Inertia locking connector

• US 5,876,232 A
• Filed: 04/23/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsushita, Yasuo, Fujitani, Mitsuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US08/842,478
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 439/350, 439/352, 439/353, 439/354, 439/357, 439/358, 439/372, 439/488
• US Class Current: 439/357
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7032 making use of a separate bridging element directly cooperating with the terminals

Abstract

An inertia locking connector including elements which provide resistance to fitting the male and female connectors together. A consistent operating feel is obtained, even if the locking arm is released by the user. A resistance arm, independent of the locking arm, engages a rib of the male connector. A detent which is engaged by the locking arm is located on the same surface of the male connector as is the rib. The latter acts as a temporary stop for the resistance arm. Therefore, the user must exert substantial increased pressure to cause the resistance arm to flex out of contact with the leading edge thereof. As a result, the increased force builds momentum in the moving connectors so that the locking arm rides positively over the detent into its proper locking position.

Claims

1. An inertia locking connector comprising a male connector, having a male terminal, and a female connector, having a female terminal adapted to mate with said male terminal when said male connector and said female connector are in a locked position relative to each other,

a detent on one of said male connector and said female connector, a locking element on another of said male connector and said female connector, said locking element engaging said detent when said male connector and said female connector are in said locked position,

a resistance surface on one of said male connector and said female connector, a resistance element, independent of said locking element, on another of said male connector and said female connector, said resistance element adapted to bear against said resistance surface, thereby to generate resistance to movement of said female connector and said male connector into said locked position,

said resistance element having a leading end facing a leading edge of said resistance surface, said leading end and said leading edge being in contact with each other during said movement before said male terminal contacts said female terminal, said leading edge and said leading end, when in contact with each other, providing greater resistance to said movement than when said resistance element is in contact with said resistance surface, and said leading edge and said leading end are no longer in contact with each other,

said resistance element being a resistance arm having a longitudinal axis, flexible in a transverse direction to said movement, and biased toward said resistance surface,

said resistance arm having a projection adjacent said leading end extending in said transverse direction toward said resistance surface, a contact surface on said projection adapted to contact said leading edge at a point eccentric to said axis, whereby said movement causes said resistance arm to bend and said projection to be released from contact with said leading edge.

2. The inertia locking connector of claim 1 wherein said resistance surface is a generally planar upstanding rib extending substantially parallel to said movement, said resistance element is a resistance arm having a longitudinal axis, flexible in a transverse direction to said movement, and biased toward said rib.

3. The inertia locking connector of claim 2 wherein said leading edge is substantially perpendicular to said movement.

4. The inertia locking connector of claim 2 wherein there are two generally planar upstanding ribs spaced apart from each other in said transverse direction and extending substantially parallel to said movement,

two resistance arms having longitudinal axes, flexible in said transverse direction, and each biased toward one of said ribs.

5. The inertia locking connector of claim 4 wherein said detent is between said ribs and said locking arm is between said resistance arms.

6. The inertia locking connector of claim 1 wherein said resistance surface is a generally planar upstanding rib extending substantially parallel to said movement.

8. The inertia locking connector of claim 1 wherein said leading edge and said leading end cease to be in contact with each other during said movement, and said greater resistance is reduced before said male connector and said female connector have fully reached said locked position.

7. An inertia locking connector comprising a male connector, having a male terminal, and a female connector, having a female terminal adapted to mate with said male terminal when said male connector and said female connector are in a locked position relative to each other,

a detent on one of said male connector and said female connector, a locking element on another of said male connector and said female connector, said locking element engaging said detent when said male connector and said female connector are in said locked position,

a resistance surface on one of said male connector and said female connector, a resistance element, independent of said locking element, on another of said male connector and said female connector, said resistance element adapted to bear against said resistance surface, thereby to generate resistance to movement of said female connector and said male connector into said locked position,

said resistance element having a leading end facing a leading edge of said resistance surface, said leading end and said leading edge being in contact with each other during said movement before said male terminal contacts said female terminal, said leading edge and said leading end, when in contact with each other, providing greater resistance to said movement than when said resistance element is in contact with said resistance surface, and said leading edge and said leading end are no longer in contact with each other,

said resistance surface is a generally planar upstanding rib extending substantially parallel to said movement, said resistance element is a resistance arm having a longitudinal axis, flexible in a transverse direction to said movement, and biased toward said rib,

said resistance arm having a projection adjacent said leading end extending in said transverse direction toward said resistance surface, a contact surface on said projection adapted to contact said leading edge at a point eccentric to said axis, whereby said movement causes said resistance arm to bend and said projection to be released from contact with said leading edge.