Half fit preventive connector

• US 6,592,404 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Endo, Tomomi
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US09/863,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20020031944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 439/357, 439/358, 439/353, 439/595
• US Class Current: 439/595
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

Abstract

In a half fit preventive connector according to the invention, flexible arms are disposed on the upper portion of a housing of a male connector. On the leading end portions of the flexible arms, engaging portions are formed respectively. Further, securing members are disposed on the upper portion of a housing of a female connector. On the inner surfaces of the securing members, arm guide surfaces are formed. Securing step portions are formed in the rear end portions of the securing members. An inclined projection having a flat plate portion and a tapered surface is disposed on a housing main body. When fitting the male and female connectors with each other, while sliding on the arm guide surfaces and the tapered surface of the inclined projection, the flexible arms are flexed inwardly and upwardly, thereby positively preventing the two connectors from being imperfectly fitted with each other.

Claims

1. A half fit preventive connector comprising:

a flexible arm formed on a first connector, extending in the connector fitting direction, and provided with a stepped engaging portion in a front end portion thereof, said stepped engaging portion extends outwardly in a direction away from the connector fitting direction;

a securing member formed on a second connector, provided with an arm guide surface for allowing said flexible arm to flex and a securing step portion for securing said stepped engaging portion of said flexible arm thereinto by engagement of said stepped engaging portion with said securing step portion; and

a projection formed on said second connector, provided with a flat portion and a tapered surface for allowing said flexible arm to flex;

wherein a first repulsion force is generated between said flexible arm and said arm guide surface by sliding said flexible arm on said arm guide surface and a second repulsion force is generated between said flexible arm and said projection by sliding flexible arm on said projection according to the connector fitting operation, so that said first and second connectors are urged in the opposite direction to the connector fitting direction until said first and second connectors are perfectly fitted with each other.

2. A half fit preventive connector according to claim 1,

wherein said engaging portion of said flexible arm is provided with a curved-surface-shaped contact portion to thereby allow said flexible arm to slide smoothly on said tapered surface of said projection.

3. A half fit preventive connector according to claim 1

wherein said flexible arm is provided as a pair of flexible arms and said securing member is provided as a pair of securing members.

4. A half fit preventive connector according to claim 3,

wherein said flexible arms are flexed inwardly by said guide surfaces of said securing members so as to be narrowed a distance between said flexible arms, and said flexible arms are flexed upwardly by said taped surface of said projection according to the connector fitting operation.

5. A half fit preventive connector comprising:

a first connector;

a pair of flexible arms formed on an upper portion of said first connector;

a stepped engaging portion formed on a leading end portion of each flexible arm, said stepped engaging portion extends outwardly in a direction away from a connector fitting direction;

a second connector;

a pair of securing members formed on an upper portion of said second connector and provided with a securing step portion formed in a rear end portion thereof;

a first flexing means for flexing said flexible arms inwardly so as to be narrowed a distance between said flexible arms according to the connector fitting operation; and

a second flexing means for flexing said flexible arms upwardly according to the connector fitting operation;

wherein repulsion force for urging said first and second connectors in the opposite direction to the connector fitting direction is generated by flexing said flexible arms until said first and second connectors are perfectly fitted with each other whereupon said stepped engaging portion of each of flexible arms is engaged with said step securing portion.

6. A half fit preventive connector according to claim 5,

wherein said first flexing means comprises an guide surface formed on an inner surface of said securing member.

7. A half fit preventive connector according to claim 5,

wherein said second flexing means comprises a projection formed on an upper portion of said second connector, provided with a flat plate portion and a tapered surface for allowing said flexible arm to be flexed.

8. A half fit preventive connector according to claim 7,

wherein each engaging portion of said flexible arms is provided with a curved-surface-shaped contact portion to thereby allow said flexible arm to slide smoothly on said tapered surface of said projection.