Electric Connector

Abstract

An electric connector includes a connector body 2 having contacts, and a connector housing 10. The connector housing 10 has a cavity 12, for housing the connector body 2, and an operation lever 16. The connector body 2 is inserted into the cavity 12, and the electric connector is engaged with another connector by rotating the operation lever 16. The connector housing 10 has a sensing member 13 on one of its sidewalls. The sensing member 13 resiliently changes its shape according to insertion conditions of the connector body 2, either rising from the sidewall or flat on the sidewall. The sensing member 13 detects the insertion conditions of the connector body 2 in the cavity 12. The operation lever 16 hits the sensing member 13 when the sensing member rises from the sidewall, and rotation of the operation lever 16 is blocked. With this configuration, connection between the connector body 2 having the contacts and the connector housing 10 that houses the connector body 2 is properly made. Thus, the electric connector having improved reliability and safety in the connection with the other connector is provided.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electric connector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electric connector of FIG. 1 without an operation lever;

FIG. 2A is a side view of the electric connector of FIG. 1 viewed from a different angle;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the electric connector sectioned by the IIIB-IIIB line of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3A is a side view of the electric connector in a condition that the connector body is partially inserted in the housing;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the electric connector sectioned by the IVB-IVB line of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a side view of the electric connector in a condition that the connector body is incompletely inserted in the housing;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the electric connector sectioned by the VB-VB line of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a perspective view of the electric connector of FIG. 5A viewed from a different angle;

FIG. 6 is a side view of an electric connector according to a related art; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an electric connector according to another related art.

Claims

1. An electric connector including a connector body having a contact, and a connector housing having a cavity and an operation lever, the cavity provided for housing the connector body, the connector body slid into the cavity of the connector housing, and the operation lever rotated for engagement with another connector, the connector housing having a sensing member that is formed in one of sidewalls thereof for detecting an insertion condition of the connector body in the cavity by rising from the sidewall as the connector body is slid into the cavity; andthe operation lever hitting the sensing member when the sensing member rises from the sidewall and rotation of the operation lever is blocked.

2. The electric connector according to claim 1, wherein; the sensing member has a resilient piece that is formed by cutting away a portion of the sidewall of the connector housing, a projection that is formed on an inner surface of a free end of the resilient piece such that the projection extends inwardly in the cavity, and a well that is formed in a portion of a sidewall of the connector body such that the projection is fitted in; andthe projection is fitted in the well when the connector body is completely inserted in the cavity of the connector housing.

3. The electric connector according to claim 1, wherein the operation lever has a predetermined length of an arm member, the arm member hitting the sensing member.

4. The electric connector according to claim 3, wherein the operation lever has an engagement portion that is engaged with another connector at an end of the arm member.