Lock-detecting connector

• US 6,109,955 A
• Filed: 07/07/1998
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Takao, Hanazaki, Hisashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Hien
• Application Number:
  US09/110,461
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 439/488, 439/489, 439/350-354, 439/357, 439/358
• US Class Current: 439/489
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

Abstract

A lock-detecting connector capable of surely detecting semi-connection or complete connection thereof is provided. The lock-detecting connector consists of a male connector having a pair of protecting walls on both sides of a locking arm, a female connector having an engaging projection to bend the locking arm and to engage the arm in a resiled state thereof and having an opening for receiving the protecting walls, and a lock-detecting member installed on a rear portion of the male connector, wherein the lock-detecting member has a pair of detecting arms abutting the respective rear ends of the protecting walls. The detecting arms have respective outwardly-facing projections, and front corner-portions formed on both sides of the opening press the outwardly-facing projections inwardly. Slits for receiving the respective outwardly-facing projections are provided on the protecting walls, and upwardly-facing projections for abutting the respective protecting walls are provided on the detecting arms. An interfering portion is provided on a lower portion of the rear end of the locking arm, and a pair of first-stop projections to abut on the locking arm when bent and a second-stop projection to abut the interfering portion are provided on the lock-detecting member. The lock-detecting member has a provisional engaging arm. Thus, a lock-detecting connector capable of surely detecting semi-connection or complete connection thereof is provided.

Claims

1. A lock-detecting connector, comprising:

a male connector having a resilient locking arm and a pair of protecting walls on both sides of the locking arm, said protecting walls having respective flat rear ends;

a female connector having

(1) an engaging portion to bend the resilient locking arm and to engage the resilient locking arm when said male connector is partially received and engaged in said female connector; and

(2) an opening for receiving the protecting walls; and

a lock-detecting member, placed on a rear portion of the resilient locking arm, having a pair of resilient detecting arms arranged to abut the respective flat rear ends of the pair of protecting walls in a semi-connected state of the male and female connectors with the lock detecting member abutting a resilient locking arms;

said pair of resilient detecting arms having respective transversely outwardly-facing projections, and front corner-portions having a tapered section, formed on both sides of the opening are capable of inwardly pressing said outwardly-facing projections upon insertion to inwardly bend said resilient detecting arms for releasing abutment of the resilient detecting arms on the respective flat rear ends of the protecting walls when the lock-detecting member is pushed into the male connector parallel to the direction in which the male and female connectors are connected; and

wherein slits are provided on said protecting walls of said male connector for receiving said respective outwardly-facing projections on said resilient detecting arms, and said resilient detecting arms having upwardly-facing projections thereon arranged to abut on respective said projecting walls.

2. The lock-detecting connector according to claim 1, wherein an interfering portion is provided on a lower portion of a rear end of said resilient locking arm, and said lock-detecting member has a pair of first-stop projections and a second-stop projection arranged to abut on the rear end of the resilient locking arm and the interfering portion, respectively, when said resilient locking arm is bent downwardly.

3. The lock-detecting connector according to claim 1, wherein a lower portion of a rear end of said resilient locking arm has an interfering portion, and said lock-detecting member has a pair of first-stop projections and a second stop projection arranged to abut the rear end of the resilient locking arm and the interfering portion, respectively, when said resilient locking arm is bent downwardly.

4. The lock-detecting connector according to claim 2, wherein provisional engaging arms are provided between the detecting arms and the first-stop projections, and engagement step-portions are provided on the male connector to engage the respective provisional engaging arms.

5. The lock-detecting connector according to claim 3, wherein provisional engaging arms are provided between the detecting arms and the first-stop projections, and engagement step-portions are provided on the male connector to engage the respective provisional engaging arms.

6. The lock-detecting connector according to claim 1, wherein stopping projections are provided on the lock-detecting member and guide grooves having end walls are provided on the male connector so as to limit movement of the lock-detecting member by contact with said stopping projections on the end walls of said guide grooves.

7. The lock-detecting connector according to claim 1, wherein sliding projections are provided on the lock-detecting member and guide grooves are provided on the male connector so as to push the lock-detecting member into the male connector along said guide grooves.