Connector and a connector assembly

• US 6,688,907 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2003
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamaoka, Atsushi, Saka, Yukinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEON, EDWIN A
• Application Number:
  US10/376,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20030166358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 439/489, 439/188, 439/352, 439/353, 439/372, 439/358, 439/357
• US Class Current: 439/489
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• 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

A connector has first and second housings (10, 20). The second housing (20) has a deformable lock arm (27) that engages the first housing (10) when the housings (10, 20) are connected. A slider (41) is mounted on the first housing (10) for movement between a position that prevents deformation of the lock arm (27) and a position that permits such deformation. Springs (40) bias the slider (41) to the deformation preventing position. The slider (41) has a resilient piece (60) that is pushed by the first housing (10) to move the slider (41) to the deformation permitting position as the housings (10, 20) are connected. The resilient piece (60) is deformed when the housings (10, 20) are connected and the slider (41) is propelled by the springs (40) to the deformation preventing position. The housings (10, 20) can be separated merely by pulling the slider (41) backward.

Claims

1. A connector (20) connectable with a mating connector (10) having a locking portion (13), wherein the connector (20) comprises:

a lock arm (27) resiliently deformable while moving onto a lock (13) in the process of connecting the two connectors (20, 10) and returning to engage the lock (13) when the two connector housings (20, 10) are connected properly;

a slider (41) movable between a deformation preventing position where the slider (41) enters a deformation space (S) for the lock arm (27) to prevent resilient deformation of the lock arm (27) and a deformation permitting position where the slider (41) permits the resilient deformation of the lock arm (27); and

at least one biasing member (40) which can be compressed while accumulating a biasing force to separate the two connector housings (20, 10) as the slider (41) is moved from the deformation preventing position toward the deformation permitting position;

wherein;

the slider (41) comprises a resilient member (60) which is resiliently deformable in a direction intersecting the connecting directions (CD) and can be pushed by a pushing portion (10a) of the mating connector (10) to move the slider (41) from the deformation preventing position to the deformation permitting position in the process of connecting the two connector housings (20, 10),

the connector (20) further comprises a disengagement guide (33) for resiliently deforming the resilient member (60) while disengaging it from the pushing portion (10a) of the mating connector (10) as the two connector housings (20, 10) are connected properly, thereby releasing a biasing force accumulated in the biasing member (40) to move the slider (41) toward the deformation preventing position.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the deformation permitting position is reached by moving the slider (41) backward from the deformation space to permit the resilient deformation of the lock arm (27).

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the biasing member (40) is between the slider (41) and a receiving portion (32) in the connector (20).

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the resilient member (60) is metallic.

5. A connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking portion (13) is shaped to semi-lock the lock arm (27).

6. The connector (20) of claim 1, wherein the slider (41) is movable substantially along connecting directions (CD) of the two connectors (20, 10) between the deformation preventing position and the deformation permitting position.

7. The connector of claim 6, wherein the resilient member (60) can be pushed by a pushing portion (10a) of the mating connector (10) to move the slider (41) from the deformation preventing position to the deformation permitting position in the process of connecting the two connector housings (20, 10).

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein the pushing portion (10a) comprises a front surface (10a) of the mating connector (10).

9. A connector comprising:

a housing (20) having opposite front and rear ends and a connecting direction (CD) extending between the ends, a lock arm (27) and a disengagement guide (33) being formed on the housing (20), the lock arm (27) being configured for resilient deformation into a deformation space (S), the lock arm (27) having a hook (28) with a partial locking surface aligned at an acute angle to the connecting direction (CD);

a slider (41) movable along the housing (20) between a deformation preventing position where the slider (41) enters the deformation space (S) for the lock arm (27) to prevent resilient deformation of the lock arm (27) and a deformation permitting position where the slider (41) is spaced from the deformation space (S) to permit resilient deformation of the lock arm (27);

a metallic resilient member (60) mounted to the slider (41) and configured for contacting the disengagement guide (33) when the slider (41) moves to the deformation permitting position and being resiliently deformable in a direction intersecting the connecting direction (CD) in response to contact with the disengagement guide (33); and

at least one biasing member (40) between the slider (41) and the housing (20) for biasing the slider (41) toward the deformation preventing position.

10. A connector assembly comprising:

a first housing (10) having a front surface (10a) and a lock (11);

a second housing (20) connectable with the first housing (10) along a connecting direction (CD), a lock arm (27) and a disengagement guide (33) being formed on the housing (20), the lock arm (27) being configured for resilient deformation into a deformation space (S) and having a hook (28) configured for partial locking with the lock (11);

a slider (41) movable along the housing (20) between a deformation preventing position where the slider (41) enters the deformation space (S) for the lock arm (27) to prevent resilient deformation of the lock arm (27) and a deformation permitting position where the slider (41) is spaced from the deformation space (S) to permit resilient deformation of the lock arm (27);

at least one spring (40) between the slider (41) and the housing (20) for biasing the slider (41) toward the deformation preventing position;

a metallic resilient member (60) mounted to the slider (41) and configured for contacting the front surface (10a) of the first housing (10) during connection of the housings (10, 20) for moving the slider (41) against the spring (40) and toward the deformation permitting position, the resilient member (60) further being configured for being deformed by the disengagement guide (33) out of contact with the front surface (10a) of the first housing (10) when the housings (10, 20) are connected properly so that the biasing member (40) propels the slider (41) to the deformation preventing position.

11. The connector of claim 10, wherein the slider (41) is movable substantially along the connecting directions (CD) between the deformation preventing position and the deformation permitting position.

12. The connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the slider (41) is movable substantially along the connecting direction (CD) of the housings (20, 10).

13. The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the resilient member (60) is substantially a rectangular frame with resiliently deflectable sides (61) spaced apart sufficiently to receive the disengagement guide (33) therebetween.

14. The connector assembly of claim 13, wherein the resilient member further includes a rear end (63) secured in the slider (60) and a front end (62) disposed for engage the disengagement guide (33).