Electrical connector with a locking mechanism

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical connector with a locking mechanism which is to be locked to a counter electrical connector by insertedly connecting the connector to the counter electrical connector and then conducting a given rotating operation, and in which only a given rotation operation is required for enabling a locking state to be naturally canceled by a spring force. According to the present invention, irrespective of whether the electrical connector has a single pole or plural poles, the connectors can be connected and locked to each other without requiring an adjustment of a lock ring in the peripheral direction, only by determining the fitting position. In the electrical connector with a locking mechanism of the present invention, a lock ring at the initial position is positioned by fitting between a protruding portion disposed on a fitting portion, and a recess portion disposed in a lock ring fitted onto the fitting portion. When the lock ring is positioned by the fitting of the protruding portion and the recess portion, a fitting mechanism conducts the positioning operation and a connector is insertedly connected to the counter connector. Then, an outward projection of the counter electrical connector is fitted into a slot of the lock ring. The lock ring is always urged in the advancing direction by a spring member.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.