Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6254408
-
Patent Number
6,254,408
-
Date Filed
Friday, July 16, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 3, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Luebke; Renee
- Hammond; Briggitte
Agents
- Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 157
- 439 160
- 439 247
- 439 248
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A plug-in connecting structure where a first unit, on an outer surface of which a first connector housing is installed, and a second unit, on an outer surface of which a second connector housing is installed, are connected electrically with each other by connecting the connector housings with each other, simultaneously with the mechanical connection of the units with a certain support being as a guide. When advancing toward a connecting portion of the second connector housing, a connecting portion of the first unit automatically aligns its center axis with a center axis of the connecting portion of the second connector housing, with being guided by a tapered surface. The first and second connector housings are never forcibly connected with each center axis thereof remaining offset from each other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plug-in connection structure wherein a pair of predetermined units are electrically connected with each other simultaneously with mechanical connection thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, a plug-in connection structure is employed for electrically connecting a roll connector, fixed to a steering column, with a steering wheel which is to be attached to the steering column. Generally, in a plug-in connection structure, when a unit and another unit are connected with each other with a predetermined support being as a guide, connector housings arranged on the outer surface of each unit are connected with each other with the connection of the units, so that the mechanical and electrical connection of the units are simultaneously realized. In the above example, “a predetermined support”corresponds to the steering column, and “a unit” and “another unit” correspond to the steering wheel and the roll connector, respectively.
In such a plug-in connection structure, relative position of two units as a whole is restricted by a support serving as a guide, and on the outer surface of the units there are fixed first and second connector housings which are to be connected with each other in a male and female connecting manner. The first and second connector housings fixed thereon in such a way are connected with each other simultaneously with the mechanical connection of the units. Therefore, it is necessary to precisely arrange each connector housing at a predetermined position on the outer surface of each unit. In case that this precision is inferior, since the offset connector housings are forcibly connected, some stress is applied on a contact terminal, thus causing insufficient contact due to deflection or deformation of the terminal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plug-in connection structure wherein even if each connector housing, arranged on each of outer surfaces of units which are to be connected with each other, is swerved or dislocated from a predetermined position thereon, suitable connection of the connector housings can be realized.
In order to achieve the object of the present invention, there is provided a plug-in connection structure wherein a first unit, on an outer surface of which a first connector housing is provided, and a second unit, on an outer surface of which a second connector housing is provided, are connected electrically with each other by connecting the first connector housing and the second connector housing with each other, simultaneously with mechanical connection of the first unit and second unit with each other with a predetermined support being as a guide. The first connector housing has a first base provided on the outer surface of the first unit, and has a first connecting portion which is projected from the first base and which is connected to the first base so as to slide along the outer surface of the first unit relatively to the first base. The second connector housing has a second base provided on the outer surface of the second unit, and has a second connecting portion surrounded by a peripheral wall which is projected from the second base and which has a tapered inner surface widening towards a free edge of the peripheral wall. One of the first base and the second base is detachably attached to the outer surface. A retracting pin is fixed to the first connector housing. A retracting lever is pivotably mounted on the peripheral wall of the second connector housing. The retracting lever engages with the retracting pin and can pivot toward the second unit to pull the first connector housing toward the second unit so that the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are connected with each other.
In the plug-in connection structure of the present invention as above, when the first and second units are made approach to each other to be connected, firstly, the first connecting portion of the first connector housing is located inside the tapered peripheral wall of the second connector housing. As the first and second units further approach each other, the tapered inner surface of the peripheral wall becomes narrower, and at the narrowest location thereof there exists the second connecting portion of the second connector housing. On the other hand, the first connecting portion of the first connector housing can slide along the surface of the first unit. Thanks to this, when advancing toward the second connecting portion of the second connector housing, the first connecting portion of the first connector housing automatically aligns its center axis with the center axis of the second connecting portion of the second connector housing, and is guided by the tapered surface.
Further, since the retracting lever pivotally mounted on the peripheral wall is engaged with the retracting pin which is fixed to the first connector housing, when the retracting lever is pivoted toward the second unit finally, one of the first and second connector housing is released from the associated unit surface, so that the connection of the first and second connector housings is completed. That is, the first and second connector housings are never forcibly connected with each center axis thereof remaining offset.
In the plug-in connection structure of the present invention, the first connecting portion of the first connector housing may comprise a body having a cross-shaped cross section. The first connecting portion of the first connector housing may slide in a normal direction relatively to a connecting direction of the first unit and the second unit.
The plug-in connection structure of the present invention may further comprise a holding means to hold the retracting lever at a retracting position at which the retracting lever is positioned on a side of the second unit. The holding means preferably comprises a holding hook projected from the second base, and a tip part of the retracting lever in which the holding hook and the tip part can engage with each other.
The plug-in connection structure of the present invention may further comprise a fixing means to temporally fix a relative position of the first connecting portion and the first base. The fixing means preferably comprise a holding protrusion provided on the first base, and a holding portion extending from the first connecting portion nearly to a surface of the first base so as to be able to elastically engage with the holding protrusion.
In the above description, the first connecting portion projecting from the first base of the first connector housing is made to be able to slide relatively to the first base. Alternatively, the second connecting portion of the second connector housing surrounded by the peripheral wall can be made to be able to slide with the peripheral wall relatively to the second base. With this alternation, the same benefit is also brought.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
This and other objects and features of the present invention will become clear from the following description taken in conjunction with the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is an explanatory view showing two units, before the connection, which are to be connected with each other with a plug-in connection structure of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a partial perspective view of the first and second connector housings shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a partially broken cross sectional view of the second connector housing shown in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is an explanatory view showing the retracting lever pivotally mounted on the second connector housing shown in
FIG. 1
, in which the retracting lever is in a receiving position;
FIG. 5
is an explanatory view showing the retracting lever having been pivoted to a retracting position from the receiving position in
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 6
is a side elevation of the first connector housing shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 7
is an explanatory view showing two units, before the connection, which are to be connected with each other with a plug-in connection structure of the present invention; and
FIG. 8
is a partially broken cross sectional view of the second connector housing shown in FIG.
7
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1
shows main portions of a first unit
100
and a second unit
200
before connection, in a state wherein they are close to each other.
FIG. 2
is a perspective view which shows a first connector housing
110
fixed to the first unit
100
and a second connector housing
210
fixed to the second unit
200
. In the present invention, the first unit
100
and the second unit
200
are not limited to particular ones. For example, the present invention is applied to a case wherein the first unit
100
is a steering wheel, and the second unit
200
is a roll connector which is to be connected to the steering wheel mechanically and electrically.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, the first connector housing
110
comprises a base (first base)
160
shaped like a rectangular frame, and a connecting portion (first connecting portion)
130
which is projected from the base
160
and encloses, or accommodates, contact terminals. The base
160
is detachably fixed to a recess
101
formed on the outer surface of the first unit
100
. That is, as shown in
FIG. 1
, on the two opposed side members of the frame-like base
160
, there are arranged holding protrusions
161
, and on the corresponding side walls of the recess
101
, there are also arranged holding protrusion
102
. Thus, the base
160
is normally held in the recess
101
. But under a pulling force, the elastic engagement of the holding protrusions
161
and
102
is released, or detached, so that the base
160
is released from the recess
101
; in other words, the first connector housing
110
is released from the recess
101
. Although not shown in
FIG. 1
, electric wires
105
are running from the first connector housing
110
into the first unit
100
(FIG.
2
).
The connecting portion
130
is mounted to the base
160
so as to slide along the base surface. Thus, when the first connector housing
110
is fixed on the first unit
100
, the connecting portion
130
can slide along the surface of the first unit
100
. The connecting portion
130
comprises a body
131
having a cross-shaped cross section and enclosing contact terminals, and four sliding legs
132
fixed to an end of the body
130
so as to extend in normal direction to the body
130
. Each sliding leg is an elongated plate-like member, and they all exist in one plane. There are two pairs of sliding legs, each pair thereof comprising two sliding legs extending in parallel; thus there are four sliding legs in total. Two pairs of the extending legs are extending in opposite direction. As to the sliding legs, alternatively, there can be employed four legs extending in cross-shape, other than that shown in FIG.
2
. Of course, in that case, the constitutions of the base
160
and the recess
101
of the first unit
100
are accordingly modified.
On the other hand, at each of two opposed side members of the rectangular frame-like base
160
, an elongated guide slot
165
is formed respectively. Into these guide slots
165
, the sliding legs
132
are slidably inserted. Thus, as can be understood from
FIG. 2
, the connecting portion
130
can freely slide relatively to the base
160
along the surface thereof. From one wall surface of the connecting portion
130
, there is projected a retracting pin
135
which is utilized at the time of retracting (pulling) the first connector housing
110
into the second connector housing
210
. The function of this retracting pin
135
will be described below.
The second connector housing
210
comprises a base (second base)
260
which is fixed to the second unit
200
, and a connecting portion (second connecting portion)
235
surrounded by a peripheral wall
230
projected from the base
260
. In
FIG. 2
, the peripheral wall
230
is solo shown with a retracting lever
240
pivotably mounted thereon.
FIG. 3
is a side elevation partially broken away to explain the constitution of the second connector housing
210
. In
FIG. 3
, showing the retracting lever
240
is omitted.
The peripheral wall
230
is surrounding the connecting portion
235
of the second connector housing
210
, and the inner surface
231
thereof is tapered so as to widen towards a free edge of the peripheral wall
230
. The connecting portion
235
is located at the narrowest position inside the peripheral wall
230
. The connecting portion
235
comprises a plurality of contact terminals
236
. Each contact terminal
236
is inserted into an connection opening
131
a
formed at the front face of the connecting portion body
131
, and connected to the contact terminal (not shown) enclosed in the first connector housing
110
. On one wall portion of the peripheral wall
230
there is formed a straight retracting guide inlet
232
, and on the base
260
there is projected a holding hook
261
. The functions of these guide inlet
232
and holding hook
261
will be described below.
As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, on the peripheral wall
230
, there is pivotaly mounted the retracting lever
240
. The retracting lever
240
is constituted by connecting two side walls
242
and
244
, extending in parallel, with a connecting plate
243
. The retracting lever
240
can pivot about a center shaft
241
between a receiving position shown in
FIG. 1 and a
retracting position shown in FIG.
5
. The retracting lever
240
is held at the receiving position by a holding protrusion
233
, and is held at the retracting position by the holding hook
261
. On one side-plate, there is formed a curved retracting inlet
245
. The function of this retracting inlet
245
will be described below.
The actual connecting procedure of the plug-in connection structure of the embodiment is described hereinafter. In
FIG. 2
, showing each unit is omitted, and the first connector housing
110
and the second connector housing
210
are shown. Firstly, the first and second units
100
and
200
, on which the respective connector housings are mounted, are made approach to each other (FIG.
1
). Then, as shown by an arrow in
FIG. 2
, the retracting pin
135
is made pass below a bridge
246
into the inlet
245
of the retracting lever
240
. Now, the connecting portion
130
projected from the first connector housing
110
is placed inside the tapered peripheral wall
230
.
From this condition, the first and second units
100
and
200
are forced toward to each other, so that the connection openings
131
a
of the first connector housing
110
and the contact terminals
236
of the second connector housing
210
are positioned face to face in alignment (namely, without relative positional offset). This condition is shown in FIG.
4
. As described above, the connecting portion
130
can freely slide along the surface of the base
160
fixed on the first unit
100
, that is, along the surface of the first unit
100
. Accordingly, even if there is some offset between the location of the first connector housing
110
on the first unit
100
and the location of the second connector housing
210
on the second unit
200
, the connecting portion
130
slides along the surface of the first unit
100
while being guided by the tapered inner surface
231
of the peripheral wall
230
. The connecting portion
130
advances toward the connecting portion
235
of the second connector housing
210
, and the connection openings
131
a
of the first connector housing
110
and the contact terminals
236
of the second connector housing
210
are brought face to face in alignment (namely, without relative positional offset).
In the condition of
FIG. 4
, respective positions of the first and second units
100
and
200
are fixed on a predetermined support, and the both units do not approach to each other any more. For example, in the case of the steering wheel and the roll connector as described above, the respective positions of them are fixed to that shown in
FIG. 4
on the steering column as a support, so that the relative position of them are restricted. In
FIG. 4
, the retracting lever
240
is shown in a position slightly pivoted from the receiving position in
FIG. 1
toward the second unit
200
.
From the condition of
FIG. 4
, when the retracting lever
240
is pivoted in direction of an arrow “A”, the retracting pin
135
located in the retracting inlet
245
of the lever
240
is retracted or pulled into the peripheral wall
230
of the second connector housing
210
by the pivoting movement of the lever
240
. Simultaneously with this, the base
160
of the first connector housing
110
is released or detached from the first unit
100
. It is to be noted that the electrical connection between the first connector housing
110
and the first unit
100
is of course kept.
When the retracting pin
135
is retracted by the retracting lever
240
, the pin
135
advances straight toward the second unit
200
in the retracting guide inlet
232
which is formed straight on the peripheral wall
230
of the second connector housing
210
. Then, the contact terminals
236
of the second connector housing
210
are inserted into the connection openings
131
a
of the first connector housing
110
, so that the electrical connecting of the first unit
100
and second unit
200
is completed. This condition is shown in FIG.
5
. It is convenient to pivot the retracting lever
240
by manipulating the connecting plate
243
with fingers. In
FIG. 5
, one edge of the connecting plate
243
is engaged with a holding protrusion
262
at the tip of the holding hook
261
, so that the retracting lever
240
is held in that position.
The releasing procedure of the two units
100
and
200
which have been connected electrically and mechanically as above is vice versa. Its brief explanation is as follows. The retracting lever
240
of the second connector housing
210
is pivoted from the retracting position in
FIG. 5
to the receiving position in
FIG. 4
, and the first connector housing
110
is again engaged with the first unit
100
at the base
160
thereof. Then, the retracting pin
135
of the first connector housing
110
is passed below the bridge
246
so as to be released from the retracting inlets
232
and
245
. A sloped surface
136
a
is partially formed on the head
136
of the retracting pin
135
, so the retracting pin
135
can easily pass below the bridge
246
(FIG.
6
).
FIG. 6
shows a side elevation of the first connector housing
110
. From the edge, facing the base
160
, of the connecting portion body
131
, there is formed a holding portion
234
extending nearly to the surface of the base
160
. This holding portion
234
is elastically engaged with a holding protrusion
166
on the base
160
to temporarily fix the relative position of the connecting portion
130
to the base
160
. From
FIG. 6
, it can be understood that the holding protrusion
166
of the base
160
is engaged in a recess
234
a
at the edge of the holding portion
234
.
In the shown embodiment, the base
160
and the connecting portion
130
of the first connector housing
110
slide relatively toward to each other, and the peripheral wall
230
surrounding the connecting portion
235
and the base
260
of the second connector housing
210
are integratedly formed so as not to slide to each other. In the present invention, however, an opposed construction can be employed. That is, the base
160
and the connecting portion
130
of the first connector housing
110
can be integratedly formed so as not toward slide to each other, and the peripheral wall
230
surrounding the connecting portion
235
and the base
260
of the second connector housing
210
can relatively slide toward each other. With such the opposed construction, the same benefit is also realized.
Further, when pivoting the retracting lever
240
to connect the first and second connector housings
110
and
210
, the second connector housing
210
rather than the first connector housing
110
can be released from the associated unit. As seen in
FIG. 7
, a recess
101
′ is provided near an outer surface of the second unit
200
. This second embodiment including corresponding protrusions
102
′,
161
′.
FIG. 8
shows how the second peripheral wall
230
can slide relatively toward the second base
260
as opposed to the relative movement of components
130
and
160
in the first embodiment. Two positions
260
and
260
′ are shown to demonstrate the change in relative positions.
Although the present invention has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications are apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims unless they depart therefrom.
Claims
- 1. A plug-in connection structure wherein a first unit, on an outer surface of which a first connector housing is provided, and a second unit, on an outer surface of which a second connector housing is provided, are connected electrically with each other by connecting the first connector housing and the second connector housing with each other, simultaneously with mechanical connection of the first unit and the second unit with each other with a predetermined support being as a guide,characterized in that the first connector housing has a first base provided on the outer surface of the first unit, and has a first connecting portion which is projected from the first base and which is connected to the first base so as to slide along the outer surface of the first unit relatively to the first base; the second connector housing has a second base provided on the outer surface of the second unit, and has a second connecting portion surrounded by a peripheral wall which is projected from the second base which has a tapered inner surface widening towards a free edge of the peripheral wall; one of the first base and the second base is detachably attached to its respective outer surface; a retracting pin is fixed to the first connector housing; and a retracting lever is pivotably mounted on the peripheral wall of the second connector housing, wherein the retracting lever engages with the retracting pin and can pivot toward the second unit to pull the first connector housing toward the second unit so that the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are connected with each other.
- 2. The plug-in connection structure of claim 1, wherein the first connecting portion of the first connector housing comprises a body having a cross-shaped cross section.
- 3. The plug-in connection structure of claim 1, wherein the first connecting portion of the first connector housing slides in a normal direction relatively to a connecting direction of the first unit and the second unit.
- 4. The plug-in connection structure of claim 1, further comprising a holding means to hold the retracting lever at a retracting position at which the retracting lever is positioned on a side of the second unit.
- 5. The plug-in connection structure of claim 4, wherein the holding means comprises a holding hook projected from the second base, and a tip part of the retracting lever in which the holding hook and the tip part can engage with each other.
- 6. The plug-in connection structure of claim 1, further comprising a fixing means to temporarily fix a relative position of the first connecting portion and the first base.
- 7. The plug-in connection structure of claim 6, wherein the fixing means comprises a holding protrusion provided on the first base, and a holding portion extending from the first connecting portion nearly to a surface of the first base so as to be able to elastically engage with the holding protrusion.
- 8. A plug-in connection structure wherein a first unit, on an outer surface of which a first connector housing is provided, and a second unit, on an outer surface of which a second connector housing is provided, are connected electrically with each other by connecting the first connector housing and the second connector housing with each other, simultaneously with mechanical connection of the first unit and the second unit with each other with a predetermined support being as a guide,characterized in that the first connector housing has a first base provided on the outer surface of the first unit, and has a first connecting portion which is projected from the first base; the second connector housing has a second base provided on the outer surface of the second unit, and has a second connecting portion surrounded by a peripheral wall which is projected from the second base, said peripheral wall is connected to the second base so as to slide along the outer surface of the second unit relatively toward the base, and which has a tapered inner surface widening towards a free edge of the peripheral wall; one of the first base and the second base is detachably attached to its respective outer surface; a retracting pin is fixed to the first connector housing; and a retracting lever is pivotably mounted on the peripheral wall of the second connector housing, wherein the retracting lever engages with the retracting pin and can pivot toward the second unit to pull the first connector housing toward the second unit so that the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are connected with each other.
- 9. The plug-in connection structure of claim 8, wherein the first connecting portion of the first connector housing comprises a body having a cross-shaped cross section.
- 10. The plug-in connection structure of claim 8, wherein the peripheral wall of the second connector housing slides in a normal direction relatively to a connecting direction of the first unit and the second unit.
- 11. The plug-in connection structure of claim 8, further comprising a holding means to hold the retracting lever at a retracting position at which the retracting lever is positioned on a side of the second unit.
- 12. The plug-in connection structure of claim 11, wherein the holding means comprises a holding hook projected from the second base, and a tip part of the retracting lever in which the holding hook and the tip part can engage with each other.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
10-201724 |
Jul 1998 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4954085 |
Inou et al. |
Sep 1990 |
|
5292267 |
Kobayashi et al. |
Mar 1994 |
|
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
603890 A2 |
Jun 1994 |
EP |