Connector system having a connection detecting mechanism

• US 7,402,071 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2006
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaka, Shigeru, Takahashi, Toshiharu, Ohtaka, Kazuto
• Primary Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US11/518,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20070059968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 439/357, 439/489, 439/507, 439/188
• US Class Current: 439/357
• 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 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/08 Short-circuiting members for bridging contacts in a counterpart

Abstract

Providing a connector system, which can detect securely connection of connector housings, the connector system includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector includes a first connector housing, on an outer surface of which a lock projection and a pair of electrodes are provided. The second connector includes a second connector housing having a main body, a lock arm and a shorting member. The lock arm supported by the main body is engaged with the lock projection. One end portion of the shorting member is mounted on the main body, and the other end is formed like a free end of a cantilever. The other end has a contact point. When the connector housings are fitted together, the contact point and lock projection are arranged in a direction perpendicular to a fitting direction.

Claims

1. A connector system comprising:

a first connector housing having a pair of electrodes for detecting connection and a lock projection on a outer surface thereof; and

a second connector housing fitting to the first connector housing, said second connector housing having a lock arm to be engaged with the lock projection, a main body supporting the lock arm and a shorting member to short the pair of electrodes to each other when the lock arm is engaged with the lock projection,

wherein the lock arm is formed into a cantilever-shape, one end of which is continuous to the main body, and the other end of which is a free end,

wherein one end portion of the shorting member is mounted on the main body, and the other end portion of the shorting member is formed like a free end of a cantilever and supported by the other end of the lock arm and moved to follow a motion of the lock arm,

wherein, when contact points of the shorting member touch the pair of electrodes, the lock projection and the contact points are arranged along a direction perpendicular to a direction of fitting the first and second connector housings.

2. The connector system according to claim 1 farther comprising an interlocked-deforming mechanism positioning the shorting member to move apart from the pair of electrodes when the lock arm rides on the lock projection by inserting the second connector housing into the first connector housing, and allowing the shorting member to touch the pair of electrodes when the lock arm is engaged with the lock projection by further inserting the second connector housing into the first connector housing so as to move the lock arm over the lock projection.

3. The connector system according to claim 1, wherein the second connector housing includes a rotating lever supported rotatably thereby so as to make the first connector housing near thereto by rotating the rotating lever, and the lock arm is supported by the rotating lever and the one end portion of the shorting member is mounted on the rotating lever.

4. The connector system according to claim 1, wherein the lock arm is positioned outside the first connector housing when the lock arm is engaged with the lock projection.

5. The connector system according to claim 1, wherein the lock arm includes a lock arm main body, one end of which is mounted on the main body and the other end of which is formed like a free end of a cantilever, and an unlock arm, one end of which is continued to the other end of the lock arm main body, said unlock arm extending from said one end of the unlock arm toward the one end of the lock arm main body.

6. The connector system according to claim 4, wherein the lock arm includes a lock arm main body, one end of which is mounted on the main body and the other end of which is formed like a free end of a cantilever, and an unlock arm, one end of which is continued to the other end of the lock arm main body, said unlock arm extending from said one end of the unlock arm toward the one end of the lock arm main body.