# US 11,309,661 B2 · Connector assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,309,661 B2 - Document ID: US11309661B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/089,868 - Filed: 2020-11-05 - Published: 2021-07-29 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-24 - Assignees: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited - Applicants: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited - Inventors: Yusuke Obata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11309661B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/6271: {Latching means integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence)} - H01R 13/6272: {comprising a single latching arm} - H01R 13/631: for engagement only - H01R 13/6315: {allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection (for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence)} - H01R 13/639: Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, {e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap} - H01R 13/506: assembled by snap action of the parts - H01R 13/641: by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A connector assembly comprises a first connector and a second connector mateable with each other along a front-rear direction (X-direction). The first connector comprises a first inner structure and a first outer member having a first lock surface, a first regulation portion and a first abutment portion. The second connector comprises a second inner structure having a second abutment portion, and a second outer member having a second lock surface and a second regulation portion. The second abutment portion is brought into abutment with the first abutment portion when the second connector is mated with the first connector. Under a mated state where the first connector and the second connector are mated with each other, the second lock surface regulates a rearward movement of the second connector relative to the first connector, and the second regulation portion regulates a forward movement of the second connector relative to the first connector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector assembly comprising a first connector and a second connector, wherein: the second connector is mateable with the first connector along a front-rear direction under a state where the first connector is located forward of the second connector in the front-rear direction; the first connector comprises a first inner structure and a first outer member; the first inner structure comprises a first connector body; the first outer member is attached to the first inner structure; the first outer member has a first lock surface, a first regulation portion and a first abutment portion; the first lock surface faces forward; the first regulation portion faces rearward; the first abutment portion faces rearward; the second connector comprises a second inner structure and a second outer member; the second inner structure comprises a second connector body and a second abutment portion; the second connector body is connected to the first connector body under a mated state where the first connector and the second connector are mated with each other; the second abutment portion faces forward; the second abutment portion is brought into abutment with the first abutment portion when the second connector is mated with the first connector; the second outer member is attached to the second inner structure; the second outer member has a second lock surface and a second regulation portion; the second lock surface faces rearward; under the mated state, the second lock surface faces the first lock surface in the front-rear direction and regulates a rearward movement of the second connector relative to the first connector; the second regulation portion faces forward; under the mated state, the second regulation portion faces the first regulation portion in the front-rear direction and regulates a forward movement of the second connector relative to the first connector; the first regulation portion and the first lock surface are apart from each other by a first distance in the front-rear direction; the second regulation portion and the second lock surface are apart from each other by a second distance in the front-rear direction; when the first regulation portion is located forward of the first lock surface, the first distance is longer than the second distance; when the first regulation portion is located rearward of the first lock surface, the first distance is shorter than the second distance; and under the mated state, the second outer member is movable relative to the first outer member along the front-rear direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the second inner structure is held by the second outer member to be movable relative to the second outer member along the front-rear direction by a predetermined distance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein: the first connector body has a facing portion; the second connector body has an end portion; and under the mated state, the facing portion and the end portion are apart from each other and face to each other in the front-rear direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The connector assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein when the second connector is mated with the first connector, the second connector body is received in the first connector body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein a front end of the second outer member is located forward of a front end of the second connector body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein: the first outer member has a first outer-peripheral portion; the first outer-peripheral portion is located outward of the first abutment portion in a perpendicular plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction while a gap is, at least in part, located between the first outer-peripheral portion and the first abutment portion; the second outer member has a second outer-peripheral portion; the second outer-peripheral portion covers the second connector body in the perpendicular plane; and under the mated state, the second outer-peripheral portion is, at least in part, located inside the first outer-peripheral portion in the perpendicular plane and is, at least in part, located in the gap. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the first abutment portion is located rearward of the first connector body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The connector assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the second abutment portion is located rearward of a front end of the second connector body.