Connector and a connector assembly
AssigneeSumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
InventorsTsuyoshi Mase, Tsutomu Tanaka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A female housing (30) has a lock arm (40) and a resilient assisting piece (50). The assisting piece (50) is deformed by the lock arm (40) as the lock arm (40) is deformed. The assisting piece (50) is restored resiliently as the lock arm (40) resiliently restores and contributes to the resilient restoring force of the lock arm (40). Thus, the lock arm (40) produces a large hitting sound against the mating male housing (10). A hitting portion (52) is at the leading end of the assisting piece (50) and hits a hittable portion (27) on the mating male housing (10) to produce a separate hitting sound. Thus, two separate or simultaneous hitting sounds are produced to provide a clear audible and tactile indication of connection.
Claims20
A connector, comprising:
- a housing (30;
- 30A) for connection with a mating housing (10;
- 10A);
- a resiliently deformable lock arm (40) in the housing (30;
- 30A), the lock arm (40) being deformed in the process of connecting the housing (30;
- 30A) with the mating housing (10;
- 10A) and being resiliently restored upon reaching a specified position for engaging an engaging portion (20) in the mating housing (10;
- 10A) to effect locking while hitting the mating housing (10;
- 10A);
- and
- at least one resilient assisting piece (50;
- 60) in one of the housings (30, 10;
- 30A, 10A), the assisting piece (50;
- 60) being resiliently deformable as the lock arm (40) is deformed, and being resiliently restorable together with the lock arm (40) for hitting a mating hittable portion (27;
- 65, 66) at one or more specified timings with respect to the hitting of the lock arm (40) against the mating housing (10;
- 10A).
A connector, comprising a housing (30;
- 30A) with opposite front and rear ends, a resiliently deformable lock arm (40) extending substantially in a front to rear direction on the housing (30;
- 30A), a pressing piece (46) extending transversely from the lock arm (40), at least one resiliently deformable assisting piece (50;
- 60) formed on the housing (30;
- 30A) and extending substantially parallel to the lock arm (40), at least a portion of the assisting piece (50;
- 60) being between the pressing portion (46) and the housing (30;
- 30A) so that resilient deformation of the lock arm (40) causes the pressing piece (46) to deform the assisting piece (50;
- 60), and so that resilient restoration of the assisting piece (50;
- 60) assists resilient restoration of the lock arm (40).
A connector assembly, comprising:
- a first housing (10;
- 10A) formed with an engaging portion (20);
- a second housing (30;
- 30A) for connection with the first housing (10;
- 10A);
- a resiliently deformable lock arm (40) in the second housing (30;
- 30A), the lock arm (40) being disposed for deforming in the process of connecting the second housing (30;
- 30A) with the first housing (10;
- 10A) and being resiliently restored upon reaching a specified position for engaging the engaging portion (20) in the first housing (10;
- 10A) to effect locking while hitting the first housing (10;
- 10A);
- and
- at least one resilient assisting piece (50;
- 60) in the second housing (30;
- 30A), the assisting piece (50;
- 60) being resiliently deformable as the lock arm (40) is deformed, and being resiliently restorable together with the lock arm (40) for hitting a mating hittable portion (27;
- 65, 66) on the first housing (10;
- 10A).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.