Connector device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9966701-B2
Application number	US-201715663405-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2017
Priority date	Aug 16, 2016
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

In an open position, a power-supply terminal and a detection terminal are not connected to a mating power-supply terminal and a mating detection terminal, respectively. In a predetermined position, the power-supply terminal is connected to the mating power-supply terminal while the detection terminal is not connected to the mating detection terminal. In a closed position, the power-supply terminal and the detection terminal are connected to the mating power-supply terminal and the mating detection terminal, respectively. When the connector is turned toward the predetermined position from the closed position, a first regulating portion regulates a first regulated portion to prevent the connector from reaching the predetermined position. When the connector is turned toward the predetermined position after the regulation is released, a second regulating portion regulates a second regulated portion to prevent the connector from being turned toward the open position beyond the predetermined position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector device comprising a connector and a mating connector which is mateable with the connector, wherein:
the connector comprises a housing, a power-supply terminal and a detection terminal;
the housing is formed with an axis portion;
the power-supply terminal and the detection terminal are held by the housing;
the mating connector comprises a mating housing, a mating power-supply terminal and a mating detection terminal;
the mating housing is formed with a mating axis portion;
one of the axis portion and the mating axis portion is a rotation axis with an axis direction while a remaining one of the axis portion and the mating axis portion is a bearing;
when the axis portion and the mating axis portion are combined, the connector is rotatable around the rotation axis between an open position and a closed position with respect to the mating connector;
the mating power-supply terminal and the mating detection terminal are held by the mating housing;
when the connector is positioned between the open position and the closed position, the connector is located above the mating connector in an up-down direction orthogonal to the axis direction of the rotation axis;
when the connector is positioned in the open position, the power-supply terminal is not connected to the mating power-supply terminal while the detection terminal is not connected to the mating detection terminal;
when the connector is positioned in a predetermined position located between the open position and the closed position, the power-supply terminal is connected to the mating power-supply terminal while the detection terminal is not connected to the mating detection terminal;
when the connector is positioned in the closed position, the power-supply terminal and the detection terminal are connected to the mating power-supply terminal and the mating detection terminal, respectively;
the housing is provided with a first regulated portion and a second regulated portion;
the mating housing is provided with a first regulating portion and a second regulating portion;
one of the housing and the mating housing is provided with a first release portion;
one of the housing and the mating housing is provided with a second release portion;
when the connector is turned from the closed position toward the predetermined position, the first regulated portion is brought into abutment with the first regulating portion and regulated to prevent the connector from reaching the predetermined position;
when the first release portion is operated, regulation by the first regulating portion for the first regulated portion is released;
when the connector is turned toward the predetermined position after releasing the regulation for the first regulated portion, the second regulated portion is brought into abutment with the second regulating portion and regulated to prevent the connector from being turned toward the open position beyond the predetermined position; and
when the second release portion is operated, regulation by the second regulating portion for the second regulated portion is released.

2. The connector device as recited in claim 1 , wherein when the connector is positioned in the closed position, the first regulated portion is in contact with the first regulating portion, so that the connector cannot turn toward the predetermined position beyond the closed position.

3. The connector device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first release portion is provided on one of the housing and the mating housing while the second release portion is provided on a remaining one of the housing and the mating housing.

4. The connector device as recited in claim 3 , wherein:
the rotation axis and the first regulated portion define a first distance therebetween;
the rotation axis and the second regulated portion define a second distance therebetween;
the first distance is shorter than the second distance;
the second release portion has an operable portion;
the operable portion has a first extent when the connector is positioned in the closed position;
the operable portion has a second extent when the connector is positioned in the predetermined position; and
the second extent is larger than the first extent.

5. The connector device as recited in claim 4 , wherein:
the first release portion is provided on the mating housing;
the first release portion has a first spring portion and a first operation portion,
the first spring portion has a first upper end;
the first operation portion is located on the first upper end of the first spring portion;
the first regulating portion is supported by the first spring portion;
the second release portion is provided on the housing;
the second release portion has a second spring portion and a second operation portion;
the second spring portion has a second upper end;
when the connector is positioned in the closed position, the second operation portion is located on the second upper end of the second spring portion; and
the second regulated portion is supported by the second spring portion.

6. The connector device as recited in claim 5 , wherein when the second operation portion is moved outward in a radial direction of turning of the connector to deform the second spring portion resiliently, the regulation by the second regulating portion for the second regulated portion is released.

7. The connector device as recited in claim 6 , wherein when the first operation portion is moved inward in the radial direction of the turning of the connector to deform the first spring portion resiliently, the regulation by the first regulating portion for the first regulated portion is released.

8. The connector device as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the housing is provided with a base portion, a cantilever portion which is resiliently deformable, an additional regulated portion and an additional operation portion;
the cantilever portion extends from the base portion in a first predetermined orientation and has a thickness in a second predetermined orientation orthogonal to the first predetermined orientation;
the additional regulated portion and the additional operation portion are supported by the cantilever portion;
the additional regulated portion has a portion which is located within the thickness of the cantilever portion in the second predetermined orientation;
when the cantilever portion is resiliently deformed, the additional regulated portion is moved at least in the second predetermined orientation;
the mating housing is provided with an additional regulating portion;
when the connector is turned from the open position to an additional predetermined position which is located between the open position and the predetermined position, the portion of the additional regulated portion located within the thickness of the cantilever portion is brought into abutment with the additional regulating portion and regulated to prevent the connector from being turned toward the closed position beyond the additional predetermined position;
when the connector is positioned in the additional predetermined position, the power-supply terminal is connected to the mating power-supply terminal while the detection terminal is not connected to the mating detection terminal; and
when the additional operation portion is operated to deform the cantilever portion resiliently, regulation by the additional regulating portion for the additional regulated portion is released.

9. The connector device as recited in claim 8 , wherein:
the additional regulated portion is provided with a first abutment surface;
the first abutment surface is oriented in a third predetermined orientation opposite to the first predetermined orie

Assignees

• Japan Aviation Electronics Ind Ltd
• Japan Avaition Electronics Industry Ltd

Inventors

• Tabata Yuya
• Hashiguchi Osamu

Classifications

• H01R13/629 Primary

  Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure {electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances (separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26)} · CPC title

• H01R13/641 Primary

  by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement · CPC title

• H01R13/2442

  with a single cantilevered beam · CPC title

• H01R13/6295

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

• H01R13/703

  operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, {e.g. dual-continuity coupling part}(H01R13/71 takes precedence) · CPC title