Rotary connector

• US 5,669,777 A
• Filed: 02/21/1996
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Mitsunori, Ito, Takehiko, Bannai, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US08/604,278
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 439/164, 439/15
• US Class Current: 439/164
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/027 between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column devices for measuring, signalling or controlling tyre pressure or temperature specially adapted for mounting on vehicles B60C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/02 Flexible line connectors without frictional contact members

Abstract

A rotary connector which prevents separation of a resilient tongue from a flexible cable so as to prevent buckling. The rotary connector includes first and second housings rotatably connected together and forming an annular space therebetween. A flexible cable and a movable member are received in the annular space. The movable member includes a turntable having a stationary cylinder and a reversing roller, the stationary cylinder including a guide projection. The flexible cable is wound in opposite directions on opposite sides of the movable member and includes a U-shaped reverse portion extending through a gap between the stationary cylinder and the reversing roller. A resilient tongue having a free end portion substantially formed in a linear shape in an unloaded condition is affixed to an inner surface of the flexible cable and to an inner cylinder portion of the second housing. An amount of deformation of the free end portion when it is bent between the stationary cylinder and the reversing roller can be reduced, thereby preventing separation of the tip of the resilient tongue from the flexible cable.

Claims

1. A rotary connector comprising:

a first housing having an outer cylinder portion;

a second housing having an inner cylinder portion, the second housing being coaxially and rotatably connected to the first housing such that an annular storage space is defined between the outer cylinder portion and the inner cylinder portion;

a flexible cable received within the annular storage space, the flexible cable including a first portion wound in a first direction, a second portion wound in a second direction, and a U-shaped reverse portion connecting the first and second portions, the flexible cable having a first end fixed to said inner cylinder portion and a second end fixed to said outer cylinder portion;

a movable body rotatably received within said storage space and having an opening through which the reverse portion of said flexible cable passes; and

a resilient tongue having a fixed end connected to said inner cylinder and an extended portion projecting into said storage space, the resilient tongue being affixed along an inner surface of said flexible cable, wherein the extended portion of said resilient tongue is formed with a base portion having a first curvature, and a free end portion having a second curvature which is smaller than the first curvature in an unloaded condition;

wherein said movable body includes a reversing roller on which the reverse portion of said flexible cable is wound, and a stationary cylinder facing said reversing roller, wherein a guide projection projecting along the outer peripheral surface of said reversing roller is formed on said stationary cylinder.