Electrical connector having positioning device and guide

• US 6,296,508 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2000
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Higashikozono, Makoto, Kuwahara, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US09/635,699
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 439/353, 439/357, 439/358, 439/680, 439/281, 439/282
• US Class Current: 439/353
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling

Abstract

An electrical connector is provided, the connector having male and female connector housings. When the male and female connector housings are fitted together, locking arms and detents provided thereon may be spaced in the circumferential direction. In such a case, the male and female connector housings are rotated relative to each other in order to find a matching position. The connector housings include a positioning groove and a positioning rib. When the housings are brought together, the locking arm and detent are fitted to each other. The male and female connector housings are thus fixed at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction. When the normal fixed state is attained, the locking arm and detent are locked together. As the locking arm and detent include the positioning groove and rib, it is no longer necessary to position the male and female connector housings through visual checking.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising first and second connector housings respectively having a cylindrical shape with a concentric axis and having a circumferential direction, said first and second connector housings being engageable with each other by being brought together along said concentric axis;

said first and second connector housings including a corresponding first and second metallic terminal connectable to each other by engaging said first and second connector housings with each other;

said first connector housing comprising at least one locking arm which is elastic and flexible, while said second connector housing comprises a corresponding number of locking detents engageable with said at least one locking arm, so that said first and second connector housings are lockable with each other;

said first and second connector housings further comprising a positioning device, said positioning device including at least one positioning groove formed in an inner peripheral surface of said first connector housing, and a corresponding number of positioning ribs formed on an outer peripheral surface of said second connector housing, said at least one positioning groove and rib being arranged such that they can be fitted together only when said at least one locking arm and detent are positioned and fitted in said circumferential direction of said first and second connector housings, so that, when said at least one positioning groove and rib are fitted, said first and second connector housings cannot rotate in said circumferential direction, but can move along said concentric axis, respectively relative to each other;

said first and second connector housings further comprising a guide enabling said first and second connector housings to rotate in said circumferential direction and move along said concentric axis, respectively relative to each other, when said at least one positioning groove and rib are not fitted with each other.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said guide is formed in said first connector housing and comprises a guiding portion into which said second connector housing is guided and a fitting portion, and further comprises a tapered guide step having a diameter reducing from said guiding portion towards said fitting portion, said tapered guide step communicating with said at least one positioning groove, and wherein said corresponding number of positioning ribs have a tapered rib edge which rubs against said tapered guide step, when said tapered rib edge is spaced from said at least one positioning groove.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein said at least one locking arm comprises a hook in the form of an overhang configured to be hooked by said locking detents.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said at least one locking arm comprises a hook in the form of an overhang configured to be hooked by said locking detent.

5. A unipolar connector comprising first and second connector housings respectively having a cylindrical shape with a concentric axis and having a circumferential direction, said first and second connector housings being engageable with each other by being brought together along said concentric axis;

said first and second connector housings including corresponding first and second metallic terminals connectable to each other by engaging said first and second connector housings with each other;

said first connector housing comprising at least one locking arm which is elastic and flexible, and said second connector housing comprising a corresponding number of locking detents engageable with said at least one locking arm, so that said first and second connector housings are lockable with each other;

said first and second connector housings further comprising a positioning device, said positioning device including at least one positioning groove formed in an inner peripheral surface of said first connector housing, and a corresponding number of positioning ribs formed on an outer peripheral surface of said second connector housing, said at least one positioning groove and rib being configured such that they can be fitted together only when said at least one locking arm and detent are positioned and fitted in said circumferential direction of said first and second connector housings, so that, when said at least one positioning groove and rib are fitted together, said first and second connector housings cannot rotate in said circumferential direction, but can move along said concentric axis, respectively in relative relation to each other;

said first and second connector housings further comprising a guide enabling said first and second connector housings to rotate in said circumferential direction and move along said concentric axis, respectively relative to each other, when said at least one positioning groove and rib are not fitted with each other.

6. The unipolar connector according to claim 5, wherein said guide is formed in said first connector housing and comprises a guiding portion into which said second connector housing is guided, and a fitting portion, and further comprises a tapered guide step having a diameter reducing from said guiding portion towards said fitting portion, said tapered guide step communicating with said at least one positioning groove, and wherein said corresponding number of positioning ribs have a tapered rib edge which rubs against said tapered guide step, when said tapered rib edge is spaced from said at least one positioning groove.

7. The unipolar connector according to claim 5, wherein said at least one locking arm comprises a hook in the form of an overhang configured to be hooked by said locking detents.

8. The unipolar connector according to claim 6, wherein said at least one locking arm comprises a hook in the form of an overhang configured to be hooked by said locking detent.

9. An electrical connector comprising first and second connector housings respectively having a cylindrical shape with a concentric axis and having a circumferential direction, said first and second connector housings being engageable with each other by being brought together along said concentric axis;

said first and second connector housings including a corresponding first and second metallic terminal connectable to each other by engaging said first and second connector housings with each other;

said first connector housing comprising at least one locking arm which is elastic and flexible, while said second connector housing comprises a corresponding number of locking detents engageable with said at least one locking arm, so that said first and second connector housings are lockable with each other;

said first and second connector housings further comprising a positioning device, said positioning device including at least one positioning groove formed in said first connector housing, and a corresponding number of positioning ribs formed in said second connector housing, said at least one positioning groove and rib being arranged such that they can be fitted together only when said at least one locking arm and detent are positioned and fitted in said circumferential direction of said first and second connector housings, so that, when said at least one positioning groove and rib are fitted, said first and second connector housings cannot rotate in said circumferential direction, but can move along said concentric axis, respectively relative to each other;

said first connector housing further comprising a guide extending from the edge of said at least one positioning groove and being configured to accommodate said second connector housing with said at least one rib so that said first and second connector housings to rotate in said circumferential direction and move along said concentric axis, respectively relative to each other, when said second connector housing is accommodated in said guide and said at least one positioning groove and rib are not fitted with each other.

10. The electrical connector according to claim 9, wherein said guide further comprises a tapered guide step having a diameter reducing from said guide towards a fitting portion that includes the positioning groove, said tapered guide step communicating with said at least one positioning groove, and wherein said corresponding number of positioning ribs have a tapered rib edge which rubs against said tapered guide step, when said tapered rib edge is spaced from said at least one positioning groove.

11. The electrical connector according to claim 9, wherein said at least one locking arm comprises a hook in the form of an overhang configured to be hooked by said locking detent.

12. The electrical connector according to claim 11, wherein said at least one locking arm comprises a hook in the form of an overhang configured to be hooked by said locking detents.