Electrical connector

#This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-088880, filed Mar. 28, 2006.

#The invention relates to a connector device comprising a circuit unit that mates with an electrical connector wherein the circuit unit includes a first connector provided with a plurality of contacts and the electrical connector includes a cover member and a second connector provided with a plurality of contacts that is arranged in the cover member.

#It is common for connection failure to occur due to vibration when a pair of electrical connectors is placed in a half-mated state, for example, in locations where a hand cannot be inserted to mate the electrical connectors or in locations where the mating position of the electrical connectors cannot be visually checked. This problem is particularly prominent in automobile applications where a hand can not typically be inserted to mate the pair of electrical connectors because of strict space limitations.

#FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector device consisting of a first embodiment of an electrical connector according to the invention and a circuit unit that mates with and is electrically connected thereto, with the electrical connector being seen from a back side and the circuit unit being seen from a front side;

#FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector device of FIG. 1, with the electrical connector being seen from a front side and the circuit unit being seen from a back side;

#FIG. 3 is a rear view of the connector device of FIG. 1 shown from the back side of the receptacle electrical connector;

#FIGS. 1-23 show a connector device 1 consisting of a first embodiment of an electrical connector 20 according to the invention and a circuit unit 10 that mates with and is electrically connected thereto. As shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 4, the circuit unit 10 comprises a substantially square circuit unit housing 11 and a first connector 12. The first connector 12 has a substantially square first connector housing 13 fastened to a front end (right side in FIG. 4) of the circuit unit housing 11. As shown in FIG. 4, the first connector housing 13 has a width smaller than a width of the circuit unit housing 11. A recess 13a is formed in the first connector housing 13 and opens on a front surface of the first connector housing 13. As shown in FIG. 4, a substantially rectangular contact fastening member 14 that extends in a direction of the width of the first connector housing 13 is provided on an inside of the recess 13a so that the contact fastening member 14 protrudes forward from a bottom of the recess 13a. A plurality of rows of contacts (not shown) is attached to the contact fastening member 14.

#A pair of circuit board fastening members 15 for fastening the first connector housing 13 to a surface of a circuit board (not shown) fastened inside the circuit unit housing 111 is provided on a rear end of the first connector housing 13. Rear end portions of the contacts (not shown) are connected to the circuit board (not shown), for example, by soldering. Locking members 16 are provided on upper and lower surfaces of the contact fastening member 14 and protrude forward there from. An opening 16a is formed in each of the locking members 16. First lock release projections 17 are provided on side surfaces of the contact fastening members 14 in the direction of width at ends thereof. An alignment plate 18 extends forward from substantially a center in the direction of width of a front surface of the contact fastening member 14 slightly toward the upper side in a vertical direction. Pressing projections 19 are provided on the inner surfaces of upper and lower walls of the first connector housing 13 in substantially a center thereof.

#As shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 4, the electrical connector 20 is a receptacle electrical connector and comprises a cover member 21 and a second connector 30. The cover member 21 has a substantially square shape. A circuit unit housing receiving recess 22 that receives the circuit unit housing 11 is formed in a front portion (left side in FIG. 4) of the cover member 21 and a first connector housing receiving recess 23 that receives the first connector housing 13 is formed in a rear portion of the cover member 21. A substantially rectangular connector accommodating member 24 that accommodates the second connector 30 is formed in an interior of the first connector housing receiving recess 23. A through-hole 24a that extends in a forward-rearward direction of the cover member 21 is provided in the interior of the connector accommodating member 24 and is configured to receive the second connector 30. Latch arms 25 are provided on side walls of the connector accommodating member 24 in the direction of width. The latch arms 25 have a substantially cantilever shape and extend forward from a rear portion of the side walls of the connector accommodating member 24 in the direction of width so that tip ends of the latch arms 25 protrude into the through-hole 24a.