Double lock for connector

• US 6,022,238 A
• Filed: 12/03/1997
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Tomita, Yoshinori, Suzuki, Naomi
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US08/984,334
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 439/488, 439/489, 439/352-358
• US Class Current: 439/352
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap

Abstract

A pair of guide grooves (33) disposed on a double lock member (30) allow a pair of guide ribs (14) disposed on a female connector housing (11) to be inserted thereinto, respectively, at the time of engaging the double lock member (30) with the female connector housing (11). Accordingly, the pair of guide grooves (33) guides the double lock member (30) in such a manner that the double lock member (30) can take a predetermined position with respect to the female connector housing (11). The guide grooves (33) are formed so as to enclose substantially all the outer surfaces of the guide ribs (14) with inner sidewalls (34) and outer sidewalls (35) thereof, respectively. In addition, a distance (C) between outer side surfaces of the respective guide ribs (14) is set to a value equal to or greater than a distance (D) between inner surfaces of the outer sidewalls (35) of the respective guide grooves (33).

Claims

1. A double lock for connectors, comprising:

a double lock member temporarily retained while engaged with a first connector in a predetermined direction, the double lock member being regularly retained with the first connector in a condition such that a second connector is engaged with the first connector, so that the double lock member holds the engagement between the second connector and the first connector,

a pair of guide ribs disposed on the first connector so as to extend along an engaging direction of the double lock member with the first connector and so as to be apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a direction intersecting to the engaging direction; and

a pair of guide grooves disposed on the double lock member so as to extend along an engaging direction of the double lock member with the first connector and so as to be apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a direction intersecting to the engaging direction,

wherein the guide grooves respectively have inner sidewalls and outer sidewalls, a distance between outer surfaces of the respective guide ribs is set to a value equal to or greater than a distance between inner surfaces of the outer sidewalls of the respective guide grooves,

wherein when the respective guide grooves allow the corresponding guide ribs to be inserted thereinto, predetermined portions of the inner surfaces of the outer sidewalls of the guide grooves are fitted with the corresponding portions of the guide ribs, respectively, so that predetermined biasing forces to be applied to each other are caused,

wherein projecting portions are disposed on the predetermined portions of the guide grooves, respectively, and

wherein slits are respectively formed by the projecting portions, the outer surfaces of the guide ribs and inner portions of the guide grooves.

2. The double lock for connectors of claim 1, wherein a distance between the respective guide grooves and a distance between the respective guide ribs are set such that the distance between the guide ribs is equal to or greater than the distance between the guide grooves, and wherein when the respective guide grooves allow the corresponding guide ribs to be inserted thereinto, predetermined portions of the guide grooves are fitted with the corresponding portions of the guide ribs, respectively, so that predetermined biasing forces to be applied to each other are caused.

3. The double lock for connectors of claim 2, wherein projecting portions are disposed on the predetermined portions of the guide grooves, respectively.

4. The double lock for connectors of claim 1, wherein gaps are respectively provided between the portions excluding the predetermined portions of the outer sidewalls of the respective guide grooves and the outer surfaces of the respective guide ribs.

5. The double lock for connectors of claim 2,

wherein the guide grooves allows the corresponding guide ribs to be inserted thereinto at the time of engaging the double lock member with the first connector, so that the guide grooves guide the double lock member in such a manner that the double lock member takes a predetermined position with respect to the first connector.

6. The double lock for connectors of claim 2,

wherein the guide grooves enclosing substantially all outer surfaces of the guide ribs at the time of allowing the corresponding guide ribs to be inserted thereinto, respectively.

7. The double lock for connectors of claim 1,

wherein the guide grooves allows the corresponding guide ribs to be inserted thereinto at the time of engaging the double lock member with the first connector, so that the guide grooves guide the double lock member in such a manner that the double lock member takes a predetermined position with respect to the first connector.

8. The double lock for connectors of claim 1,

wherein the guide grooves enclosing substantially all outer surfaces of the guide ribs at the time of allowing the corresponding guide ribs to be inserted thereinto, respectively.