Electrical connector

• US 5,980,332 A
• Filed: 12/03/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Yoshida, Haruki, Tsuji, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, Jr., Charles H.
• Application Number:
  US08/984,153
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 439/346, 439/752
• US Class Current: 439/752
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4362 comprising a temporary and a final locking position
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap

Abstract

An electrical connector is provided for detecting a terminal holder'"'"'s projecting from a connector housing easily. The electrical connector includes a first connector housing, a second connector housing having a hood for receiving the first connector housing, and the terminal holder. The terminal holder is provided with an engagement groove which abuts on the hood when the first connector housing is engaged with the second connector housing by mistake. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the first connector housing having the terminal incompletely inserted therein from engaging with the second connector housing.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a first, male connector housing having at least one terminal accommodating chamber formed therein for accommodating a terminal;

a female connector housing having a hood for receiving said male connector housing;

a terminal holder including a frame body having at least one insertion hole for receiving a terminal and corresponding to said terminal accommodating chamber, said terminal holder being adapted so as to engage in said male connector housing temporarily and formally thereby to fix said terminal inserted into said terminal accommodating chamber, said terminal holder coming into contact with the terminal to project from said male connector housing when said terminal is inserted into said terminal accommodating chamber incompletely; and

detecting means for detecting said terminal holder'"'"'s projecting from said male connector housing when said terminal is inserted into said terminal accommodating chamber incompletely.

2. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprises an engagement groove which is formed on one sidewall of said frame body and adapted so as to abut on said hood when said male connector housing is engaged with said female connector housing.

3. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said engagement groove has a slanted surface which is inclined from an edge of said sidewall toward a center of said insertion hole in a longitudinal direction thereof.

4. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprises a slanted projection which is formed on an end wall on an opening side of said hood of said female connector housing so as to project in a direction to engage said female connector housing with said male connector housing and which is formed so as to extend into said hood, whereby said slanted projection abuts on one sidewall of said frame body when said male connector housing is engaged with said female connector housing.

5. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein said slanted projection is formed so as to project toward said male connector housing which is being engaged with said female connector housing and wherein said slanted projection includes a tapered surface facing toward said terminal holder which is being inserted into said male connector housing.

6. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein a clearance is produced between an inner wall of said hood of said female connector housing and an outer wall of said male connector housing engaged with said female connector housing, and wherein said slanted projection is formed so as to extend into said hood within limits of said clearance.

7. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein said detecting means further comprises an engagement groove which is formed on said frame body to have a slanted surface and which is adapted so that, when said male connector housing is engaged with said female connector housing, said slanted surface abuts on said tapered surface.