Structure for connector arrangement for vehicles

• US 5,651,683 A
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 07/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kansei Company
• Original Assignee: Kansei Company
• Inventors: Oyamada, Shigeru, Fujita, Tetsuya, Suzuki, Mayumi, Shimamura, Yuzo, Taniguchi, Wataru, Ohsuga, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, TULSIDAS C
• Application Number:
  US08/470,600
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 439/34, 439/247, 439/248, 174/72 A, 174/68.1, 296/208, 280/779
• US Class Current: 439/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6215 using one or more bolts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/74 Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel

Abstract

A structure of a connector arrangement for vehicles has a male and a female connector (3, 5, 10, 11) one (10, 11) of which is attached to a vehicle body and the other (3, 5) is wired within an instrument panel, and fixing bolts (16, 17) for regularly fitting the male and female connectors to each other. The connector (10, 11) is upwardly and downwardly, rightwardly and leftwardly displaceably supported a fixed frame (24e) as a bracket disposed on a steering member (24) through a floating case (25), etc. The connector (3, 5) is mounted in position where the connector (3, 5) can be temporarily fitted into the connector (10, 11) attached to the vehicle body, at the time the steering member (24) is mounted on a vehicle body panel (7).

Claims

1. A structure of a connector arrangement for vehicles, comprising:

male or female connectors (3,

     5) fixed to an inner wall (7) of a vehicle body;

a bracket (24e) disposed on a harness wiring member (24), said bracket (24e) facing said male or female connectors (3,

     5);

floating means (25) fixed to said bracket (24e);

a connector holding portion (29,

     32) formed on said floating means (25); and

corresponding connectors (10,

     11) respectively corresponding to said male or female connectors (3,

     5), said corresponding connectors (10,

     11) being supported by said connector holding portion (29,

     32) displaceably in upward, downward, rightward, leftward directions or in upward, downward, forward, and backward directions with respect to the vehicle body;

wherein when said harness wiring member (24) is fixed to the vehicle body, said corresponding connectors (10,

     11) are displaced by said connector holding portion (29,

     32) so as to face said male or female connectors (3,

     5) and are temporarily fitted to said male or female connectors (3,

     5) and then corresponding connectors (10,

     11) are regularly fitted to said male or female connectors (3,

     5) by means of regular fitting members (16,

     17).

2. A structure of a connector arrangement for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein said harness wiring member is a part of a steering member which extends in the direction of width of the vehicle body and is fixed to the inner wall of the vehicle body.

3. A structure of a connector arrangement for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein said harness wiring member is a base forming a part of a steering member which extends in the direction of width of the vehicle body and is fixed to the inner wall of the vehicle body.

4. A structure of a connector arrangement for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein said connector holding portion (29) has an escape-preventive portion for regulating the displacement in the fitting direction of said corresponding connectors (10, 11).

5. A structure of a connector arrangement for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein said connector holding portion (29, 32) is a plurality of elastic pieces which extend in a direction in which said corresponding connectors (10, 11) are fitted and which are engaged with said corresponding connectors (10, 11) so that said corresponding connectors (10, 11) can displace not only in the upward, downward, rightward, and leftward directions or in the upward, downward, forward, and backward directions with respect to the vehicle body but also in the direction in which said corresponding connectors are fitted (10, 11).

6. A structure of a connector arrangement for vehicles according to claim 5, wherein said connector holding portion (29) is curved in the form of a U-shape at an end thereof at which said corresponding connectors (10, 11) begin to be fitted, so as to serve as a guide when corresponding connectors (10, 11) are attached to said floating means (25).

7. A structure of a connector arrangement for vehicles according to claim 5, wherein said connector holding portion (29) has a rearward escape-preventive stopper (29c) formed in a middle thereof, said rearward escape-preventive stopper (29c) being engaged with said corresponding connectors (10, 11) so that said corresponding connectors (10, 11) are prevented from displacing in a direction opposite to the fitting direction of said corresponding connectors (10, 11).

8. A structure of a connector arrangement for vehicles according to claim 5, wherein said connector holding portion (29) has erroneous-combination preventive projections (30, 31) projecting from an end thereof at which said corresponding connectors (10, 11) begin to be fitted, said erroneous-combination preventive projections (30, 31) regulating a direction in which said corresponding connectors (10, 11) are combined.