Connector construction and a method for connecting a pair of connectors
AssigneeSumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
InventorMasashi Saito
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Female and male connectors (10, 20) are provided on body and trim panels (1, 5), respectively. A supporting plate (35) is raised from the trim panel (5), and a loose hole (36) is formed in the supporting plate (35). A leg (31) projects from a bottom end of the male connector (20) and a fastening plate (32) is at the leading end of the leg (31). The leg (31) is inserted into the loose hole (36) and the fastening plate (32) engages surface areas adjacent the loose hole (36). A guiding receptacle (50) is provided on the bottom surface of a holder (11) of the female connector (10). The leg (31) moves in the loose hole (36) of the supporting plate (35) during connection to correct displacement.
Claims13
A connector connecting construction for achieving electrical connection between first and second connectors (10;
- 20) while mounting a first member (1) and a second member (5), the first connector (10) being mounted to the first member (1), the construction comprising:
- a supporting plate (35) supported in spaced relationship to the second member (5), the supporting plate (35) having opposed first and second surfaces and being formed with a hole (36) extending between the surfaces, the second connector (20) being slidably disposed substantially adjacent the first surface of the supporting plate (35);
- a leg (31) extending rigidly from the second connector (20) and through the hole (36) of the supporting plate (35), the leg (31) having a leading end and dimensioned to define a clearance with respect to the hole (36);
- and
- a fastening portion (32) at the leading end of the leg (31) and slidably disposed substantially adjacent the second surface of the supporting plate (35).
A connector assembly for achieving electrical connection while mounting a first member (1) and a second member (5) together, the connector assembly, comprising:
- a first connector (10) mounted to the first member (1);
- a second connector (20) for connection to the first connector (10);
- a supporting plate (35) supported in spaced relationship to the second member (5), the supporting plate (35) having opposed first and second surfaces and being formed with a loose hole (36) extending between the surfaces, the second connector (20) being slidably disposed substantially adjacent the first surface of the supporting plate (35);
- a leg (31) extending rigidly from the second connector (20) and being inserted through the loose hole (36) of the supporting plate (35), the leg (31) having a leading end and being dimensioned to define a clearance with respect to the loose hole (36);
- and
- a fastening portion (32) at the leading end of the leg (31) and being slidably disposed substantially adjacent the second surface of the supporting plate (35).
A method for achieving electrical connection while mounting a mountable member (5) to a fixed member (1), comprising the following steps:
- mounting a first connector (10) on the fixed member (1);
- mounting a second connector (20) on the mountable member (5), the second connector (20) being formed with a leg (31) having a leading end and a fastening portion (32) at the leading end of the leg (31);
- providing a supporting plate (35) formed with a loose hole (36) that is cross-sectionally larger than the leg (31), the loose hole (36) having an opening edge;
- inserting the leg (31) into the loose hole (36) such that the fastening portion (32) tightly holds the opening edge of the loose hole (36) in cooperation with the second connector (20).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.