EP0459448B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Electric connector assembly
Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
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Filing: 1991-05-29
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Granted: 1995-03-01
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Expires: 2011-05-29
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Hajime Kawase
- 👤 Shozo Hamakita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:44
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/629; H01R13/62933; H01R13/62938
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
368 words
A connector assembly which comprises, in combination: a first connector housing (1) having a plurality of first electric terminal elements; a second connector housing (2) having a corresponding number of second electric terminal elements adapted to be electrically connected with the first electric terminal elements when the first and second connector housings are connected together; a pair of engagement pin members (4) mounted on the first connector housing so as to protrude outwardly therefrom and positioned on respective sides of said first connector housing; a lock handle (7) having a pair of spaced apart arms (8a,8b) and a handle bar (9) connected at opposite ends with said arms, said lock handle also having an axis of rotation (11) thereof substantially perpendicular to each of the arms and being angularly displaceably mounted on the second connector housing with said arms positioned on respective sides thereof for rotation between a release position, in which said first and second connector housings are separated from each other, and a locked position in which said first and second connector housings are connected together with the first terminal elements electrically completely connected with the second terminal elements; a shaped cam means (10d) defined in a free end portion of each of the arms and cooperable with the corresponding engagement pin member (4), said shaped cam means being of a generally arcuate shape having a center of curvature which is located offset from the axis of rotation of the lock handle whereby, as the lock handle is rotated from the release position towards the locked position after the first and second connector housings have been aligned with each other, the corresponding engagement pin member is guided along the shaped cam means allowing the first connector housing to be drawn relative to and close towards the second connector housing thereby to accomplish a complete electric connection between the first and second terminal elements upon arrival of the lock handle at the locked position; characterized by each of said engagement pin members having a friction-reducing element (4f) to facilitate a relative movement of the respective engagement pin member (4) along the shaped cam means during the rotation of the lock handle between the release and locked positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
The connector assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said shaped cam means comprises a generally arcuate guide slot defined in the free end portion of each of the arms of the lock handle and having leading and trailing ends with respect to the direction of rotation of the lock handle from the release position towards the locked position and, said arcuate guide slot being delimited by long and short cam edges opposite to and spaced a predetermined distance from each other and between the leading and trailing ends, and wherein an area of the free end of each arm adjacent the leading end of the arcuate guide slot has a straight guide slot defined therein for receipt of and guiding the associated engagement pin member into the leading end of the arcuate guide slot when the first and second connector housings are brought into abutment with each other while the lock handle is held in the release position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The connector assembly as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each of said engagement pin members is rotatably carried by the first connector housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The connector assembly as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein each of said engagement pin members comprises a shank portion connected at one end to the first connector housing and the opposite end formed with a radially outwardly extending head and wherein said friction-reducing element comprises a generally tubular member rotatably mounted on the shank of the respective engagement pin member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The connector assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, further comprising a detecting means for detecting a complete arrival of the lock handle to the locked position and for providing an indication that, consequent upon the complete arrival of the lock handle at the locked position, the first and second terminal members are electrically completely connected together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The connector assembly as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said detecting means comprises a pair of first contact elements carried by the first connector housing and adapted to be electrically connected with a detector for providing the indication, and a pair of second contact elements carried by the lock handle and electrically connected with each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The connector assembly as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the lock handle is made of electroconductive material and wherein said second contact elements are constituted by different portions of the lock handle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
The connector assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 7, wherein each of said engagement pin members comprises a shank portion connected at one end to the first connector housing and the opposite end formed with a radially outwardly extending head so as to have a diameter greater than the predetermined distance between the long and short cam edges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
164 words
The connector assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein said shaped cam means comprises a generally arcuate guide groove defined in the free end portion of each of the arms of the lock handle and having leading and trailing ends with respect to the direction of rotation of the lock handle from the release position towards the locked position and, said arcuate guide slot being delimited by long and short cam edges opposite to and spaced a predetermined distance from each other and between the leading and trailing ends, and wherein an area of the free end of each arm adjacent the leading end of the arcuate guide slot has a straight guide groove defined therein for receipt of and guiding the associated engagement pin member into the leading end of the arcuate guide groove when the first and second connector housings are brought into abutment with each other while the lock handle is held in the release position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
The connector assembly as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said arcuate guide groove is of a generally T-shaped cross-sectional shape and wherein each of said engagement pin members comprises a shank portion connected at one end to the first connector housing and the opposite end formed with a radially outwardly extending head so as to represent a generally T-shaped configuration complemental to the cross-sectional shape of the arcuate guide groove.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The connector assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10, comprising a temporary retaining means for retaining the lock handle at the release position thereby to avoid an arbitrary motion of the lock handle about the axis of rotation thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
The connector assembly as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said temporary retaining means comprises a detent projection and a detent receptacle, one of said detent projection and receptacle being formed on one of the second connector housing and each of the arms of the lock handle and the other of said detent projection and receptacle being formed on the other of the second connector housing and each of the arms.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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