Connector
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A connector, comprising:
- a housing with at least one cavity for at least partly accommodating at least one terminal fitting to be inserted through a rear end portion of the housing, and a retainer insertion portion extending into the housing along an insertion direction and communicating with the cavity, partial and full locking steps disposed in the insertion portion, the partial and full locking steps each having a deflection generating surface aligned at an acute angle to the insertion direction, a locking surface aligned normal to the insertion direction and spaced from the deflection generating surface by a distance along the insertion direction no greater than an extent of the deflection generating surface along the inserting direction, a retainer which is partly insertable into the cavities through the retainer insertion portion, the retainer being movable selectively between a partial locking position where the retainer permits the insertion and withdrawal of the terminal fiting, and a full locking position where the retainer substantially engages the terminal fitting inserted in the cavity to prevent the movement thereof in a withdrawing direction, at least one partial locking arm and at least one full locking arm being formed on the retainer, the partial and full locking arms being of substantially equal lengths and being spaced from one another by a clearance that is substantially free of structural restraints such that each said locking arm can deflect through the clearance toward the other of the locking arms, partial and full locking projections projecting transversely from the partial and full locking arms respectively and extending a distance along the respective locking arm no less than the distance between the respective partial and full locking steps, and wherein at least one of the width and thickness of the partial locking arms is set smaller than that of the full locking arms to thereby set the elastic forces of the partial locking arms smaller than those of the full locking arms, and wherein the partial locking arm returns resiliently to an undeflected condition after moving beyond the deflection generating surface a distance no greater than the extent of the deflection generating surface for quickly and easily achieving partial locking and preventing unintended insertion to a full locking position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A connector has a retainer 13 which is insertable through one side surface of a housing 11. The retainer is provided with forked locking arms. The width and/or thickness of partial locking arms 13a is set smaller than the full locking arms 13b to thereby set the elastic forces of the partial locking arms 13a smaller than those of the full locking arms 13b.
56 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A connector, comprising:
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a housing with at least one cavity for at least partly accommodating at least one terminal fitting to be inserted through a rear end portion of the housing, and a retainer insertion portion extending into the housing along an insertion direction and communicating with the cavity, partial and full locking steps disposed in the insertion portion, the partial and full locking steps each having a deflection generating surface aligned at an acute angle to the insertion direction, a locking surface aligned normal to the insertion direction and spaced from the deflection generating surface by a distance along the insertion direction no greater than an extent of the deflection generating surface along the inserting direction, a retainer which is partly insertable into the cavities through the retainer insertion portion, the retainer being movable selectively between a partial locking position where the retainer permits the insertion and withdrawal of the terminal fiting, and a full locking position where the retainer substantially engages the terminal fitting inserted in the cavity to prevent the movement thereof in a withdrawing direction, at least one partial locking arm and at least one full locking arm being formed on the retainer, the partial and full locking arms being of substantially equal lengths and being spaced from one another by a clearance that is substantially free of structural restraints such that each said locking arm can deflect through the clearance toward the other of the locking arms, partial and full locking projections projecting transversely from the partial and full locking arms respectively and extending a distance along the respective locking arm no less than the distance between the respective partial and full locking steps, and wherein at least one of the width and thickness of the partial locking arms is set smaller than that of the full locking arms to thereby set the elastic forces of the partial locking arms smaller than those of the full locking arms, and wherein the partial locking arm returns resiliently to an undeflected condition after moving beyond the deflection generating surface a distance no greater than the extent of the deflection generating surface for quickly and easily achieving partial locking and preventing unintended insertion to a full locking position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A connector, comprising:
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a housing with at least one cavity for at least partly accommodating at least one terminal fitting to be inserted through a rear end portion of the housing, and a retainer insertion portion extending into the housing and communicating with the cavity, an inlet surface formed on the housing and substantially surrounding the retainer insertion portion;
a retainer which is partly insertable into the cavities through the retainer insertion portion, the retainer being movable selectively between a partial locking position where the retainer permits the insertion and withdrawal of the terminal fitting, and a full locking position where the retainer substantially engages the terminal fitting inserted in the cavity to prevent the movement thereof in a withdrawing direction, the retainer having a lid configured and disposed to be spaced externally from the housing when the retainer is in the partial locking position and being substantially flush with an outer surface of the housing when the retainer is in the full locking position, the lid having a continuous inwardly-facing peripheral surface disposed, dimensioned and aligned for surface contact with the inlet surface of the retainer insertion portion when the retainer is moved to the full locking position and for providing a clicking sound indicative of the retainer reaching the full locking position;
at least one partial locking arm and at least one full locking arm being formed on the retainer, the partial and full locking arms being of substantially equal lengths and being spaced from one another by a clearance that is substantially free of structural restrains such that each said locking arm can deflect through the clearance toward the other of the locking arms, and locking steps being formed on inner walls of the retainer insertion portion for the partial and full locking arms to hold the retainer in the partial locking position and in the full locking position, respectively; and
wherein at least one of the width and thickness of the partial locking arms is set smaller than that of the full locking arms to thereby set the elastic forces of the partial locking arms smaller than those of the full locking arms. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification