Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Limited

Atsushi Yamaoka

Yukinori Saka

Koji Okutani

An outer conductor () of a shield terminal (T) used by being connected with a shielded cable () is provided with a stabilizer () folded at an intermediate position such that an extending end thereof faces a main portion (). Thus, even if shield terminals (T) touch each other during transportation, inadvertent deformations of tongue pieces () and the stabilizer () can be prevented since the leading end of the stabilizer () is a folded end to have a larger thickness as compared to conventional ones and is unlikely to enter a slit () of another outer conductor () or get caught thereby.

Terminal fitting and a shield terminal

A flexible lock () is disposed on a side plate () of a lever () within a thickness of the side plate (). The flexible lock () can elastically deform toward or away from a side wall of a male housing (). A locking portion () on an inner surface of the flexible lock () is locked to a lock-receiving portion () on an outer surface of the male housing () to lock the lever () at a fit-in position. The lever () does not project out from the lever () in a thickness direction thereof. Thus a connector is compact in its widthwise direction. An unlocking portion () for unlocking the lever () at the fit-in position is nearer an operation portion () of the lever ().

Lever-type connector

A connector has lever-mounting portions () on side surfaces of a female housing (), and forwardly-open introduction grooves () penetrate through the lever-mounting portions (). A lever () is mounted to the lever-mounting portions () and has a rotary shaft () with a gear piece () for engaging a tooth () of a male housing (). A projection () is disposed on the lever () rearward from the rotary shaft (). The lever () is slid along outer surfaces of the lever-mounting portions () with the rotary shafts () and the projections () fit in the introduction grooves (). The rotary shafts () fit in return prevention portions () at the ends of the introduction grooves () to prevent the lever () from returning to an initial position. The lever () can be rotated to connect the housings ().

Connector with easily mountable and efficiently operable lever

A housings () has a lock arm () that engages a mating housing () when the housings () are connected completely. A cover () is mounted slidably on the housing () and is pushed rearward as the housings () are being connected. The cover () is biased forward by springs () that have front ends connected releasably to the cover (). The springs () separate the housings () if the connecting operation is stopped too soon. However the springs () are released from the cover () and expand to an unbiased state when the connection is complete.

Connector and a connector assembly

A connector has a housing ( ) with a lock arm ( ) that engages a lock ( ) of a mating housing ( ) when the housings ( ) are connected properly. Resilient members ( ) are movable along a connecting direction (CD) of the housings ( ) and are displaceable along a direction (RDD) intersecting the connecting direction (CD). The resilient members ( ) are pushed back by the mating housing ( ) as the housings ( ) are connected. A spring ( ) between the resilient member ( ) and the housing ( ) accumulates a biasing force to separate the housings ( ) as the resilient member ( ) is moved back. An operable member ( ) is movable along the connecting direction (CD) and has an operating portion ( ) displaceable to an operable position where the lock arm ( ) can be operated to cancel the locked state.

A reconfigurable interactive kiosk for producing a printout of a digital image. The interactive kiosk includes: a processor for processing digital images. The processor includes memory, display screen, user input device, updatable stored scalable digital images and a hard copy medium connected to the processor for transferring the combined digital image to a hard copy medium that can be a composite image on a single size/type of medium, or on multiple size/types of medium. A camera captures a digital image and provides the captured image to the processor. At least one of a CD ROM drive, a floppy disk drive and a photo scanner may be connected for adding digital images to the user input. Input devices may include a roller ball, keypad, microphone and joystick and/or laser gun and display screen icons for selecting a desired function represented by the selected icon. The processor displays a menu of operational instructions for a user on the display screen that may be a touch screen, which may include animation to aid the user. The kiosk further includes a web interface providing the owner/operator access in order to facilitate upgrades, maintenance, and for ascertaining operations reports for marketing purposes.

A male housing ( ) pushes the front ends of springs ( ), and a pushing portion ( ) at the front end of the male housing ( ) is more backward than the front ends of the springs ( ), and front end portions of the springs ( ) and a front end of the male housing ( ) overlap. Thus, a connector can be made smaller by an overlapping length of the springs ( ) and the male housing ( ).

Connector

A connector has first and second housings ( ). The second housing ( ) has a deformable lock arm ( ) that engages the first housing ( ) when the housings ( ) are connected. A slider ( ) is mounted on the first housing ( ) for movement between a position that prevents deformation of the lock arm ( ) and a position that permits such deformation. Springs ( ) bias the slider ( ) to the deformation preventing position. The slider ( ) has a resilient piece ( ) that is pushed by the first housing ( ) to move the slider ( ) to the deformation permitting position as the housings ( ) are connected. The resilient piece ( ) is deformed when the housings ( ) are connected and the slider ( ) is propelled by the springs ( ) to the deformation preventing position. The housings ( ) can be separated merely by pulling the slider ( ) backward.

A connector assembly has a male housing ( ) with a receptacle ( ) and a female housing ( ) that can be received in the receptacle ( ). The female housing ( ) has a resiliently deformable lock arm ( ) with a projection ( ) for engaging a lock ( ) on the male housing ( ) when the housings ( ) are connected properly. A slider ( ) is movable on the female housing ( ) between a position that permits deformation of the lock arm ( ) and a position that prevents deformation of the lock arm ( ). Coil springs ( ) bias the slider ( ) to the deformation preventing position to lock the properly connected housings ( ) together. The housings ( ) can be separated by deforming the lock arm ( ) and pulling both the slider ( ) and the female housing ( ) back from the male housing ( ).

A female housing ( ) has a slider ( ) movable oblique to a connecting direction with a male connector housing ( ), and a coil spring ( ) for biasing the slider ( ) forward with respect to the connecting direction. As the housings ( ) are connected, a lock ( ) of the male housing ( ) contacts a lock ( ) of the slider ( ) to push the slider ( ) backward. The locks ( ) disengage when the housings ( ) reach a properly connected state. Thus, the restoring force of the coil spring ( ) returns the slider ( ) to its front-end position and the lock ( ) engages a rear side of the lock ( ). As a result, the housings ( ) are locked together.

Connection detecting connector

A connector has male and female housings ( ). A resilient member ( ) is mounted in the female housing ( ) for movement along the connecting direction of the housings ( ), and is biased forwardly toward the male housing ( ) by springs ( ) in the female housing ( ). A front end ( ) of the male housing ( ) pushes the resilient member ( ) rearwardly during a connecting operation and resiliently compresses the springs ( ). A lock arm ( ) on the male housing ( ) locks the housings ( ) together in properly connected state. However, the springs ( ) expand resiliently to separate the housings ( ) if the correcting operation is interrupted prematurely. The female housing ( ) has a cover ( ) that can be moved rearwardly to deflect the lock arm ( ) and to separate the housings ( ).

Connector and use thereof

A connector has male and female housings ( ) that are fitted to each other. A pushable portion ( ) is pushed by a pushing portion ( ) of the male housing ( ) so that a slider ( ) resiliently compresses springs ( ) to move the slider ( ) back in the female housing ( ) while accumulating biasing forces that urge the slider ( ) forward. Guidable portions ( ) of the slider ( ) are engaged with guides ( ) in a terminal accommodating portion ( ), and the slider ( ) is inclined about axes of supporting pins ( ) at its rear. When the housings ( ) are connected properly and the slider ( ) is inclined sufficiently, the pushable portion ( ) disengages from the pushing portion ( ), and the biasing forces of the springs ( ) are released. As a result that the slider ( ) is moved forward at an inclined posture.

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Yokkaichi, Japan

Atsushi Yamaoka