Connector with a contact-aligning device

• US 5,558,526 A
• Filed: 02/17/1995
• Issued: 09/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Nagamine, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, P. Austin
• Assistant Examiner(s): WITTELS, DANIEL NMN
• Application Number:
  US08/390,597
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 439/140, 439/141, 439/357, 439/358, 439/353, 439/350
• US Class Current: 439/140
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4362 comprising a temporary and a final locking position
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only

Abstract

A connector with a contact-aligning device which can move in the direction of joining connectors and has locking devices which can move perpendicularly to the direction of the joining the connectors. The contact-aligning device has a contact-aligning plate with a number of through-holes corresponding to the number of male contacts and arms extending from the plate toward the back ends of the male contacts. The contact-aligning device can move from the position that is even with the ips of the male contacts to the position relative to the back ends thereof. The connector housing has side walls which have openings for locking devices which when inserted in the openings can assume a temporary-locked position or a fully-locked position. In the temporary-locked position, slanted surfaces on the arms of the contact-aligning device and on the locking devices engage each other and prevent movement of the contact-aligning device. When the locking devices are in the fully-locked position, the contact-aligning device can be moved when engaged by a mating connector. Also, the locking devices use retainers to lock the male contacts in position to prevent their withdrawal.

Claims

1. A connector comprising a first connector including a first housing for receiving male contacts that extend in a mating direction of said first connector, said first connector adapted to receive a second connector including a second housing to mate with said first housing, and a contact-aligning device in said first housing having a contact-aligning plate with a number of through-holes through which contact sections of male contacts pass and is movable toward rear ends of the contact sections when pushed by the second housing as the first and second connectors are mated together, characterized by:

a locking device used to prevent movement of said contact-aligning device;

said first housing having a pair of side walls with an opening in one of the sidewalls for the insertion of the locking device;

said contact-aligning device having a set of arms extending from said contact-aligning plate that engages said locking device;

said first housing having a protrusion formed on an inner wall thereof at a position in front of the male contact sections;

said contact-aligning device having a pair of legs in a form of resilient spring members extending in the mating direction and including a pair of hook members engaging said protrusion to prevent movement of said contact-aligning device towards the rear of male contact sections; and

said pair of legs being engagable with a pushing protrusion of the second housing by pushing said hook members free of said first housing protrusion during mating between the first and second housings thereby permitting said contact-aligning device to move towards the rear of the male contact sections.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking device is located at:

a temporary-locked position that prevents movement of said contact-aligning device in the direction of the back end of the male contacts by the engagement of said locking device and said arms; and

is moved to a fully-locked position which disengages said locking device and said arms which allows said contact-aligning device to move in the direction of the back end of the male contacts.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said locking device has a number of other through-holes that correspond to said through-holes of the contact-aligning plate which lock the male contacts into position when said locking device is at the fully-locked position.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said other through-holes have a retainer type protrusion in each hole that retains the male contacts in position.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said locking device and said first housing have lugs that engage each other that prevents the locking device from being removed from said first housing or pushed into said fully-locked position accidentally while in said temporary-locked position.

6. A connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said locking device has a removal means that aids in the removal of the locking device from the opening.

7. A connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein said removal means has at least one indentation in said locking device that aids removal when using a tool.

8. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first housing has another protrusion on an opposing wall of said inner wall, and said contact-aligning device has another pair of legs including hook members that engage said protrusion on said opposing wall.

9. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein another locking device is provided and another opening in the opposing sidewall of the first housing is provided for insertion of said another locking device.

10. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a restraining protrusion is located on said inner wall and a corresponding locking leg on said contact-aligning device, whereby said restraining protrusion restrains said locking leg and thereby said contact-aligning device from moving towards the end of the male contacts.

11. A connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein a stop-type protrusion is located on said inner wall that engages said locking leg and prevents the removal of said contact-aligning device from the first housing.

12. A connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein a groove is located in said inner wall that aids in lifting said locking leg over said stop-type protrusion when using a tool for the removal of contact-aligning device.