Lever-type connector

• US 5,611,703 A
• Filed: 09/06/1995
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Okamoto, Kenichi, Taguchi, Naoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): BIGGI, BRIAN JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US08/522,819
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 439/152-160, 439/372
• US Class Current: 439/157
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62933 Comprising exclusively pivoting lever

Abstract

A lever-type connector in which the need for a resilient member is obviated, thereby saving cost, and including engagement portions are less liable to damage or to deterioration due to aging when a large impact force is accidentally applied, this impact force can be effectively relieved, thereby preventing damage to the engagement portions. The lever-type connector includes a pair of female and male connectors. Engagement shafts are formed on the male connector, and a retaining lever, having fitting grooves, is mounted on the female connector for pivotal movement about support shafts. When the retaining lever is pivotally moved, the engagement shafts are forcibly moved through the fitting grooves, thereby fitting the male connector into the female connector. A lock portion is formed on a front surface of the retaining lever directed in a direction of pivotal movement of the retaining lever, and a lock arm, having a lock arm retaining piece portion engageable with the lock portion, is formed on a wall of the female connector at such a position that the lock arm can be engaged with the lock portion of the pivotally-moving retaining lever, and at least one of the lock arm retaining piece portion and the lock arm is elastically deformable.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising:

a first connector having engagement shafts on opposite sides thereof;

a second connector having support shafts on opposite sides thereof;

a retaining lever pivotably disposed about said support shafts on said second connector, said retaining lever including fitting grooves for receiving said engagement shafts, respectively;

a lock portion formed on a front surface of said retaining lever directed in a direction of pivotal movement of said retaining lever; and

a lock arm formed on said second connector, said lock arm having a retaining piece for engaging with said lock portion, holding the retaining lever in a provisionally-fitted condition when the first connector and the second connector are not completely fitted, and holding the retaining lever in a completely-fitted condition when the first connector and the second connector are completely fitted,

wherein at least one of said retaining piece and said lock arm is elastically deformable.

2. The connector of claim 1, in which said lock portion includes a first long portion and a slanting slide surface slanted upwardly from an outer end of said first long portion, and said retaining piece includes a second long portion and an outer edge formed at a lower end of said second long portion, wherein said slanting slide surface is abutted against said outer edge during the pivotal movement of said retaining lever.

3. The connector of claim 1, in which said lock portion includes a first long portion and a first engagement surface extended at an obtuse angle relative to said first long portion, and said retaining piece includes a second long portion and a second engagement surface extended at an obtuse angle relative to said second long portion, wherein said first engagement surface engages with said second engagement surface when said retaining lever is in a completely-retained position.

4. A connector, comprising:

a first connector having engagement shafts on opposite sides thereof;

a second connector having support shafts on opposite sides thereof;

a retaining lever pivotably disposed about said support shafts on said second connector, said retaining lever including fitting grooves for receiving said engagement shafts, respectively;

a lock portion formed on a front surface of said retaining lever directed in a direction of pivotal movement of said retaining lever; and

a lock arm formed on said second connector, said lock arm having a retaining piece for engaging with said lock portion and holding the retaining lever in a provisionally-fitted condition when the first connector and the second connector are not completely fitted,

wherein at least one of said retaining piece and said lock arm is elastically deformable, and said lock portion includes a first long portion and a slanting slide surface slanted upwardly from an outer end of said first long portion, and said retaining piece includes a second long portion and an outer edge formed at a lower end of said second long portion, wherein said slanting slide surface is abutted against said outer edge during the pivotal movement of said retaining lever.

5. A connector, comprising:

a first connector having engagement shafts on opposite sides thereof;

a second connector having support shafts on opposite sides thereof;

a retaining lever pivotably disposed about said support shafts on said second connector, said retaining lever including fitting grooves for receiving said engagement shafts, respectively;

a lock portion formed on a front surface of said retaining lever directed in a direction of pivotal movement of said retaining lever; and

a lock arm formed on said second connector, said lock arm having a retaining piece for engaging with said lock portion and holding the retaining lever in a provisionally-fitted condition when the first connector and the second connector are not completely fitted,

wherein at least one of said retaining piece and said lock arm is elastically deformable, and said lock portion includes a first long portion and a first engagement surface extended at an obtuse angle relative to said first long portion, and said retaining piece includes a second long portion and a second engagement surface extended at an obtuse angle relative to said second long portion, wherein said first engagement surface engages with said second engagement surface when said retaining lever is in a completely-retained position.