Power feed connector

• US 5,664,960 A
• Filed: 11/30/1995
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Fukushima, Hirotaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, CHRISTOP
• Application Number:
  US08/565,042
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 439/310, 439/372, 439/352, 439/137-142, 439/341, 439/376, 439/474, 439/484, 439/483, 439/476
• US Class Current: 439/310
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/193 Means for increasing contact pressure at the end of engagement of coupling part , e.g. zero insertion force or no friction
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62933 Comprising exclusively pivoting lever
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6395 for wall or panel outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A power feed connector includes an outer casing, a connector body which is slidably mounted within the outer casing, and receives a plurality of terminals, and a handle in the form of a pipe through which wires connected to the plurality of terminals are passed. The handle is pivotally connected to the outer casing at one side of a front end portion thereof (by bearing portions and pin shafts), and is connected in a loosely-fitted manner to a rear end portion of the connector body at the other side of the front end portion thereof (by connecting pins and slots).

Claims

1. A power feed connector adapted to be detachably fitted relative to a power-receiving connector mounted on a vehicle body or the like comprising:

an outer casing;

a connector body slidably mounted within said outer casing, and receiving a plurality of terminals connected respectively to wires; and

a handle pivotally connected to said outer casing at one side of a front end portion of said handle, and directly connected in a loosely-fitted manner to a rear end portion of said connector body at the other side of the front end portion of said handle, wherein when said handle is pivoted with respect to said outer casing, said handle moves said connector body relative to said outer casing to connect and disconnect said connector body from the power-receiving connector.

2. A power feed connector according to claim 1, wherein said handle has a tubular configuration, and said wires, connected respectively to said plurality of terminals, are passed through the interior of said handle to the exterior.

3. A power feed connector according to claim 1, wherein part of a peripheral wall of said outer casing forms a lock chamber, and a first lock arm engageable with said power-receiving connector is provided within said lock chamber, and said handle has a lock release lever for said lock arm.

4. A power feed connector according to claim 2, wherein part of a peripheral wall of said outer casing forms a lock chamber, and a lock arm engageable with said power-receiving connector is provided within said lock chamber, and said handle has a lock release lever for said lock arm.

5. A power feed connector according to claim 1, wherein said handle has a second lock arm mounted on an outer peripheral wall thereof, and said outer casing has a retaining groove in which said second lock arm is engageable when said power feed connector is completely fitted relative to said power-receiving connector.

6. A power feed connector according to claim 2, wherein said handle has a second lock arm mounted on an outer peripheral wall thereof, and said outer casing has a retaining groove in which said second lock arm is engageable when said power feed connector is completely fitted relative to said power-receiving connector.

7. A power feed connector according to claim 3, wherein said handle has a second lock arm mounted on an outer peripheral wall thereof, and said outer casing has a retaining groove in which said second lock arm is engageable when said power feed connector is completely fitted relative to said power-receiving connector.

8. A power feed connector according to claim 4, wherein said handle has a second lock arm mounted on an outer peripheral wall thereof, and said outer casing has a retaining groove in which said second lock arm is engageable when said power feed connector is completely fitted relative to said power-receiving connector.