

5

appropriately. Therefore, the proper relationship in position between the connectors

4

,

5

can be accomplished by the operator's simple pressing the male connector

5

on the front end of the bracket

3

, easily and certainly. Repeatedly, the protective cover parts

26

B operate to protect the rotating handling parts

39

on the stage before fitting the connectors

4

,

5

to each other. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the parts

39

from being damaged by obstacles etc.

According to the embodiment, the so-attained engagement between the female connector

4

and the female connector

5

can be canceled by applying a slight force on the engagement with ease. In detail, when drawing the male connector

5

out, the operator's force exerted on the connector

5

is applied on the rotating handling parts

39

since they have been engaged with the “seceding-force” applying faces

15

B of the projections

15

. Therefore, the cam levers

27

rotate about the attachment shafts

34

as pivots. Then, since the contacts between the respective inside walls forming the force-magnifying areas A

2

and the bosses

21

operates as working points, the bosses

21

are moved in the direction apart from the male connector

5

forcibly, being subjected to the force-magnifying effect. It is noted that, in each cam lever

27

, the distance between the attachment shaft

34

as the pivot (fulcrum) and the rotating handling part

39

is remarkably long in comparison with the distance between the shaft

34

and the area A

2

. Consequently, upon the force-magnifying effect due to such a difference in length between the arms of moment of rotation, the bosses

21

are driven in the direction apart from the male connector

5

.

In addition, according to the embodiment, the bending of the instrument panel

1

accompanied with the fitting operation of the male connector

5

is absorbed by the racing areas A

3

in the cam levers

27

, it is possible to avoid the application of unnecessary load on the connectors. Accordingly, the connector supporting structure can be realized in line with the actual assembling situation, with high reliability.

According to the present invention, since the rotating handling part is protected from its outside by the protective covering part, it is possible to prevent the rotating handling part from being damaged by obstacles etc. Thus, it is possible to prevent the cam lever from being broken, also preventing the inappropriate engagement between the first connector and the second connector.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing descriptions are nothing but one embodiment of the disclosed connector supporting structure. Besides this embodiment, various changes and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, although the female connector

3

is temporarily engaged in the bracket

3

while arranging the male connector

5

on the appliance's side in the above-mentioned embodiment, the male connector

5

may be temporarily engaged in the bracket

3

while arranging the female connector

3

on the appliance's side in the modification. In such a case, the female connector

4

has to be equipped with cam levers.

In the above embodiment, the male connector

5

is fixed on the base plate

6

on the appliance's side. In connection, the connector supporting structure may be constructed by first connecting the male connector

5

with the appliance through a wire harness; second connecting only the male connector

5

with the female connector

5

and subsequently fixing the appliance on the instrumental panel

1

.

Additionally, although the male connector

5

has two cam levers

27

rotatably attached to the male connector housing

26

in the shown embodiment, the male connector

5

may be provided with a single cam lever in the modification. Similarly, the female connector

4

may be provided with a single boss for engagement with the cam lever. Then, the structures of the male connector

5

and the female connector

4

can be further simplified to save the manufacturing cost.

In connection, although each cam lever

27

has a pair of lever plates

38

each having one cam groove

43

in the shown embodiment, the cam lever

27

may include a single lever plate provided with a single cam groove in the modification.

Connector supporting structure

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)

US Referenced Citations (1)