Connector device

• US 5,848,902 A
• Filed: 06/23/1997
• Issued: 12/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Kubota, Minoru, Yamaguchi, Atsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US08/880,394
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 439/545, 439/34, 439/342, 439/343, 439/341
• US Class Current: 439/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/631 for engagement only
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/745 separate from the housing

Abstract

A unit side connector (15) is provided on top of an electric equipment unit (C), which connector has a first connector body (16), and first and second guide flanges (24, 24'"'"'). A wait connector (26) is fixed at the ceiling section of an automobile body panel, which connector has a second connector body (27), a connector cover (30), an insertion guide groove (32), and support pieces (33). The unit side connector (15), after its first guide flange (24) is inserted into the insertion guide groove (32), is as a whole pushed against the connector cover (30), and then slid toward the second connector body (27) to cause the first and second connector bodies (16, 27) to be fitted and connected to each other and the second guide flanges (24, 24'"'"') to be supported on the support pieces (33). A connector device is provided which enables a connecting operation to be performed easily even at unfavorable positions such as at the ceiling section of an automobile cabin which requires an operator to look up during work.

Claims

1. A connector device comprising:

a unit side connector provided on a surface of an electric equipment unit, said unit side connector comprising a connector support, a first connector body accommodating at least one first terminal therein and provided at one end of said connector support, and a first guide flange provided projecting on an end surface of the other end of said connector support and second guide flanges provided projecting at lateral end surfaces of said connector support; and

a wait connector fastened to a wall surface of an automobile body panel, said wait connector comprising a connector cover, a second connector body accommodating therein at least one mating terminal for said first-terminal and provided at one end of said connector cover, an opening formed at the other end side of said connector cover, adjacent to said second connector body for accommodation therein of said unit side connector, an insertion guide groove formed at one end of said opening at said the other end side of said connector cover, and support pieces provided projecting inwardly at lateral opposte sides of said opening,

wherein said unit side connector, after said first guide flange thereof is inserted into said insertion guide groove, is as a whole moved into said opening and pushed against a ceiling wall thereof, and then slid toward said second connector body to cause said first and second connector bodies to be fitted and connected to each other and said second guide flanges to be supported on said support pieces.

2. The connector device according to claim 1, further comprising a wiring harness having said wait connector attached at one end thereof.

3. The connector device according to claim 2, further comprising a harness holding clamp attaced to said wiring harness at a position spaced from said wait connector.

4. The connector device according to claim 3, further comprising a molded ceiling to be installed at a ceiling section of an automobile body and having connector-locking and clamp-locking throughholes inside which said wait connector and said harness holding clamp are respectively preliminarily locked before said molded ceiling, said wait connector and said harness holding clamp are rigidly fixed at said ceiling section of the automobile body.

5. The connector device according to claim 4, further comprising a second clamp attached to said wiring harness at a position closer to the other end of said wiring harness, said second clamp preliminarily locking said wiring harness to an edge of said molded ceiling.