# US 10,483,677 B2 · Connector

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- Number: US 10,483,677 B2
- Document ID: US10483677B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/959,391
- Filed: 2018-04-23
- Published: 2018-10-25
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-04-21
- Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
- Applicants: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
- Inventors: Masahiro Iida
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483677B2

## CPC

- H01R 13/4364: {Insertion of locking piece from the front}
- H01R 13/5221: {having cable sealing means}
- H01R 13/6271: {Latching means integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence)}
- H01R 13/641: by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
- H01R 13/5219: {Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal}
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

A connector includes a housing body (11) having a reference surface (18) extending substantially along a front-rear direction, an arm body (21) extending substantially along the front-rear direction, and legs (22) coupling an intermediate location of the arm body (21) in the front-rear direction and the reference surface (18). The area of the arm body (21) before the location coupled to the legs (22) is a lock (31) and the area behind the location coupled to the legs (22) is a releasing portion (32). The releasing portion (32) is pressed toward the reference surface (18), thereby releasing a locked state of the lock (31) and a mating lock (94). The legs (22) are inclined forward from the side of the reference surface (18) toward the side of the arm body (21).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A connector, comprising:
a housing body having a front end that is connectable to a mating housing and having a reference surface extending substantially along a longitudinal direction;
an arm body extending substantially along the longitudinal direction; and
at least one leg coupling an intermediate location of the arm body in the longitudinal direction and the reference surface,
an area on a front side of the intermediate location of the arm body that is coupled to the leg defining a lock and an area on a rear side of the intermediate location of the arm body that is coupled to the leg and substantially opposite to the front side defining a releasing portion; and
in a process of connecting the housing body to the mating housing, the area on the first side of the intermediate location of the arm body initially deflects away from the reference surface and then resiliently returns so that the lock locks a mating lock on the mating housing, whereas the releasing portion is displaced toward the reference surface for separating the lock from the mating lock and releasing a locked state with the mating lock when the arm body is inclined with the leg defining a support, and wherein
the leg is inclined forward from the reference surface toward the arm body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein a surface of the releasing portion adjacent the leg and facing the reference surface is more distant from the reference surface than a surface of the lock substantially facing reference surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein a surface of the releasing portion substantially facing the reference surface is inclined to be more separated from the reference surface at all locations thereon from the leg toward the rear side.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, further comprising at least one covering wall arranged in a space on a side substantially opposite to a side where the lock substantially faces the reference surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein a part between a surface of the releasing portion facing the reference surface and a rear surface of the leg is formed into a curved surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein a space enclosed by the leg, a portion of the arm body on the side of the releasing portion and the reference surface forms a releasing space for allowing the releasing portion to be displaced.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, further comprising a detector to be inserted into a space of the housing body and substantially slidable with respect to the housing body between an initial position and a detection position to detect a proper connection of the housing body to the mating housing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A connector assembly comprising the connector of claim 1 and a housing body connectable thereto.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein a projecting direction of the leg is inclined forward from the reference surface toward the arm body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein the leg has front and rear surfaces with concave curves joining the arm body and the reference surface, areas of the front and rear surfaces between the concave curves being inclined forward from the reference surface toward the arm body.