CONNECTOR DEVICE AND LOCKING STRUCTURE

• US 20090111312A1
• Filed: 10/23/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Okamoto, Michiaki, Ichio, Toshifumi, Morikawa, Satoshi, Nakata, Takehiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,588,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/357
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6277 comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6335 comprising a handle

Abstract

Rear engageable surfaces (16B) of engageable portions (16) face communicating portions (37) and are inclined to produce forces for pushing another housing (11) forward in a connecting direction with one housing (21) upon receiving resilient restoring forces of leg portions (51) when a pair of connectors (10, 20) reach a properly connected state. A fitting portion (27) of the second connector (20) is formed with slanted surfaces (46) inclined to reduce the width of the fitting portion (27) toward the back side of the fitting portion (27). The slanted surfaces 46 and the first connector (10) are set to come into contact at a position where a clearance is defined before the first connector (10) in the connecting direction with the second connector (20).

Claims

1. A connector assembly, comprising a first connector (10) with a first housing (11) and a second connector (20) with a second housing (21), the first and second connectors (10, 20) being connectable with one another, wherein:

a spring (50) including at least one pair of resiliently displaceable legs (51) being mounted on a mounting portion (35) of second housing (21);

the second housing (21) being formed with passages (36) for receiving engageable portions (16) on the first housing (11) upon connecting the connectors (10, 20);

the legs (51) projecting into the respective passages (36) via communicating portions (37) communicating the passages (36) and the mounting portion (35);

the engageable portions (16) contacting the legs (51) to move forward in the passages while resiliently displacing the legs (51) upon connecting the connectors (10, 20);

engageable surfaces facing rearwardly on of the engageable portions (16) and arranged to face the communicating portions (37) and inclined to produce forces for pushing the other housing (11) forward upon receiving resilient restoring forces of the legs (51) when the connectors (10, 20) reach a properly connected state; and

a fitting space (27) of the second connector (20) is formed with at least one slanted surface (46) inclined to reduce the width of the fitting space (27) toward a back side of the fitting space (27).

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the slanted surface (46) and the first connector (10) are set to contact at a position where a clearance is defined before the first connector (10) in a connecting direction with the second connector (20).

3. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein a part of the first connector (10) to contact the slanted surface (46) of the second connector (20) is formed with at least one inclined surface (17) inclined substantially in conformity with the slanted surface(s) (46).

4. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the spring (50) is displaceable between an inserted position (IP) where the legs (51) project into the passages (36) and a retracted position (RP) where the legs (51) are retracted from the passages (36), and the communicating portions (37) and the legs (51) have guiding portions (37A;

53A) inclined with respect to a displacing direction of the spring (50).

5. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion (35) is on an outer peripheral surface of the second connector (20), and peripherally extending walls (32, 33) provided before and after the mounting portion (35) on the outer peripheral surface of the second connector (20).

6. A locking structure, comprising:

a first member (10;

110) having engageable portions (155);

a second member (20;

150) connectable with the first member (10;

110), the second member (20;

150) having passages (36;

133) that align with the engageable portions (155) when first member (10;

110) is connected with the second member (20;

150);

a spring (50;

140) mounted on a front portion of the second member (20;

150) with respect to a connecting direction with the first member (10;

110), the spring (50;

140) having two resiliently displaceable legs (51;

141), the spring (50;

140) being displaceable transverse to the connecting direction between an inserted position (IP) where the legs (51;

141) project into the passages (36;

133) and a retracted position (RP) where the legs (51;

141) are retracted from the passages (36;

133), the spring (50;

140) being lockingly engaged with the engageable portions (16;

155) of the first member (10;

110) that has been connected properly with the second member (20;

150) when the spring (50;

140) is at the inserted position (IP), the spring (50;

140) canceling the locked state by being displaced to the retracted position (RP); and

an unlocking arm (39;

125;

170) on the second member (20;

150) and extending substantially in the connecting direction, the unlocking arm (39;

125;

170) being inclinable like a seesaw, a pressing portion (42;

127) being formed at a front end portion of the unlocking arm (39;

125;

170) and being between the spring (50;

140) and the first member (10;

110) for displacing the spring (50;

140) from the inserted position (IP) and an unlocking portion (45;

131) formed at a rear end of the unlocking arm (39;

125;

170) for displacing the pressing portion (42;

127).

7. The locking structure of claim 6, further comprising a supporting arm (171) extending substantially in the connecting direction and supporting the unlocking arm (125;

170), a rear end portion of the supporting arm (171) being connected with the rear end of the unlocking arm (125;

170) and a front end of the supporting arm (171) being connected with the second member (150), and a supporting point (173) being formed on one of the unlocking arm (170) and the second member (150) for contacting the other of the unlocking arm (170) and the second member (150) in an intermediate part of the unlocking arm (170) in forward and backward directions when the unlocking portion (131) is pressed to bring the unlocking arm (170) and the second member (150) closer together.

8. The locking structure of claim 6, further comprising guiding tapers (37A;

124A) at sides of entrances to the passages (36;

133) towards which the legs (51;

141) resiliently return for guiding engaging portions (53;

143) of the legs (51;

141) into the passages (36;

133) when the spring (50;

140) is at the retracted position (RP).

9. The locking structure of claim 6, wherein the pressing portion (42;

127) is shaped to be deflected towards the spring (50;

140).

10. A locking structure, comprising:

a first member (250) having engageable portions (255);

a second member (210) connectable with the first member (250), the second member (20;

150) having passages (225) that align with the engageable portions (255) when first member (250) is connected with the second member (210);

a spring (230) mounted on a front portion of the second member (210) with respect to a connecting direction with the first member (250), the spring (230) having two resiliently displaceable legs (231), the spring (230) being displaceable transverse to the connecting direction between an inserted position (IP) where the legs (231) project into the passages (225) and a retracted position (RP) where the legs (231) are retracted from the passages (225), the spring (230) being lockingly engaged with the engageable portions (255) of the first member (250) that has been connected properly with the second member (210) when the spring (230) is at the inserted position (IP), the spring (230) canceling the locked state by being displaced to the retracted position (RP); and

a slider (240;

290) assembled with the second member (210) and being displaceable substantially along the connecting direction with the first member (250), the slider (240;

290) being formed with at least one pressing surface (247;

291) inclined to press the spring (230) to the retracted position (RP) as the slider (240;

290) is displaced.

11. The locking structure of claim 10, wherein a contact (248) projects from the slider (240;

290) for contacting the first member (250) in the connecting direction after the spring (230) is displaced to the retracted position (RP).

12. The locking structure of claim 10, further comprising guiding tapers (226A) at sides of entrances to the passages (225) towards which the legs (231) resiliently return for guiding engaging portions (233) of the legs (231) into the passages (225) when the spring (230) is at the retracted position (RP).

13. The locking structure of claims 10, wherein the spring (230) reaches the retracted position (RP) from the inserted position (IP) by being displaced in a direction towards the first member (250).

14. The locking structure of claim 13, wherein the contact (248) projects substantially in the connecting direction at a side of the spring (230) substantially opposite to the second member (210).

15. The locking structure of claim 10, wherein the slider (240;

290) is configured to press a substantially central part of the spring (230) between the legs (231).

16. The locking structure of claim 10, further comprising at least one lift preventing portion (227) arranged at a side of the slider (230) substantially opposite to the second member (210).

17. A locking structure, comprising:

a first member (350) having engageable portions (355);

a second member (310) connectable with the first member (350), the second member (310) having passages (325) that align with the engageable portions (355) when first and second members (350;

310) are connected;

a spring (340) mounted on a front portion of the second member (310) with respect to a connecting direction with the first member (350), the spring (340) having two resiliently displaceable legs (341) and being displaceable transverse to the connecting direction between an inserted position (IP) where the legs (341) project into the passages (325) and a retracted position (RP) where the legs (231) are retracted from the passages (325), the spring (340) being locked with the engageable portions (355) of the first member (350) that has been connected properly with the second member (310) when the spring (340) is at the inserted position (IP), the spring (340) canceling the locked state by being displaced to the retracted position (RP); and

an unlocking arm (327) on the second member (310) and extending substantially in the connecting direction, the unlocking arm (327) being inclinable like a seesaw, a pressing portion (329) being formed at a front end portion of the unlocking arm (327) and being between the spring (340) and the first member (350) for displacing the spring (340) from the inserted position (IP) and an unlocking portion (45;

131) formed at a rear end of the unlocking arm (39;

125;

170) for displacing the pressing portion (42;

127), the unlocking arm (327) including at least one bulge (332) at a side of the spring (340) substantially opposite to the pressing portion (329).

18. The locking structure of claim 17, wherein the bulge (332) aligns with a substantially middle part of the spring (340) between the legs (341).

19. The locking structure of claim 17, wherein the pressing portion (329) is shaped to be deflected towards the spring (340).

20. The locking structure of claim 17, wherein the spring (340) is mounted in a substantially circumferentially extending groove portion (324) formed in the one member (310).