Connector with resiliently deflectable lock arm
AssigneeSumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
InventorToshifumi Ichio
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector has a housing (10) with a terminal accommodating portion (11) formed with cavities (19) in which terminal fittings (13) can be accommodated. A receptacle (12) surrounds the terminal accommodating portion (11) and a lock arm (31) is coupled to the receptacle (11) by supports (35). This lock arm (31) is resiliently deformable like a seesaw with the supports (35) as a point of support, and can hold a housing (80) of a male connector fitted between the terminal accommodating portion (11) and the receptacle (12) in its connected state.
Claims13
A connector having a housing comprising a terminal accommodating portion into which at least one terminal fitting is insertable, a receptacle at least partly surrounding the terminal accommodating portion, and a lock arm for holding a mating housing inserted between the terminal accommodating portion and the receptacle in a connected state with the housing, wherein the lock arm has a first surface facing the terminal accommodating portion, a second surface facing away from the terminal accommodating portion and first and second lateral sides extending between the first and second surfaces, the lock arm being coupled to the receptacle by first and second supports projecting laterally from the respective first and second lateral sides of the lock arm, such that the lock arm is resiliently deformable with the supports as pivot points.
A connector having a housing comprising a terminal accommodating portion, cavities extending through the terminal accommodating portion for accommodating terminal fittings, a receptacle at least partly surrounding the terminal accommodating portion and having opposite front and rear ends, a space being defined between the terminal accommodating portion and the receptacle, said space being open at the front end of the receptacle for receiving a mating housing, and an elongated lock arm having opposite front and rear ends, the front end of the lock arm being configured for holding the mating housing inserted into the space between the terminal accommodating portion and the receptacle, the lock arm having a lower surface facing into the space between the terminal accommodating portion and the receptacle, an upper surface facing oppositely from the lower surface and opposite first and second lateral sides coupled respectively to the receptacle by first and second supports projecting laterally from the respective first and second lateral sides of the lock arm at locations intermediate the first and second ends of the lock arm, such that the lock arm is resiliently deformable about the supports.
A connector having a housing comprising a terminal accommodating portion, cavities extending through the terminal accommodating portion for accommodating terminal fittings, a receptacle at least partly surrounding the terminal accommodating portion and having opposite front and rear ends, a space being defined between the terminal accommodating portion and the receptacle, said space being open at the front end of the receptacle for receiving a mating housing, and an elongated lock arm having opposite front and rear ends, the front end of the lock arm being configured for holding the mating housing inserted into the space between the terminal accommodating portion and the receptacle, the lock arm having opposite first and second sides coupled respectively to the receptacle by first and second supports intermediate the first and second ends of the lock arm, such that the lock arm is resiliently deformable about the supports, the connector further comprising at least one auxiliary support coupling the rear end of the lock arm to the terminal accommodating portion and resiliently supporting the lock arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.