Connector assembly with association indicator

An association indicator for a connector assembly comprising a pair of male and female connector housings, in which at least a pair of electrical terminals are separately provided on each of the male and female connector housings and the male connector housing is adapted for insertion into the female connector housing so as to make electrical connection by association of said pair of electric terminals, the association indicator, for indicating association of said pair of electrical terminals, comprising:

• an indicator opening provided in the female connector housing;
• a movable member having an indicator member and being movably arranged inside the female connector housing;
• means for moving the movable member during insertion of the male connector housing into the female connector housing;
• means for guiding the indicator member to the indicator opening as the movable member is moved, in such a manner that the indicator member appears in the indicator opening only when said pair of electrical terminals are mated;
• and
• means for preventing the indicator member from being inserted into the indicator opening past a predetermined position in the indicator opening under an excessive force;
• wherein the prevention means includes an absorber for absorbing said excessive force, the prevention means further includes means for stopping the indicator member at the predetermined position against said excessive force, the movable member being arranged so as to move toward the indicator opening by insertion of the male connector housing, the guide means including a first slant surface provided adjacent to the indicator opening on the female connector housing and a flexible arm which extends from the movable member and has an end directed to the first slant surface, wherein the flexible arm abuts the slant surface and elastically bends when the male connector housing is inserted to guide said end of the flexible arm device into the indicator opening, and the indicator member is an indication face provided on said end of the flexible arm device;
• and
• wherein the flexible arm device has a second slant surface in which inclination of the second slant surface of the flexible arm corresponds substantially to the inclination of the first slant surface of the female connector housing during movement of the movable member toward the indicator opening.

A connector assembly comprising:

• a pair of male and female connector housings, in which at least a pair of electrical terminals are separately provided on each of the male and female connector housings and the male connector housing is adapted for insertion into the female connector housing so as to make electrical connection by association of said pair of electric terminals;
• and
• an association indicator for indicating association of said pair of electrical terminals, the association indicator comprising:
• an indicator opening provided on the female connector housing;
• a movable member having an indicator member at a forward end thereof and being movably arranged inside the female connector housing;
• means for moving the movable member during insertion of the male connector housing into the female connector housing;
• means for guiding the indicator member to the indicator opening as the movable member is moved, in such a manner that the indicator member appears in the indicator opening only when said pair of electrical terminals are mated;
• and
• prevention means for absorbing an excessive force applied to the movable member, the prevention means extending from the movable member at a rear end thereof and engaging with the female connector housing, preventing the indicator member from being inserted into the indicator opening past a predetermined position in the indicator opening under an excessive force applied to the indicator member by insertion of the male connector housing.

A connector assembly comprising;

• a pair of male and female connector housings, in which at least a pair of electrical terminals are separately provided on each of the male and female connector housings and the male connector housing is adapted for insertion into the female connector housing so as to make electrical connection by association of said pair of electric terminals;
• and an association indicator for indicating association of said pair of electrical terminals, the association indicator comprising;
• an indicator opening provided on the female connector housing;
• a movable member having an indicator member and being movably arranged inside the female connector housing;
• means for moving the movable member during insertion of the male connector housing into the female connector housing;
• means for guiding the indicator member to the indicator opening as the movable member is moved, in such a manner that the indicator member appears in the indicator opening only when said pair of electrical terminals are mated;
• and
• means for preventing the indicator member from being inserted into the indicator opening past a predetermined position in the indicator opening under an excessive force applied to the indicator member by insertion of the male connector housing;
• wherein the prevention means includes an absorber for absorbing said excessive force, the prevention means further including a stop means for stopping the indicator member at the predetermined position against said excessive force, the movable member being arranged so as to move toward the indicator opening by insertion of the male connector housing, the guide means including a first slant surface provided adjacent to the indicator opening on the female connector housing and a flexible arm which extends from the movable member and has an end directed to the first slant surface such that the flexible arm abuts the first slant surface and elastically bends when the male connector housing is inserted to guide said end of the flexible arm into the indicator opening, the indicator member including an indication face provided on said end of the flexible arm device;
• and
• wherein the flexible arm device has a second slant surface in which inclination of the second slant surface of the flexible arm corresponds substantially to the inclination of the first slant surface of the female connector housing during movement of the movable member toward the indicator opening.