Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Limited

Matthew Grant

Yutaka Noro

Masamitsu Chishima

Makoto Fukamachi

Koichi Matsumoto

The invention provides a means of reducing the force required for fitting a lever connector. A connector is divided into partitioned housings L and R. The timing of the fitting operation differs for each of the partitioned housings L and R, thereby causing the time at which peak fitting resistance occurs to differ. The peak fitting resistance being dispersed over the period between the beginning and the ending of the fitting operations of the two partitioned housings L and R. As a result, the overall peak value of the fitting resistance (the force required for the fitting operation) is reduced for the connector as a whole.

Connector

An electrical connector has a cover ( ) attached by a center latching arm ( ) and two side latching arms ( ). The rigidity of a center arm ( ) is decreased, and the rigidity of side arms ( ) is increased, by specifying the material from which a housing ( ) and a cover ( ) are formed. Neither of the two side edges of the center arm ( ) join with other parts. This decreases the rigidity of the center arm ( ). An edge of each side arm ( ) is joined to an L-shaped circumference wall ( ). As a result, the rigidity of the side arms ( ) is high. By this means, the release operation of the center arm ( ) is improved, and the side arms ( ) are not vulnerable to accidental released by a pull on the electric wires ( ).

Electrical connector including a lockingly engageable housing and cover

The present invention relates to a connector wherein a retainer slides from a side direction of a connector housing in which it is to be installed. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of preventing a connector connected in a condition in which the retainer is not installed, and transferred to subsequent processes. As a solution, a housing main body is provided with a slider capable of sliding, the slider is hooked in a regulating position in a condition in which the retainer is not installed on the housing main body, and interferes with detection pins provided on a male connector. Therefore the connection of both the connectors becomes impossible. To the contrary, when the retainer is installed on the housing main body, the slider is transferred from a regulating position to a permitting position by the slider contact part provided on the retainer which does not interfere with the detection pins, and the connection of both connectors is permitted. Thus, connection of the connectors in a condition in which the retainer is not installed, and transfer to subsequent processes can be prevented.

Connector having a terminal retainer

A lever of a lever connector is provided with an identifying means . When two housings and are in a shallowly fitted state, the identifying means allows the positional relationship between the lever and cam pins , relative to the direction of movement of the lever , to be identified visually. When the lever is in a correct stand-by position, the cam pins are entirely covered by a covering member . When the lever is even slightly misaligned from the correct stand-by position, a portion of the cam pin protrudes into an aperture . Thus, it is possible to ascertain whether the lever is in the correct stand-by position according to whether the cam pins are entirely covered.

Lever-type connector

A connector mounting construction includes a male housing (,) with a receptacle (,) into which a mating female housing is fittable. The male housing (,) has a shaft (,) that extends along an axis of connection (Z-axis direction) with the female housing, and a planar base (,). A holder (,) is provided with an accommodating portion (,) for accommodating the base (,), and holds the male housing (,) for sliding movement in directions normal to the axis of connection and for rotation about the axis of connection. Four elastic ribs (,F,,R) are provided to be located around the shaft (,), so that the male housing (,) is biased to a specified proper position. Rotation of the male housing (,) about the axis of connection is restricted by contact of the base (,) with side walls (,) or a rear wall (,) of the accommodating portion (,).

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Yokkaichi, Japan

Matthew Grant