Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6572400
-
Patent Number
6,572,400
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, November 27, 200122 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 3, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 489
- 439 345
- 439 347
- 439 357
- 439 358
- 439 488
- 439 490
- 439 491
- 439 527
- 439 529
- 439 95
- 439 92
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
The invention improves the assembly operation of a connector provided with a detecting member. A female housing 20 is provided with a locking arm 33 capable of engaging with a locking protrusion 14 of a male housing 10. A detecting member 50 capable of moving in an anterior-posterior direction is attached to an upper face of this locking arm 33. The detecting member 50 has an operating member 53 joined to a posterior end of a main body 51 by a hinge 52. A finger engages from the posterior with the operating member 53 to push in the detecting member 50, this detecting member 50 being pushed in its direction of fitting in an inclined downwards direction. When the detecting member 50 is in a waiting position, the operating member 53 thereof is located above a posterior portion of the upper face of the locking arm 33. This posterior portion of the upper face of the locking arm 33 has a guiding inclined face 44 formed thereon, this guiding inclined face 44 being inclined downwards in the pushing-in direction. When the detecting member 50 is being moved from the waiting position to a detecting position, the operating member 53 slides along the guiding inclined face 44, this smoothly guiding the movement thereof.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an electrical connector provided with a fitting detecting function.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
One example of a conventional connector provided with a fitting detecting function is described in JP-3-285280. As shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10
of this specification, this connector is provided with a female housing
1
and a male housing
2
capable of mutually fitting together. The female housing
1
has an inclinable locking arm
4
capable of engaging with a locking member
3
of the male housing
2
, and a detecting member
5
that is attached in a waiting position from the posterior, and is capable of sliding in an anterior-posterior direction along an upper face of this female housing
1
. The detecting member
5
extends along the locking arm
4
, and is provided with a detecting arm
7
which engages with a hole edge of a locking hole
6
thereof. The detecting arm
7
inclines together with the locking arm
4
, this movement of the detecting arm
7
preventing the detecting member
5
from moving from the waiting position towards the anterior when the two housings
1
and
2
are not yet fitted together or are being fitted together (see FIGS.
10
(
a
) and
10
(
b
)). When the two housings
1
and
2
have reached a correct fitting position, only the locking arm
4
returns to its original position, the locking member
3
engaging with the hole edge of the locking hole
6
. The detecting arm
7
, which makes contact with a lower face of the locking member
3
, remains in an inclined state, and is released from its state of engagement with the locking arm
4
(see FIG.
10
(
c
)). Then the detecting member
5
is pushed to the anterior into a detecting position (see FIG.
10
(
d
)).
That is, the ability or inability of the detecting member
5
to move allows one to detect whether the two housings
1
and
2
are in a half-fitted state or a correctly fitted state.
When the fitting operation of the above connector is to be performed, the operator usually uses one hand to gather together electric wires
8
that are lead outwards from a posterior end of the female housing
1
, the female housing
1
being fitted to the male housing
2
while this bundle of electric wires
8
is in a grasped state. When the detecting member
5
is to be pushed to the detecting position, the hand grasping the electric wires
8
temporarily releases them. Then, the posterior end face of the detecting member
5
is pushed in a straight line from the posterior, in a direction that is horizontal and is the fitting direction of the two housings
1
and
2
.
In this manner, the fitting operation of the two housings
1
and
2
and the pushing-in operation of the detecting member
5
are performed as two discontinuous actions. As a result, operability is poor. Moreover, as shown in FIG.
10
(
c
), if the operator continues to grasp the electric wires
8
after ending the fitting operation, and he uses his thumb A (since this is not being used to grasp the electric wires
8
) to push the detecting member
5
in an inclined manner (from above at the posterior), this pushing direction (shown by the arrow Y) is such that, when the detecting member
5
moves, it faces in a direction that is orthogonal to that of the upper face of the female housing
2
. This renders it difficult for the detecting member
5
to move smoothly, and the operability thereof is worsened.
The present invention has taken the above problem into consideration, and aims to present a connector provided with a detecting member wherein the assembly operation is improved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided an electrical connector comprising a first connector housing engageable in a fitting direction with a mating connector housing, said first connector housing having at one side a resilient latching arm extending in the fitting direction and for engagement with the mating connector housing, said arm bending as the connector housings approach in the fitting direction and having a substantially unbent state in the fully engaged condition of the connector housings, and a detecting member being provided on said latching arm for relative movement in the fitting direction from a posterior waiting position to an anterior final position, the detecting member being maintained in the waiting position by abutment with one of said latching arm and first connector housing, and being released from abutment in the fully engaged condition of said connector housings, wherein said latching arm includes a surface inclined with respect to the fitting direction and facing towards the anterior, said detecting member being guided by said first connector housing and being slidable on the inclined surface, an operating portion of the detecting member being adapted for contact by a human finger or thumb whereby said operating portion is urged against and along the inclined surface on movement from the waiting position to the final position.
In such an arrangement the operating portion can be urged generally downward and inward of the connector whilst gripping the connector wires, in a natural manner corresponding to a gripping action of the hand. Operability is substantially improved.
In a preferred embodiment the detecting member comprises a hinged element comprising a main body portion and an operating portion connected by a transverse hinge.
The main body portion preferably slides on an anterior surface of the latching arm, and which extends generally parallel to the fitting direction. In a preferred embodiment the first connector housing includes upstanding sidewalls between which the latching arm and detecting member are located. Preferably the operating portion is above the top of the sidewalls only in the waiting position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1
is a diagonal view of two housings and a detecting member of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a side cross-sectional view of a male housing, and a female housing having the detecting member attached thereto in a waiting position.
FIG. 3
is a plan view of the female housing and the detecting member.
FIG. 4
is a plan view showing the detecting member attached, in the waiting position, to the female housing.
FIG. 5
is a side cross-sectional view showing the two housings while they are being fitted together.
FIG. 6
is a side cross-sectional view showing the two housings in a correctly fitted state.
FIG. 7
is a side cross-sectional view showing the detecting member which has been moved to a detecting position.
FIG. 8
is a plan view showing the detecting member which has been moved to the detecting position.
FIG. 9
is a diagonal view of a prior art example.
FIG. 10
is side cross-sectional views of the prior art example.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
An embodiment of the present invention is described below with the aid of
FIGS. 1
to
8
. As shown in
FIG. 1
, a connector of the present embodiment has a male connector housing
10
, and a female connector housing
20
which is provided with a locking arm
33
and which fits with the male housing
10
. A detecting member
50
is attached to the female housing
20
. In the following description, the fitting face sides of the two housings
10
and
20
are designated the anterior sides. Moreover, the up-down direction is taken with reference to
FIGS. 1
,
2
,
5
,
6
, and
7
.
As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the male housing
10
is formed in a unified manner with other apparatus, and is provided with a cylindrical hood
11
that protrudes towards the anterior. Eight tab-shaped male terminal fittings
12
protrude towards the anterior from an innermost face of the hood
11
. Grid-like leak-preventing ribs
13
protrude from the innermost face of the hood
11
, these partitioning the male terminal fittings
12
from one another. Anterior ends of these leak-preventing ribs
13
are located further to the anterior than anterior ends of the male terminal fittings
12
. A locking protrusion
14
capable of engaging with the locking arm
33
of the female housing
20
protrudes upwards from an upper face of the hood
11
. This locking protrusion
14
is higher than an anterior end portion of the locking arm
33
(to be described). A posterior end of the locking protrusion
14
forms a protruding member which is slightly higher than an outer face of the hood
11
. One rail-shaped guiding rib
15
is located to each side of the locking protrusion
14
(i.e., the guiding ribs
15
constitute a pair). When the fitting operation takes place, the locking arm
33
is inserted between the two guiding ribs
15
, this guiding the insertion operation of the locking arm
33
. Moreover, a pair of guiding ribs
16
are formed on outer side faces of the hood
11
, these entering guiding grooves of the female housing
20
when the fitting operation takes place. The guiding ribs
16
guide the fitting operation of the two housings
10
and
20
.
The female housing
20
is provided with a terminal housing member
21
capable of fitting with an inner side of the hood
11
of the male housing
10
, and an outer cylindrical member
22
capable of fitting with an outer side of the hood
11
. An upper and a lower row of cavities
24
, four thereof being formed in a widthwise direction in each row, are formed within the terminal housing member
21
at locations corresponding to the male terminal fittings
12
of the male housing
10
. Female terminal fittings
23
, which are joined to electric wires W, are inserted from the posterior into these cavities
24
. The anterior half of the terminal housing member
21
is divided so as to form the cavities
24
. Each female terminal fitting
23
is provided at its anterior with a box-shaped joining member
25
capable of joining in a conducting manner with one of the male terminal fittings
12
. At its posterior, each female terminal fitting
23
is provided with a barrel member
27
which is attached by crimping to a rubber stopper
26
, this rubber stopper
26
fitting with a covered end of one of the electric wires W. The female terminal fittings
23
are housed within the cavities
24
, each female terminal fitting
23
engaging with a lance
28
which protrudes from a lower face of each cavity
24
, this preventing the removal of the female terminal fitting
23
. The rubber stoppers
26
fit tightly with an inner circumference face of each cavity
24
, thereby water-proofing the cavities
24
. Each electric wire W is led outwards towards the posterior from a posterior end of the terminal housing member
21
. A front retainer
30
covers an anterior face side of the terminal housing member
21
, this front retainer
30
being provided with bending regulating members
29
which regulate the bending of the lances
28
, these bending regulating members
29
being inserted into spaces maintained below the lances
28
. Grid-like receiving grooves
31
, which are capable of receiving the leak-preventing ribs
13
of the male housing
10
, are formed on an anterior face of the front retainer
30
. Further, the front retainer
30
, which is located at the outer circumference face of the terminal housing member
21
, has a rubber ring
32
fitted to its posterior end. When the male housing
10
is fitted, an inner circumference face of the hood
11
thereof fits tightly with an outer circumference face of this rubber ring
32
, thereby water-proofing the two housings
10
and
20
.
The locking arm
33
, which is see-saw like, protrudes from a central location relative to the widthwise direction of the upper face of the terminal housing member
21
. This locking arm
33
has an arm member
35
that extends in an anterior-posterior direction along the fitting direction of the two housings
10
and
20
from a supporting member
34
joining with the upper face of the terminal housing member
21
. The arm member
35
can be inclined resiliently in an up-down direction with the supporting member
34
serving as its centre. The posterior portion of the arm member
35
is wider, in the widthwise direction, than the anterior end thereof (see FIG.
3
). A lower face of the anterior end of the locking arm
33
is tapered, this guiding the anterior end portion of the locking arm
33
over the locking protrusion
14
when the two housings
10
and
20
are being fitted together. The locking arm
33
inclines resiliently while it rises over the locking protrusion
14
(see FIG.
5
). A locking hole
36
passes through (from top to bottom) the anterior end of the locking arm
33
. The locking protrusion
14
of the male housing
10
can be inserted into this locking hole
36
when the two housings
10
and
20
have been correctly fitted together, and a posterior end face of the locking protrusion
14
engages with a hole edge of the locking hole
36
at an anterior side thereof (see FIG.
6
). In this locked state, the anterior end portion of the locking arm
33
makes contact with the protruding member at the posterior side of the locking protrusion
14
, this maintaining the locking arm
33
in a slightly inclined state.
As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the outer cylindrical member
22
joins with the terminal housing member
21
at a location somewhat to the posterior relative to the centre (in the lengthwise direction) of this terminal housing member
21
. This outer cylindrical member
22
has a cylindrical shape which encloses the outer circumference face of the terminal housing member
21
with the exception of a specified area on the upper face thereof (the area with the locking arm
33
, and the area surrounding it). A pair of protecting walls
37
are formed on an upper portion of the outer cylindrical member
22
, the locking arm
33
being located between these two protecting walls
37
. Seen from the side, the two protecting walls
37
have a size sufficient to cover the entire locking arm
33
, and the posterior ends of these protecting walls
37
are located further to the posterior than the posterior end of the locking arm
33
. Upper portions of anterior ends of the protecting walls
37
are mutually joined by a bridging member
38
. Further, as shown in
FIG. 3
, a pair of strengthening members
39
protrude towards the sides from both side faces of the wider posterior portion of the locking arm
33
. The anterior ends of these strengthening members
39
join with the protecting walls
37
. The joining portions of the protecting walls
37
and the strengthening members
39
(i.e., in the lengthwise direction) are located at approximately the same location as the supporting member
34
of the locking arm
33
. Consequently, the centrally located supporting member
34
is supported on both sides by the strengthening members
39
, thereby increasing its resilience when the locking arm
33
is to be inclined.
A finger-engaging member
40
protrudes towards the posterior from a posterior end face of a lower portion of the outer cylindrical member
22
(i.e., at a location opposite, in the up-down direction, the locking arm
33
). When the female housing
20
is to be fitted to the male housing
10
, a finger B (for example, an index finger), at the anterior side of the hand holding the bundle of electric wires W led out from the posterior end of the female housing
20
, engages with a lower face of this finger-engaging member
40
(see FIG.
5
). The finger-engaging member
40
has a shape whereby the lower face at a posterior end thereof protrudes downwards at its posterior. Consequently, the finger B can easily engage therewith. Moreover, an upper face of the finger-engaging member
40
joins with a lower face of the terminal housing member
21
.
The detecting member
50
is attached from the posterior to an upper face of the locking arm
33
. The detecting member
50
has a configuration whereby a thin hinge
52
joins a main body
51
to an operating member
53
. A finger A (for example, a thumb) engages with this operating member
53
to move the detecting member
50
in an anterior-posterior direction along the upper face of the locking arm
33
, moving the detecting member
50
between a posteriorly-located waiting position and an anteriorly-located detecting position. The operating member
53
is somewhat narrower in width than the main body
51
.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, the main body
51
has a pair of guiding arms
54
and an engaging arm
55
provided between the guiding arms
54
, all these extending in an anterior-posterior direction (i.e., in the fitting direction of the two housings
10
and
20
). The guiding arms
54
and the engaging arm
55
mutually join at their posterior ends. The guiding arms
54
are separated from one another by a space corresponding to the width of the locking arm
33
. Furthermore, these guiding arms
54
are capable of bending in a direction whereby they approach the centrally located engaging arm
55
. Posterior stopping protrusions
56
and anterior stopping protrusions
57
protrude outwards (towards the side) from side faces of the guiding arms
54
at anterior ends and posterior ends thereof respectively. While the detecting member
50
is being attached at the upper side of the locking arm
33
, these protrusions
56
and
57
are inserted into guiding grooves
41
formed in the protecting walls
37
, this guiding the anterior-posterior movement of the detecting member
50
. The engaging arm
55
is capable of moving resiliently in an up-down direction, i.e., in the direction of movement of the locking arm
33
. An engaging protrusion
58
protrudes downwards from a lower face at an anterior end of the engaging arm
55
.
While the detecting member
50
is being attached in the waiting state to the female housing
20
, the posterior stopping protrusions
56
of the guiding arms
54
engage with stopper protrusions
42
protruding part-way along the guiding grooves
41
, this causing the guiding arms
54
to bend temporarily and then return to their original position. Then, as shown in
FIG. 4
, posterior end faces of the posterior stopping protrusions
56
engage with anterior end faces of the stopper protrusions
42
. Further, anterior end faces of the posterior stopping protrusions
56
are taper shaped so as to guide the guiding arms
54
in their bending direction. Moreover, the guiding arms
54
are located at a height which differs from that of the locking arm
33
when this locking arm
33
is in its natural state. Consequently, the guiding arms
54
do not interfere, when bent, with the locking arm
33
. As shown in
FIG. 2
, the engaging protrusion
58
of the engaging arm
55
is inserted into the locking hole
36
, an anterior end face of this engaging protrusion
58
engaging with the hole edge at the anterior side of the locking hole
36
. By this means, the detecting member
50
is prevented from moving from the waiting position in an anterior or posterior direction. Furthermore, in this waiting position, anterior end portions of the anterior stopping protrusions
57
are inserted into the guiding grooves
41
(see FIG.
4
). If the locking arm
33
is inclined resiliently when the detecting member
50
is in the waiting state, the engaging arm
55
, which is making contact with the upper face of the locking arm
33
, bends resiliently therewith, moving in the same direction and to the same extent (see FIG.
5
). Moreover, as shown in
FIG. 4
, the guiding arms
54
are located (relative to the widthwise direction) between the locking arm
33
and the protecting walls
37
. Consequently, these guiding arms
54
do not interfere with the upwardly-moving locking arm
33
.
When the two housings
10
and
20
have been correctly fitted together, the locking protrusion
14
is in an inserted state within the locking hole
36
of the locking arm
33
. When the engaging protrusion
58
of the engaging arm
55
rises over the locking protrusion
14
, the engaging protrusion
58
and the locking protrusion
14
are released from their engaged state (see FIG.
6
). From this state, the detecting member
50
is moved into the anteriorly-located detecting position, and the anterior end faces of the anterior stopping protrusions
57
of the guiding arms
54
engage with posterior end faces of the stopper protrusions
42
(see FIG.
8
). The engaging protrusion
58
of the engaging arm
55
is located to the anterior of the anterior end portion of the locking arm
33
, a taper-shaped posterior end face
59
of the engaging protrusion
58
engaging with the anterior end face of the locking arm
33
(see FIG.
7
). By this means, the detecting member
50
is prevented from moving from the detecting position in an anterior or posterior direction. The engaging protrusion
58
has a stepped shape whereby its anterior end protrudes further downwards than its posterior end. When the detecting member
50
is in the detecting position, a lower face at the posterior end of the engaging protrusion
58
makes contact with the anterior end of the upper face of the locking arm
33
, this maintaining the engaging arm
55
in the same type of slightly bent state as the locking arm
33
. Since the anterior portion of the posterior end face
59
of the engaging protrusion
58
is tapered, this posterior end face
59
can be released from its engaged state with the anterior end face of the locking arm
33
by exerting a force on the detecting member
50
, this force being exerted towards the posterior and exceeding a specified limit. That is, the two are in a semi-locked state. Furthermore, when the detecting member
50
is in the detecting position, the anterior end portions of both the guiding arms
54
and the engaging arm
55
have entered below the protecting walls
37
.
As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
, the upper face of the locking arm
33
, excepting the wider posterior portion thereof, has a parallel face
43
formed thereon. This parallel face
43
is approximately parallel to the fitting direction when the locking arm
33
is in its natural state. A guiding inclined face
44
is formed along the entirety of the wider posterior portion of the locking am
33
, this guiding inclined face
44
being inclined, relative to the fitting direction, upwards towards the posterior. The parallel face
43
and the guiding inclined face
44
join with one another. When the detecting member
50
has been attached in the waiting position, the main body
51
thereof is located above the parallel face
43
and the operating member
53
is located above the guiding inclined face
44
. The operating member
53
can be pivoted relative to the main body
51
by the bending of the thin hinge
52
. As shown in
FIG. 2
, when the detecting member
50
is in the waiting position, the hinge
52
is in a slightly bent state, and a lower face of the operating member
53
makes contact with the guiding inclined face
44
. The operating member
53
is thus supported in a pivoted state relative to the main body
51
. That is, the resilience of the hinge
52
supports the operating member
53
in a state whereby an anterior end of the lower face of this operating member
53
is raised slightly above the guiding inclined face
44
, and only a posterior end of this lower face makes contact with the guiding inclined face
44
. As a result, the angle of inclination of the operating member
53
relative to the main body
51
is slightly less than the angle of inclination of the guiding inclined face
44
. A posterior end face of the operating member
53
is inclined at a specified angle (the angle of inclination of the operating member
53
relative to the main body
51
) relative to a posterior end face of the locking arm
33
, being inclined upwards with reference to FIG.
2
. Moreover, a lower portion of the posterior end of the operating member
53
protrudes slightly to the posterior relative to the posterior end of the locking arm
33
, and an edge of the upper portion of the posterior end of the operating member
53
protrudes upwards relative to the protecting walls
37
. Consequently, the detecting member
50
can be seen from the side when it is in the waiting position.
As shown in
FIG. 5
, when the two housings
10
and
20
are being fitted together, three fingers C gather together the electric wires W led out towards the posterior from the posterior end of the female housing
20
while an anteriorly-located finger B (for example, an index finger) engages with the finger-engaging member
40
located at the lower side. In this state, an upper finger A (for example, a thumb) engages with the operating member
53
of the detecting member
50
that is in the waiting position, engaging with the area of this operating member
53
that extends from the upper edge to the posterior end face thereof. When the detecting member
50
is to be moved, the thumb A, which is engaged with the operating member
53
, pushes downwards in the direction shown by the arrow Y in FIG.
6
. The direction in which the thumb A pushes (i.e., the direction whereby one pushes in the detecting member
50
) is a downwardly inclined direction which extends along the guiding inclined face
44
and faces the direction of movement of the detecting member
50
.
As shown in
FIG. 7
, when the detecting member
50
is located in the detecting position, the entirety of the operating member
53
is located above the parallel face
43
, At this juncture the lower face of the operating member
53
makes contact with the parallel face
44
that is parallel to the fitting direction, and the hinge
52
extends in an absolutely straight state. While the operating member
53
is being moved from a location above the guiding inclined face
44
to a location above the parallel face
43
, the hinge
52
moves from a bent state to an absolutely straight state, this allowing the operating member
53
to pivot relative to the main body
51
, the operating member
53
continuously maintaining contact with the upper face of the locking arm
33
. A releasing operating face
60
located on an upper face of the operating member
53
is configured such that, when the detecting member
50
is in the detecting position, it is inclined (relative to the lower face of the releasing operating face
60
) upwards towards the posterior, This simplifies the operation of moving the detecting member
50
from the detecting position to the waiting position. The angle of inclination of the releasing operating face
60
, relative to its lower face, is greater than the angle of inclination of the guiding inclined face
44
. Further, the edge of the upper portion of the posterior end of the operating member
53
is located at the same height as, or is slightly lower than, upper faces of the protecting walls
37
. Consequently, when viewed from the side, the detecting member
50
is entirely hidden by the protecting walls
37
when it is in the detecting position.
A pair of movement preventing protrusions
61
protrude towards the sides from side faces of the operating member
53
. These movement preventing protrusions
61
extend along the entire length of the operating member
53
and have a rail shape that is parallel to the fitting direction when the hinge
52
is in its absolutely straight state. Further, protruding ends of the movement preventing protrusions
61
are located in approximately the same positions as the anteriorly-located posterior stopping protrusions
56
and the anterior stopping protrusions
57
. The movement preventing protrusions
61
enter the guiding grooves
41
while the detecting member
50
is being moved to the detecting position, thereby regulating the movement of the operating member
53
relative to the main body
51
. That is, before the detecting member
50
has reached the detecting position, the operating member
53
can move, by means of the hinge
52
, relative to the main body
51
. Once the detecting member
50
has reached the detecting position, the operating member
53
is restrained by the female housing
20
.
The present embodiment is configured as described above. Next, the operation thereof is described. When the detecting member
50
has been attached in the waiting position to the female housing
20
, this female housing
20
is fitted to the male housing
10
. At this juncture, in order to hold the female housing
20
in one hand and fit it to the male housing
10
, the fitting operation may be performed as follows: the three posteriorly-located fingers C gather together into one bundle the electric wires W led out from the posterior end of the female housing
20
, the index finger B engages from below with the finger-engaging member
40
, and the thumb A engages with the area of the operating member
53
extending from the comer portion at the upper side thereof to the posterior end face thereof (see FIG.
5
).
After the hood
11
of the male housing
10
has been fitted between the terminal housing member
21
and the outer cylindrical member
22
of the female housing
20
, the male terminal fittings
12
are inserted from the anterior into the cavities
24
and the leak-preventing ribs
13
are inserted into the receiving grooves
31
of the front retainer
30
. Then, as shown in
FIG. 5
, the anterior end portion of the locking arm
33
rises over the locking protrusion
14
while the locking arm
33
is inclined resiliently with the supporting member
34
serving as its centre. The anterior end of the locking arm
33
moves upwards, while the posterior end thereof moves downwards. The engaging arm
55
of the detecting member
50
bends resiliently upwards with the locking arm
33
, moving to the same extent as the locking arm
33
. In this state, the anterior end face of the engaging protrusion
58
engages with the hole edge at the anterior side of the locking hole
36
. Consequently, the detecting member
50
will not move towards the anterior even if it is pushed in that direction. By this means, it can be detected that the two housings
10
and
20
are in a half-fitted state.
As shown in
FIG. 6
, after the two housings
10
and
20
have been fitted to a correct depth, the terminal fittings
12
and
23
reach a correct joining state, and the anterior end portion of the locking arm
33
reaches the posterior side of the locking protrusion
14
, the locking arm
33
returns resiliently towards its original position, the locking protrusion
14
enters the locking hole
36
, and the posterior end face of the locking protrusion
14
engages with the hole edge at the anterior side of the locking hole
36
. By this means, the two housings
10
and
20
are maintained in a state whereby they cannot be separated from their correctly fitted state. At this juncture, the upper face of the hood
11
and the lower face of the locking arm
33
strike against one another, making a noise as they do so. This allows the operator to easily ascertain that the two housings
10
and
20
have been correctly fitted together. Further, the locking arm
33
does not return fully to its natural state, but is maintained in a slightly bent state. The engaging protrusion
58
of the engaging arm
55
rises over the locking protrusion
14
and returns resiliently to its original position. This engaging protrusion
58
is now entirely released from the locking hole
36
of the locking arm
33
, this having already returned resiliently towards its original position. In this correctly fitted state, the rubber ring
32
, which is in a slightly compressed state, fits tightly with the inner circumference face of the anterior end of the hood
11
, this water-proofing the two housings
10
and
20
. Further, the leak-preventing ribs
13
are fitted into the receiving grooves
31
, this partitioning the mutually neighbouring male and female terminal fittings
12
and
23
, and water-proofing the cavities
24
.
As the fitting operation continues, the thumb A, which is engaged with the operating member
53
, pushes it downwards in the direction shown by the arrow Y in
FIG. 6
, this pushing the detecting member
50
towards the anterior. This detecting member
50
, which has now been released from its retained state with the locking arm
33
, moves towards the anterior. While this movement occurs, the main body
51
moves towards the anterior in a straight manner above the parallel face
43
, and the operating member
53
moves smoothly, in an inclined manner downwards and towards the anterior, along the guiding inclined face
44
. At this juncture, the operating member
53
rotates relative to the main body
51
via the hinge
52
, this allowing the lower face of the operating member
53
to remain constantly in contact with the guiding inclined face
44
while the operating member
53
moves. When the posterior end of the operating member
53
is located above the parallel face
43
, the operating member
53
is rotated relative to the main body
51
such that the hinge
52
extends in a completely straight state, the entirety of the lower face of the operating member
53
making contact with the parallel face
43
. That is, while being pushed in from the waiting position to the detecting position, the operating member
53
is constantly in contact with the guiding inclined face
44
and the parallel face
43
, both of which are located at the upper face of the locking arm
33
. This guides the movement of the operating member
53
.
As shown in
FIG. 8
, when the detecting member
50
reaches the detecting position, the anterior stopping protrusions
57
engage with the stopper protrusions
42
, this preventing the detecting member
50
from moving any further towards the anterior. Moreover, as shown in
FIG. 7
, the engaging protrusion
58
reaches a location to the anterior of the anterior end portion of the locking arm
33
, the engaging arm
55
returns resiliently to its original position, and the taper-shaped posterior end face
59
of the engaging protrusion
58
engages with the anterior end face of the locking arm
33
. By this means, the detecting member
50
is maintained in a semi-locked state whereby it cannot move towards the posterior from the detecting position. At this juncture, as shown in
FIG. 8
, the movement preventing protrusions
61
enter the guiding grooves
41
, this restraining the operating member
53
in a state whereby it cannot move relative to the main body
51
. Since the operating member
53
can move relative to the main body
51
before it reaches the detecting position, the inability of the operating member
53
to move allows the operator to ascertain that the detecting member
50
has reached the detecting position. Furthermore, before the detecting member
50
has reached the detecting position, the operating member
53
thereof protrudes above the protecting walls
37
. By contrast, when viewed from the side, the detecting member
50
is entirely hidden by the protecting walls
37
after it has reached the detecting position. As a result, one can ascertain whether the detecting member
50
has been pushed in to the detecting position according to whether the operating member
53
thereof is visible from the side. The pushing-in operation can thus be performed reliably. Moreover, as shown in
FIG. 7
, the engaging arm
55
is maintained in the same kind of slightly bent state as the locking arm
33
. Further, the anterior end portions of the engaging arm
55
and the guiding arms
54
have entered below the bridging member
38
.
If the two housings
10
and
20
are to be separated for maintenance or the like, a finger
30
presses the releasing operating face
60
towards the posterior with a force exceeding a specified limit, the taper-shaped posterior end face
59
of the engaging protrusion
58
is released from its engaged state with the anterior end face of the locking arm
33
while the detecting member
50
moves towards the posterior, and the engaging arm
55
bends resiliently (see FIG.
6
). After the detecting member
50
has been moved to the waiting position, the releasing operating face
60
is pushed downwards, and the locking arm
33
inclines resiliently with the supporting member
34
serving as its centre. The anterior end of the locking arm
33
moves upwards, the posterior end thereof moves downwards, and the locking arm
33
is released from its engaged state with the locking protrusion
14
(see FIG.
5
). Then the two housings
10
and
20
are pulled apart.
In the embodiment described above, the guiding inclined face
44
, along which the operating member
53
slides while the detecting member
50
is being moved, has an inclined shape which moves the operating member
53
downwards in an inclined manner along the pushing-in direction (the direction shown by the arrow in FIG.
6
). Consequently, the movement of the detecting member
50
is guided smoothly, this allowing the detecting member
50
to be pushed in in a natural manner immediately after the two housings
10
and
20
have been fitted together. As a result, the assembly operation is performed in an improved, sequential, manner.
The operating member
53
can be pivoted relative to the main body
51
by means of the hinge
52
. Consequently, the operating member
53
continuously maintains contact with the upper face of the locking arm
33
, while moving from the guiding inclined face
44
to the parallel face
43
. As a result, the movement thereof can be guided smoothly.
The operating member
53
can move continuously, via the hinge
52
, relative to the main body
51
while the detecting member
50
is being moved to the detecting position. The movement preventing protrusions
61
protruding from the operating member
53
enter the guiding grooves
41
when the detecting member
50
reaches the detecting position. This restrains the operating member
53
in a state whereby it cannot move relative to the main body
51
, allowing the operator to easily judge whether the detecting member
50
has reached the detecting position.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. 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) In the embodiment described above, when the fitting operation takes place, the three posteriorly-located fingers of the hand holding the female housing gather the electric wires in a bundle, the index finger engages with the finger-engaging member, and the thumb engages with the operating member of the detecting member. However, the fingers need not be positioned exactly in the manner described above. For example, any fingers apart from the index finger may equally well gather the electric wires into a bundle, while the index finger engages with the operating member of the detecting member. Further, the fingers may be positioned in any other manner convenient to the operator.
(2) In the embodiment described above, the engaging arm remains engaged with the locking arm until the two housings are correctly fitted together, this maintaining the detecting member in the waiting position. However, the present invention also encompasses a configuration whereby the detecting member engages with the female housing instead of with the locking arm.
(3) In the embodiment described above, the male housing is formed in a unified manner with other apparatus. However, the male housing may equally well be, for example, of a type which is provided at ends of electric wires led out from apparatus, or this male housing may be an interrupted connector.
Claims
- 1. An electrical connector comprising a first connector housing engageable in a fitting direction with a mating connector housing, said first connector housing having at one side a resilient latching arm extending in the fitting direction and for engagement with the mating connector housing, said arm bending as the connector housings approach in the fitting direction and having a substantially unbent state in the fully engaged condition of the connector housings, and a detecting member being provided on said latching arm for relative movement in the fitting direction from a posterior waiting position to an anterior final position, the detecting member being maintained in the waiting position by abutment with one of said latching arm and first connector housing, and being released from abutment in the fully engaged condition of said connector housings, wherein said latching arm includes a surface inclined with respect to the fitting direction and facing towards the anterior, said detecting member being guided by said first connector housing and being slidable on the inclined surface, an operating portion of the detecting member being adapted for contact by a human finger or thumb whereby said operating portion is urged against and along the inclined surface on movement from the waiting position to the final position.
- 2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said detecting member comprises a main body portion connected to said operating portion by a hinge, and said latching arm includes an anterior surface extending generally parallel to said fitting direction and anterior to said inclined surface, said operating portion pivoting relative to said main body portion to be in contact with said anterior surface in the final position.
- 3. An electrical connector according to claim 1 and including a latch to retain said detecting member in the final position.
- 4. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein one of said detecting member and first connector housing includes opposite lateral projections guided in corresponding channels of the other of said detecting member and first connector housing.
- 5. An electrical connector according to claim 4 wherein said projections are provided on said detecting member.
- 6. An electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein opposite lateral projections are provided on said operating portion and engageable in said channels in the final position of said detecting member.
- 7. An electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein said channels include an abutment for engagement with a projection of said detecting member.
- 8. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said first connector housing includes upstanding sidewalls on either side of said latching arm, said operating portion protruding above said walls in the waiting position, and not protruding above said walls in the final position.
- 9. An electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein said sidewalls are connected by a bridge at the anterior ends thereof.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2000-359738 |
Nov 2000 |
JP |
|
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Date |
Kind |
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Kouda et al. |
Jun 1992 |
A |
5839915 |
Ford et al. |
Nov 1998 |
A |
6077101 |
Garretson et al. |
Jun 2000 |
A |
6126480 |
Kawase et al. |
Oct 2000 |
A |
6261116 |
Ceru |
Jul 2001 |
B1 |