Connector apparatus for switch

• US 20030228784A1
• Filed: 04/17/2003
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Nobuyoshi, Ichida, Kiyofumi
• Granted Patent: US 6,790,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/224
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/5866 characterised by the use of a plug and socket connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/0031 for allowing different types or orientation of connections to contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5216 characterised by the sealing material, e.g. gels or resins
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5841 allowing different orientations of the cable with respect to the coupling direction
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

Selectively mounted on a mounting concavity (13) of a switch-side connector (10) having a switch terminal (14) projected therefrom is a first attachment (40) having a connector fit-on part (41) and a terminal insertion part (42) disposed orthogonally to the connector fit-on part (41) or a second attachment (50) having a connector fit-on part (51) and a terminal insertion part (52) disposed in an approximately straight line. By fitting a mating electric wire-side connector on the connector fit-on part (41) of the first attachment (40), an electric wire can be pulled out in the shape of a letter “L” from the switch-side connector (10). By fitting the electric wire-side connector on the connector fit-on part (51) of the second attachment (50), the electric wire can be pulled out upward and straight from the switch-side connector (10).

Claims

1. A connector apparatus for a switch comprising:

a switch-side connector having a switch mechanism and a switch terminal projecting therefrom;

an electric wire-side connector having a connector terminal connectable to said switch terminal and coupled to an electric wire;

a first attachment having a terminal insertion part into which said switch terminal can be inserted and a connector fit-on part connectable to said electric wire-side connector wherein said switch terminal is connected to the connector terminal, said connector fit-on part and said terminal insertion part being disposed approximately orthogonally to each other; and

a second attachment having a terminal insertion part into which said switch terminal can be inserted and a connector fit-on part connectable to the electric wire-side connector wherein said switch terminal is connected to the connector terminal, said terminal insertion part and said connector fit-on part disposed in an approximately straight line,

wherein said first attachment and said second attachment are interchangeably mounted on said switch-side connector.

2. A connector apparatus for a switch according to claim 1, wherein said switch-side connector can be provided in plural numbers in such a way that said switch-side connectors can be connected to each other.

3. A connector apparatus for a switch according to claim 1, further including sealing material between the terminal insertion part and the switch-side connector when connected thereto.

4. A connector apparatus for a switch according to claim 1, wherein the switch terminal has a free end, and the first attachment includes a groove for receiving the free end to hold the switch terminal for coupling with the connector terminal.

5. A connector apparatus for a switch according to claim 1, wherein the switch-side connector includes a concavity and hook parts about the concavity, and the terminal insertion part of each said first and second attachment includes complementary locking members to interchangeably secure the switch-side connector to the first and second attachments.

6. A connector apparatus for a switch according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second attachments includes a guide positioned in the connector fit-on part to guide the fitting of the wire-side connector with either one of the first and second attachments.

7. A connector apparatus for a switch according to claim 6, wherein the switch-side connector includes a pair of switch terminals, and the guide is positioned between the switch terminals.

8. A connector apparatus for a switch according to claim 7, wherein the wire-side connector includes a pair of the connector terminals, each said connector terminal including a pair of opposed elastic pieces which receive one of the switch terminals therein.