Connector housing locking mechanism

• US 5,711,684 A
• Filed: 01/22/1996
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Hayashi, Hiroyuki, Inoue, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US08/589,539
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 439/345, 439/350-355, 439/357, 439/358
• US Class Current: 439/354
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5205 Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet H01R13/5221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm

Abstract

A female connector housing 11 has a locking arm 30 integrally moulded thereon, the locking arm 30 having a fitting projection 31. A male connector housing 21 has a fitting hole 24 formed on hood member 22 thereof. Two slots 34 are formed on either side of the fitting projection 31 so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the locking arm 30. The locking arm 30 is thus partitioned into a fitting arm member 35 which includes the fitting projection 31, and two supporting arm members 36 which are formed on both sides thereof. The foot members 36a of the supporting arm members 36 are thicker than the foot member 35a of the fitting arm member 35, and thus the engagement load of the arm 30 is large, but the projection 35a is nevertheless relatively easy to disengage.

Claims

1. An electrical connector housing having a locking mechanism operable to engage another electrical connector housing, the locking mechanism comprising a resilient cantilevered locking arm of the housing, said locking arm having one of a fitting projection or fitting hole, said one fitting projection or fitting hole of said locking arm being engageable in the other of a fitting projection or fitting hole of said another housing to releasably secure the connector housings together, the locking arm having a foot portion at one end thereof to connect the locking arm to the housing and an operating member at the other end thereof, wherein the locking arm has two longitudinal slots formed therein so that the operating member is connected to the foot portion by a fitting arm member and a supporting arm member on each side of said fitting arm member, said one fitting projection or fitting hole of the locking arm being provided on the fitting arm member, the foot portion including a separate foot for supporting each of the fitting arm member and the supporting arm members, and wherein the foot supporting said fitting arm member is smaller than each foot supporting said supporting arm members so that the fitting arm member is less stiff than each of the supporting arm members.

2. A housing according to claim 1 wherein the fitting arm member and supporting arm members have respective fulcrums, the fulcrum of the fitting arm member being further away from the operating member than the respective fulcrums of the supporting arm members.

3. A housing according to claim 1 wherein said supporting arm members are substantially identical.

4. An electrical connector housing having a locking mechanism operable to engage another electrical connector housing, the locking mechanism comprising a resilient cantilevered locking arm of the housing, said locking arm having one of a fitting projection or fitting hole, said one fitting projection or fitting hole being engageable in the other of a fitting projection or fitting hole of said another housing to releasably secure the connector housings together, the locking arm having a foot portion at one end thereof to connect the locking arm to the housing and an operating member at the other end thereof, wherein the locking arm has two longitudinal slots formed therein so that the operating member is connected to the foot portion by a fitting arm member and a supporting arm member on each side of said fitting arm member, said one fitting projection or fitting hole of the locking arm being provided on the fitting arm member, and the fitting arm member and the supporting arm members each being pivotally supported for movement about a fulcrum at the foot portion, wherein the fulcrum of the fitting arm member is spaced farther away from the operating member than the respective fulcrums of the supporting arm members so that the fitting arm member is less stiff than each of the supporting arm members.