Connector
AssigneeSumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
InventorToshio Yamakado
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector has a housing (12) with a front end that can be inserted through a mount hole (11) in a panel (10). A receptacle (13) is formed by walls at the front end of the housing (12). Resilient deforming pieces (26) are formed in the walls and cantilever rearwardly. Locking claws (19) project out from the free rear ends (27B) of the resilient deforming pieces (26) and inclined walls (27) extend between the locking claws (19) and the front base ends (26A) of the resilient deforming pieces (26). Outer edges of the inclined walls (27) are concavely arcuate to reduce insertion resistance as the inclined walls (27) engage the panel (10) adjacent the mount hole (11).
Claims15
A connector for mounting to a panel (10) having opposite front and rear surfaces and a mount hole (11) extending through the panel (10) from the front surface to the rear surface, the connector comprising:
- a housing (12) having opposite front and rear ends, a receptacle (13) formed at the front end and defined by a plurality of walls, at least one resilient deforming piece (26) having a base end (26A) unitary with one of said walls and a free end (26B) rearward of the base end (26A) and being resiliently deformable substantially along a thickness direction (TD) of the wall, at least one locking claw (19) projecting out from the resilient deforming piece (26) substantially in the thickness direction (TD) and in proximity to the free end (26B) for engaging the front surface of the panel (10) substantially adjacent the mount hole (11) when the front end of the housing (12) is inserted through the mount hole (11) from the rear surface to the front surface of the panel (10), at least one inclined wall (27) extending out from the resilient deforming piece (26) in the thickness direction (TD) from the locking claw (19) towards the base end (26A) and being dimensioned for generating deflection of the resilient deforming piece (26) as the front end of the housing (12) is inserted through the mount hole (11).
A housing (12) for mounting to a panel (10) having opposite front and rear surfaces and a mount hole (11) extending therethrough from the front surface to the rear surface, the housing (12) having opposite front and rear ends and comprising:
- a receptacle (13) at the front end and defined by opposite top and bottom walls and opposite first and second side walls extending between the top and bottom walls;
- a flange (16) projecting out from the receptacle (13) rearward of the front end of the housing (12);
- a rib (20) projecting out from the first side wall of the of the receptacle (13) forward of the flange (16);
- an engaging lock (21) cantilevered forward on the second side wall of the receptacle (13) and having an outwardly projecting lock (23) forward of the flange (16);
- resilient deforming pieces (26) formed respectively in the top and bottom walls and being cantilevered rearwardly from a base end (26A) to a free end (26B);
- a locking claw (19) projecting out from each of said resilient deforming pieces (26) forward of the flange (16);
- and
- at least one inclined wall (27) extending from the locking claw (19) towards the base end (26A) of the respective resilient deforming piece (26), the inclined wall (27) being aligned for generating deflection of the resilient deforming piece (26) as the front end of the housing (12) is inserted through the mount hole (11).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.