Connector with an inertial locking function
AssigneeSumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
InventorTakahiro Shibata
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connection resistance (Ra) caused by a seal (50) reaches a maximum at earlier than a resistance force of an inertial locking means acts. Thus, a total connection resistance (R) created during a connecting operation (10, 20) after the cancellation of inertial locking is reduced by the connection resistance (Ra) caused by the seal (50). Thus, a difference between the operation force (F) required to cancel the resistance of resistance arms (34) and the total connection resistance (F) created after the cancellation of this resistance becomes larger, thereby improving the reliability of an inertial locking function of continuing the connecting operation at a stroke.
Claims14
A connector, comprising:
- first and second housings (10, 20) connectable with each other;
- at least first and second terminal fittings (11, 40) mounted respectively in the first and second housings (10, 20) and connectable with each other with frictional resistance (Rc) while connecting the housings (10, 20);
- and
- an inertial locking means (15, 34) including at least one abutment (15) on the first housing (10) and at least one resistance arm (34) on the second housing (20), the resistance arm (34) being configured for contacting the abutment (15) during connection of the housings (10, 20) and creating a resistance force against a connecting operation of the housings (10, 20), the resistance arm (34) further being configured to deform resiliently in a direction for disengaging the resistance arm (34) from the abutment (15) in response to a resistance canceling force (F) at a selected stage during the connection of the housings (10, 20), thereby canceling the resistance force so that the connection of the housings (10, 20) proceeds efficiently.
A connector, comprising:
- first and second housings (10, 20) connectable with each other;
- at least one abutment (15) on the first housing (10) and at least one resistance arm (34) on the second housing (20), the resistance arm (34) being configured for contacting the abutment (15) during connection of the housings (10, 20) and creating a resistance force against connection of the housings (10, 20), the resistance arm (34) further being configured to deform resiliently and disengage from the abutment (15) in response to a resistance canceling force (F) at a selected stage during the connection of the housings (10, 20), thereby canceling the resistance force;
- and
- a seal (50) mounted along an outer peripheral surface of the second housing (20), at least one resilient contact (51F) at a front end of the seal (50) for contacting an inner peripheral surface (14) of the first housing (10) during connection and creating a connection resistance (Ra) between the seal (50) and the first housing (10), the connection resistance (Ra) between the seal (50) and the first housing (10) reaching a maximum before the resistance arm (34) contacts the abutment (15).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.