Connector assembly with locking structures disposed in concave exterior corners
First Claim
1. A connector, comprising:
- a housing with an engagement end surface and at least first, second and third terminal accommodating portions, each said terminal accommodating portion being adapted to accommodate a terminal fitting extending in a mating direction from said engagement end surface, said terminal accommodating portions being angularly distributed to project in at least three directions from a central portion of said housing, said terminal accommodating portions each having an outer surface and a pair of side surfaces extending inwardly toward the central portion of the housing from the respective outer surface, each said side surface defining a convex corner with said outer surface of the respective terminal accommodating portion, one said side surface of said first terminal accommodating portion intersecting one said side surface of said second terminal accommodating portion to define a concave corner extending rearwardly from said engagement end surface, the other side surface of the first terminal accommodating portion intersecting one said side surface of said third terminal accommodating portion to define a second concave corner extending rearwardly from said engagement end surface,an electric part connectable with the engagement end surface of the housing along said mating direction, anda locking means for locking the housing and the electric part in their connected state,wherein the locking means is provided in the concave corner between the first and second terminal accommodating portions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector is configured to define a small cross-section when viewed in a direction of connection. The connector includes a housing [10] and an electric part [20]. A lock arm [16] is provided for locking the housing [10] and the electric part [20] in their connected state. The lock arm 16 is arranged in a rectangular dead space [SL] enclosed by upper and left terminal accommodating portions [11A, 11C] and an upper left corner portion of a rectangular receptacle [31]. Accordingly, the shape of a connector when viewed in a direction of connection can be made smaller as compared with a case where the lock arm [16] is provided on the outer surface of the terminal accommodating portions [11A, 11B, 11C, 11D].
29 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A connector, comprising:
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a housing with an engagement end surface and at least first, second and third terminal accommodating portions, each said terminal accommodating portion being adapted to accommodate a terminal fitting extending in a mating direction from said engagement end surface, said terminal accommodating portions being angularly distributed to project in at least three directions from a central portion of said housing, said terminal accommodating portions each having an outer surface and a pair of side surfaces extending inwardly toward the central portion of the housing from the respective outer surface, each said side surface defining a convex corner with said outer surface of the respective terminal accommodating portion, one said side surface of said first terminal accommodating portion intersecting one said side surface of said second terminal accommodating portion to define a concave corner extending rearwardly from said engagement end surface, the other side surface of the first terminal accommodating portion intersecting one said side surface of said third terminal accommodating portion to define a second concave corner extending rearwardly from said engagement end surface, an electric part connectable with the engagement end surface of the housing along said mating direction, and a locking means for locking the housing and the electric part in their connected state, wherein the locking means is provided in the concave corner between the first and second terminal accommodating portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A connector, comprising:
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a housing with an engagement end surface and a rear surface, portions of said housing extending rearwardly from said engagement end surface being substantially cross-shaped with first, second, third and fourth terminal accommodating portions angularly distributed relative to one another and projecting in four directions, each said terminal accommodating portion having an outer surface and a pair of side surfaces intersecting the respective outer surface at a convex angle and extending inwardly from the respective outer surface, each said side surface of each terminal accommodating portion intersecting one of said side surfaces of another of said terminal accommodating portions for defining concave corners, such that first, second, third and fourth concave corners are defined on said housing and extend rearwardly from the engagement end surface of said housing; an electric part having a mating end with a receptacle formed therein, the receptacle being configured for receiving the engagement end surface of the housing therein; first and second locking structures provided respectively on the housing and on the electric part for releasably locking the housing and the electric part in their engaged condition, the first locking structure being provided in one of said concave corners defined on the housing. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A connector assembly comprising:
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a housing with an engagement end surface and at least three terminal accommodating portions, each said terminal accommodating portion being configured to accommodate a terminal fitting extending in a mating direction aligned substantially orthogonal to said engagement end surface of said housing, said terminal accommodating portions being angularly distributed to project in at least three directions and to define a plurality of concave corners extending rearwardly from said engagement end surface; an electric part connectable with the engagement end surface of the housing along said mating direction; and a resiliently deflectable lock arm formed on a portion of said housing defining one of said concave corners, said lock arm having a fixed end and a free end, said free end being configured for engaging said electric part when said housing and said electric part are connected, a portion of said lock arm in proximity to said free end being formed to define a jig insertion space, said jig insertion space being configured for receiving a jig inserted substantially perpendicular to the mating direction for enabling disconnection of said housing from said electric part.
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Specification