Connector unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10135185-B2
Application number	US-201815882931-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2018
Priority date	Mar 29, 2017
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

Provided is a connector unit which can prevent damage to respective parts during rotation of a lever member. A fitting portion of a female outer housing fits with a to-be-fitted portion of a male outer housing, wherein timing of the fitting is after timing of insertion of a guide projection into a guide groove and timing of releasing of a restriction arm by a release projection. Fitting of the fitting portion with the to-be-fitted portion allows an operator to feel a change in force required for operation during moving the male outer housing and the female outer housing toward each other. By rotating the lever member after the operator felt the change in the force, damage to the guide projection and the restriction arm and such can be prevented.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector unit comprising
a tubular first housing;
a second housing arranged to be housed in the first housing; and
a lever member attached to an outer side of the first housing and arranged to fit the first housing with the second housing,
wherein the lever member includes
a pair of plate portions provided so as to sandwich the first housing, and
a connecting portion connecting the pair of plate portions and arranged to be latched onto the first housing,

wherein the plate portion includes
an axis portion to be pivotally supported to the first housing,
a guide groove for guiding the second housing, and
a restriction arm arranged to abut on the first housing to restrict rotation of the lever member around the axis portion,

wherein an outer face of the second housing is provided with
a guide projection arranged to be guided by the guide groove,
a release projection which releases the restriction arm by deforming the restriction arm outward, and
a fitting portion arranged to be fitted with a to-be-fitted portion of the first housing, and

wherein, during the second housing is being housed in the first housing, the guide projection is inserted to a guidable position of the guide groove, and after the restriction arm is released by the release projection, the fitting portion of the second housing is fitted with the to-be-fitted portion of the first housing.

2. The connector unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first housing is formed into a quadrangular tube-like shape with a pair of side face portions arranged to pivotally support the plate portions, a side face portion arranged to latch the connecting portion, and a side face portion provided with the to-be-fitted portion.

3. The connector unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plate portion is provided with a detection arm,
wherein the detection arm is arranged to extend along an extending direction of the tubular first housing in a state before the connecting portion is latched onto the first housing, and is arranged to be deformed inwardly when the connecting portion is latched onto to the first housing, and
wherein the lever member is arranged to rotate such that, in the state before the connecting portion is latched onto the first housing, an inward force is applied to the detection arm whereby the connecting portion is latched onto the first housing.

4. The connector unit as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the plate portion is provided with a detection arm,
wherein the detection arm is arranged to extend along an extending direction of the tubular first housing in a state before the connecting portion is latched onto the first housing, and is arranged to be deformed inwardly when the connecting portion is latched onto to the first housing, and
wherein the lever member is arranged to rotate such that, in the state before the connecting portion is latched onto the first housing, an inward force is applied to the detection arm whereby the connecting portion is latched onto the first housing.

5. The connector unit as claimed in claim 3 , wherein a detection projection is provided on an outer face of the first housing,
wherein the detection projection is arranged to deform the detection arm outward in the state before the connecting portion is latched onto the first housing,
wherein the detection projection includes a slanted face slanted outward as it gets toward a distal end side of the detection arm from a proximal end side of the detection arm,
wherein the lever member is arranged such that, in the state before the connecting portion is latched onto the first housing, when the inward force is applied to the detection arm, the detection arm is guided by the slanted face and goes over the detection projection, thereby allowing the lever member to rotate.

6. The connector unit as claimed in claim 4 , wherein a detection projection is provided on an outer face of the first housing,
wherein the detection projection is arranged to deform the detection arm outward in the state before the connecting portion is latched onto the first housing,
wherein the detection projection includes a slanted face slanted outward as it gets toward a distal end side of the detection arm from a proximal end side of the detection arm,
wherein the lever member is arranged such that, in the state before the connecting portion is latched onto the first housing, when the inward force is applied to the detection arm, the detection arm is guided by the slanted face and goes over the detection projection, thereby allowing the lever member to rotate.

7. The connector unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first housing and the second housing is a tubular outer housing having a housing portion for housing an inner member,
wherein a side face portion of the outer housing is provided with a detection opening through which the housing portion can be seen from outside,
wherein a concaved or convexed detection portion is provided on an outer face of the inner member,
wherein the inner member is arranged to be latched onto the outer housing when a housing amount within the outer housing becomes equal to a proper housing amount, and
wherein the detection portion is arranged such that, when the housing amount is less than the proper housing amount, the detection portion can be seen through the detection opening, whereas when the housing amount becomes equal to the proper housing amount, the detection portion is hidden by the side face portion of the outer housing and cannot be seen.

8. The connector unit as claimed in claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first housing and the second housing is a tubular outer housing having a housing portion for housing an inner member,
wherein a side face portion of the outer housing is provided with a detection opening through which the housing portion can be seen from outside,
wherein a concaved or convexed detection portion is provided on an outer face of the inner member,
wherein the inner member is arranged to be latched onto the outer housing when a housing amount within the outer housing becomes equal to a proper housing amount, and
wherein the detection portion is arranged such that, when the housing amount is less than the proper housing amount, the detection portion can be seen through the detection opening, whereas when the housing amount becomes equal to the proper housing amount, the detection portion is hidden by the side face portion of the outer housing and cannot be seen.

9. The connector unit as claimed in claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first housing and the second housing is a tubular outer housing having a housing portion for housing an inner member,
wherein a side face portion of the outer housing is provided with a detection opening through which the housing portion can be seen from outside,
wherein a concaved or convexed detection portion is provided on an outer face of the inner member,
wherein the inner member is arranged to be latched onto the outer housing when a housing amount within the outer housing becomes equal to a proper housing amount, and
wherein the detection portion is arranged such that, when the housing amount is less than the proper housing amount, the detection portion can be seen through the detection opening, whereas when the housing amount becomes equal to the proper housing amount, the detection portion is hidden by the side face portion of the outer housing and cannot be seen.

10. The connector unit as claimed in claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first housing and the second housing is a tubular outer housing having a housing portion for housing an inner member,
wherein a side face portion of the outer housing is provide

Assignees

• Yazaki Corp

Inventors

• Akagi Yosuke

Classifications

• H01R24/20

  Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable · CPC title

• H01R13/6295

  Pivoting lever comprising means indicating incorrect coupling of mating connectors · CPC title

• H01R13/62938 Primary

  Pivoting lever comprising own camming means · CPC title

• H01R13/62955

  Pivoting lever comprising supplementary/additional locking means · CPC title

• H01R2107/00

  Four or more poles · CPC title