This Application claims priority under 35 U.S.C §119(a)-(d) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-212811, filed Oct. 10, 2013.
The present invention relates to a connector for attachment to a panel.
Connectors that attach to openings in a panel are commonly used in a variety of application. Conventionally, these connectors have a cantilevered lock arm for engaging with an edge of an attachment opening of the panel. The lock arm is typically positioned on a connector housing, and is produced through resin molding.
One common problem with the conventional design is that the lock arm is exposed, which easily allows a foreign object to intrude under the lock arm. When the connector is attached to the panel, the panel functions as a protecting member for the lock arm. However, the connector is not limited to use with the panel, but is also directly coupled with a mating connector, without the interposition of the panel. When the lock arm is not attached to the panel, a foreign object, such as a cable or debris, might intrude under the lock arm, lift up the lock arm, and damage the lock arm.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-302582A discloses a connector in which walls are formed on both sides of the lock arm, so that intrusion of a foreign object from the sides is prevented. However, since a mold structured so as to be drawn frontward from the lock arm is used for manufacturing the lock arm, the connector inevitably has a structure in which the front of the lock arm is opened. Therefore, this design is unable to prevent a foreign object from intruding from the front of the lock arm.
There is a need for a connector having a wall formed in front of the lock arm so that a foreign object is prevented from intruding from the front of the lock arm. Further, there is a need for this connector to use a mold structured so as to be drawn sideways, as well as having a structure in which at least one side of the lock arm is opened and intrusion of the foreign object from the side can be prevented.
An electrical connector housing has a first housing member, and a second housing member mated with the first housing member. A front wall is disposed on an outer surface of at least one of the housing members and extends perpendicular to an insertion direction. A first sidewall is disposed on the outer surface of the first housing member and extends along the insertion direction, perpendicular to the front wall. A second sidewall is disposed on the outer surface of the second housing member and extends along the insertion direction, parallel with the first sidewall and perpendicular to the front wall. A cantilevered first lock arm extends along an insertion direction and is positioned between the first sidewall and second sidewall. The lock arm includes a fixed end, a free end, and a hook.
According to the connector of the present invention, since the front wall is formed in front of the lock arm, and the sidewalls are formed on both sides of the lock arm, intrusion of a foreign object from the front and the sides is prevented.
The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures, of which:
A connector 1 has a body 10 and a housing 20. The body 10 is made of metal and the housing 20 is made from resin.
The body 10 has a contact (not shown) connected to a core of a cable 2, and a housing (not shown) where the contact is positioned therein. The body 10 is electrically connected to a shield braid 2a (see
The housing 20 includes a pair of resin-molded housing members 20A, 20B. The pair of housing members 20A, 20B are fitted complementary to each other in a mating direction indicated by arrow z-z in
In an exemplary embodiment shown in
Two lock arms 21A, 21B are formed on each of the side faces of the connector 1 in a width direction (direction of arrow x-x) crossing both the insertion direction (direction of arrow y-y) and the mating direction (direction of arrow z-z) of the connector 1.
The two lock arms 21A, 21B are positioned parallel and adjacent to each other, and extend along the insertion direction (direction of arrow y) from fixed ends 21aA, 21aB in a cantilever fashion, and have hooks 21bA, 21bB projecting outward on free ends 21c thereof. In an embodiment shown in
A mating projection 22aA, 22aB is formed on one side face of each of the two housing members 20A, 20B in the width direction (direction of arrow x-x) and on a forward side of the insertion direction (direction of arrow y). On the opposite side face of each housing member 20A,20B, a mating projection receiving groove 23aA, 23aB is formed. In the embodiment shown in
While both the mating projections 22aB, 22bA are not directly shown in
In the embodiment shown in
When the two lock arms 21A, 21B are inserted into the connector receiving opening 3a of the panel 3 in the insertion direction (direction of arrow y), the hooks 21bA, 21bB are pressed and deflected inward by the edge of the attachment opening 3a. After the hooks 21bA, 21bB pass through the attachment opening 3a, the lock arms 21A, 21B return outward due to their own elasticity, as shown in the embodiment of
In
In the embodiment shown in
Sidewalls 26A, 26B are positioned on the housing 20 such the sidewalls 26A, 26B sandwich the two lock arms 21A, 21B, extending parallel with the lock arms 21A,21B along the insertion direction. The sidewalls 26A,26B extend outward from the housing 20 to have a height covering the lock arm 21, excepting the hook 21b, as shown by the sidewall 26 in
The hooks 21bA, 21bB disposed on the outer surface of the free end 21c have a distance from the housing 20 that is greater than the height of the front wall 25A,25B, or the first and second side walls 26A, 26B. See
In the embodiment shown in
Further, since the connector 1 has lock arms 21A, 21B, the front walls 25A, 25B, and the sidewalls 26A, 26B on both sides in the width direction (direction of arrow x-x), the connector 1 is stably attached to the panel 3. Further, since the housing 20 has the two housing members 20A, 20B, and the two lock arms 21A, 21B are formed on the two housing members 20A, 20B, the two housing members 20A, 20B are each attached to the panel 3. This configuration contributes to a stable attachment of the connector 1 to the panel 3.
While the above described embodiments show the two housing members 20A, 20B as having identical shapes, in other embodiments, the two housing members have different shapes. For example, the structure may be such that one housing member has a lock arm, a front wall, and a first sidewall, while the other housing member has a second sidewall.
In addition, in this embodiment, the lock arms, the front walls, and the sidewalls are provided on the housing that is a separate member from the housing, but, in a case where the connector does not have the metal body, the lock arms or the like may be provided directly in the housing accommodating a contact.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2013-212811 | Oct 2013 | JP | national |