US 6,347,952 B1Granted

Connector with locking member and audible indication of complete locking

AssigneeSumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.

InventorsTeruaki Hasegawa, Kiyotaka Kawase

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Abstract

A connector includes first and second housings (10; 20). A lock arm (27) is formed on the second housing (20) and includes a lock (30) and striking portions (31). The lock (30) moves onto a locking projection (13) of the first housing (10) during a connecting operation and engages the locking projection (13) when the housings (10; 20) are connected properly. The striking portions (31) are formed separately from the lock (30) and produce a sound upon striking upon the first housing (10) when the housings (10; 20) are connected properly with each other. Since the striking portions (31) or producing a striking sound and the lock (30) for locking are separately formed, a vertical dimension of an engaging area of the lock (30) with the locking projection (13) can be reduced to suppress a degree of elastic deformation of the lock arm (27) while securely producing the striking sound.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A connector, comprising:

first and second housings that are connectable with each other;
a locking projection formed on the first housing;
an elastically deformable lock arm formed on the second housing;
a lock projecting from the lock arm a selected projecting distance and disposed for interfering with and moving on the locking projection during connection of the housings, such that movement of the lock on the locking projection resiliently deflects the lock arm, the lock arm being elastically restored when the housings are connected properly with each other, such that the lock engages the locking projection to lock the housings together;
and
at least one striking portion disposed in a position on the lock arm to avoid interference with the locking projection, the striking portion projecting from the lock arm a distance greater than the projecting distance of the lock, such that elastic restoring forces of the lock arm cause the striking portion to strike the first housing when the housings are connected properly with each other.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.