# US 2018/0323554 A1 · Electric Connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0323554 A1 - Document ID: US20180323554A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/968,114 - Filed: 2018-05-01 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-02 - Assignees: Fujikura Ltd. - Applicants: Fujikura Ltd. - Inventors: Koichi YOKOTA; Masatoshi MARUISHI; Jinichi MASHIYAMA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180323554A1 ## CPC - H01R 13/684: the fuse being removable - H01R 13/02: Contact members - H01R 13/502: composed of different pieces (H01R13/514 takes precedence) - H01R 13/62927: {Comprising supplementary or additional locking means} - H01R 13/639: Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, {e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap} - H01R 13/641: by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement - H01R 13/71: Contact members of coupling parts operating as switch {, e.g. linear or rotational movement required after mechanical engagement of coupling part to establish electrical connection} - H01R 24/005: {requiring successive relative motions to complete the coupling, e.g. bayonet type} - H01R 13/696: the fuse being integral with the terminal, e.g. pin or socket - H01R 2201/26: for vehicles - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract An electric connector includes a socket connector, a plug connector having a bar shape for connecting an electric circuit, the plug connector capable of insertion into and removed from the socket connector and to be rotatable between unlocked and locked positions about an axis thereof, a pair of detection terminals opposing across the plug connector, and a conductive member for providing electric conduction between the pair of detection terminals in the locked position of the plug connector. The conductive member includes a pair of pressed pieces arranged between the pair of detection terminals and the plug connector, spaced away from the detection terminals in the unlocked position of the plug connector, but pressed by an outer surface of the plug connector in the locked position of the plug connector to bring contact portions thereof into contact with the detection terminals and a coupling piece coupling the pair of pressed pieces. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electric connector with a socket connector and a plug connector having a bar shape for connecting an electric circuit, the plug connector being arranged to be capable of being inserted to and removed from the socket connector and to be rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position about an axis thereof, the electric connector comprising: a pair of detection terminals opposing across the plug connector; and a conductive member for providing electric conduction between the pair of detection terminals in the locked position of the plug connector, the conductive member including: a pair of pressed pieces arranged between the pair of detection terminals and the plug connector, the pair of pressed pieces being spaced away from the detection terminals in the unlocked position of the plug connector, but being pressed by an outer surface of the plug connector in the locked position of the plug connector to bring contact portions thereof into contact with the detection terminals; and a coupling piece connecting the pair of pressed pieces. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electric connector according to claim 1, wherein the plug connector includes, on an outer surface thereof, proximal surfaces a distance of which from the axis is short and distal surfaces a distance of which from the axis is longer than a distance from the axis to the proximal surfaces, and the pressed pieces are pressed by the distal surfaces in the locked position of the plug connector to bring contact portions thereof into contact with the detection terminals. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electric connector according to claim 2, wherein the distal surfaces are formed as a curved surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electric connector according to claim 1, wherein the pressed pieces include extended portions extending along the detection terminals between pressed portions pressed by an outer surface of the plug connector in the locked position of the plug connector and the contact portions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The electric connector according to claim 2, wherein the pressed pieces include extended portions extending along the detection terminals between pressed portions pressed by an outer surface of the plug connector in the locked position of the plug connector and the contact portions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The electric connector according to claim 3, wherein the pressed pieces include extended portions extending along the detection terminals between pressed portions pressed by an outer surface of the plug connector in the locked position of the plug connector and the contact portions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electric connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of pressed pieces includes the two contact portions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) An electric connector according to claim 2, wherein each of the pair of pressed pieces includes the two contact portions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The electric connector according to claim 3, wherein each of the pair of pressed pieces includes the two contact portions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The electric connector according to claim 4, wherein each of the pair of pressed pieces includes the two contact portions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The electric connector according to claim 5, wherein each of the pair of pressed pieces includes the two contact portions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The electric connector according to claim 6, wherein each of the pair of pressed pieces includes the two contact portions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electric connector according to claim 1, wherein the socket connector includes, on a side surface thereof, an opening into which the conductive member can be inserted in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the coupling piece includes a holding portion protruding in a direction of insertion of the conductive member into the opening and held in the socket connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The electric connector according to claim 2, wherein the socket connector includes, on a side surface thereof, an opening into which the conductive member can be inserted in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the coupling piece includes a holding portion protruding in a direction of insertion of the conductive member into the opening and held in the socket connector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) The electric connector according to claim 3, wherein the socket connector includes, on a side surface thereof, an opening into which the conductive member can be inserted in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the coupling piece includes a holding portion protruding in a direction of insertion of the conductive member into the opening and held in the socket connector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) The electric connector according to claim 4, wherein the socket connector includes, on a side surface thereof, an opening into which the conductive member can be inserted in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the coupling piece includes a holding portion protruding in a direction of insertion of the conductive member into the opening and held in the socket connector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 5) The electric connector according to claim 5, wherein the socket connector includes, on a side surface thereof, an opening into which the conductive member can be inserted in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the coupling piece includes a holding portion protruding in a direction of insertion of the conductive member into the opening and held in the socket connector. ### Claim 18 (depends on 6) The electric connector according to claim 6, wherein the socket connector includes, on a side surface thereof, an opening into which the conductive member can be inserted in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the coupling piece includes a holding portion protruding in a direction of insertion of the conductive member into the opening and held in the socket connector. ### Claim 19 (depends on 7) The electric connector according to claim 7, wherein the socket connector includes, on a side surface thereof, an opening into which the conductive member can be inserted in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the coupling piece includes a holding portion protruding in a direction of insertion of the conductive member into the opening and held in the socket connector. ### Claim 20 (depends on 8) The electric connector according to claim 8, wherein the socket connector includes, on a side surface thereof, an opening into which the conductive member can be inserted in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the coupling piece includes a holding portion protruding in a direction of insertion of the conductive member into the opening and held in the socket connector. ### Claim 21 (depends on 9) The electric connector according to claim 9, wherein the socket connector includes, on a side surface thereof, an opening into which the conductive member can be inserted in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the coupling piece includes a holding portion protruding in a direction of insertion of the conductive member into the opening and held in the socket connector. ### Claim 22 (depends on 10) The electric connector according to claim 10, wherein the socket connector includes, on a side surface thereof, an opening into which the conductive member can be inserted in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the coupling piece includes a holding portion protruding in a direction of insertion of the conductive member into the opening and held in the socket connector. ### Claim 23 (depends on 11) The electric connector according to claim 11, wherein the socket connector includes, on a side surface thereof, an opening into which the conductive member can be inserted in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the coupling piece includes a holding portion protruding in a direction of insertion of the conductive member into the opening and held in the socket connector. ### Claim 24 (depends on 12) The electric connector according to claim 12, wherein the socket connector includes, on a side surface thereof, an opening into which the conductive member can be inserted in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the coupling piece includes a holding portion protruding in a direction of insertion of the conductive member into the opening and held in the socket connector. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The electric connector according to claim 1, comprising an elastic body arranged between an end of the plug connector and the socket connector and to which an end of the plug connector is pressed. ### Claim 26 An electric connector with a socket connector and a plug connector having a bar shape for connecting an electric circuit, the plug connector being arranged to be capable of being inserted to and removed from the socket connector and to be rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position about an axis thereof, the electric connector comprising: a pair of detection terminals opposing across the plug connector; a conductive member for providing electric conduction between the pair of detection terminals in the locked position of the plug connector; and an elastic body arranged between an end of the plug connector and the socket connector and to which an end of the plug connector is pressed.