Lock structure of connector

• US 7,371,102 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2005
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Hiroshi, Tanaka, Shigeru, Sakamoto, Nobuyuki, Yamanashi, Makoto, Kobayashi, Hiroshi, Nishida, Atsushi, Minakata, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US11/178,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20060014414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 439/352, 439/354, 439/357, 439/358, 439/488, 439/489
• US Class Current: 439/352
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap

Abstract

In a connector lock structure 1 provided at female and male connectors which can be fitted together, the female connector 2 has an engagement portion 14, and a slide lock member 13 is supported on the male connector 3 so as to move at least in connector-inserting and connector-withdrawing directions. The slide lock member 13 includes a retaining portion 16 for engagement with the engagement portion 14, and urging member 36 for urging the slide lock member 13. When the engagement portion 14 reaches an engagement position where it is engaged with the retaining portion 16 at the time when the female and male connectors are completely fitted together, the slide lock member 13 is automatically moved by the urging member 36, so that the retaining portion 16 is engaged with the engagement portion 14.

Claims

1. A connector lock structure provided at a pair of female and male connectors which can be fitted together, comprising:

an engagement portion, having a guide lock plate and a partition wall connected to the guide lock plate by an incline surface, formed on one of said female and male connectors; and

a slide lock member supported on the other of said female and male connectors so as to move at least in connector-inserting and connector-withdrawing directions,

a retaining portion, provided with said slide lock member, engagement with said engagement portion; and

an urging member provided on said slide lock member for urging said slide lock member forwardly,

wherein when said engagement portion reaches an engagement position where said partition wall of said engagement portion is engaged with said retaining portion at the time when said female and male connectors are completely fitted together, said slide lock member is thereafter automatically moved by said urging member, so that said retaining portion is engaged with said guide lock plate of said engagement portion.

2. A connector lock structure according to claim 1, wherein the engagement of said retaining portion with said engagement portion is canceled by operating said slide lock member in one of the connector-inserting and connector-withdrawing directions.

3. A connector lock structure according to claim 1, wherein said urging member includes an elastic member;

and

wherein said female and male connectors are moved relative to each other so as to be fitted together, said engagement portion and said retaining portion are brought into abutting engagement with each other, so that said slide lock member is moved to elastically deforming said elastic member.

4. A connector lock structure according to claim 1, wherein said male connector includes a male connector housing,

wherein said slide lock member is mounted on an outer surface of said male connector housing,

wherein said female connector includes a female connector housing,

wherein said female connector housing includes a hood portion, and said male connector housing can be inserted into and withdrawn from said hood portion, and

wherein said engagement portion is formed in a projecting manner within said hood portion.

5. A connector lock structure according to claim 4, wherein said retaining portion includes a pair of retaining piece portions which are spaced a predetermined distance from each other, and extend in the connector inserting direction in parallel relation to each other, and the distance between distal end portions of said pair of retaining piece portions is reduced,

wherein said female and male connectors are moved relative to each other so as to be fitted together, said engagement portion is inserted between the distal end portions of said pair of retaining piece portions to increase the distance between said distal end portions, and reaches said engagement position, and

wherein said slide lock member is moved in the connector inserting direction by said urging member, so that said engagement portion is received between said pair of retaining piece portions.

6. A connector lock structure according to claim 5, wherein when said slide lock member is moved by said urging member, the distal end portions of said pair of retaining piece portions are moved toward each other.