Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6358102
-
Patent Number
6,358,102
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, December 12, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 19, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Sircus; Brian
- Le; Thanh-Tam
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 271
- 439 725
- 439 595
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
The invention permits a terminal retaining body provided with a retainer to fit smoothly into a cylindrical body.A male housing 10 is formed by fitting an inner housing 30, in which a retainer 40 is attached, into a hood 12 of an outer housing 11. A protruding member 60 protrudes outwards from a right side of the hood 12, and a guiding groove 61 is formed in a concave manner from an anterior end of an inner face of the protruding member 60. A guiding member 62, which forms an inwardly inclining face, joins with the posterior of the guiding groove 61. If the retainer 40 protrudes from a side face of the inner housing 30 when this inner housing 30 is being fitted, the guiding member 62 engages with the retainer 40 while the inner housing 30 is being pushed inwards, and automatically pushes the retainer 40 inwards.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a connector having a terminal retaining body provided with cavities and located within a cylindrical body.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
This type of connector includes those having a connector housing formed in two pieces. One example thereof is described in JP-11-97096. As shown in
FIG. 26
of this specification, this connector comprises a connector housing
1
, consisting of a cylindrical outer housing
2
which is open to the anterior, and an inner housing
3
which fits within the outer housing
2
. Cavities
5
, into which terminal fittings
4
can be inserted are formed in the inner housing
3
. A retainer attachment hole
6
, which opens to the side of the cavities
5
, is formed in the inner housing
3
. A retainer
7
is inserted into the retainer attachment hole
6
, thereby retaining the terminal fittings
4
, which have been inserted into the cavities
5
. The inner housing
3
is then housed within the outer housing
2
.
The retainer
7
is sometimes inserted to an insufficient depth. The retainer
7
retains the terminal fittings
4
to a greater degree the more deeply it is inserted. Consequently, the terminal fittings
4
are poorly retained when the retainer
7
is inserted to an insufficient depth. Conventionally, a configuration has been used whereby an end of the retainer
7
protrudes to the exterior of a side face of the inner housing
3
. If the inner housing
3
is fitted into the outer housing
2
, the protruding portion of the retainer
7
strikes against an opening edge of the outer housing
2
, thereby allowing the insufficient insertion of the retainer
7
to be detected.
However, although detection can be carried out reliably, an operation is required whereby the inner housing
3
is moved back, the retainer
7
is pushed in to the correct position, and the inner housing
3
is again fitted into the outer housing
2
. This operation is cumbersome.
The present invention has taken the above problem into consideration, and aims to present a connector in which a terminal retaining body provided with a retainer can be fitted smoothly into a cylindrical body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided an electrical connector comprising a terminal retaining body having cavities to receive electrical terminals, a retainer insertable into said terminal retaining body from a protruding to a non-protruding condition and adapted to retain electrical terminals therein, and a tubular housing to receive the terminal retaining body and retainer therein, characterised in that a first guiding member is provided on the inner face of said tubular housing, the first guiding member being adapted to engage said retainer in a protruding condition, to urge said retainer to a non-protruding condition as the terminal retaining body is received within said tubular housing.
Such an arrangement ensures that a slightly protruding retainer will not impede insertion of the terminal retaining body into the tubular housing.
The housing preferably is approximately rectangular, the first guiding member being about half way along one side thereof.
By having the retainer opening within the tubular housing, the connector is easier to waterproof.
Preferably the first guiding member comprises a tapered face, most preferably a tapered face in a channel of the tubular housing.
In a preferred embodiment a mating connector is insertable in the tubular housing for electrical engagement with the terminal retaining body, and this mating connector has a protrusion engageable in the channel of the tubular housing.
Thus the channel and first guiding member are moulded together in a single location. This simplifies the configuration of the connector.
The tubular housing may include a second guiding member to urge a retainer of the mating connector into a non-protruding condition. Preferably the first and second guiding members are opposite.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of several preferred embodiments shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1
is a disassembled diagonal view of a waterproof connector of a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a disassembled cross-sectional view of a male housing.
FIG. 3
is a cross-sectional view along the line X—X of
FIG. 2
showing an inner housing and a retainer.
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional view along the line Y—Y of
FIG. 2
showing the inner housing and the retainer.
FIG. 5
is a front view of a female housing.
FIG. 6
is a plan view of the female housing.
FIG. 7
is a cross-sectional view of the female housing.
FIG. 8
is a cross-sectional view along the line Z—Z of
FIG. 7
showing the retainer in a temporary retaining position.
FIG. 9
is a cross-sectional view along the line Z—Z of
FIG. 7
showing the retainer in a main retaining position.
FIG. 10
is a cross-sectional view along the line X—X of
FIG. 2
showing the retainer in the temporary retaining position.
FIG. 11
is a cross-sectional view along the line X—X of
FIG. 2
showing an inner housing and an outer housing in a fitted state.
FIG. 12
is a cross-sectional view along the line X—X of
FIG. 2
showing the retainer protruding from a side face of the inner housing.
FIG. 13
is a cross-sectional view along the line X—X of
FIG. 2
showing the retainer being pushed by the guiding member into the temporary retaining position.
FIG. 14
is a cross-sectional view showing female terminal fittings being inserted into both cavities.
FIG. 15
is a cross-sectional view along the line Y—Y of
FIG. 2
showing stopping protrusions in a state whereby they are distant from inner cavities.
FIG. 16
is a cross-sectional view showing male terminal fittings being inserted into both cavities.
FIG. 17
is a cross-sectional view along the line X—X of
FIG. 2
showing the retainer in a state whereby it has been moved into the main retaining position.
FIG. 18
is a cross-sectional view along the line Y—Y of
FIG. 2
showing the stopping protrusions in a state whereby they have been inserted into the inner cavities.
FIG. 19
is a cross-sectional view of the male terminal fittings retained by the retainer which is in the main retaining position.
FIG. 20
is a partially cut-away plan view showing the male and female housings prior to being fitted together.
FIG. 21
is a partially cut-away plan view showing the male and female housings being fitted together.
FIG. 22
is a partially cut-away plan view showing the male and female housings in a correctly fitted state.
FIG. 23
is a partially cut-away plan view showing male and female housings of the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 24
is a partially cut-away plan view showing a female retainer being pushed into the main retaining position by a second guiding member.
FIG. 25
is a partially cut-away plan view showing male and female housings of the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 26
is a diagonal view of a prior art example.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A first embodiment of the present invention is described below with the aid of
FIGS. 1
to
22
. As shown in
FIG. 1
, a waterproof connector is formed from a male connector housing
10
and a female connector housing
50
. The male housing
10
comprises an inner housing
30
fitting within a cylindrical outer housing
11
.
As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the outer housing
11
has an approximately cylindrical shape and is provided with a hood
12
which is open to the anterior. Terminal housing chambers
14
are formed in the posterior side of the outer housing
1
. These terminal housing chambers
14
are provided with an upper and lower layer of outer cavities
13
into which male terminal fittings
17
can be inserted. The lower layer of the outer cavities has four mutually aligned large chambers, and the upper layer has five mutually aligned small chambers. The hood
12
is formed so that the inner housing
30
can be fitted therein. As shown in
FIG. 10
, a pair of fitting protrusions
15
are formed on innermost sides of inner faces of the hood
12
. These fit with fitting members
34
formed on the inner housing
30
, thereby maintaining the inner housing
30
in a fitted state with the hood
12
. A rubber ring
16
is attached to the immediate anterior of the inner housing
30
, this fitting tightly with an inner circumference face of the hood
12
.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, the inner housing
30
is provided with an upper and lower layer of inner cavities
32
, a separating wall
31
being provided therebetween at an approximately central location relative to the up-down direction of the inner housing
30
. As shown in
FIG. 14
, these inner cavities
32
pass through, at their posterior, to the outer cavities
13
when the inner housing
30
is in a fitted state within the outer housing
11
. The male terminal fittings
17
, which have been passed through the outer cavities
13
, are housed within these inner cavities
32
. A lance
19
, formed on a box member
18
of each male terminal fitting
17
, is capable of engaging resiliently with a stopping groove
33
formed in an inner face of each inner cavity
32
. Each male terminal fitting
17
is provided with a tab
20
and a barrel member
22
. The tab
20
is formed at the anterior side of the box member
18
. The barrel member
22
has a rubber stopper
21
clamped thereto, an electric wire being attached to this rubber stopper
21
. The rubber stoppers
21
fit tightly with inner circumference faces of the outer cavities
13
, thereby waterproofing the cavities
13
and
32
.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, posterior ends of the side faces of the inner housing
30
have the pair of fitting members
34
formed thereon. A retainer attachment hole
35
, which opens onto both side faces of the inner housing
30
, is formed to the anterior of the fitting members
34
. A retainer
40
can be inserted into this retainer attachment hole
35
from the right side (relative to FIG.
3
). As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
, the retainer attachment hole
35
passes through the separating wall
31
in a width-wise direction thereof, and lower faces of the upper cavities
32
and upper faces of the lower cavities
32
open onto this retainer attachment hole
35
. As shown in
FIG. 3
, a temporary retaining hole
36
and a main retaining hole
37
, both being open to the anterior, are formed in a wall portion located towards the anterior side of the retainer attachment hole
35
. The temporary retaining hole
36
and the main retaining hole
37
are formed in an approximately central location relative to the width-wise direction of the wall portion, and are aligned from right to left relative to
FIG. 3. A
retaining protrusion
44
of the retainer
40
engages with the temporary retaining hole
36
or the main retaining hole
37
, thereby allowing the retainer
40
to be maintained at either of two separate locations along the width-wise direction of the retainer attachment hole
35
. Furthermore, a retainer operating hole
38
is provided to the right (relative to
FIG. 3
) of the temporary retaining hole
36
. A jig or the like can be inserted via this retainer operating hole
38
in order to operate the retainer
40
within the retainer attachment hole
35
.
As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3
, the retainer
40
is provided with a long and narrow plate-shaped main body
41
. A pressing operating member
42
protrudes towards the anterior from a right edge (relative to
FIG. 3
) of the main body
41
. This pressing operating member
42
allows a pressing operation while the retainer
40
is attached to the inner housing
30
. An arch-shaped bending member
43
protrudes from an anterior face of the main body
41
at a location to the left of the pressing operating member
42
(a space remains between the bending member
43
and the pressing operating member
42
). The retaining protrusion
44
protrudes from the centre of an anterior face of the bending member
43
. When the retainer
40
is to be moved within the retainer attachment hole
35
, the retaining protrusion
44
is pressed, thereby bending the centre of the bending member
43
in a concave manner (see FIG.
12
).
As shown in
FIG. 4
, stopping protrusions
45
protrude from upper and lower faces of the main body
41
. Four stopping protrusions
45
are formed on the lower face, and five stopping protrusions
45
are formed on the upper face, these stopping protrusions
45
being formed in locations which correspond to spaces between the inner cavities
32
. The stopping protrusions
45
engage with the male terminal fittings
17
which have been inserted into the inner cavities
32
. As shown in
FIG. 10
, when the retainer
40
is inside the inner housing
30
and the retaining protrusion
44
is in a location whereby it engages with the temporary retaining hole
36
, the stopping protrusions
45
are distant from the inner cavities
32
(shown in FIG.
15
). This allows the male terminal fittings
17
to be inserted into or removed from the inner cavities
32
. At this juncture, the retainer
40
is in a temporary retaining position. When the retainer
40
is in this temporary retaining position, an outer side face of the pressing operating member
42
thereof is located so as to form an approximately unified face with a side face of the inner housing
30
.
As shown in
FIG. 17
, when the retainer
40
is inside the inner housing
30
and the retaining protrusion
44
is in a location whereby it engages with the main retaining hole
37
, the stopping protrusions
45
come to be located in the inner cavities
32
(see
FIG. 18
) and engage with posterior ends of the box members
18
of the male terminal fittings
17
. At this juncture, the retainer
40
is in a main retaining position. When the retainer
40
is in this main retaining position, the outer side face of the pressing operating member
42
thereof is located inwards relative to the side face of the inner housing
30
.
Next, the female housing
50
will be explained. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the female housing
50
is capable of being fitted within the hood
12
of the outer housing
11
. A locking arm
51
formed on an upper face of the female housing
50
is locked by a locking protrusion
23
provided on an upper face of the outer housing
11
, thereby maintaining the female housing
50
in a fitted state with the outer housing
11
. An anterior end of the female housing
50
is reduced in diameter, having a stepped shape. After the female housing
50
has been fitted, the rubber ring
16
fits tightly with a circumference face of the reduced diameter portion (see FIG.
22
).
As shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6
, a rib
52
protrudes outwards from a left side face (relative to
FIGS. 5 and 6
) at a posterior end of the reduced diameter portion. This rib
52
is provided at an approximately central location, relative to the up-down direction of the female housing
50
, and extends from an anterior edge of the wider diameter portion to an approximately central location relative to the length-wise direction of the female housing
50
. An anterior end face of this rib
52
is tapered.
As shown in
FIG. 7
, cavities
53
are formed inside the female housing
50
at locations which correspond to the inner cavities
32
of the male housing
10
. Female terminal fittings
54
which have been inserted into the cavities
53
make contact with the tabs
20
of the corresponding male terminal fittings
17
. The female terminal fittings
54
have approximately the same configuration as the male terminal fittings
17
, with the difference that they do not have tabs
20
. Consequently, a description of the female terminal fittings
54
is omitted. Furthermore, the configuration of the cavities
53
is approximately the same as that of the male inner cavities
32
and of the outer cavities
13
, and a description thereof is omitted.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, a retainer attachment hole
55
opens onto a side face of the female housing
50
at the side opposite that provided with the rib
52
. As is the case with the male housing
10
, a retainer
56
can be inserted into this retainer attachment hole
55
. The retainer
56
has approximately the same configuration as the male retainer
40
, and accordingly a description thereof is omitted. As shown in
FIG. 8
, when the retainer
56
is maintained in a temporary retaining position which allows the female terminal fittings
54
to be inserted into or removed from the cavities
53
, a pressing operating member
57
of the retainer
56
protrudes for a specified distance from a side face of the female housing
50
.
As shown in
FIG. 9
, when the retainer
56
is maintained in a main retaining position which retains the female terminal fittings
54
, an outer side face of the pressing operating member
57
forms an approximately unified face with the side face of the female housing
50
.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, a protruding member
60
protrudes outwards from the hood
12
of the outer housing
1
of the male housing
10
. This protruding member
60
is formed at a right side (relative to
FIG. 1
) of the hood
12
, at an approximately central location relative to the up-down direction thereof. The protruding member
60
extends from the anterior end face of this hood
12
and extends for approximately one third of the entire length thereof.
As shown in
FIG. 20
, a guiding groove
61
, which allows the rib
52
of the female housing
50
to be inserted, is formed in a concave manner in an inner face of the protruding member
60
. As shown in
FIG. 1
, this guiding groove
61
is formed at approximately the same height as the rib
52
of the female housing
50
and the retainer
40
which is inserted into the inner housing
30
. As shown in
FIG. 12
, the guiding groove
61
allows insertion to take place even if the pressing operating member
42
of the retainer
40
protrudes, to a certain degree, from the side face of the inner housing
30
.
A guiding member
62
joins with the posterior of the guiding groove
61
. This guiding member
62
forms an inwardly inclining face. The guiding member
62
has a tapered shape, protruding slightly inwards from a location immediately to the posterior of the guiding groove
61
to an innermost end of the inner face of the protruding member
60
. The posterior end thereof joins with a posterior side inner face of the hood
12
. An end of the pressing operating member
42
of the retainer
40
which has been inserted into the guiding groove
61
is capable of making contact with the guiding member
62
, the retainer
40
being pressed inwards by the guiding member
62
as the insertion operation progresses (see FIG.
13
). The angle of inclination of the guiding member
62
corresponds to the angle of inclination of the anterior end face of the rib
52
of the female housing
50
. As shown in
FIG. 22
, the anterior end face of the rib
52
makes contact with the guiding member
62
when the female housing
50
has been correctly fitted. When the inner housing
3
is fitted within the hood
12
and the rubber ring
16
is in a fitted state, a posterior end of the guiding member
62
is located in approximately the same location as an anterior face of this rubber ring
16
.
The present embodiment is configured as described above. Next, the order of assembly of the male housing
10
and the fitting operation of the male and female housings
10
and
50
will be described. First, as shown in
FIG. 10
, the retainer
40
is inserted into the inner housing
30
as far as the temporary retaining position, whereby the outer side face of the pressing operating member
42
forms an approximately unified face with a side face of the inner housing
30
. Then the inner housing
30
is fitted into the hood
12
of the outer housing
11
. Next, as shown in
FIG. 11
, the inner housing
30
is fitted to a depth whereby its fitting members
34
engage with the fitting protrusions
15
within the hood
12
. Then the rubber ring
16
is attached to an anterior side of the inner housing
30
.
If the retainer
40
is not inserted to a sufficient depth when it is inserted to this temporary retaining position, the pressing operating member
42
of the retainer
40
protrudes from the side face of the inner housing
30
(shown in FIG.
12
). If the degree to which the retainer
40
protrudes is sufficient to allow it to be inserted into the guiding groove
61
, and the operator fits the inner housing
30
into the outer housing
11
without noticing that the retainer
40
is protruding, the protruding end of the retainer
40
engages with the guiding member
62
. As shown in
FIG. 13
, the protruding end of the retainer
40
is pushed inwards by the guiding member
62
while the inner housing
30
is being pushed inwards and, as shown in
FIG. 11
, the side face of the pressing operating member
42
of the retainer
40
forms an approximately unified face with the side face of the inner housing
30
. In this manner, the guiding member
62
automatically moves the retainer
40
into the correct temporary retaining position as the fitting operation of the inner housing
30
progresses.
The retainer
40
, while still being capable of being inserted into the guiding groove
16
, may protrude to such a small extent that it is difficult for the operator to detect visually whether it is protruding prior to the fitting operation. However, as long as the retainer
40
protrudes to the extent that its protruding end makes contact with the anterior end face of the hood
12
, the operator can easily detect this protruding state before the fitting operation commences.
As shown in
FIG. 14
, after the inner housing
30
has been fitted, the male terminal fittings
17
are inserted into the outer cavities
13
and the inner cavities
32
while these are in a joined state. As shown in
FIG. 15
, the retainer
40
is in the temporary retaining position at this juncture. The stopping protrusions
45
are distant from the inner cavities
32
and, as shown in
FIG. 16
, the male terminal fittings
17
can be inserted as far as a position in which the lances
19
engage with the stopping grooves
33
. After the male terminal fittings
17
have been inserted, a jig or the like is inserted into the retainer operating hole
38
from the anterior of the hood
12
, and the side face of the bending member
43
is pressed, thereby moving the retainer
40
into the main retaining position (see FIG.
17
). By this means, the stopping protrusions
45
engage with the posterior ends of the box members
18
, thereby doubly retaining the male terminal fittings
17
(see FIGS.
18
and
19
).
After the male housing
10
has been assembled in this manner, the female housing
50
is fitted into the hood
12
(see FIG.
20
). As shown in
FIG. 21
, the rib
52
is inserted into the guiding groove
61
as the male and female housings
10
and
50
are fitted together. As a result, the fitting operation is guided smoothly. As shown in
FIG. 22
, when this fitting operation has reached a depth whereby the anterior face of the female housing
50
makes contact with the anterior face of the rubber ring
16
, the locking arm
51
is locked by the locking protrusion
23
, thereby maintaining the male and female housings
10
and
50
in an inseparable state.
According to the embodiment described above, the guiding member
62
automatically pushes the protruding retainer
40
into the correct temporary retaining position while the fitting operation of the inner housing
20
progresses. As a result, retainers
40
which protrude do not need to be moved individually, and the operation can be performed smoothly. Furthermore, the guiding member
62
is provided immediately inwards from the guiding groove
61
. Consequently, the parts for correcting the movement of the retainer
40
and the parts for guiding the fitting operation of the male and female housings
10
and
50
are gathered in one location of the circumference, and the configuration is thereby simplified.
The male housing
10
is divided into the outer housing
11
and the inner housing
30
. As a result, the opening into which the retainer
40
is inserted does not open onto the exterior.
A second embodiment of the present invention is now described below with the aid of
FIGS. 8
,
9
,
23
and
24
. The second embodiment describes a means to correct the movement of the retainer attached to the female housing which is fitted within the male housing.
As shown in
FIG. 23
, a protruding member
70
protrudes outwards from a hood
12
of an outer housing
11
of a male housing
10
. This protruding member
70
is formed at a left side (relative to
FIG. 23
) of the hood
12
. That is, it is formed at the same side as a retainer attachment hole
55
into which a retainer
56
of a female housing
50
(which is fitted into the hood
12
) is inserted. A guiding member
71
is formed on an inner face of the protruding member
70
. This guiding member
71
forms an inwardly inclining face. The guiding member
71
is formed at approximately the same height as the retainer
56
which is inserted into the retainer attachment hole
55
of the female housing
50
. The guiding member
71
is capable of making contact with the retainer
56
even if this retainer
56
protrudes from the side face of the female housing
50
.
Prior to the male and female housings
10
and
50
being fitted together, the retainer
56
is inserted to a temporary retaining position in the retainer attachment hole
55
of the female housing
50
, a pressing operating member
57
protruding from the side face of the female housing
50
(see FIG.
8
). In this state, female terminal fittings
54
are inserted into cavities
53
. Then the retainer
56
is moved to a main retaining position, in which the outer side face of the pressing operating member
57
of the retainer
56
forms an approximately unified face with the side face of the female housing
50
(see FIG.
9
), thereby doubly retaining the female terminal fittings
54
.
In the second embodiment, the main retaining position of the female retainer
56
corresponds to the correct attachment permitting position of the Claims.
If the retainer
56
is not inserted to a sufficient depth when it is moved to the main retaining position, the pressing operating member
57
of the retainer
56
may protrude from the side face of the female housing
50
(see FIG.
23
). If the male and female housings
10
and
50
are fitted together from this state, the protruding end of the pressing operating member
57
of the retainer
56
engages with the guiding member
71
, and this guiding member
71
pushes the retainer
56
inwards as the fitting progresses (see FIG.
24
). By this means, the retainer
56
can automatically be moved into the correct main retaining position as the male and female housings
10
and
50
are fitted together.
The length of the guiding member
71
in the direction of fitting is such that it is capable of moving the retainer
56
into the main retaining position before the male and female terminal fittings
17
and
54
begin to make contact. By this means, the female terminal fittings
54
make contact with the male terminal fittings
17
in a state whereby they are doubly retained, and are reliably prevented from being removed.
A third embodiment of the present invention is now described below with the aid of FIG.
25
. The third embodiment shows a guiding member having a different shape from that of the second embodiment.
As shown in
FIG. 25
, a guiding member
72
is formed on the anterior inner face of a hood
12
of an outer hosing
11
. This guiding member
72
is an inwardly inclining face. The guiding member
72
is formed on the left side (relative to
FIG. 25
) of the hood
12
. That is, it is formed on the same side as a retainer attachment hole
55
of a female housing
50
. The guiding member
72
is formed at approximately the same height as a retainer
56
which is inserted into the retainer attachment hole
55
.
The guiding member
72
is formed in a tapered shape at the anterior inner face of the hood
12
. Consequently, the configuration of the connector is simplified. Moreover, the configuration of the other parts, and their operation and effects, is the same as in the second embodiment, and a description thereof is omitted.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above with the aid of figures. For example, the possibilities described below also lie within the technical range of the present invention. In addition, the present invention may be embodied in various other ways without deviating from the scope thereof.
(1) The second and third embodiments have described a means for moving a retainer into a correct position while male and female connector housings are fitted together. However, the present invention is equally suitable for use in a male connector housing which is not divided into two.
(2) As a specific example of (1) above, one of the connector housings may be provided with a guiding member and a guiding groove, and the other connector housing with a rib. Accordingly, the retainer may be moved into the correct position by the guiding member while it is being fitted with the other connector housing, and the rib may be inserted into the guiding groove to guide the fitting operation.
(3) The above embodiment describes a waterproof connector. However, the present invention is also suitable for other types of connectors.
Claims
- 1. An electrical connector comprising:a terminal retaining body having at least one cavity to receive an electrical terminal therein; a retainer insertable into the terminal retaining body from a protruding condition to a non-protruding temporary position, the retainer further being movable in the terminal retaining body between the temporary position permitting insertion of the electrical terminal into the cavity and a final position to retain the electrical terminal in the cavity; and a tubular housing to receive the terminal retaining body and retainer therein, the tubular housing including an inner surface with a guiding member along the inner surface to contact and move the retainer from the protruding condition to the non-protruding temporary position as the terminal retaining body with the retainer are inserted into the tubular housing.
- 2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said first guiding member comprises a tapered face for engagement with said retainer, said tapered face being directed inwardly of the housing with respect to the direction of insertion.
- 3. An electrical connector according to claim 2 wherein said first guiding member including a channel in the inner face of said tubular housing, the channel guiding a protruding retainer to said tapered face.
- 4. An electrical connector according to claim 3, and a mating connector, the mating connector being receivable in said tubular housing, and having a protrusion engageable in said channel.
- 5. An electrical connector according to claim 4 wherein said mating connector includes a retainer insertable therein from a protruding to a non-protruding condition, and said tubular housing further includes a second guiding member on the inner face thereof, adapted to engage the retainer of said mating connector, and to urge that retainer to a non-protruding condition as the mating connector is received within said tubular housing.
- 6. An electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein said second guiding member comprises a tapered face.
- 7. An electrical connector according to claim 6 wherein said first and second guiding members are opposite each other on said tubular housing (11).
- 8. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein the retainer of said terminal retaining body is latchable in said body in a non-protruding condition.
- 9. An electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein the retainer of said mating connector is latchable in said body in protruding and non-protruding conditions.
- 10. An electrical connector according to claim 6 wherein the retainer of said mating connector is latchable in said body in protruding and non-protruding conditions.
- 11. An electrical connector according to claim 7 wherein the retainer of said mating connector is latchable in said body in protruding and non-protruding conditions.
- 12. An electrical connector according to claim 9 wherein said mating connector is latchable in said tubular housing.
- 13. An electrical connector according to claim 10 wherein said mating connector is latchable in said tubular housing.
- 14. An electrical connector according to claim 11 wherein said mating connector is latchable in said tubular housing.
- 15. An electrical connector assembly comprising:a first connector including a terminal retaining body having at least one cavity to receive an electrical terminal therein, and a retainer insertable into the terminal retaining body and movable between a protruding condition permitting insertion of the electrical terminal into the cavity and a non-protruding final position to retain the electrical terminal in the cavity; and a second connector having a tubular housing to receive the terminal retaining body and retainer therein, the tubular housing including an inner surface with a guiding member along the inner surface to contact and move the retainer from the protruding condition to the non-protruding final position as the terminal retaining body with the retainer are inserted into the tubular housing.
- 16. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein the retainer is partially inserted into the terminal retaining body in the protruding condition.
- 17. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 15 wherein the retainer is partially inserted into the terminal retaining body in the protruding condition.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
11-353033 |
Dec 1999 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
903 814 |
Mar 1999 |
EP |