Connector

• US 5,378,168 A
• Filed: 09/02/1993
• Issued: 01/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Sumida, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Hien D.
• Application Number:
  US08/114,305
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 439/350, 439/351, 439/352, 439/353, 439/354, 439/355-358
• US Class Current: 439/358
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm

Abstract

A lock arm is integrally formed on an outer surface of a connector housing of an insertable connector through a support leg and is engaged with a lock projection on a relay connector portion. A pair of protective walls are provided respectively on opposite sides of the lock arm and are spaced from the lock arm. The protective walls are disposed at a region corresponding to a gap between the lock arm and the connector housing. The front end portions of these protective walls are interconnected by a bridge portion. With this arrangement, a wire is prevented from being caught in the gap between the lock arm and the connector housing.

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

a first connector housing insertable into a hood portion of a second connector housing, said first connector housing having a lock arm formed on an outer surface thereof and spaced therefrom to form a lock arm gap, said lock arm engageable with a lock portion formed on said second connector housing, thereby holding said connector housings in a connected condition; and

protective walls formed on said first connector housing, and disposed respectively on opposite sides of said lock arm and spaced from said outer surface to form an entrance-allowing gap, said protective walls being disposed at a region corresponding to said lock arm gap between said lock arm and the outer surface of said first connector housing, said entrance-allowing gap receiving said hood portion when said first connector housing is inserted into said hood portion of said second connector housing.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lock arm has an engagement hole in a front portion, and a press portion in a rear end portion for lifting up said front portion.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hood portion comprises a lock projection engageable with said engagement hole.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lock arm is attached to at least one support leg connected to said outer surface.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protective walls comprise a stepped connection portion attached to said outer surface.

6. A connector comprising:

a first connector housing receiving a plurality of first terminals;

a second connector housing receiving a plurality of second terminals and comprising a hood portion, said first connector housing being insertable into said hood portion;

a lock arm fixed to said first connector housing and spaced from an outer surface of said first connector housing to form a lock arm gap; and

a protective wall fixed to said first connector housing and disposed to surround said lock arm, said protective wall being spaced from said outer surface to form an entrance-allowing gap, said hood portion comprising a surface that is engageable with said lock arm, said entrance-allowing gap receiving said surface when said first connector housing is inserted into said hood portion.

7. A connector as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a lock projection on said surface, said lock arm comprising an engagement hole engageable with said lock projection.

8. A connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lock arm is attached to at least one support leg connected to said outer surface.

9. A connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein said protective wall comprises a stepped connection portion attached to said outer surface.

10. A connector comprising:

a first connector housing;

a second connector housing engageable with said first connector housing; and

a lock arm unit comprising a lock arm disposed within a protective wall, said protective wall including a stepped portion attached to an outer surface of one of said first and second connector housings such that an entrance-allowing gap is formed between said protective wall and said outer surface, said entrance-allowing gap facilitating engagement between said first and second connector housings.

11. A connector housing as claimed in claim 10, wherein said lock arm is attached to said protective wall by a connection portion.

12. A connector housing as claimed in claim 11, wherein said lock arm is attached to at least one support leg connected to said outer surface.