Connector fitting construction

• US 6,533,600 B1
• Filed: 08/30/1999
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Yoshida, Haruki, Kashiyama, Motohisa
• Primary Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US09/385,469
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 439/352, 439/357, 439/353, 439/358
• US Class Current: 439/352
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/627 Snap or like fastening
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/635 by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

Abstract

In a connector fitting construction of the invention, a slider 60 is slidably supported within a housing 53 of a female connector 50 housing, and when the female connector is to be fitted relative to a male connector 70, the slider cooperates with compression springs 59 to flex a lock arm 56 so as to retainingly engage the lock arm with the male connector 70. A pair of abutment projections 64 are formed respectively at opposite side portions of a lower surface of a slider arm 62 provided at the slider 60. A pair of stopper projections 72 are formed on an upper surface of a housing 71 of the male connector 70, and are pressed respectively against the abutment projections 64 during a connector fitting operation to move the slider 60 toward a rear end of the female connector 50. An abutment surface 72a of a generally trapezoidal shape is formed on a front surface of each of the stopper projections 72. An abutment surface 64a of the abutment projection 64 is a slanted surface which is slanting downwardly rearwardly, and the abutment surface 72a of the stopper projection 72 is a slanted surface which is slanting downwardly forwardly.

Claims

1. A connector fitting construction comprising:

a pair of female and male connectors fitted together;

a resilient member, received in a housing of one of said two connectors, for applying a resilient force thereof to at least one of said pair of said female and male connectors to avoid a half-fitted condition of said pair of female and male connectors;

a slider slidably supported within said housing, and when said one connector is fitted relative to the other connector, said slider cooperates with said resilient member to flex a lock arm of a cantilever-type, mounted on said housing, operable to retainingly engage said lock arm with said other connector; and

a slanting projection, having a front slanting surface, formed on an upper surface of a housing of said other connector;

an engagement groove for engagement with an engagement projection, formed at a distal end of said lock arm, said engagement groove being formed at a rear end of said slanting projection;

a pair of abutment projections formed respectively at opposite side portions of a lower surface of an elastic arm provided at said slider;

a pair of stopper projections formed on the upper surface of said housing of said other connector, and pressed respectively against said abutment projections during a connector fitting operation to move said slider toward a rear end of said one connector; and

an abutment surface of a generally trapezoidal shape formed on a front surface of at least one of each abutment projection and each stopper projection.

2. A connector fitting construction according to claim 1, wherein the abutment surface of said abutment projection is a slanting surface which is slanted downwardly, rearwardly, and the abutment surface of said stopper projection is a slanting surface which is slanted downwardly, forwardly.

3. A connector fitting construction according to claim 2, wherein each of said abutment projections has a curved surface at its apex portion, and each of said stopper projections has a curved surface at its apex portion.

4. A connector fitting construction according to claim 1, wherein each of said abutment projections has a curved surface at its apex portion, and each of said stopper projections has a curved surface at its apex portion.