Connector and a method of assembling it

• US 6,655,999 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2002
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Tsutomu, Mase, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta, Tho D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSUKERMAN, LARISA Z
• Application Number:
  US10/175,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20020193012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 439/752, 439/595, 439/352
• US Class Current: 439/752
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4223 comprising integral flexible contact retaining fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4362 comprising a temporary and a final locking position

Abstract

Terminal fittings (30) are locked in a housing (10) by locks (13), but are permitted to shake along the terminal insertion direction (ID). A retainer (40) can be moved to a full locking position in the housing (10) and contacts the terminal fittings (30) to hold them at their proper insertion positions, thereby preventing them from shaking. Slanted contacts (36A, 41A) are provided so that the retainer (40) can push the terminal fittings (30) to their proper inserting positions even if the terminal fittings (30) initially are behind their proper insertion positions when the retainer (40) is moved to the full locking position.

Claims

1. A connector comprising a housing, at least one terminal fitting configured for insertion into the housing along an insertion direction, at least one lock configured for displacement at an angle to the insertion direction during insertion of the terminal fitting, the lock further being configured for engaging behind the terminal fitting when the terminal fitting reaches a proper insertion position to prevent withdrawal of the terminal fitting while permilling some movement of the terminal fitting along the insertion direction, a retainer mounted in the housing at a partial locking position such that the retainer such that the retainer is loosely movable along the insertion direction and permits insertion of the terminal fitting into the housing, the retainer further being movable in a moving direction substantially normal to the insertion direction and into a full locking position in the housing, wherein:

the retainer and the housing are formed with surfaces that interengage as the retainer is pushed along the moving direction from the partial locking position to the full locking position, the surfaces being aligned for displacing the retainer along the insertion direction as the retainer is pushed along the moving direction from the partial locking position to the full locking position; and

wherein

the retainer comprises at least one pusher (44) engageable with the terminal fitting as the retainer is moved to the full locking position for pushing the terminal fitting to the proper insertion position and holding the terminal fitting in the housing at its proper insertion position.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein:

the housing comprises a rearwardly projecting receiving projection having a partial locking receiving surface and a full locking receiving surface,

the retainer comprises a forwardly projecting locking projection having a partial locking surface and a full locking surface,

loose movement of the retainer from the partial locking position toward the full locking position being prevented by the contact of the partial locking surface with the partial locking receiving surface, and

loose movement of the retainer from the full locking position toward the partial locking position being prevented by the contact of the full locking surface with the full locking receiving surface.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the retainer is configured to make loose movements substantially along the terminal insertion direction with respect to the housing when arranged in the partial locking position, whereas the retainer is substantially prevented from loose movements when in the full locking position.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein paired spaced apart partial locking means are provided at opposite ends of the retainer with respect to a direction normal to the terminal inserting direction, the partial locking means having partial locking portions for engaging partial locking receiving portions of the housing and preventing the retainer at the partial locking position from moving loosely toward the full locking position.

5. The connector of claim 4, wherein paired spaced apart full locking means are provided at opposite ends of the retainer with respect to a direction normal to the terminal inserting direction, the full locking means having full locking portions for engaging full locking receiving portions of the housing and preventing the retainer at the full locking position from moving loosely toward the partial locking position.

6. The connector of claim 5, wherein at least one of the partial looking means and the full locking means comprise at least pairs.

7. The connector of claim 5, wherein at least one of the partial locking means and the full locking means are provided at two positions spaced apart in a direction substantially parallel with the terminal inserting direction.