Connector

• US 7,033,207 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Nimura, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US10/994,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20050112935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 439357-358, 439/489
• US Class Current: 439/489
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

Abstract

A second housing (20) is formed with an oscillating portion (24) for creating an aerial vibration by the collision with a resiliently restored lock arm (13) and a resonance space (25) for causing the aerial vibration created by the oscillating portion (24) to resonate. When the lock arm (13) is resiliently restored, the aerial vibration created by the oscillating portion (24) upon the collision with the lock arm (13) resonates in the resonance space (25), and a collision sound of the lock arm (13) and the oscillating portion (24) is amplified by this resonance.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising:

a first housing having a resiliently deformable lock arm; and

a second housing having a front end for mating with the first housing and an opposite rear end, at least one receptacle wall extending rearward from the front end, an oscillating wall extending reward from a location in proximity to the front end of the second housing and spaced outward from the receptacle wall such that a rearwardly open resonance space is defined between the oscillating wall and the receptacle wall, a lock projecting out on the oscillating wall, the lock being configured for generating deflection of the lock arm during connection of the first and second housings and configured for locked engagement with the lock arm when the first and second housings are connected properly, the lock arm being configured for contacting the oscillating wall in response to resilient restoring forces of the lock arm when the first and second housings are connected properly, and the oscillating wall being dimensioned to vibrate in response to the contact by the lock arm, whereby the vibrations resonate through the rearwardly open resonance space to provide an audible indication of proper connection of the first and second housings.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the resonance space is exposed at an outer surface of the connector when the first and second housings are connected.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein a substantially enclosed space is located rearward of the lock and at a side of the oscillating wall opposite from the resonance space and between the oscillating wall and the lock arm when the lock arm is restored resiliently.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein a front portion of the oscillating wall and opposite side portions of the oscillating wall are connected to the receptacle wall so that the resonance space is open only at a rear end of the oscillating wall.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the oscillating wall is wider than the lock and wherein the lock arm is configured for contacting portions of the oscillating wall on opposite sides of said lock.

6. The connector of claim 5, wherein the lock arm is configured to be spaced from the oscillating wall at locations rearward of the lock when the first and second housings are connected properly for defining a rearwardly open substantially enclosed space rearward of the lock for enhancing resonance of vibration of the oscillating wall.