Electric connector having a fitted state with a mating connector held by a fit-turning arm

• US 8,727,803 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2011
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company), Dai-Ichi Seiko Company Limited (DMC Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Dai-Ichi Seiko Company Limited (DMC Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kurachi, Takaki
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US13/395,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20120171890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 43960741-60749, 439/607.35, 439/607.4, 439/372, 439/579, 439495-498
• US Class Current: 439/497
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/79 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/88 acting manually by rotating or pivoting connector housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap

Abstract

A cam portion is provided at a turning shaft portion of a fit-turning arm which holds a fitted state of a connector with a mating connector, a cam-biasing device is provided on a connector main body, and the fit-turning arm is made hard to depart from a “fit-acting position” by applying a turning biasing force to the cam portion in a direction of holding the fit-turning arm which has been turned to the “fit-acting position” at the “fit-acting position”.

Claims

1. An electric connector which is provided with a connector main body including an insulating housing and a conductive shell attached to the insulating housing, and

wherein said electric connector is configured such that turning shaft portions of a fit-turning arm are turnably attached to bearing portions formed at both end portions of the connector main body, and when a mating connector has been fitted to the connector main body, a fitted state with the mating connector is held by turning of the fit-turning arm to a fit-acting position,

wherein cam portions turning approximately concentrically with the turning shaft portions are provided at the turning shaft portions of the fit-turning arm,

cam-biasing devices which come in pressure contact with the cam portions to bias the fit-turning arm in a turning manner are provided on the connector main body,

the cam-biasing devices are configured to bias the cam portions in the turning manner in a direction of moving the fit-turning arm toward the fit-acting position, and

the cam portions are formed integrally with the turning shaft portions of the fit-turning arm by twisting end portions of the turning shaft portions in an axial direction thereof approximately concentrically.

2. The electric connector according to claim 1, wherein the cam-biasing devices have pressing plates composed of a resilient plate-shaped member, and

the pressing plates are arranged so as to be capable of coming in pressure contact with portions of the cam portions.

3. The electric connector according to claim 1, wherein pressing plates configuring the cam-biasing devices are provided integrally with a conductive shell configuring the connector main body.

4. The electric connector according to claim 1, wherein supporting shafts projecting from end faces of the cam portions approximately concentrically therewith and formed to have a diameter at least smaller than those of the cam portions are provided on the cam portions, and

the supporting shafts are turnably held on the connector main body.

5. The electric connector according to claim 1, wherein an engagement lock portion which holds the fit-turning arm which has been turned to the fit-acting position at the fit-acting position is provided on the mating connector.

6. The electric connector according to claim 1, wherein a conductive cover which covers the connector main body when the fit-turning arm has been turned to the fit-acting position is provided on the fit-turning arm.