Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6468105
-
Patent Number
6,468,105
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, September 19, 200122 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 22, 200221 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Bradley; P. Austin
- Gilman; Alexander
Agents
- Casella; Anthony J.
- Hespos; Gerald E.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 489
- 439 352
- 439 488
- 439 353
- 439 350
- 439 354
- 439 355
- 439 356
- 439 357
- 439 358
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A lock arm (25) and two preventive walls (32) are provided on the upper face of the female housing (20), and a detecting member (40) is mounted between both preventing walls (32) from the back. Two engaging arms (51) are provided on the detector (40). The engaging faces (53) at the front end of the detecting member (25) are engaged with an engaging protrusive area (37) that project from the preventing wall (32). The detector ( ) is stopped in advance at the standby position. Inside the hood (11) of male housing (10), a pair of releasing ribs (60) are provided, and the upper face extending along an interfitting direction of both housings (10) and (20) is connected with the ceiling area of hood (11).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector with mating connector housings equipped with a detector for detecting an interfitting condition of the connector housings.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional connector that is equipped with a detecting member for detecting an interfitting condition of male/female connector housings is described in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. (Hei)1-166977, and also is shown in
FIG. 17
herein. This known connector includes a male housing
1
and a female housing
2
. The male housing
1
has a lock area
3
, and the female housing
2
is equipped with a lock arm
4
can be engaged with the lock area
3
on the male housing
1
so that the housings
1
and
2
can be mutually interfitted. The female housing
2
also has a pair of engaging arms
5
that can be crimped into engagement with the lock arm
4
from the right and left. Additionally, a detecting member
6
is mounted from the back of the female housing
2
, and is movable back and forth along the lock arm
4
. Engaging protrusions
7
are provided on the left and right side faces of the lock arm
4
, as shown in FIG.
18
. The protrusions
7
are disposed to strike against the tip of the engaging arm
5
to control the forward movement of the detecting member
6
before interfitting. The lock arm
4
also is formed with engaging areas that protrude from the left and the right of the lock arm
4
.
The lock arm deflects during the interfitting of the housings
1
and
2
, and as a result, the engaging areas
8
are displaced to a position that allows interference with the detecting member
6
. Hence, forward movement of the detecting member
6
during the course of interfitting is regulated. On the other hand, a releasing arm
9
protrudes from the male housing
1
, as shown in FIG.
17
. The releasing arm
9
engages in the engaging arm
5
on the female housing
2
during the interfitting of the housings
1
and
2
. The releasing arm
9
then is deflected and the abutted condition against the engaging protrusion
7
of engaging arm
5
is released. When the housings
1
and
2
reach a normal interfitting state, the engaging area
8
of returned lock arm
4
is disposed in a non-interfering position with the detecting member
6
, and then further movement of detecting member
6
is permitted.
Movement of the detecting member
6
is released only when both of the housings
1
and
2
are interfitted properly. Thus, detection of whether or not the both housings
1
and
2
have come to a normal interfitting condition can be achieved by checking the movement of the detecting member
6
.
The base end of the releasing arm
9
is connected with the bottom end face of the recess in the male housing
1
and the free end is cantilevered forward along an interfitting direction. Accordingly, there is a problem of strength. For instance, a foreign object may enter into the male housing
1
before the male and female housings
1
and
2
interfit properly. The foreign object may interfere with the releasing arm
9
. As a result, there has been a possible malfunction, such as deformation of the releasing arm
9
or, as this case may be, any other occurrence of damage.
The present invention has been made in view of the aforementioned circumstances, with the objective for enhancing the strength of the releasing area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to a connector comprising first and second connector housings that are mutually interfittable A lock arm is provided on the first connector housing and allows an elastic deformation in a deflective space when both connector housings are in the process of interfitting. However, the lock arm will undergo an elastic return for engaging with the second connector housing to maintain the interfitting condition of the connector housings when the connector housings came to a normal or complete interfitting condition. More particularly, the lock arm will move between a standby position that is withdrawn from the deflective space and a detecting position where the lock arm enters into the deflective space.
A detector is mounted for restraining the movable action of the lock arm into the deflective space in the course of interfitting. The detector comprises at least one deflective engaging arm that restrains movement of the detector from a standby position to a detecting position at least in a condition when the connector housings are separated. More particularly, the deflective engaging arm functions by engaging an engaging area on the first connector housing. At least one releasing area is provided on the second connector housing and extends along the interfitting direction of the connector housings. The releasing area deflectively deforms the engaging arm to release the engaging condition of the engaging area with the engaging arm. The releasing area is connected with a wall face of the second connector housing along the interfitting direction.
The connector may comprise a pair of the engaging arms, a pair of the engaging areas, and a pair of the releasing areas.
The engaging arms, the engaging areas and the releasing areas are disposed to provide a time difference in which the engaging arms are released from the respective engaging areas in an interfitting process of the connector housings. The time difference is achieved by having engaging faces of the respective releasing areas or the engaging arms displaced along the interfitting direction.
The second connector housing may include a guiding rib that allows an interfitting action to be guided in sliding contact with the first connector housing during the interfitting of the connector housings. The guiding rib extends along the interfitting direction, and the releasing area is connected with the guiding rib along the interfitting direction.
The detector may be mounted at a standby position with the first and second connector housings spaced apart. In this position, the engaging arm engages with the engaging area. Thus, movement of the detector from the standby position to the detecting position is regulated. The connector housings then can be advanced toward an interfitted condition. This movement causes the lock arm to deform elastically and to deflect into the deflective space for regulating movement of the detector to the detecting position. When both connector housings come to a normal and complete interfitting condition, the lock arm returns and then the deflective space is released. Until this time an interval with the releasing area engages and then deflects the engaging arm. The engaging condition with the engaging area has been released. Thus, the detector can be moved to the detecting position. In this way, the status of movement of detector allows the interfitted condition of both connector housings to be detected.
The released area is connected along an interfitted direction to the wall face of second connector housing. Thus, the strength can also be made higher.
The engaging arms and the engaging areas may be staggered or offset longitudinally to achieve contact at different times during the interfitting process. In such a way, the timing can be shifted to reduce the power necessary for deflecting the engaging arm in the course of interfitting the connector housings. Accordingly, an abrupt increase in interfitting power can be prevented, thereby leading to a smooth interfitting operation, compared with the case of simultaneous release of both engaging arms.
Connection of the releasing area is made along the interfitting direction of guiding rib. Therefore, the strength of releasing area can further be enhanced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an exploded perspective view showing a connector with regard to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a plan view showing a condition in which both housings are separated from each other.
FIG. 3
is a sectional side view showing a condition in which both housings are separated from each other.
FIG. 4
is a front view showing a male housing.
FIG. 5
is a perspective view showing a female housing and a detecting member.
FIG. 6
is a plan view showing a female housing and a detecting member.
FIG. 7
is a sectional plan view showing an initial condition in which both housings are interfitted.
FIG. 8
is a sectional side view showing an initial condition in which both housings are interfitted.
FIG. 9
is a sectional plan view showing an intermediate condition in which both housings are interfitted, and a sectional side view at this occasion showing a relationship between both releasing ribs and an engaging arm.
FIG. 10
is a sectional side view showing a condition in which a lock arm is deflected in the course of interfitting both housings.
FIG. 11
is a sectional plan view showing a condition immediately before both housings come into a normal interfitting condition, and a sectional side view at this occasion showing a relationship between both releasing ribs and engaging arm.
FIG. 12
is a sectional side view showing a condition immediately before both housings come into a normal interfitting condition.
FIG. 13
is a sectional plan view showing a condition in which both buildings come into a normal interfitting condition.
FIG. 14
is a sectional side view showing a condition in which a lock arm returns after the normal interfitting of both housings.
FIG. 15
is a sectional plan view showing a condition in which a detecting member is moved to a detecting position, and a sectional side view at this occasion showing a relationship between both releasing ribs and engaging arm.
FIG. 16
is a sectional side view showing a condition in which a detecting member is moved to a detecting position.
FIG. 17
is a sectional side view showing a conventional connector.
FIG. 18
is a perspective view showing a conventional connector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The connector of the present embodiment includes a female connector housing
20
with a unitary lock arm
25
, as shown in FIG.
1
. The female housing
20
is interfitted to a male connector housing
10
, and a detector
40
is mounted onto the female housing
20
. In the description that follows, the sides at which the housings
10
and
20
interfit with one another will be considered the “forward” side.
The male housing
10
is provided with a generally tubular hood
11
that protrudes integrally forward from a device. Two generally tubular male terminals
12
protrude forward from a location inside the hood
11
and are spaced in a width-wise direction, as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
. The male terminals
12
can be connected with female terminals
21
of the female housing
20
when the female housing
20
is interfitted inside the hood
11
of the male housing
10
. The interfitting face of male housing
10
, includes a generally lattice-shaped concavely formed leak-preventive groove area
14
. Two supporting areas
13
project forwardly from the concave leak-preventing groove area
14
and support the male terminals
12
.
A lock hole
16
is formed on the central part in a width direction on the upper area in hood
11
, as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
. The lock hole
16
opens rearward, leaving a front wall
15
. A lock arm
25
on the female housing
20
is engageable on the front end face of the lock hole
16
.
Guiding ribs
17
are formed on both sides of the lock hole
16
on the ceiling face of the hood
11
. The guiding ribs
17
extend in a rail form along the back and forth or longitudinal direction, which is an interfitting direction of the housings
10
and
20
, as shown in
FIGS. 1-4
. The guiding ribs
17
are spaced apart by a distance equal to or slightly greater than the width of lock arm
25
in the female housing
20
. Thus, the interfitting of the housings
10
and
20
is guided by sliding the external faces of lock arm
25
along opposed faces of the guiding ribs
17
. Furthermore, concave guiding areas
18
are formed on both sides of an upper part of the hood
11
, as shown in FIG.
1
.
The hood
11
is formed in a partly cut-off manner so that only the upper front end face is retracted by a predetermined length. The back area of female housing
20
interfits with this cut-off area, as shown in FIG.
14
.
As shown in
FIG. 5
, the female housing
20
is formed in a near-block shape. Two cavities
22
extend through the female housing
20
from the front to the back and are spaced apart in a width-wise direction. The cavities
22
are dimensioned and configured to accommodate metal female terminals
21
that have been connected with wires W. More particularly, the cavities
22
are configured to enable the terminals
21
to be inserted from the back of the female housing
20
.
A cantilevered lance
23
is provided on the lower side of each cavity
22
. The cantilevered lance
23
engages the female terminal
21
to prevent reward withdrawal of the fully inserted female terminal
21
from the cavity
22
.
A near-lattice form leak-prevention cylinder area
24
protrudes forward from the front wall of the cavity
22
, as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 5
. The leak-prevention cylinder area
24
can be interfitted inside the leak prevention groove area
14
of the male housing
10
, as shown in
FIG. 14
, when the housings
10
and
20
are interfitted. Under this interfitting condition, adjacent male and female terminals
12
and
21
are partitioned off by the leak-prevention cylinder area
24
.
A lock arm
25
is cantilevered from the width-wise center of the upper face of female housing
20
, as shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6
. The lock arm
25
has a base end that protrudes upwardly from the upper area of female housing
20
and an arm area that extends backward from the base end. The arm area is deflectively deformable along an up-and-down direction centering on the base end, as shown in
FIG. 3. A
deflection space
26
is formed below the lock arm
25
and accommodates a free-end of the arm area during the deflective deformation.
A lock
27
protrudes near a longitudinally central part of the upper face of lock arm
25
. The lock
27
enters into the lock hole
16
of the male housing
10
when both housings
10
and
20
come to a normal interfitting position, and the back end face of the lock
27
is engaged with the front end face of lock hole
16
, as shown in FIG.
14
. The back side of the lock arm
25
is higher than the front side of the lock
27
. Thus, the lock arm
25
is held in a condition deflected slightly lower than the front wall
15
of lock hole
16
in a locked condition. The front end face of lock
27
is formed in a near-circular arc, and thus guides the deflective deformation of lock arm
25
in slidable contact with the front wall
15
of lock hole
16
, as shown in FIG.
10
.
A channel-type pressure operation area
28
protrudes from both side edges of the free-end on the upper face of lock arm
25
, as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 5
. The lock arm
25
can be deflected by pressure on the pressure operation area
28
from the above.
A die cutting hole
29
penetrates from the back face side of pressure operation area
28
to the front side for die cutting the die when molding the lock
27
. Overhang areas
30
overhang from right and left side faces of the pressure operation area
28
, as shown in FIG.
6
. Furthermore, reinforcing ribs
31
are formed on both edges in a width-wise direction on the upper face of lock arm
25
, and extend over the full length of the lock arm
25
. The reinforcing ribs
31
achieve a higher breaking strength for the lock arm
25
. The reinforcing ribs
31
are formed in a rising shape towards the back over a predetermined region in the back and forth areas of the lock
27
.
Protective walls
32
are formed on both sides of lock arm
25
, as shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6
. The protective walls
32
are formed to cover almost all areas of the lock arm
25
, as seen from the side view of FIG.
3
.
The back end area of each protective wall
32
protrudes farther to the back than the back end of the lock arm
25
, and is higher than a pressure operation area
28
. Additionally, the upper back end area of the protective wall
32
is overhung towards the pressure operation area
28
. The protective walls
32
prevent deformation of the lock arm
25
upward in a reversal direction, as could occur if a wire cable W entered into the deflected space
26
of the lock arm
25
. Rail-form guide ribs
33
are formed on both sides on the upper face of female housing
20
, and can enter into the concave guide areas
18
of male housing
10
. The back end area is connected with the back end area of the protective wall
32
by a connection reinforcing area
34
.
The detector
40
is mounted between both preventive walls
32
on the upper face of female housing
20
. The detector
40
is equipped with a plane main body
41
that has almost the same width as the distance between the protective walls
32
. The main body
41
is movable along an interfitting direction of the housings
10
and
20
when the main body
41
is mounted on the upper face of female housing
20
. Guide rails
43
protrude laterally outward on both side edges of main body area
41
. The guide rails
43
enter into the guide grooves
35
formed concavely on the lower side surface areas of the protective wall
32
and slidably contact with its periphery, thereby guiding the back and forth movement of detector
40
.
An operation wall
44
protrudes upward on the back end of the main body
41
and an operation step area
45
rises stepwise from the top of the operation wall
44
. The operation step area
45
of the operation wall
44
is pressed down to move the detector
40
.
A planar deflection regulating wall
46
protrudes forward from a specified position on the operation wall
44
and is aligned parallel with the main body
41
. The height of the deflection regulating wall
46
, as shown in
FIG. 14
, is aligned with the die cutting hole
29
on lock arm
25
when the housings
10
and
20
come to a normal interfitting condition.
Detecting walls
47
extend between and connect each side wall
42
and the operation wall
44
. The upper face of the detecting walls
47
are formed in a near-circular arc so as to match with the lower face of overhanging area
30
of lock arm
25
, and is set at a position a little lower than the lower face of overhanging area
30
in a deflected condition of the lock arm
25
after normal overhanging of both housings
10
and
20
. In addition, a concave take-off operation groove
48
is formed on the upper side of the deflection regulating wall
46
on the front face of the operation wall
44
. The take-off operation groove
48
allows for insertion of a jig (not illustrated) for a removal operation.
The detector
40
is made so that the back end area moves between a standby position (see
FIG. 3
) which protrudes rearwardly beyond the back end of female housing
20
and a detecting position (see
FIG. 16
) in which the back end face is flush with the back end face of the protective wall
32
. When the detector
40
is in the standby position, as shown in
FIG. 3
, the detecting walls
47
are retracted backwards from the deflective space
26
of the lock arm
25
, and do not interfere with the overhanging area
30
. In this case, the deflection regulating wall
46
also is disposed in a position that is non-interfering with the lock arm
25
. On the other hand, when the detector
40
is in the detecting position, as shown in
FIG. 16
, the detecting walls
47
enter into the deflective space
26
below the overhanging area
30
of lock arm
25
, and are in a position that approaches or abuts the overhanging area
30
.
In this instance, the deflection regulating wall
46
enters into the die cutting hole
29
of the lock arm
25
, and engages in the back face of the pressure operation area
28
, thereby making it impossible to deflect the lock arm
25
.
Take-off preventive arms
49
project forward from both sides of the main body
41
. The take-off preventive arms
49
are deflectively deformable along the upper face of female housing
20
so that both take-off preventive arms
49
approach each other. A take-off preventive protrusion
50
is formed on the side face at the front end area of each take-off preventive arm
49
. The take-off preventive protrusions
50
are insertable into the guide grooves
35
of the protective wall
32
.
The detector
40
is assembled from the back of female housing
20
, and the take-off preventive protrusions
50
engage the stopper protrusion
36
provided on the way to the guide groove
35
(see FIG.
6
). The take-off preventive arms
49
are deformed by these engagements, and the detector
40
reaches a standby position, as shown in FIG.
2
. The take-off preventive arms
49
then return, and the back end face of the take-off preventive protrusions
50
engage with the front end faces of the respective stopper protrusions
36
. Thus, movement of the detector
40
towards the back from the standby position is regulated.
Engaging arms
51
extend forward from the front end upper areas of both side walls
42
, as shown in FIG.
5
. The engaging arms
51
are formed in a hook shape, and are provided with a jaw area
52
that protrudes upwards on the front end. The engaging arms
51
are formed with almost the same width as the take-off preventive arms
49
, and the front end of each engaging arm
51
is retracted backwards from the take-off preventive arm
49
.
The engaging arms
51
are spaced above the take-off preventive arms
49
. Thus a downward deflective deformation of the engaging arms
51
is made possible. The engaging arms
51
are in positions adjacent the protecting walls
32
when the detector
40
is assembled to the stand by position against female housing
20
, and its front engaging face
53
is engaged with an engaging protrusion
37
that is protruded inwards from the inner face of protection wall
32
. By this means, the movement of the detector
40
from the standby position to the forward detecting position is regulated.
A predetermined clearance is assured between the front end face of each engaging arm
51
and the back end face of the corresponding engaging protrusion
37
when the detector
40
is in the standby position. Thus, interference of the front end face with the engaging protrusion
37
can be avoided when the engaging arm
51
is deflected downwards.
The engaging protrusion
37
has a protruded width of almost the half of the width of engaging arm
51
, and the engaging face
53
for engaging the protrusion area is about the half of outside dimension of the front end face of the corresponding engaging arm
51
. On the other hand, an engaging protrusion
54
protrudes forward at the inner area of the engaging face
53
in the front end face of the engaging arm
51
. A tapered engaging face
55
is inclined upward at the upper area in the front face. A clearance of a predetermined width is defined between the engaging arm
51
and the lock arm
25
. The guiding rib
17
on the male housing
10
can enter the clearance during the interfitting of both housings
10
and
20
.
Releasing ribs
60
project down from the ceiling of the hood
11
in the male housing
10
, as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 4
, and are adjacent to and outside of the guiding ribs
17
. The releasing ribs
60
extend back and forth over a predetermined length along an interfitting direction of both housings
10
and
20
and are retracted backwards from the front end of the guiding rib
17
.
The entire tops of the releasing ribs
60
are connected with the ceiling of hood
11
along an interfitting direction of both housings
10
and
20
, as shown in
FIG. 3
, and the entire inner sides of the releasing ribs
60
are connected with the outside faces of the guiding ribs
17
, as shown in FIG.
3
. That is, the upper and inner faces of the releasing ribs
60
that intersect each other are integrally connected with the male housing
10
, thereby gaining a sufficiently high strength. As shown in
FIG. 3
, the lower faces of the releasing ribs
60
are slightly lower than the lower faces of the engaging protrusive walls
37
of the female housing
20
. In addition, the lower faces of releasing rib
60
are higher than the lower faces of the guiding ribs
17
, thereby allowing the releasing ribs
60
to completely overlap with the respective guiding ribs
17
when seen from the side.
The width of the releasing rib
60
is almost the same as the width of the engaging protrusion
54
on the engaging arm
51
of the detecting member
40
. With both housings
10
and
20
interfitted, the guiding ribs
17
enter into the clearances between the lock arm
25
and the engaging arms
51
, and the releasing ribs
60
on the outside of the guiding ribs
17
are engaged with engaging protrusions
54
of the respective engaging arms
51
. The lower area of the front end face of each releasing rib
60
has a tapered engaging face
61
inclined downward at almost the same angle of inclination as the engaging face
55
on the engaging protrusion
54
. Thus, both engaging faces
55
and
61
abut, and the engaging arm
51
is guided to deflect downward. The upper face of engaging arm
51
deflects sufficiently to abut the lower face of releasing rib
60
. Therefore, the engaging condition between the engaging arm
51
and the engaging protrusion
37
is completely released (See FIG.
11
). On the other hand, when the detector
40
is moved from a standby position to a detecting position, the jaw area
52
of each engaging arm
51
reaches the space at the back of the respective releasing rib
60
followed by an elastic return of the respective engaging arm
51
. Hence, the back end face
56
of the jaw
52
is engaged with a hook
62
at the back end face of the releasing rib
60
(See FIG.
15
). With this means, the detector
40
is regulated to move to the standby position on the back from the detecting position. In this case, however, since the back end face
56
of jaw area
52
is formed in a gradual taper-form, the engaging condition between the back end face
56
of the jaw
52
and the hook
62
is released when a backward force of more than the predetermined value acts on the detector
40
, a so-called semi-lock being applied.
Both the releasing ribs
60
are formed with the positions of front end face and engaging face
61
shifted back and forth from each other in an interfitting direction. More particularly, an engaging face
61
A of a releasing rib
60
A on the front side as shown in
FIG. 2
is disposed in a position near the front, while an engaging face
61
B of the releasing rib
60
B is disposed in a position nearer the back.
The timing that both releasing ribs
60
A and
60
B deflect the respective engaging arms
51
is carried out such that the front side releasing rib
60
A first engages with the corresponding engaging arm
51
. The engaging arm
51
then is deflected to a position at which the engaging protrusion
37
is completely released from the engaging face
53
followed by the release of the engaging condition (a position at which the upper face of engaging arm
51
abuts on the lower face of releasing rib
60
A). The releasing rib
60
B at the back then is engaged with the engaging arm
51
(see FIG.
9
). The hooks
62
(back end faces) of both releasing ribs
60
A and
60
B are aligned at the same position, and both the engaging arms
51
return at the same time when the detector
40
comes to a detecting position. That is, the releasing rib
60
A is longer than the releasing rib
60
B.
As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
, both male and female housings
10
and
20
are interfitted under the condition that the detector
40
is mounted at a standby position on the female housing
20
. The female housing
20
then enters into the hood
11
of male housing
10
. As a result, the guide ribs
33
enter into the guiding concave areas
18
as shown in FIG.
7
and the guiding ribs
17
enter into the clearances between the lock arm
25
and the engaging arms
51
followed by sliding contact by each peripheral face. Thus, the housings
10
and
20
can perform smooth interfitting without wiggling in a width direction.
As shown in
FIG. 8
, the lock arm
25
deflects downward beginning from a step immediately before the male terminals
12
make contact with the female terminals
21
to the completion of gradual deflection of the lock arm
25
made by the front wall
15
of the lock hole
16
that abuts the reinforcing ribs
31
of lock arm
25
, followed by abutting on the front end face of lock
27
. At this point, the overhang area
30
deflects into the deflective space
26
, and is disposed in a position that allows interference with the detecting walls
47
of the detector
40
.
In addition, the leak-prevention cylinders
24
enters into a leak-detection groove areas
14
.
At this point, as shown in
FIG. 9
, the engaging face
61
A of the releasing rib
60
A at a front side engages with the engaging face
55
of the engaging protrusion
54
on the engaging arm
51
, and, as a result, the engaging arm
51
deflects downward. The engaging arm
51
deforms downward until the upper face of the engaging arm
51
abuts the lower face of the releasing rib
60
A. At this stage, the engaging face
53
is disengaged from the engaging protrusive area
37
, thereby the engaging condition is released.
On the other hand, the releasing rib
60
B at the back side has not yet interfered with the engaging arm
51
, even when the detecting member
40
is pushed forwards under this condition. Therefore, the moving action is regulated by an engagement to be made between the engaging arm
51
at the backside and the engaging protrusion area
37
.
With the interfitting further advanced, the engaging face
61
B of the releasing rib
60
B in the back side deflects the engaging arm
51
by engaging with the engaging face
55
of the engaging protrusion
54
. As shown in
FIG. 11
, when the housings
10
and
20
come to a stage immediately before reaching a normal or complete interfitting, the engaging face
53
of the engaging arm
51
is deflected by the releasing rib
60
B to a completely released position from the engaging protrusion
37
, and then the engaging position is released. At this stage, the movement regulation condition of the detector
40
by the engaging arm
51
and engaging protrusion
37
is released. However, even if the detector
40
is pushed forwards at this stage, as shown in
FIG. 12
, interfering by an overhanging area
30
which entered into a deflective space
26
regulates movement of the detector
40
. In this way, the inability to move the detector
40
forward proves that the housings
10
and
20
are still on the way to interfitting.
When the housings
10
and
20
come to a normally interfitting condition, as shown in
FIGS. 13 and 14
, the terminals
12
and
21
reach the normal connection condition. Additionally, the lock
27
enters the lock hole
16
after the elastic return of the lock arm
25
, and the back end face of the lock
27
is engaged with the front end face of lock hole
16
. Thus, the housings
10
and
20
are held disengageable from the normal interfitting condition. A collided noise is generated from the collision between the front wall
15
of lock hole
16
and the upper face of lock arm
25
. Consequently, the operator can easily sense the completion of normal interfitting of both housings
10
and
20
. In this case, lock arm
25
does not return to a natural condition, but is kept rather in a deflected posture.
Under this condition, the die cutting hole
29
is aligned with the deflection regulated wall
46
of the detecting member
40
, and the lower face of the overhanging area
30
is positioned at a slightly higher position than the upper face of the detecting wall
47
.
In addition, when at a normal interfitting, the leak-preventive cylinder area
24
is interfitted in the leak preventive groove area
14
, and is disposed to surround the supportive area
13
.
When the housings
10
and
20
push the detector
40
into a detecting position at a normal interfitting condition, the detector
40
advances along the upper face of the female housing
20
with the guide rails
43
being in sliding contact with the peripheral faces of guiding grooves
35
. In this process, the upper faces of the respective engaging arms
51
are in a deflective condition and are in sliding contact with the lower faces of the releasing ribs
60
. When the detector
40
reaches the detecting position, as shown in
FIG. 15
, the jaws
52
of both engaging arms
51
reach the backward spaces of the respective releasing ribs
60
. Thus, the engaging arms
51
elastically return at the same time, and the back end faces
56
of the jaws
52
engage with the hook faces
62
of the releasing ribs
60
. In this way, the detector
40
is regulated to move backwards from the detecting position, and is held in a semi-lock condition in the detecting position. Additionally, as shown in
FIG. 16
, the deflection regulating wall
46
enters the die cutting hole
29
of the lock arm
25
and engages with the back face side of pushing pressure operation area
28
.
With this effect, downward forces on the lock arm
25
will not cause deflection of the lock arm
25
while the housings
10
and
20
are in a normal interfitting condition. However, as shown in
FIG. 15
, the detecting walls
47
engage on the lower faces of overhanging areas
30
. Therefore, an erroneous deflection of the lock arm
25
can even be regulated by the detecting walls
47
disposed on both side positions, and by the aforementioned deflection-regulating wall
46
. In other words, the lock arm
25
is supported at three positions aligned in a width-wise direction, and can positively achieve its erroneous deflection prevention.
Dew condensation water may generate inside the space when the housings
10
and
20
are in the normal interfitting condition of FIG.
16
. Even in such a case, partitioning the adjacent male and female terminal metals
12
and
21
by a leak preventive cylinder area
24
can reserve a creepage distance from the front side cavity
22
to- the back side cavity
22
by more than two times the length of the leak preventive cylinder area
24
, thereby preventing the adjacent male and female terminals
12
and
21
from being subjected to leakage of dew condensation water.
The housings
10
and
20
can be separated by using a jig (that is not shown here). The jig can be inserted into the operation groove
48
for taking off the detector
40
. More particularly, the detector
40
can moved backwards from the detecting position after the engaging arm
51
is deflected by the jig from the semi-lock condition in which the back end face
56
and the hooking face
62
of the jaw
52
are engaged into a condition where the engagement is released.
In this case, the releasing work may be carried out by pressing down the operation step area
45
with a finger instead of using the jig as aforementioned. After the semi-lock condition is released, the pressing operation at the operation step area
45
can retract the detector
40
to the standby position (see FIG.
14
). As a result, the deflection regulating wall
46
retracts from the die cutting hole
29
, the detecting walls
47
retract from the overhanging areas
30
and the deflective space
26
is opened. The housings
10
and
20
are set apart with the lock arm
25
being deflected and deformed by a press operation at the press operation area
28
of lock arm
25
and the locked condition between the housings
10
and
20
is released.
As described above, the releasing rib
60
can have a high strength because its upper face is connected with the ceiling face of hood
11
. Thus, the releasing rib
60
will not be deflected or damaged even if a foreign object entering into the hood
11
interferes with the releasing rib
60
.
Moreover, the strength of each releasing rib
60
is enhanced because its inner face is connected with the outer face of the respective guiding rib
17
.
In addition, the releasing rib
60
A is at the front position and the releasing rib
60
B is at the rearward position. More particularly, the engaging faces
61
A and
61
B that engage with the respective engaging arms
51
are displaced back and forth in an interfitting direction of both the housings
10
and
20
. As a result, timing can be shifted for deflecting the engaging arm
51
at the front side and the back side in the interfitting process. Thus, a situation in which forces applied to both housings
10
and
20
become abruptly greater can be prevented, thereby smoothly carrying out the interfitting work on both housings
10
and
20
.
The present invention is not restricted to the embodiment as mentioned in the aforementioned description and drawings, but also includes, for instance, the following embodiments within a technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, embodiments with various modifications or alterations can be implemented within a scope that does not deviate from the essence other than the ones mentioned below.
With the illustrated embodiment, the engaging faces of the releasing ribs are shifted back and forth. Alternatively, however, the engaging faces in the engaging arms may be shifted back and forth.
For example, the position of the engaging face can be shifted back and forth by changing a protrusive dimension of the engaging protrusion at both engaging arms.
Contrary to the aforementioned case, the engaging faces of both releasing ribs can be aligned for deflecting both engaging arms at the same time.
In the embodiment described above, the timing in which a releasing rib in the back side deflects the engaging arm was shown for the occasion immediately before the housings are normally interfitted. But, this timing may be fixed at the same time as the occasion of normal interfitting, and such a case is also included in the present invention.
In the embodiment as described above, the releasing rib is disposed at a position adjacent to the outside of the guiding rib. However, the releasing rib can be set regardless of the position adjacent to the guiding rib. Furthermore, the housing on which a guiding rib is not provided also is included in the present invention.
Claims
- 1. A connector, comprising;first and second connector housings configured for mutual interfitting, a lock arm formed on the second connector housing and configured for elastic deformation into a deflective space during the interfitting of the connector housings, the lock arm elastically returning toward an undeflected condition for engaging with the first connector housing and for maintaining the first and second connector housings in the interfitting condition, a detector being mounted on the second connector housing for restraining deflection of the lock arm into the deflective space; two deflective engaging arms being provided on the detector and being engageable respectively with two engaging areas on the second connector housing for restraining movement of the detector relative to the second connector housing during the interfitting of the connector housings, two releasing areas formed on the first connector housing that defectively deform the engaging arms to release the engaging arms from the engaging areas when the connector housings are interfitted, the releasing area extending along an interfitting direction of the connector housings and being connected with the first connector housing along the interfitting direction, at least one of the engaging arms and the releasing areas being offset along the interfitting direction to achieve a time difference in which the engaging arms are released from the engaging areas during interfitting of the connector housings.
- 2. A connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein, two guiding ribs provided on the first connector housing for a guiding sliding contact with the second connector housing during interfitting of the connector housings along the interfitting direction, the releasing areas being connected with the guiding ribs along the interfitting direction.
- 3. A connector comprising:a first connector housing having a locking wall formed thereon; a second connector housing moveable from an unconnected condition to a fully connected condition relative to the first connector housing, a resiliently deflectable lock arm formed on the second connector housing, the lock arm being configured for engagement with the locking wall on the first connector housing when the first and second connector housings are in the fully connected condition, two engaging areas formed on the second connector housing; a detector slidably mounted on the second connector housing for movement from a standby position to a detecting position, the detector comprising two resiliently deflectable engaging arms disposed for engagement with the engaging areas of the second connector housing for preventing movement of the detector from the standby position to the detecting position; and two releasing areas formed unitarily with the first connector housing at a position on the first connector housing for engaging the engaging arms when the first and second connector housings reach the fully connected condition, the releasing areas being configured for deflecting the engaging arms out of engagement with the engaging areas and thereby permitting the detector to move to the detecting position, the releasing areas and the engaging arms being configured for deflecting the engaging arms sequentially during movement of the first and second connector housings to the fully connected condition.
- 4. The connector of claim 3, wherein a first of the releasing areas is longer than a second of the releasing areas, such that the first releasing area engages a corresponding one of the engaging arms before the second of the releasing areas engages its respective engaging arm.
- 5. The connector of claim 3, wherein the engaging arm is configured for locked engagement with the releasing area when the detector is in the detecting position.
- 6. The connector of claim 3, wherein the detector comprises means for preventing deflection of the lock arm when the detector is in the detecting position.
- 7. The connector of claim 3, wherein the second connector housing comprises a front end for connection with first connector housing and an opposite rear end, the detector projecting rearwardly beyond the rear end of the second connector housing when the detector is in the standby position, and being substantially flush with the rear end of the second connector housing when the detector is in the detecting position.
- 8. A connector comprising:a first connector housing having a hood with a locking aperture defining a locking wall on the hood, first and second guiding ribs extending into the hood, first and second releasing areas protruding respectively from the respective guiding ribs; a second connector housing moveable from an unconnected condition to a fully connected condition in the hood of the first connector housing, a resiliently deflectable lock arm formed on the second connector housing, the lock arm being configured for engagement with the locking wall on the first connector housing when the first and second connector housings are in the fully connected condition, first and second engaging areas formed on the second connector housing; a detector slidably mounted on the second connector housing for movement from a standby position to a detecting position, the detector comprising first and second resiliently deflectable engaging arms disposed for engagement respectively with the first and second engaging areas of the second connector housing for preventing movement of the detector from the standby position to the detecting position, the engaging arms being configured for engaging the respective first and second releasing areas when the first and second connector housings reach the fully connected condition, the releasing areas being configured for deflecting the engaging arms out of engagement with the engaging areas and thereby permitting the detector to move to the detecting position, wherein the releasing areas and the engaging arms are configured for deflecting the engaging arms sequentially during movement of the first and second connector housings to the fully connected condition.
- 9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the first releasing area is longer than the second releasing area, such that the first releasing area engages the first engaging arm before the second releasing area engages the second engaging arm.
- 10. The connector of claim 8, wherein the engaging arms are configured for locked engagement with the releasing areas when the detector is in the detecting position.
- 11. The connector of claim 8, wherein the detector comprises means for preventing deflection of the lock arm when the detector is in the detecting position.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2000-333366 |
Oct 2000 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
6109955 |
Hanazaki et al. |
Aug 2000 |
A |
6234826 |
Wilber et al. |
May 2001 |
B1 |
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1-166977 |
Jun 1989 |
JP |