Half-fitting prevention connector

The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-177292, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a half-fitting prevention connector in which when a pair of male and female connector housings are fitted together, a half-fitted condition of the male and female connector housings is detected by determining whether or not a fitting detection member, mounted on one of the connector housings, can be slid into a proper fitting detection position.

2. Related Art

In a conventional half-fitting prevention connector shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

, when a pair of male and female connector housings

1

and

9

are fitted together, a half-fitted condition of the male and female connector housings

1

and

9

is detected by determining whether or not a fitting detection member

2

, mounted on the male connector housing (first connector housing)

1

, can be slid into a proper fitting detection position (see JP-A-8-31517).

As shown in

FIG. 8

, the male connector housing

1

has a flexible lock arm

4

rising from an upper wall

3

at a front end thereof and further extending toward a rear end of the housing, and a lock portion

6

is formed on an intermediate portion of an upper surface of this flexible lock arm

4

in a projected manner.

A pressing plate portion

7

is provided at a free end of the flexible lock arm

4

disposed near to the rear end of the male connector housing

1

, and this pressing plate portion

7

serves as an operating portion for elastically displacing the flexible lock arm

4

when fitting the male and female connector housings together.

The female connector housing

9

has an engagement portion

10

formed on an inner surface of an upper wall thereof at a front end thereof which upper wall overlies the flexible lock arm

4

when fitting the male and female connector housings

1

and

9

together.

As shown in

FIGS. 9 and 10

, when the length of fitting of the male and female connector housings

1

and

9

relative to each other reaches a proper value, the engagement portion

10

slides over the lock portion

6

through the elastic displacement of the flexible lock arm

4

. When the length of fitting of the male and female connector housings

1

and

9

reaches the proper value, the engagement portion

10

becomes engaged in a recess

6

a,

disposed at the rear side of the lock portion

6

, from the upper side, to retain the lock portion

6

, thereby locking the male and female connector housings

1

and

9

in a fitted condition.

As shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

, the fitting detection member

2

includes an operating plate portion

16

, which is slidably engaged with the pressing plate portion

7

so as to slide in a fitting direction of the male and female connector housings, a resilient piece portion

17

, extending from a rear end of the operating plate portion

16

toward the front ends of the male and female connector housings, and a positioning retaining portion

20

formed at a distal end of the resilient piece portion

17

in a projected manner, these portions being formed integrally with one another. The resilient piece portion

17

has a bar-like shape, and can pass through a space between a pair of side plate portions

5

and

5

of the flexible lock arm

4

.

As shown in

FIG. 7

, the positioning retaining portion

20

is in the form of a projection, and can be fitted into each of recesses

6

a

and

6

b,

disposed respectively at the rear and front sides of the lock portion

6

, from the lower side by the resilient force of the resilient piece portion

17

. Before the male and female connector housings are fitted together, this positioning retaining portion

20

is kept fitted in the recess

6

a

at the rear side of the lock portion

6

, and is retained by a rear edge of the lock portion

6

, and therefore is prevented form forward movement.

The position where the positioning retaining portion

20

is abutted against the rear edge of the lock portion

6

, and is prevented from forward movement is an initial position of the fitting detection member

2

mounted on the male connector housing

1

.

With respect to the sliding engagement between the pressing plate portion

7

and the operating plate portion

6

, the sliding range is so determined that the fitting detection member

2

can slide between the proper fitting detection position, set forwardly of the above initial position, and this initial position.

When the pair of male and female connector housings

1

and

9

are fitted together, the length of fitting of the male and female connector housings

1

and

9

reaches the proper value, so that the engagement portion

10

is fitted in the recess

6

a

at the rear side of the lock portion

6

, as shown in FIG.

10

.

Therefore, the positioning retaining portion

20

of the fitting detection member

2

, already fitted in the recess

6

a,

is downwardly pushed out of this recess by the engagement portion

10

, so that the holding of the positioning retaining portion

20

in the initial position is canceled. As a result, the fitting detection member

2

can be slid by pushing the operating plate portion

16

forward as indicated by arrow A in the drawings.

When the fitting detection member

2

is pushed forward after the holding of the positioning retaining portion

20

in the initial position is canceled, this positioning retaining portion

20

moves forward in sliding contact with the lower surfaces of the engagement portion

10

and lock portion

6

, as shown in FIG.

11

. Then, when the positioning retaining portion

20

moves past the front edge of the lock portion

6

, this portion

20

is displaced upwardly by the resilient force of the resilient piece portion

17

, and is fitted into the recess

6

b

at the front side of the lock portion

6

.

Therefore, the positioning retaining portion

20

, thus fitted in the recess

6

b,

is retained at its rear end surface by the front end surface of the lock portion

6

, and is held in a locked condition, that is, prevented from rearward sliding movement.

However, if the length of fitting of the male and female connector housings

1

and

9

does not reach the proper value, thus inviting a half-fitted condition, when the male and female connector housings

1

and

9

are fitted together, the engagement portion

10

of the female connector housing

9

will not be fitted into the recess

6

a

at the rear side of the lock portion

6

.

Therefore, the positioning retaining portion

20

will not be pushed out of the recess

6

a

by the engagement portion

10

, and therefore the holding of the fitting detection member

2

in the initial position by the lock portion

6

will not be canceled.

Therefore, in the half-fitted condition of the male and female connector housings

1

and

9

, even when the operating plate portion

16

of the fitting detection member

2

is pushed forward, the fitting detection member

2

will not be moved forward, and therefore the half-fitted condition can be detected by determining whether or not the fitting detection member

2

can be moved forward.

After the male and female connector housings

1

and

9

are fitted together, the operating plate portion

16

of the fitting detection member

2

is exposed, and therefore there was encountered a problem that when an external force of above a predetermined level acted on the operating plate portion

16

from the upper side, the flexible lock arm

4

was elastically deformed (since a deflection space was provided between the flexible lock arm

4

and the male connector housing

1

), so that the locking of the male and female connector housings

1

and

9

to each other was canceled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention has been made in view of the above problem, and an object of the invention is to provide a half-fitting prevention connector in which the deflection of a lock arm is prevented in a completely-fitted condition, thereby stably maintaining the fitted condition.

The above object has been achieved by a half-fitting prevention connector of the invention of claim

1

which comprises:

a first connector housing having a flexible lock arm;

a second connector housing which has an engagement portion for engagement with a lock portion of the flexible lock arm, and is connected to the first connector housing by the engagement of the lock portion with the engagement portion when the second connector housing is fitted relative to the first connector housing; and

a fitting detection member which is mounted on the first connector housing so as to slide in a fitting direction of the first and second connector housings, a half-fitted condition of the first and second connector housings being detected by determining whether or not the fitting detection member can be slidingly moved; characterized in that:

the fitting detection member includes a detection member body, which is fitted on an outer periphery of the first connector housing so as to slide in the fitting direction of the first and second connector housings, a positioning retaining portion for engagement with the lock portion to hold the detection member body in an initial position, and a deflection prevention rib which is formed at a rear end of the fitting detection member so as to prevent the deflection of the lock arm in a completely-fitted condition;

when the first and second connector housings are completely fitted together, the positioning retaining portion is pushed out of the lock portion upon engagement of the engagement portion with the lock portion, so that the engagement of the positioning retaining portion with the lock portion is canceled; and when the detection member body is slid from the initial position to a proper fitting detection position generally near to a front end of the first connector housing, the positioning retaining portion is engaged with a detection member-retaining portion, formed at a distal end of the lock arm, thereby holding the fitting detection member in the proper fitting detection position, and also the deflection prevention rib is slid under the lock arm to prevent the deflection of the lock arm.

In the half-fitting prevention connector of the above construction, the deflection prevention rib for preventing the deflection of the lock arm in the completely-fitted condition is formed at the rear end of the fitting detection member mounted on the first connector housing, and when the completely-fitted condition is achieved, the deflection prevention rib slides under the lock arm to prevent the deflection of the lock arm. Therefore, even when a load is applied to the lock arm, the locked condition will not be canceled, thereby stably maintaining the fitted condition.

The deflection prevention rib may take any suitable form, and does not always need to extend between the opposite side walls of the detection member body in so far as it can generally fill up a deflection space for the flexible lock arm. Namely, the deflection prevention rib may be interrupted intermediate the opposite side walls of the detection member body, and may comprise two cantilever sections.

In the half-fitting prevention connector of the invention of claim

2

depending from claim

1

, the first connector housing has a first projection formed on that portion of an outer peripheral surface thereof facing away from the flexible lock arm, and the fitting detection member has a second projection which is formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof so as to be engaged with the first projection in the completely-fitted condition of the first and second connector housings, and when the first connector housing is completely fitted with the second connector housing, the fitting detection member moves toward the front side of the first connector housing, so that the second projection slides past the first projection, and is engaged therewith.

In the half-fitting prevention connector of this construction, the first connector housing has the first projection formed on that portion of the outer peripheral surface thereof facing away from the flexible lock arm, and the fitting detection member has the second projection which is formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof so as to be engaged with the first projection in the completely-fitted condition of the first and second connector housings, and when the first connector housing is completely fitted with the second connector housing, the fitting detection member moves toward the front side of the first connector housing, so that the second projection slides past the first projection, and is engaged therewith. Thus, the positioning retaining portion is engaged with the detection member-retaining portion, formed at the distal end of the lock arm, and in addition the first projection is engaged with the second projection. Therefore, the force of retaining of the fitting detection member on the first connector housing in the completely-fitted condition increases, thereby more firmly holding the fitting detection member in the proper fitting detection position. And besides, when the first projection and the second projection are engaged with each other, a click feeling is produced, and the completely-fitted condition of the first and second connector housings can be detected also by this click feeling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is an exploded, perspective view of a first embodiment of a half-fitting prevention connector of the present invention;

FIG. 2

is a perspective view showing a condition in which a fitting detection member is mounted on a female connector housing of

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 3

is a vertical cross-sectional view in

FIG. 2

;

FIG. 4

is a perspective view showing a condition in which the female and male connector housings of

FIG. 1

are in the process of being fitted together;

FIG. 5

is a vertical cross-sectional view in

FIG. 4

;

FIG. 6

is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the female and male connector housings of

FIG. 5

in a completely-fitted condition;

FIG. 7

is a vertical cross-sectional view of a conventional half-fitting connector showing a condition before it is brought into a fitted condition;

FIG. 8

is an exploded, perspective view showing a male connector housing and a fitting detection member of

FIG. 7

;

FIG. 9

is a vertical cross-sectional view of an important portion showing a fitting process in

FIG. 7

;

FIG. 10

is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view showing a condition in which an engagement portion of the second connector housing is engaged with a lock portion of first connector housing in

FIG. 7

; and

FIG. 11

is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view showing a condition in which the fitting of the first and second connector housings of

FIG. 7

has been completed, and the fitting detection member has been slid into a proper fitting detection position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

One embodiment of a half-fitting prevention connector of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to

FIGS. 1

to

6

.

FIG. 1

is an exploded, perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the half-fitting prevention connector of the invention,

FIG. 2

is a perspective view showing a condition in which a fitting detection member is mounted on a female connector housing of

FIG. 1

,

FIG. 3

is a vertical cross-sectional view in

FIG. 2

,

FIG. 4

is a perspective view showing a condition in which the female and male connector housings of

FIG. 1

are in the process of being fitted together,

FIG. 5

is a vertical cross-sectional view in

FIG. 4

, and

FIG. 6

is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the female and male connector housings of

FIG. 5

in a completely-fitted condition.

As shown in

FIG. 1

, the half-fitting prevention connector

31

of this embodiment comprises a female connector (first connector housing)

40

, having a flexible lock arm

41

, a male connector (the second connector housing)

50

having an engagement projection (engagement portion)

51

for engagement in a retaining hole

42

(serving as a lock portion) formed in the flexible lock arm

41

, and the fitting detection member

60

of a generally tubular shape mounted on the female connector

40

so as to slide in a fitting direction.

Before the female and male connectors

40

and

50

are fitted together, the fitting detection member

60

is engaged in the retaining hole

42

, and therefore is held in its initial position, as shown in

FIGS. 2 and 3

. When the female and male connectors

40

and

50

are completely fitted together, the retaining of the fitting detection member by the retaining hole

42

is canceled by engagement of the engagement projection

51

in the retaining hole

42

, and the fitting detection member is slid from the initial position to a proper fitting detection position spaced a predetermined distance from the initial position, as shown in

FIGS. 5 and 6

. Therefore, a half-fitted condition of the female and male connectors

40

and

50

can be detected by determining whether or not the fitting detection member

60

can be slid into the proper fitting detection position.

The female connector

40

of this embodiment includes a housing body

40

b,

having terminal receiving chambers

40

a

for respectively receiving and holding female connection terminals (not shown), the flexible lock arm

41

, formed on an upper surface of the housing body, and guide portions

43

for slidably supporting the fitting detection member

60

, these portions being molded integrally with one another.

The flexible lock arm

41

includes an arm portion

45

formed on upper ends of support post portions

44

formed on a generally central portion of the upper surface of the housing body

40

b,

and the arm portion

45

extends in a forward-rearward direction relative to the housing body

40

b,

and can be elastically displaced upward and downward on the support post portions

44

serving as a fulcrum.

In the flexible lock arm

41

, the retaining hole

42

is formed through that portion of the arm portion

45

disposed near to the front end thereof. Cancellation operating portions

45

a

for upwardly displacing the front end of the arm portion

45

are formed on that portion of the upper surface of the arm portion

45

disposed adjacent to the rear end thereof.

Therefore, in the fitted condition of the female and male connectors

40

and

50

in which the engagement projection

51

of the male connector

50

is engaged in the retaining hole

42

, when the cancellation operating portions

45

a

are depressed to displace the front end of the arm portion

45

upwardly, the engagement of the engagement projection

51

in the retaining hole

42

is canceled.

The guide portions

43

are formed respectively at opposite sides of the upper surface of the housing body

40

b

in such a manner that the flexible lock arm

41

is disposed between these guide portions

43

. Each of the guide portions

43

has a guide groove

43

a

formed in an outer surface thereof and extending in the forward-rearward direction of the housing body

40

b.

As shown in

FIG. 3

, the female connector

40

of this embodiment has a first projection

48

of a rib-like shape formed on that portion of the outer peripheral surface thereof facing away from the flexible lock arm

41

, the first projection

48

extending transversely, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction. Preferably, the first projection

48

has a triangular cross-sectional shape, having gently-slanting surfaces, or a semi-circular cross-sectional shape.

The male connector

50

of this embodiment includes a housing body

50

b

having terminal receiving chambers

50

a

for respectively receiving male connection terminals (not shown), and the engagement projection

51

for engagement in the retaining hole

42

is formed on an upper surface of this housing body, and elongate projections

53

each for passing through a gap

47

between the flexible lock arm

41

and the corresponding guide portion

43

is also formed on this upper surface.

The terminal receiving chambers

50

a

receive and hold the male connection terminals (not shown) which are to be connected respectively to the female connection terminals received respectively in the terminal receiving chambers

40

a

in the female connector

40

, and these terminal receiving chambers

50

a

are arranged at the same pitch as that of the terminal receiving chambers

40

a.

The engagement projection

51

is formed on and projects from that portion of the upper surface of the housing body

50

b

disposed near to the front end thereof. When the female and male connectors

40

and

50

are fitted together, the engagement projection

51

moves into sliding contact with the lower surface of the arm portion

45

of the flexible lock arm

41

. Then, when the length of fitting of the female and male connectors relative to each other reaches a predetermined value, this engagement projection is fitted into the retaining hole

42

from the lower side of the arm portion

45

, and is thus engaged in this retaining hole.

The elongate projections

53

are passed respectively through the gaps

47

, provided in the female connector

40

, thereby controlling the fitting direction of the female and male connectors

40

and

50

and the fitting positions thereof so that the operation for fitting the female and male connectors

40

and

50

together can be carried out smoothly.

The fitting detection member

60

of this embodiment includes a detection member body

61

of a generally tubular shape, which is fitted on the outer periphery of the female connector

40

so as to slide in the fitting direction of the female and male connectors

40

and

50

together, and covers the outer periphery of the hosing body

40

b,

a retaining projection

63

(serving as a positioning retaining portion) for engagement in the retaining hole

42

to hold the detection member body

61

in the initial position, a deflection prevention rib

66

formed at a rear end of the detection member body

61

so as to prevent the deflection of the flexible lock arm

41

in the completely-fitted condition, and a second projection

67

of a boss-like shape formed on the inner peripheral surface of the detection member body so as to be engaged with the first projection

48

in the completely-fitted condition.

Guide projections

61

a

for being slidably fitted respectively in the guide grooves

43

a

of the guide portions

43

are formed respectively on inner side surfaces of the detection member body

61

, and this detection member body is mounted on the female connector

40

so as to slide in the fitting direction of the female and male connectors

40

and

50

through the guide projections

61

a

fitted respectively in the guide grooves

43

a.

Anti-slip portions

61

b,

which are to be held by the fingers when sliding the detection member body

61

, are formed respectively on opposite outer side surfaces of this detection member body

61

.

The retaining projection

63

is formed on and projects from a lower surface of a retaining arm (resilient piece portion)

64

, which is part of an upper wall of the detection member body

61

, at a front end thereof, and this retaining projection

63

can be resiliently displaced upward. This retaining projection

63

is fitted into the retaining hole

42

from the upper side, with its front end surface held against a front end surface

42

a

(see

FIG. 3

) of the retaining hole

42

, thereby holding the fitting detection member

60

in its initial position.

Arm projections

63

a

are formed respectively at opposite sides of the retaining projection

63

, and when the fitting detection member

60

is engaged with the female connector

40

, these arm projections

63

a

are engaged respectively in retaining recesses

43

b

which are formed in the housing body

40

b,

and are disposed respectively at opposite sides of the retaining hole

42

. Therefore, even if the front end of the flexible lock arm

41

is elastically deformed downwardly to thereby cancel the engagement of the retaining projection

63

in the retaining hole

42

before fitting the female connector onto the male connector

50

, the fitting detection member

60

will not be disengaged from the female connector

40

.

In this embodiment, the proper fitting detection position, to which the fitting detection member

60

is slid, is set at a position which is nearer relative to the front end of the female connector

40

than the initial position (where the retaining projection

63

is retained by the retaining hole

42

) is. Therefore, the female connector

40

is provided with a detection member-retaining portion

49

for limiting the sliding movement of the fitting detection member

60

when this fitting detection member

60

is slid from the initial position forwardly to the proper fitting detection position.

The detection member-retaining portion

49

is defined by the front end edge of the arm portion

45

of the flexible lock arm

41

, and when the fitting detection member

60

is slid to the proper fitting detection position, this detection member-retaining portion

49

retains a rear gentely-slanting surface

63

b

(see

FIG. 6

) of the retaining projection

63

, thereby locating and fixing the fitting detection member

60

in the proper fitting detection position. At this time, a click feeling is produced upon retaining engagement of the retaining projection

63

with the detection member-retaining portion

49

, and therefore the completely-fitted condition of the female and male connectors

40

and

50

can be detected.

The deflection prevention rib

66

is disposed immediately adjacent to the rear end of the detection member body

61

, and extends between opposite side walls of the detection member body

61

. When the completely-fitted condition is achieved, this rib slides under the flexible lock arm

41

. As a result, the deflection prevention rib

66

fills up a deflection space, and therefore even when a load is applied to the flexible lock arm

41

, the flexible lock arm

41

is prevented from being elastically deformed. The deflection prevention rib

66

may take any suitable form, and does not always need to extend between the opposite side walls of the detection member body

61

in so far as it can generally fill up the deflection space for the flexible lock arm

41

. Namely, the deflection prevention rib

66

may be interrupted intermediate the opposite side walls of the detection member body

61

, and may comprise two cantilever sections.

A groove for receiving the deflection prevention rib

66

in the completely-fitted condition is formed at the rear end portion of the female connector

40

, and this groove extends in the fitting direction. This groove has such a depth that the rear end of the detection member body

61

lies generally flush with the rear end of the female connector

40

in the completely-fitted condition. The height of this groove is generally equal to the height of the deflection prevention rib

66

so that the deflection prevention rib

66

, when fitted in the groove, will not jolt.

The second projection

67

is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the detection member body

61

, and when the completely-fitted condition is to be achieved, the fitting detection member

60

is moved toward the front side of the female connector

40

, and the second projection

67

slides past the first projection

48

, and is engaged therewith. Preferably, those surfaces of the first and second projections

48

and

67

, which are brought into contact with each other when the fitting detection member

60

is moved from the initial position to the proper fitting detection position, are gently slanting so that the two contact surfaces can be easily engaged with each other. Also, those surfaces of the first and second projections

48

and

67

, which contact each other when the fitting detection member

60

moves rearwardly from the proper fitting detection position, are abruptly slanting in order to prevent the rearward movement of the fitting detection member

60

in the completely-fitted condition.

With this construction, the force of retaining the fitting detection member

60

and the female connector

40

relative to each other is increased, and the fitting detection member

60

can be more firmly held in the proper fitting detection position. And besides, when the first projection

48

and the second projection

67

are engaged with each other, a click feeling is produced, and the completely-fitted condition of the female and male connectors

40

and

50

can be detected also by this click feeling.

Next, the fitting operation for the female and male connectors

40

and

50

and the fitting detection member

60

will be described with reference to

FIGS. 3

to

6

. First, before the female and male connectors

40

and

50

are fitted together, the retaining projection

63

, formed on and projecting from the lower surface of the retaining arm (resilient piece portion)

64

(which is part of the upper wall of the detection member body

61

) at the front end thereof, is fitted into the retaining hole

42

from the upper side, with its front end surface held against the front end surface

42

a

of the retaining hole

42

, thereby holding the fitting detection member

60

in its initial position.

For fitting the female and male connectors

40

and

50

together, the engagement projection

51

, formed on and projecting from that portion of the upper surface of the housing body

50

b

disposed near to the front end thereof, advances in sliding contact with the lower surface of the arm portion

45

of the flexible lock arm

41

, as shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

. When the length of fitting of the female and male connectors relative to each other reaches the predetermined value, the engagement projection

51

is fitted into the retaining hole

42

from the lower side of the arm portion

45

, and therefore is engaged in this retaining hole

42

.

At this time, the retaining projection

63

of the fitting detection member

60

, already engaged in the retaining hole

42

, is pushed upwardly out of this retaining hole by the engagement projection

51

as indicated by arrow B in

FIG. 5

, thereby canceling the holding of the fitting detection member

60

in the initial position. Therefore, the fitting detection member

60

can be moved toward the front side of the housing of the female connector

40

.

Then, when the fitting detection member

60

is slid to the proper fitting detection position as shown in

FIG. 6

, the detection member-retaining portion

49

, defined by the front end edge of the arm portion

45

, retains the rear end surface

63

b

of the retaining projection

63

, thereby holding the fitting detection member

60

in the proper fitting detection position.

When the completely-fitted condition is achieved, the fitting detection member

60

is slid to the proper fitting detection position, so that the deflection prevention rib

66

, extending between the opposite side walls of the detection member body

61

at the rear end portion thereof, slides under the flexible lock arm

41

, and fills up the deflection space. As a result, even when a load is applied to the flexible lock arm

41

, this flexible lock arm is prevented from being elastically deformed since the deflection prevention rib

66

fills up the deflection space.

And besides, when the completely-fitted condition is achieved, the fitting detection member

60

moves toward the front side of the female connector

40

, and the second projection

67

slides past the first projection

48

, and is engaged therewith, thereby more firmly holding the fitting detection member

60

in the proper fitting detection position.

The female and male connectors

40

and

50

are completely fitted together, and the fitting detection member

60

is held in the proper fitting detection position, and in this condition the fitting detection member

60

is slid rearwardly from the position of

FIG. 6

to the position of

FIG. 5

, so that the deflection prevention rib

66

is withdrawn from the deflection space below the flexible lock arm

41

. Thereafter, the cancellation operating portions

45

a

are pressed down, thereby displacing the front end of the arm portion

45

. By doing so, the engagement of the engagement projection

51

in the retaining hole

42

can be canceled, and the fitted condition of the female and male connectors can be cancelled. When the fitting detection member

60

is moved rearward, the rear gently-slanting surface

63

b

of the retaining projection

63

slides over the detection member-retaining portion

49

.

As described above, in the half-fitting prevention connector

31

of this embodiment, the deflection prevention rib

66

extends between the opposite side walls of the detection member body

61

at the rear end portion thereof, and when the completely-fitted condition is achieved, this rib slides under the flexible lock arm

41

. As a result, the deflection prevention rib

66

fills up the deflection space, and therefore even when a load is applied to the flexible lock arm

41

, this flexible lock arm is prevented from being elastically deformed. Therefore, even when an external force is applied to the cancellation operating portions

45

a,

the flexible lock arm

41

will not be elastically deformed, and therefore the fitted condition of the female and male connectors

40

and

50

will not be canceled, and this fitted condition can be stably maintained.

And besides, when the completely-fitted condition is to be achieved, the fitting detection member

60

moves toward the front side of the female connector

40

, and the second projection

67

slides past the first projection

48

, and is engaged therewith. As a result, the force of retaining of the fitting detection member

60

on the female connector

40

increases, thereby more firmly holding the fitting detection member

60

in the proper fitting detection position. In addition, when the first projection

48

and the second projection

67

are engaged with each other, a click feeling is produced, and the completely-fitted condition of the female and male connectors

40

and

50

can be detected also by this click feeling.

As described above, in the half-fitting prevention connector of the present invention, the fitting detection member includes the detection member body, which is fitted on the outer periphery of the first connector housing so as to slide in the fitting direction of the first and second connector housings, the positioning retaining portion for engagement with the lock portion to hold the detection member body in the initial position, and the deflection prevention rib which is formed at the rear end of the fitting detection member so as to prevent the deflection of the lock arm in the completely-fitted condition. When the first and second connector housings are completely fitted together, the positioning retaining portion is pushed out of the lock portion upon engagement of the engagement portion with the lock portion, so that the engagement of the positioning retaining portion with the lock portion is canceled. When the detection member body is slid from the initial position to the proper fitting detection position generally near to the front end of the first connector housing, the positioning retaining portion is engaged with the detection member-retaining portion, formed at the distal end of the lock arm, thereby holding the fitting detection member in the proper fitting detection position, and also the deflection prevention rib is slid under the lock arm to prevent the deflection of the lock arm.

In the half-fitting prevention connector of the above construction, the deflection prevention rib for preventing the deflection of the lock arm in the completely-fitted condition is formed at the rear end of the fitting detection member mounted on the first connector housing, and when the completely-fitted condition is achieved, the deflection prevention rib slides under the lock arm to prevent the deflection of the lock arm. Therefore, even when a load is applied to the lock arm, the locked condition will not be canceled, thereby stably maintaining the fitted condition.

In the half-fitting prevention connector of the invention, having the above construction, the first connector housing has the first projection formed on that portion of the outer peripheral surface thereof facing away from the flexible lock arm, and the fitting detection member has the second projection which is formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof so as to be engaged with the first projection in the completely-fitted condition of the first and second connector housings. When the first connector housing is completely fitted with the second connector housing, the fitting detection member moves toward the front side of the first connector housing, so that the second projection slides past the first projection, and is engaged therewith.

In the half-fitting prevention connector of this construction, the first connector housing has the first projection formed on that portion of the outer peripheral surface thereof facing away from the flexible lock arm, and the fitting detection member has the second projection which is formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof so as to be engaged with the first projection in the completely-fitted condition of the first and second connector housings. When the first connector housing is completely fitted with the second connector housing, the fitting detection member moves toward the front side of the first connector housing, so that the second projection slides past the first projection, and is engaged therewith. Thus, the positioning retaining portion is engaged with the detection member-retaining portion, formed at the distal end of the lock arm, and in addition the first projection is engaged with the second projection. Therefore, the force of retaining of the fitting detection member on the first connector housing in the completely-fitted condition increases, thereby more firmly holding the fitting detection member in the proper fitting detection position. And besides, when the first projection and the second projection are engaged with each other, a click feeling is produced, and the completely-fitted condition of the first and second connector housings can be detected also by this click feeling.

Number	Name	Date	Kind
5507666	Yamanashi	Apr 1996	A
5827086	Fukuda	Oct 1998	A
5848912	Okabe	Dec 1998	A
5938470	Kashiyama	Aug 1999	A
5947763	Alaksin	Sep 1999	A
6012946	Fukase	Jan 2000	A
6027364	Fukuda	Feb 2000	A
6171130	Yoshida et al.	Jan 2001	B1

Number	Date	Country
0 774 804	May 1997	EP
0 821 441	Jan 1998	EP
0 981 185	Feb 2000	EP
1 113 537	Jul 2001	EP
1 180 825	Feb 2002	EP
8-031517	Feb 1996	JP

Half-fitting prevention connector

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)

US Referenced Citations (8)

Foreign Referenced Citations (6)