Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Limited

Kaoru Watanabe

Hajime Kawase

Toshikazu Saba

Akira Nabeshima

Akira Nebeshima

A bolt provided on a female connector housing is tightened relative to a nut, provided on a male connector housing, displacing the two connector housings relative to each other in a connecting direction, thereby fitting them together. An upwardly-extending, bar-like projection portion is provided on the male connector housing. A detection member is provided in an insertion hole formed in the female connector housing. When the two connector housings are displaced relative to each other in the connecting direction, the projection pin and the detection member cooperate to indicate a fitting-completed condition, enabling easily perceived completion of the connection. Alternatively, the male and female connector housings include electrically engageable sensing elements that indicate the fitting-completed condition.

Matable connector

This invention aims to provide a connector in which a stationary connector housing is provided on its flange with a cushion member to be closely attached to a panel to give a stable seal function regardless of a change of thickness of the panel. A male connector housing 13 of the connector is provided on an upper periphery on a hood 13b with a flange 13d. The male connector housing 13 is provided with securing fixtures 19 made of a leaf spring material. The housing 13 is secured to a periphery around an opening 12a in a panel 12 by clamping it between an upper elastic piece 19a and a flange 13d. The flange 13d is provided on its upper face with a cushion member 20 which is softer than a seal member 16 of a waterproofing cover 17. When a female connector housing 14 is fitted to the male connector housing 13, the seal member 16 closely contacts with a surface of the panel. A compressive deformation of the cushion member 20 makes a distance between the upper face of the flange 13d and a lower end of the seal member 16 a given value.

Connector having a soft cushion member

An electrical connector attached to a door or body panel of an automobile for wiring electrical parts includes a body having a front opening and holding, in it, terminals capable of fitting with counterpart terminals, respectively. A pair of locking arms each capable of flexing inwardly are provided at the outer periphery of the body. Each locking arm has a concave-convex engagement structure engaged with an edge of the panel defining a mounting hole when the connector is inserted into the mounting hole. A pair of deformation preventing portions are formed to the inside of the locking arms to be engaged with the locking arms, respectively. The deformation preventing portions prevent deformation of the locking arms by engaging the locking arms, respectively. The locking arms engage the respective deformation preventing portions when something strikes against the locking arms and the locking arms are flexed inwardly. Each locking arm will not, however, flex excessively due to its engagement with a deformation preventing portion, thereby being protected.

Panel-mounted electrical connector

A protecting cap is used for protecting a plurality of terminals disposed in a cylindrical portion of an electrical connector to be inserted in a mounting hole formed in a panel so that an open end of the cylindrical portion faces the mounting hole. The protecting cap is attached to the open end of the cylindrical portion. The protecting cap includes a lid portion covering the open end of the cylindrical portion of the connector and a pair of engagement members attaching the lid portion to the cylindrical portion of the connector. The lid portion has inclined faces so that the lid portion tapers in a direction away from the open end of the cylindrical portion. Since the protecting cap is tapered, it can be readily inserted into the mounting hole. Upon insertion of the distal end of the cap into the mounting hole, the connector can be guided to a normal position even when it is positionally offset relative to the mounting hole.

Protecting cap for panel-mounted electrical connector

When a retainer is displaced into a provisionally-retained position, a slanting abutment surface of a retaining step is abutted against a rear edge of a main portion of a metal terminal disposed in a half-inserted position. Then, when the retainer is pushed, each projection is guided by a slanting portion of a guide groove, so that the retainer is displaced obliquely forwardly downwardly, and reaches a completely-retained position. During this displacement, a forwardly-acting pressing force is exerted on the metal terminal, so that the metal terminal is automatically pushed deeper into a proper inserted position.

Connector

This invention is directed to a panel-fixed connector which can be readily secured to a panel P and can maintain a stable attached position on the panel P. In the connector, when a lock member 5 is inserted into a clearance 16, a base plate 21 and an attaching piece 22 are inserted into the clearance 16 and an engaging protrusion 19 is engaged with an engaging aperture 30. When the connector is pushed into an attaching hole W in the panel P, a pawl 32 on a locking arm 25 is engaged with the hole W. Then, a slant face 33 of the pawl 32 is not injured by an edge E. Even if the locking arm 25 is deflected, a contacting piece 26 abuts on the base plate 21 thereby restraining a deflection of the arm 25 and preventing the lock member 5 from loosening in the clearance 16.

Panel-fixed type connector

A connector with a lever for reducing the force required for connection between the first and second interlocking connectors. The second connector includes a freely-pivoting lever with a pair of connector guide holes. The first connector includes a pair of guide pins. A connector box secured at any given location includes a connector cavity, with an opening on the mating member side, for the first and second connectors. Guide rails are provided in the connector box housing for guiding the first and second connectors. A lever guide is further provided in the housing for guiding the lever according to the movement of second connector. When the first connector member is pressed against the second connector member housed in the housing, the guide holes engage with the guide pins and the force pulls the first connector member to the second connector member according to the moving position of thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Yokkaichi, Japan

Kaoru Watanabe