Connector

• US 6,439,915 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Kurimoto, Naoya
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Figueroa, Felix O.
• Application Number:
  US09/742,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20010005648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 439/488, 439/489, 439/350, 439/352, 439/354
• US Class Current: 439/352
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

Abstract

The invention provides a compact configuration for an electrical connector having a fitting detecting function.

A housing groove 25 of a female housing 20 is provided with a locking arm 26 and a detecting member 35. The locking arm 26 bends while two housings 10 and 20 are being fitted together, then returns to its original position after the two housings 10 and 20 have reached a correct fitting state and engages with a protrusion 16 of the male housing 10. The detecting member 35 is capable of being inserted from a temporary attaching position to a main attaching position. When the locking arm 26, while in a bent state, makes contact with the detecting member 35 and thereby prevents its insertion, this allows detection of the fact that the two housings 10 and 20 have not been correctly fitted together. A retaining rod 42 is provided in the center of an anterior face of the detecting member 35, and a pair of contacting rods are provided on both sides of the retaining rod 42. These contacting rods make contact with stoppers 45, and a retaining hook 47 at the anterior end of the retaining rod 42 engages with a locking member 30 of the locking arm 26. This retains the detecting member 35 in the posterior direction and maintains it in the temporary attaching position.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising two mutually engageable connector housings, one of said housings having a resilient latching arm for engaging and retaining the other of said housings in a fully fitted condition, said latching arm having a bending space to permit bending thereof during movement of said housing through a half fitted condition to the fully fitted condition, wherein a detecting member is insertable from an exterior position into said bending space, full insertion of said detecting member being prevented by bending of the latching arm in the half fitted condition, wherein the detecting member includes a retaining member to engage the latching arm to prevent separation of the detecting member from the latching arm, wherein said detecting member includes a resilient elongate member extending in a direction of insertion into said one housing, said elongate member being releasably engageable with an abutment member of said other connector housing to retain said detecting member in said bending space in the fully fitted condition, and wherein said elongate member is engageable with said abutment member of said one housing to prevent full insertion of said detecting member into said bending space in the half fitted condition, said abutment and elongate members being disengageable on bending of said elongate member by a releasing member, and a hole to receive a portion of the latching arm in the fully fitted condition to prevent any substantial movement of the latching arm, wherein the elongate member includes extending rods with upper and lower sections, and wherein one of the sections temporarily stops movement of the detecting member in an anterior direction and the other of the sections releases the stopped condition for full insertion of the detecting member.

2. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said aperture is defined by a frame.

3. A connector according to claim 2 wherein said detecting member is slidable in a direction of elongation of said latching arm.

4. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said detecting member has two parallel rods extending on either side of said latching arm.

5. A connector according to claim 4 further comprising a second abutment member, wherein said two resilient elongate members have mutually facing recesses for engagement with one of said respective abutment member.

6. A connector according to claim 5 wherein said detecting member including a retaining arm extending between said two resilient elongate members and having a protrusion to engage said latching arm.

7. A connector according to claim 6 wherein said protrusion is engageable in an aperture of said latching arm.

8. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said detecting member has two parallel resilient elongate members extending on either side of said latching arm.

9. A connector according to claim 8 further comprising a second abutment member, wherein said two resilient elongate members have mutually facing recesses for engagement with one of said respective abutment members.

10. A connector according to claim 9 wherein said detecting member including a retaining arm extending between said two resilient elongate members and having a protrusion to engage said latching arm.

11. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said retaining member includes a protrusion engageable in an aperture of said latching arm.