Electrical connector

• US 9,106,015 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2014
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Ohmura, Takenori
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US14/327,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20140322951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms
• 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 13/633 for disengagement only in combination with safety switch H01R13/7132
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A latching of a latch piece to a latch portion of a lock release unit is released with a latch claw being retracted in a connector fitting portion by swing of a latch arm. A latching of an auxiliary latch piece to the latch portion is released with a lock claw being retracted in the connector fitting portion by swing of a lock arm and an auxiliary arm.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a connector case including a connector fitting portion configured to fit to a power receiving connector and accommodating an electric wire;

a power feeding terminal provided in the connector fitting portion and connected to the electric wire, the power feeding terminal being configured to be connected to a power receiving terminal of the power receiving connector in a fitting state where the power receiving connector and the connector fitting portion are fitted together;

a lock mechanism configured to prevent the power receiving connector and the connector fitting portion from being separated from each other in the fitting state between the power receiving connector and the connector fitting portion;

a fitting detecting mechanism configured to detect the fitting state between the power receiving connector and the connector fitting portion; and

a lock release unit including an operating portion advanceable from and retreatable to the connector case, and a latch portion configured to latch to a portion of the lock mechanism and a portion of the fitting detecting mechanism with the operating portion being retreated to the connector case,

wherein, upon release of the latching of the latch portion in the fitting state between the power receiving connector and the connector fitting portion, the operating portion of the lock release unit is configured to move in a direction where the operating portion advances from the connector case and become operatable to enable release of the fitting state between the power receiving connector and the connector fitting portion,

wherein the lock mechanism comprises

a first lock unit including

a lock arm swingably provided in the connector case, and

a lock claw provided at one end of the lock arm at a side of the power receiving connector and being protrudable and retractable from the connector fitting portion, and

a second lock unit including

an auxiliary arm connected to the lock arm, and

an auxiliary latch piece provided at an end of the auxiliary arm and configured to latch to the latch portion of the lock release unit,

wherein the latching of the auxiliary latch piece to the latch portion of the lock release unit is released with the lock claw being retracted in the connector fitting portion by swing of the lock arm and the auxiliary arm,

wherein the fitting detecting mechanism includes

a latch arm swingably provided in the connector case,

a latch claw provided at one end of the latch arm at a side of the power receiving connector and being protrudable and retractable from the connector fitting portion, and

a latch piece provided at the other end of the latch arm and being latchable to the latch portion of the lock release unit,

wherein the latch claw is provided at a nearer side than the lock claw in a fitting direction where the connector fitting portion is fitted to the power receiving connector, and

wherein the latching of the latch piece to the latch portion of the lock release unit is released with the latch claw being retracted in the connector fitting portion by swing of the latch arm.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the latch claw is provided with the lock claw along the fitting direction.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein

the first lock unit includes a lock piece provided at the other end of the lock arm and being latchable to the latch portion of the lock release unit, and

the lock piece is provided at a position facing the auxiliary latch piece.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein

the first lock unit includes

a lock arm shaft configured to pivotally support the lock arm to be swingable, and

a lock arm bias member configured to bias the lock arm in a direction where the lock claw protrudes from the connector fitting portion,

the fitting detecting mechanism includes

a latch arm shaft configured to pivotally support the latch arm to be swingable, and

a latch arm bias member configured to bias the latch arm in a direction where the latch claw protrudes from the connector fitting portion, and

the lock release unit includes a release bias member configured to bias the lock release unit in the direction where the operating portion advances from the connector case.