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Connector capable of reliably locking a plug connector to a receptacle connector

  • US 5,830,001 A
  • Filed: 02/18/1997
  • Issued: 11/03/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
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1. A connector comprising a combination of a plug connector and a receptacle connector which are connected as a mating connector responsive to a sliding of said plug into said receptacle, said sliding being in a coupling direction, each of said plug and receptacle having a plurality of contacts, wherein said plug may include a number of contacts which are different than the number of contacts in said receptacle, whereby there may be an unbalanced mechanical force when said plug is inserted into or removed from said receptacle,said plug connector comprising:

  • a first plurality of said contacts having first contacting portions,respectively, said first contacting portions being arranged in parallel to one another in at least a first row; and

    A plug insulator holding said first contacts, said plug insulator having an envelope portion with two opposite end walls and two opposite side walls which surround said first contacting portions;

    said receptacle connector comprising;

    a second plurality of said contacts having second contacting portions positioned to be brought into contact with said first contacting portions, respectively, and arranged in parallel with each other in a second row; and

    a receptacle insulator holding said second contacts and having a receiving portion which surrounds said second contacting portions so as to receive said envelope portion of said plug insulator when said plug connector is fitted into said receptacle connector when said first and second rows come into mating contact, said receiving portion having two opposite end walls and top and bottom walls which confront the corresponding end walls and said side walls of said plug, said bottom wall containing at least one hole;

    wherein said plug insulator further comprises;

    a pair of first plug-side engaging portions respectively formed on outer end wall surfaces of said envelope portion, said plug-side engaging portions extending in parallel with each other and perpendicular to said first row; and

    at least one second plug-side engaging portion formed on at least one of said side walls of said envelope portion, said at least one second plug-side engaging portion comprising at least one recessed portion extending in parallel with said first row;

    said receptacle insulator further comprises;

    a pair of first receptacle-side engaging portions formed on the inner end wall surfaces of said opposite end walls of said receiving portion, said inner wall surfaces of said receptacle insulator extending in parallel with each other and perpendicular to said second row, at least one of said first receptacle-side engaging portions being engaged with at least one of said first plug-side engaging portions in said coupling direction to lock said plug insulator to said receptacle insulator with said envelope portion inserted into said receiving portion when said plug connector is filled to said receptacle connector; and

    said bottom wall having a pair of locking arms, each of said locking arms having a protrusion to be fitted into a corresponding recessed portion of said plug housing, said each of said locking arms pressing said protrusion into said corresponding recessed portion of said plug, at least one of said pair of locking arms fitting into said at least one hole, each of said locking arms being a cantilever extending inwardly from an edge of said hole toward said receiving portion of said bottom wall containing said hole and extending in a coupling direction.

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