Connector with low passing-through magnet force

• US 5,873,737 A
• Filed: 02/13/1997
• Issued: 02/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Fukao, Yasuyoshi, Sekimori, Toshiyuki, Mori, Shigeo, Hashizawa, Shigemi
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US08/800,196
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 439/39, 439/310, 439/311, 439/352
• US Class Current: 439/39
• 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 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62933 Comprising exclusively pivoting lever
• 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 male connector (B) includes an outer housing (10) equipped with a rotatable lever (31) and an inner connector (20) which moves in an axial direction in the outer housing by rotation of the lever. A female connector (A) includes a shell for receiving the male connector; the male and female connectors having abutting faces (36 and 4) abutting on each other by magnetic force when the inner connector (20) and the female connector (A) are engaged with each other, at least one of the abutting faces being made of magnet (35). The male and female connectors can constitute a provisional locking structure before substantial magnetic adsorption force due to proximity of the male and female connectors. The male and female connectors are coupled to each other to connect terminals mounted in the male and female connectors to each other. Even if a strong magnet is used to couple relatively large connectors with each other, they can be separated by small force.

Claims

1. A connector assembly comprising:

a first connector having an outer housing with a rotatable lever and an inner housing for movement in an axial direction in said outer housing by rotation of said rotatable lever;

a second connector having a shell for receiving said first connector;

a portion of said outer housing of said first connector and said shell of said second connector having faces drawn into abutment with each other by magnetic force when said inner housing of said first connector is received in said shell of said second connector and are engaged with each other, at least one of said engaging faces being made of magnetic material; and

said first and second connectors having a provisional lock structure for interconnecting said first and second connectors before substantial magnetic attraction of said first and second connectors due to proximity of said first and second connectors,

whereby said first and second connectors are coupled to each other and terminals mounted in said first and second connectors are, respectively, electrically connected to each other.

2. A connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein

said provisional locking structure includes a provisional locking arm which can protrude through a window provided in a front half of said outer housing of said first connector and has a first locking member at its tip, and a second locking member provided at an end of an inner wall of said shell,

said first locking member is normally urged to protrude from said window,

said first and second locking members are locked to each other when said outer housing is received into said shell to constitute said provisional coupling structure.

3. A connector assembly according to claim 2, wherein said outer housing has a locking releasing bar for releasing the provisional locking state of said provisional locking arm.

4. A connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein said provisional locking arm includes a front arm equipped with said first locking member at its tip and a rear arm to be in contact with said bar and is axially supported at a crossing point of said front arm and said rear arm.