Electric connector

An electric connector comprising:

• an insulating casing defining a number of cavities for housing respective electric terminals and having axes parallel to a first direction in which said connector is coupled to a complementary connector;
• a slide fitted to said casing to slide in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, and having cam-type first engaging members for receiving respective second engaging members on said complementary connector to produce a relative coupling movement of said connectors in said first direction when said slide is moved in said second direction into a fully assembled position with respect to said casing;
• and
• an actuating lever connected movably to said casing to move said slide into said fully assembled position, characterized in that said lever comprises at least one hinge portion hinging it to said casing about an axis perpendicular to said first and said second direction;
• and in that said hinge portion comprises, with reference to said axis, an angular coupling portion for engaging said slide, and a free angular portion for releasing the slide.

An electric connector comprising an insulating casing defining a number of cavities for housing respective electric terminals and having axes parallel to a first direction in which said connector is coupled to a complementary connector;

• a slide fitted to said casing to slide in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, and having cam-type first engaging members for receiving respective second engaging members on said complementary connector to produce a relative coupling movement of said connectors in said first direction when said slide is moved in said second direction into a fully assembled position with respect to said casing;
• and releasable constraint means for keeping said slide partly connected to said casing;
• characterized in that said releasable constraint means comprise retaining means for locking said slide to said casing;
• said retaining means being selectively deactivated when coupling said connector to said complementary connector,
• characterized in that said retaining means comprise elastically flexible oneway locking means which interfere with the sliding movement of said slide into said fully assembled position, and which are set by correct engagement of said first and said second engaging members to a deformed configuration allowing said slide to move into said fully assembled position, characterized in that said first engaging members comprise a number of cam grooves formed on said slide;
• and in that said locking means extend through at least one of said grooves, and are set to said deformed configuration by interacting with a relative one of said second engaging members on said complementary connector engaging said one of said grooves,
• characterized in that said locking means comprise at least one elastically flexible member, which is carried by one of said casing and said slide, has an interference portion interfering with the other of said casing and said slide, and is activated by a relative one of said second engaging members on said complementary connector engaging said one of said grooves,
• characterized in that said elastically flexible member projects from said slide, cooperates with an interacting portion of said casing to prevent said slide from moving into said fully assembled position, and is releasable from said interacting portion in said deformed configuration,
• characterized in that said interacting portion is defined by a through opening formed in said casing and engaged by said elastically flexible member,
• characterized in that said elastically flexible member comprises an intermediate portion connected to said slide by an elastic hinge;
• a first end portion engaging said opening in said casing;
• and an opposite second end portion which projects through an inlet portion of said one of said grooves.

An electric connector comprising:

• an insulating casing defining cavities for housing electric terminals and having axes parallel to a first direction in which the connector is coupled to a complementary connector;
• a slide fitted to the casing to slide in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the slide comprises cam-type first engaging areas for receiving respective second engaging areas on the complementary connector to produce a relative coupling movement of the connectors in the first direction when the slide is moved in the second direction into a fully assembled position with respect to the casing;
• and
• a releasable constraint system for keeping the slide partly connected to the casing, wherein the releasable constraint system comprises retainers for locking the slide to the casing in at least two stationary positions, wherein at least one of the retainers is selectively deactivated by the complementary connector when coupling the connector to the complementary connector, wherein the retainers comprises a first retainer for locking the slide in a first one of the stationary positions and a second different retainer for locking the slide in a second one of the stationary positions.