1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a shielding connector and to a connector with a connection fit-on detecting function.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-219758 discloses a shielding connector that has a female housing and a male housing to be fitted thereon. The female and male housings each have an outer housing and an inner housing that is suspended in the outer housing through a plurality of ribs. The inner housings accommodate terminal fittings connected to the ends of shielding electric wires. A metal shell is fit on the periphery of the rear end of the inner housing and has slits for receiving the ribs. The metal shell is configured to contact the braided wire of the shielding electric wire. The corresponding female and male terminal fittings are connected to each other when the female and male housings have been fit together. At the same time, the projected ends of the female and male metal shells fit on each other and cover the area of the connection between the female and male terminal fittings. Thus, the female and male terminal fittings are shielded electromagnetically.
The inner housing of the above-described shielding connector is suspended in the outer housing by the ribs. Thus, it is necessary to form the slits on the metal shell. However, the slits align when the projected ends of the female and male metal shells are fit together and the metal shells are open at the positions where the slits align. As, a result, the shielding function of the connector deteriorates.
Each metal shell of the above-described connector is formed from a metal plate that is bent into a rectangular or oblong tube. A convexity at one end of the plate is forcibly fit to a concavity at the other end thereof to form the metal shell. A wide metal shell is liable to open at its widthwise center, and the metal shells will not fit smoothly together if the projected end of either shell opens. Additionally, a gap is formed between the metal shells if either shell opens, and the contact pressure of the contact plate interposed therebetween deteriorates. Thus the electrical connection is unstable and the connector has a poor shielding function.
The male shielding connector of JP 11-219758 is shown in
A locking claw 5m is formed on the outer surface of the metal shell 4m to prevent the metal shell 4m from slipping off the periphery of the inner housing 3m. A lock 6m is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer housing 1m opposed to the outer surface of the metal shell 4m and a rib 7m extends to both sides of the lock 6m. The locking claw 5m passes the rib 7m and rides across the lock 6m as the metal shell 4m is inserted into the outer housing 1m and onto the periphery of the inner housing 3m. Thus, the locking claw 5m is locked to the front surface of the lock 6m, and the metal shell 4m is mounted on the periphery of the inner housing 3m without slipping off. The rib 7m at both sides of the lock 6m minimizes the elastic deformation of the locking claw 5m and enhances locking.
The locking construction of the shielding connector of
The female shielding connector of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-219758 is shown in
A lock 5f is formed as a step on the wall 2fA of the upper side of the cavity 2f, and the locking claw 6f is bent from the corresponding surface of the metal shell 4f. The metal shell 4f is inserted into the outer housing 1f from its rear side and is mounted on the periphery of the inner housing 3f. As a result, the locking claw 6f is pressed by the lock 5f and elastically deforms. The locking claw 6f returns to its original state due to its resiliency and is locked to the lock 5f when the metal shell 4f is inserted to the predetermined position. Thus, the metal shell 4f is mounted on the periphery of the inner housing 3f without slipping off.
The lock 5f is formed as a step on the upper wall 2fA of the cavity 2f. Thus, the diameter of the inner housing 3f is large, and the entire connector housing is large in the radial direction.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-141145 and
The female housing 2a also has a detector 5a that can move between a wait position (shown with two-dot chain line in
The male and female housings 1a and 2a may have to be separated from each other for maintenance. For this purpose, a catch 5A at the rear end of the detector 5a can be gripped manually and pulled rearward. As a result, the detector 5a returns to the wait position, while the semi-locking of the housings 1a and 2a is being released. The locking arm 4a then can be deformed elastically to perform an unlocking operation, and the male and female housings 1a and 2a can be separated.
The connector of
The invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to allow a metal shell to enhance a shielding function.
It is another object of the invention to improve the locking construction of the metal shell and to thereby make the housing more compact.
A further object of the invention to achieve a smooth fit of the female and male metal shells on each other and to enhance the shielding function of a shielding connector.
It is a further object of the invention to prevent an inadvertent return of a detection member to a wait position.
The invention is a shielding connector with a female housing and a male housing to be fitted on the female housing. The female and male housings each include inner and outer housings. The inner housing is suspended through a connection and accommodates terminal fittings connected to ends of shielding electric wires.
A metal shell is inserted into a rear end of the outer housing and is configured to contact a braided wire of the shielding electric wire. The metal shell has slits for receiving the connections on a periphery of the inner housing. Projecting ends of the metal shells fit together and cover an area of connection between the terminal fittings. The slits of the metal shell of the female housing and the slits of the metal shell of the male housing are offset from each other in a widthwise direction. Therefore the projected end of the female metal shell closes the slits of the male metal shell, and the projected end of the male metal shell closes the slits of the female metal shell when the female and male metal shells are fit together. The entire region of the projected end of the female metal shell is covered with the male metal shell, and the entire region of the projected end of the male metal shell is covered with the female metal shell. Thus, shielding performance is enhanced.
Guides preferably are provided to guide the connections smoothly into the slits. Thus, the metal shell is mounted easily on the inner housing.
Each metal shell may be split and a joining portion may be formed on surfaces of the two split shells. The two split shells of the metal shell are connected to each other by caulking opposed side surfaces together. Therefore the metal shells will not open and keep a specified configuration.
A locking claw preferably projects from an inner surface of the metal shell, and a shell lock preferably is formed concavely inside the housing. The shell lock unremovably engages the locking claw. The conventional locking claw projects out, whereas the locking claw of the subject invention preferably projects in. Therefore, the housing of the subject invention does not require a thick outer wall to form the shell lock, and the housing is radially compact.
The housing preferably has a plurality of cavities for accommodating terminal fittings. The shell lock of the housing preferably is formed between two cavities. Thus, the shell lock utilizes dead space, and it is unnecessary to thicken the peripheral wall of the housing. Accordingly, the housing is radially compact.
The housing preferably comprises two shell locks formed on opposite peripheral surfaces of the housing. Thus, a strong and balanced force is maintained for preventing slip-off of the metal shell, while still keeping a compact housing.
A lance preferably is formed in the cavity of the terminal fitting accommodation part and unremovably locks the terminal fitting. The lock preferably is formed by cutting out a part of a wall that prevents an excessive elastic deformation of the lance. Therefore the connector prevents excessive elastic deformation of the lance while making the housing compact radially.
The male housing preferably has an opening prevention rib that contacts an outer surface of the projected end of the male metal shell and prevents the male metal shell from opening. Thus both metal shells can be fit together smoothly. Further there is no clearance between the metal shells after they are fit together.
A deformable contact plate preferably is raised from a portion near the projected end of the female metal shell and contacts an inner surface of the male metal shell. The contact plate maintains a desired contact pressure between the metal shells and stabilizes the electrical connection between the metal shells. Thus, a shielding function of the shielding connector is enhanced.
The projected end of the female metal shell forward of the contact plate is folded in and contacts a peripheral surface of the terminal fitting accommodation part on which the female metal shell is mounted. The folded portion forms a flexing space that permits the contact plate to deform elastically. Thus, the contact plate deforms elastically into the flexing space when the shells have been fit together and contacts the inner peripheral surface of the male metal shell. Accordingly, the contact plate secures an appropriate flexing amount and a high contact pressure by reducing the resistance in fitting the metal shells together. Further, the strength of the front end of the metal shell is increased.
A first of the housings preferably includes a resiliently deformable lock arm that deforms into a deformation space while the housings are being fit together. However, the lock arm returns resiliently to its original state and engages a second of the housings when both housings have been fit together.
The connector may have detector that is movable between a wait position spaced from the deformation space and a detection position disposed in the deformation space. The detector strikes the lock arm that is in the deformation space while the housings are being fit together. Thus, the detector cannot move from the wait position to the detection position. However, the detector can advance to the detection position when the housings have been fit together normally.
The detector preferably has a catch that can be used to return the detector toward the wait position. The catch is hidden at a rear side of the locking arm. However, part of the catch can be caught by a jig when the detector is at the detection position so that the detector can be returned intentionally to the wait position. Thus, foreign matter cannot press the catch.
An elastically deformable locking piece may be formed on the detector and is locked to a locking portion on the first housing. Thus, the detector is prevented from moving from the wait position to the detection position before the housings are fit together. The second housing has a release portion that engages and deforms the locking piece when the housings are fit together to unlock the locking piece from the lock. Thus it is possible to prevent the detector from being returned accidentally and to prevent the female and male housings from being separated unintentionally.
A shielding connector according to a first embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to
As shown in
The shielding electric wire 10 has a known construction. More specifically, a core wire 11, an insulating inner coating 12, a braided wire 13, and an insulating outer coating 14 are concentrically disposed on the shielding electric wire 10 and are exposed sequentially at the end thereof. The end of the braided wire 13 is folded rearward and is placed on the end of the insulating outer coating 14. The braided wire 13 then is caulked to the end of the insulating outer coating 14 with a metal pipe 15.
The female terminal 20 is formed by press working a metal plate. The female terminal 20 has a quadrangular connection portion 22 accommodating a contact piece 21 that contacts a tab 26 of a mating male terminal fitting 25. The female terminal 20 is crimped to the end of the shielding electric wire 10 by caulking a barrel 23 at the rear end of the female terminal 20 to the core wire 11 and the insulating inner coating 12.
The female housing 30 is molded unitarily from a synthetic resin and includes an inner housing 31 and an outer housing 32, as shown in
The outer housing 32 is a little larger than the inner housing 31 and is disposed rearward from the rear end of the inner housing 31. Thus, the outer housing 32 covers the periphery of the rear portion of the inner housing 31. As shown in
As shown in
A hood 36 is formed on the periphery of the outer housing 32 and extends to the front end of the inner housing 31, as shown in
A mounting portion 39 for a bracket (not shown) is formed on a lower surface of the hood 36.
A long narrow locking arm 40 is formed in the rear of the dome 37. A groove 41 is formed on a lower surface of the locking arm 40 and has a closed front end. A central portion of each of right and left side walls of the groove 41 is connected to an upper surface of the inner housing 31 through a support 42 so that the locking arm 40 can swing on the support 42 like a seesaw.
A locking hole 43 is formed at the front end of the groove 41 of the locking arm 40 and has an open upper surface. A pressing portion 44 is formed at the rear end of the locking arm 40 to deform the locking arm 40 pivotally. The pressing portion 44 faces the opening in the ceiling of the dome 37. More specifically, the pressing portion 44 is wider than the locking arm 40 and generally defines a pentagon in a plan view. The pressing portion 44 is slightly higher than the upper surface of the locking arm 40. A stepped slip prevention portion 45 is formed at the front of an upper surface of the pressing portion 44. A flange 46 is projected along the pointed rear end of the pressing portion 44. A jig insertion opening 44A is formed centrally at the rear edge of the pressing portion 44 of the locking arm 40 for receiving a jig J.
A receiving plate 47 (see
The female metal shell 50 is shown in
Front and rear insertion pieces 52 project from one of the side plates, whereas front and rear receiving portions 53 are formed at the other of the side plates. The two split shells 51 are opposed to each other symmetrically with respect to a point. Then, as shown in
Three contact pieces 54 are folded in at the rear edge of each of upper and lower surfaces of the female metal shell 50, and are configured to contact the metal pipe 15 fit on the end of the braided wire 13 of each shielding electric wire 10. Thus, the metal pipe 15 is sandwiched between the upper and lower contact pieces 54 arranged in the right-to-left direction. A contact plate 55 is raised rearward from the front end of each of the upper, lower, right and left surfaces of the female metal shell 50 for contacting a mating metal shell 80. A contact projection 55A is projected from the outer surface of each contact plate 55.
As shown in
The front end of each surface of the female metal shell 50 is folded in by a predetermined length, with the front end in close contact with the lower surface of the female metal shell 50 to form a folded portion 57.
The female metal shell 50 can be fitted on the periphery of the inner housing 31. The female metal shell 50 extends from approximately the center of the inner housing 31 in its longitudinal direction to a position a little rearward from the center of the outer housing 32 in its longitudinal direction, as shown in FIG. 13. When the female metal shell 50 is fit on the periphery of the inner housing 31, the folded portion 57 contacts the peripheral surface of the inner housing 31 to from a flexing space 57A that permits the contact plate 55 to deform elastically inward.
Locking claws 58 are raised rearward at positions inward from the slits 56 on the upper and lower surfaces of the female metal shell 50. A locking groove 48 is formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the inner housing 31 at a position corresponding to the locking claws 58 for locked engagement with the locking claws 58.
The male connector M has a male housing 60, as-shown in
Each male terminal 25 is formed by press working a metal plate. More particularly, each male terminal 25 has a front end formed into a tab 26 and a rear end formed into a barrel 27. The barrel 27 is crimped or caulked to the core wire 11 and the insulating inner coating 12 at the end of the shielding electric wire 10.
The male housing 60 is molded unitarily from a synthetic resin and has an inner housing 61 and an outer housing 62. The inner housing 61 is oblong in section. Three cavities 63 are arranged widthwise in the inner housing 61, and a fit-in concavity 65 is formed in the front end of the inner housing 61 of the male housing 60 for receiving the front end of the inner housing 31 of the female housing 30. The male terminals 25 fixed to the ends of the shielding electric wires 10 are inserted into the cavities 63 from the rear and are locked to lances 66 formed on the bottom surface of the cavities 63 respectively. Thus, the male terminals 25 are prevented from slipping out of the cavities 63, and the tabs 26 of the male terminals 25 project into the fit-in concavity 65.
The outer housing 62 is a little larger and longer than the inner housing 61 and is disposed forward from the rear end of the inner housing 61. Thus, the outer housing 62 covers the periphery of front and rear portions of the inner housing 61. A small hood 66 of the outer housing 62 can be fit in the hood 37 of the female housing 30.
An oblong ring-shaped insertion space 68 is formed between the peripheral surface of the inner housing 61 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer housing 62, as shown in
The ribs 69 are over and under the right and left cavities 33, and the lower ribs 69 are a little closer to the central cavity 63, as shown in FIG. 14.
A locking projection 70 is disposed at a front end of an upper portion of the peripheral surface of the outer housing 62. Right and left guide walls 71 are formed on the upper surface of the outer housing 62 to guide the locking arm 38 therebetween. The locking projection 70 is formed between the right and left guide walls 71 and close to the line connecting the front ends of the right and left guide walls 71. The locking projection 70 can fit in the locking hole 43 of the locking arm 40. More particularly, the front side of the locking arm 40 rides across the locking projection 70 as the female and male housings 30 and 60 are fit together. Additionally, the rear of the locking arm 40 pivotally deforms and projects into a flexing space 48, as shown in FIG. 29. The locking arm 40 returns elastically to its original state when the female and male housings 30 and 20 have been fit together normally. Thus the locking projection 70 can fit in the locking hole 43 (see FIG. 31).
A mounting portion 72 for a bracket (not shown) is formed on a lower peripheral surface of the outer housing 62.
As shown in
An escape groove 77 is formed on the lower surface of the inner housing 61 at a position rearward from the locking hole 76 to reduce the elastic deformation of the locking claw 85.
Six opening prevention ribs 79 are formed on the inner surface of the small hood 66. As shown in
The male metal shell 80 is quadrangular, as shown in
The male metal shell 80 is constructed of two split shells 81 of the same configuration and connected to each other. The construction for connecting the split shells 81 to each other is similar to construction for connecting the split shells 51 of the female metal shell 50.
Three contact pieces 84 are folded in at the rear edge of each of upper and lower surfaces of the male metal shell 80 and contact the metal pipe 15 fit on the periphery of the braided wire 13 of each shielding electric wire 10. Thus, the metal pipe 15 is sandwiched between the upper and lower contact pieces 84 arranged in the right-to-left direction.
As shown in
With reference to
A guide 87 that is wider than the slit 86 is formed at the entrance of the slit 86. The guide 87 has a rounded step 87A disposed rearward from the entrance of the slit 86.
As shown in
A detector 90 is installed inside the rear of the dome 37 of the female housing 30. The detector 90 is made of synthetic resin and is formed separately from the female housing 30. As shown in
A sliding plate 92 projects from the right and left outer side surfaces of the body 91. A longitudinal guide groove 41 is formed on the inner surface of the right and left side-walls of the dome 37 for slidably receiving the sliding plate 92. As shown in
An upper surface of a rear frame 91B of the body 91 is lower than the flange 46 that projects from the rear end of the pressing portion 44 of the locking arm 40 when the locking arm 40 is in a natural state and when the detector 90 is inside the rear of the dome 37 of the female housing 30, as shown in FIG. 31. As shown in
A projection 95 is formed at approximately the longitudinal center of the sliding plate 92 of the detector 90. A locking step 104 is formed at the entrance of the guide groove 103 and can lock the projection 95.
Two locking pieces 96 project forward from the right and left ends of the front frame 91A of the body 91. More specifically, as shown in
A receiving wall 105 projects in from the lower end of the right and left walls of the dome 37. The outer side of the locking piece 96 is slidable on an upper surface of the receiving wall 105. However, an outer surface of the inner side of the locking piece 96 can slide along an inward projected surface of the receiving wall 105.
A striking portion 97 is formed at the front end of the outer side of the locking piece 96 and has the shape of a downward hook. As shown in
A hook 98 is disposed at the front end of the inner side of the locking piece 96 and is lower than the striking portion 97. A release portion 108 is formed outward from the guide wall 71 of the male housing 20. The release portion 108 functions to lift the hook 98 of the locking piece 96, while the release portion 108 scoops the hook 98. A front surface of the release portion 108 is tapered, whereas a rear surface thereof is erect. The hook 98 is locked to the rear surface of the release portion 108. As shown in
In the above-described construction, the sliding plate 92 is fit into the guide groove 103 and the detector 90 is pressed forward. The striking portion 97 of the locking piece 96 then strikes the stopper 106, as shown in FIG. 25. Thereafter the projection 165 of the sliding plate 92 is locked to the locking step 104 of the guide groove 103. As a result, the detector 90 is held in a wait position without being pressed. As shown in
The female connector F is assembled further by inserting the female metal shell 50 into the insertion space 34 between the inner housing 31 and the outer housing 32 of the female housing 30 from the rear, as shown with arrows of
The locking claw 58 reaches the locking groove 48 when the rib 35 strikes the rear end of the slit 56. Thus, as shown in
As shown in
The female terminal fittings 20 are fixed to the ends of the shielding electric wire 10 then are inserted into the cavities 33 of the female housing 30 from the rear and are locked by the respective lances 33A. Thus, the metal pipe 15 fit on the periphery of the braided wire 13 disposed at the end of each shielding electric wire 10 is elastically sandwiched elastically between the upper and lower contact pieces 54. Thereafter a waterproof rubber plug 110 is fit inside the rear end of the outer housing 32. A rubber plug hold-down member 112 prevents the waterproof rubber plug 110 from slipping off the outer housing 32. A seal ring 114 is fit on the periphery of the outer housing 32 at its front end to seal the gap between the outer housing 32 and the mating male housing 60.
The male metal shell 80 then is inserted from the rear into the insertion space 68 between the inner housing 61 and the outer housing 62 of the male housing 60, as shown with arrows of
The locking claws 89 move forward along the escape groove 77 and elastically deforming a little. The locking claws 89 then reach the locking hole 76 when the rib 69 strikes the rear end of the slit 86. Thus, as shown in
Because the male metal shell 80 is formed long sideways in section by press-molding one metal plate, there is a potential that it will deform and open near the widthwise center on its upper and lower surfaces. Thus, there is a possibility that the front end of the male metal shell 80 projected into the small hood 66 of the outer housing 62 remains opened because there is a clearance near the front end of the male metal shell 80. However the opening prevention ribs 79 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the small hood 66 hold down the front end of the male metal shell 80, thus keeping the male metal shell 80 in a closed state.
The male terminal fittings 25 fixed to the ends of the shielding electric wire 10 then are inserted into the cavities 63 of the male housing 60 from the rear and are locked by the lances 63A. The metal pipe 15 on the periphery of the braided wire 13 at the end of each shielding electric wire 10 is sandwiched elastically between the upper and lower contact pieces 84. Thereafter a waterproof rubber plug 78 is fitted inside the rear end of the outer housing 62. A rubber plug hold-down member 78A prevents the waterproof rubber plug 78 from slipping off the outer housing 62.
The female connector F and the male connector M then are opposed to each other, as shown in
At this time, as shown in
Meanwhile, the female and male terminal fittings 20 and 25 are connected together, and projected ends of the male metal shell 80 and that of the female metal shell 50 are connected. At this time, there is an increase in the resistance in fitting the female terminal fittings 20 and the male terminal fittings 25 together. Thus there is a possibility that the operation of fitting the female housing 30 and the male housing 20 together is suspended, and the female and male housings 30 and 20 are kept in a semi-fit-on state.
The rear end of the locking arm 40 is still pivotally deformed in the flexing space 48 in the semi-fit-on state. Thus, the detection projection 94 strikes the upper portion of the groove 41 disposed on the rear end of the locking arm 40. As a result, the detector 90 cannot be pressed, and it is detected that the female housing 30 and the male housing 20 are still in the semi-fit-on state. Thereafter the operation of fitting the female housing 30 and the male housing 20 together is continued.
The front end of the locking arm 40 rides across the locking projection 70 of the male housing 20 when the male and female housings 20 and 30 have been fit together normally. Thus as shown in
The locking arm 40 returns to the original position when the male and female housings 20 and 30 reach the normal fit-on state, and thus the rear end of the locking arm 40 escapes up from the flexing space 48. The detector 90 then is pressed forward, and the detection projection 94 advances into the groove 41 of the locking arm 40. The detector 90 then is pressed into the detection position, as shown in FIG. 33. As a result, the striking portion 97 and the hook 98 are locked to the rear surfaces of the stopper 106 and the release portion 108 respectively. Additionally, the locking piece 96 returns elastically to its original state, and the detector 160 is held in a return-prevented state.
Accordingly, it is detected that the male and female housings 20 and 30 have been fit together normally. Further the detection projection 94 receives the pressing portion 44 of the locking arm 40 to prevent the operation of pressing the locking arm 40. In this manner, the locking arm 40 is locked doubly.
It is noteworthy that when the detector 90 is held at the detection position, as shown in
The front end of the male metal shell 80 fits on the periphery of the front end of the female metal shell 50 during the connection process. At this time, the opening prevention rib 79 holds the front end of the male metal shell 80 in the normal closed state. Thus the female metal shell 50 and the male metal shell are fitted on each other smoothly. More specifically, as shown in
In this state, the inner housing 31 of the female housing 30 fits in the fit-in concavity 65 of the outer housing 62 of the male housing 60. Thus, the female terminal fitting 20 and the male terminal fitting 25 are connected to each other. At the same time, the front end of the male metal shell 80 fits on the periphery of the front end of the female metal shell 50, and the contact plates 55 of the female metal shell 50 contact the inner peripheral surface of the male metal shell 80 elastically. As a result, the female metal shell 50 and the male metal shell 80 electrically connect and cover the connection between the female terminal fitting 20 and the male terminal fitting 25 and the metal pipes mounted on the end of the shielding electric wires 10.
As shown in
The detector 90 can be pressed into the wait position, with the detection projection 94 entering the groove 41 of the locking arm 40, if the female housing 30 and the male housing 20 have been fit together normally and if the locking arm 40 has returned to its original position. The operation of pressing the detector 90 forward is prevented, when the inner surface of the rear frame 91B of the body 91 strikes the rear surface of the pressing portion 44 of the locking arm 40. At this time, the locking piece 96 returns elastically to its original state. Further the striking portion 97 and the hook 98 are locked to the rear surface of the stopper 106 and to the rear surface of the release portion 108 respectively. Thus, the detector 90 is held at a detection position in a removal-prevented state.
The edge of the inner side of the rear frame 91B of the body 91 of the detector 90 at the detection position is hidden under the flange 46 projected from the rear end of the pressing portion 44 of the locking arm 40, as shown in FIG. 32.
The detector 90 is mounted on the female housing 30 at the wait position. As described previously, the rear end of the locking arm 40 at the wait position can pivotally deform into the flexing space 48, while the detection projection 94 is rearward from the rear end of the locking arm 40.
The slit 56 for receiving the rib 35 of the female metal shell 50 and the slit 86 for receiving the rib 69 of the male metal shell 80 are offset from each other in the widthwise direction of the female metal shell 50 and the male metal shell 80 so that the slits 56 and 86 do not align. Therefore, as shown in
The guide 57 is formed at the entrance of the slit 56 of the female metal shell 50, and the guide 87 is formed at the entrance of the slit 86 of the male metal shell 80. Thus the metal shells 50 and 80 can be fit easily on the peripheries of the inner housings 31 and 61 respectively.
The metal shells 50 and 80 are constructed of two identical split shells 51 and 81 in the form of shallow channels. The two split shells are connected to each other by caulking opposed right and left side surfaces to each other. Therefore, the female and male metal shells 50 and 80 will not open and keep their specified configuration.
The split shells 51 and 81 are smaller than the metal shell composed of one plate. Thus it is possible to adopt progressive press dies and to reduce the number of dies. Therefore it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost.
The contact plate 55 is interposed between the female metal shell 50 and the male metal shell 80. Thus, the contact plate 55 achieves secure contact pressure and stabilizes an electrical connection between the female metal shell 50 and the male metal shell 80. Accordingly, the shielding function is enhanced.
The folded portion 57 at the front end of the female metal shell 50 contacts the peripheral surface of the inner housing 31 and forms the flexing space 55A. The contact plate 55 deforms elastically into the flexing space 55A when the female and male metal shells 50 and 80 have been fit together. The contact plate 55 contacts the inner surface of the male metal shell 80 due to the restoring elastic force of the contact plate 55.
Although the construction of the embodiment is simple, the contact plate 55 achieves appropriate flexing and a high contact pressure while reducing the resistance in fitting the female metal shell 50 and the male metal shell 80 together. Further, the strength of the front end of the female metal shell 50 is increased.
The male and female housings 20 and 30 can be separated for maintenance by inserting the jig J into the jig insertion opening 44A, as shown in FIG. 38. The jig J then is pulled rearward, with the jig J catching the valley of the rear frame 91B of the detector 90. As a result, the detector 90 is returned to the wait position, with the semi-locking between the locking piece 96 and the stopper 106 and the release portion 108 being released.
The locking arm 40 is pivotally deformable and is unlocked by forcibly pivotally deforming it. Thus it is possible to unlock the male and female housings 20 and 30 from each other by pulling them in a move-away direction.
As described above, when the detector 90 is pressed into the detection position, the rear frame 91B is mostly hidden under the flange 46 that projects from the pressing portion 44 of the locking arm 40. Thus it is possible to prevent fingers or foreign matters from being caught by the rear frame 91B. When the detector 90 is returned intentionally to the wait position, the jig J is inserted into the jig insertion opening 44A to catch a part of the rear frame 91B with the jig J.
Thus it is possible to prevent the detector 90 from being returned accidentally and the male and female housings 20 and 30 will not be separated unintentionally.
An alternate female metal shell 50a is shown in FIG. 34. Dovetail projections 52a dovetail recesses 53a are formed in opposed edges of the female metal shell 50a to connect the edges thereof. In all other respects, the female metal shell 50a is the same as the female metal shell 50. The male shell can have similar dovetail projections and dovetail recesses.
An alternate female housing 30A is shown in
The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above with reference to the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are included in the technical scope of the present invention. Further, various modifications of the embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The metal shell is not limited to the split type described in the embodiment, but may be constructed of one plate.
The present invention is applicable to a non-waterproof shielding connector and a shielding connector that is directly connected to equipment.
The locking hole is formed in the region of the bottom wall of the flexing space against which the lance does not strike. However, the locking hole may be extended in such a way that the lance strikes a part of the locking hole. In this case, the locking hole, namely, the locking claw can be widely formed to enhance the force of locking the metal shell.
The metal shell is applicable to a connector in which the male housing has the locking arm and the detector.
The detector is not limited to the shielding connector, but is applicable to other connectors for detecting connection between the male housing and the female housing.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2002-325159 | Nov 2002 | JP | national |
2002-327895 | Nov 2002 | JP | national |
2002-333903 | Nov 2002 | JP | national |
2002-333904 | Nov 2002 | JP | national |
2002-333905 | Nov 2002 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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4634204 | Detter et al. | Jan 1987 | A |
5330369 | Nozaki et al. | Jul 1994 | A |
5823824 | Mitamura et al. | Oct 1998 | A |
5904595 | Tanigawa | May 1999 | A |
5911599 | Masuda | Jun 1999 | A |
5997349 | Yoshioka | Dec 1999 | A |
6270377 | Miyazaki et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6468105 | Noguchi et al. | Oct 2002 | B2 |
6595789 | Oota et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country |
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11-219758 | Aug 1999 | JP |
2001-203024 | Jul 2001 | JP |
2002-141145 | May 2002 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20040132341 A1 | Jul 2004 | US |