Connector, a connector assembly and an assembling method therefor

• US 7,530,838 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2008
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Ohara, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): HARVEY, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US12/044,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20080220639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 439/488, 439/489, 439/595, 439/752
• US Class Current: 439/489
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7031 Shorting, shunting or bussing of different terminals interrupted or effected on engagement of coupling part, e.g. for ESD protection, line continuity

Abstract

Shorting terminals (80) for shorting pairs of terminal fittings (20) are accommodated in a female housing (10), and releasing portions (34) for releasing the shorted state of the pairs of terminal fittings (20) are provided in the male housing (30). Further, a detector (50) is mounted in the female housing (10) for movement between a standby position and a detection position. The detector (50) is permitted to move from the standby position to the detection position while being linked with the operation of the releasing portion (34) after the shorted state of the terminal fittings (20) by the releasing portion (34) is released.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising:

a housing to be connected with a mating housing of a mating connector,

at least two terminal fittings accommodated in the housing,

at least one shorting terminal accommodated in the housing and adapted to contact and short terminal fittings, and

a detector mounted on the housing and movable between a standby position and a detection position, the detector being capable of reaching the detection position only when the housing is connected properly with the mating housing, and the detector being permitted to move from the standby position to the detection position only after the shorted state of the terminal fittings is released by a releasing portion.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein at least one stopper is provided in the housing for holding the detector at the standby position.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the detector is permitted to move to the detection position by being separated from the stopper upon entering the housing.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein at least one guiding groove is provided in the housing for forming a movement path for the detector from the standby position to the detection position.

5. The connector of claim 4, wherein the guiding groove is within the height range of a detector accommodating chamber in the housing.

6. The connector of claim 4, wherein the guiding groove comprises:

a standby side groove extending substantially along a connecting direction of the housing backward from a starting end,

an oblique groove extending obliquely out towards a front from a rear end of the standby side groove, and

a detection side groove extending along the connecting direction forward from an upper end of the oblique groove,

wherein the detector is movable from the starting end of the standby side groove to the finishing end of the detection side groove via the oblique groove with respect to the housing.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the housing has an accommodation space for the shorting terminal and for mounting the detector.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein a movement path for the detector from the standby position to the detection position is defined such that the detector passes a temporary stop position where the movement of the detector is stopped temporarily.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein a rear end of the detector is aligned substantially with a rear end surface of the housing when the detector reaches the detection position.

10. A connector assembly, comprising:

a housing;

at least two terminal fittings accommodated in the housing;

at least one shorting terminal accommodated in the housing and adapted to contact and short terminal fittings;

a mating housing connectable with the housing, at least one releasing portion in the mating housing for releasing a shorted state of the terminal fittings by the shorting terminal as the housing is connected with the mating housing; and

a detector mounted on the housing and movable between a standby position and a detection position, the detector being capable of reaching the detection position only when the housing is connected properly with the mating housing, and the detector being permitted to move from the standby position to the detection position only after the shorted state of the terminal fittings is released by the releasing portion.

11. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein at least one stopper is provided in the housing for holding the detector at the standby position.

12. The connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the detector is permitted to move to the detection position by being separated from the stopper while contacting the releasing portion upon entering the housing.