Structure for interlocking connectors

• US 6,663,412 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JST Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: JST Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Miyamoto, Daichi, Aramoto, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US10/331,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20030139082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 439/350, 439/352, 439/353, 439/357, 439/358, 439/351, 439/79
• US Class Current: 439/358
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms

Abstract

A structure such that a socket connector manufactured less expensively can engage with a base connector more reliably, adapted to employment in high-voltage connectors of a reduced height. The socket connector (1) has a socket housing (2) in which socket contacts (12) secured on wire ends (11) are placed side by side. The base connector (21) is of a shape to be surface-mounted on a printed circuit board (20). The socket housing (2) has a pair of lock arms (6) extending forwards from a rear end of and along lateral sides (4) of the socket housing. The socket housing further has tie pieces (5) capable of elastic deformation and formed integral with the lateral sides so as to support and operatively connect the lock arms (6) to the socket housing. The lock arms (6) have fore ends formed integral with hooks (7) projecting inwards and towards each other, and the lock arms (6) further have push lugs (8) extending backwards from their rear ends so as to be located in rear of the tie pieces (5). When engaging the connectors one with the other, the lock arms (6) will be guided forwards along respective sides (25) of the base housing (22) until latched in place by and with the rear edge of this housing.

Claims

1. A structure for interlocking connectors, one of them being a socket connector having a flat socket housing in which disposed side by side are socket contacts secured on respective wire ends, with the other connector being a base connector of a shape to be surface-mounted on a printed circuit board and comprising a flat box-shaped base housing for engagement with the socket housing, the base housing having a rear wall and rear edge, and contacts within the flat box-shaped base housing, each contact having a lead portion extending rearward from the rear wall and being adapted for soldering to the printed circuit board,

the socket housing having a pair of lock arms extending forwards from a rear end of the socket housing, and along lateral sides thereof,

the socket housing further having tie pieces capable of elastic deformation and formed integral with lateral sides of the socket housing so as to support and operatively connect the lock arms thereto,

the lock arms having their fore ends respectively formed integral with hooks projecting inwards and towards each other, the lock arms having fore extensions protruding rearwardly of the rear edge of the base housing and rearwardly beyond a rear end of the lead, such that the fore extensions protect sides of the leads respectively extending rearward beyond the rear wall of the base housing, and

the lock arms further having push lugs integrally extending backwards from rear ends of the lock arms so as to be located rearwardly of the tie pieces,

wherein when engaging the connectors one with the other, the lock arms of the socket housing are guided forwards along respective sides of the base housing until latched in place by and with the rear edge thereof.

2. A structure for interlocking connectors as defined in claim 1, wherein each lock arm having and including the integral fore extension in the socket housing is substantially of the same height as the base housing.

3. A structure for interlocking connectors as defined in claim 1, wherein the lock arms of the socket housing respectively have rear extensions formed integral therewith and extending beyond a rear edge of the socket housing, such that the rear extensions having the push lugs formed integral therewith do serve to protect sides of the wire ends secured to and protruding rearwards from the socket connector.