US5584721A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector
Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-05-15
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Granted: 1996-12-17
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Expires: 2016-05-15
Abstract
Abstract This invention prevents a wrong contact of terminals when one of a pair of connector housings is inserted into the other housing in a slanted position. In the connector of this invention, a female connector housing 12 is provided on opposite ends with guide ribs 21 which extend in an insertion direction and serve as guide elements when the female connector housing 12 advances into a hood 13. The female connector housing 12 is provided with a wedge like resistance-applying projection 24 which extends vertically while a male connector housing 11 is provided on an interior of the hood 13 with a groove in which the projection 24 advances. Upon insertion of the female connector housing 12, the projection 24 press-contacts with a slot 25 so as to generate an insertion resistance, thereby correcting an imbalance of the insertion resistance of the terminals 14.
Inventors
- 👤 Osamu Taniuchi
- 👤 Youichi Nankoh
- 👤 Hiroyuki Nakata
- 👤 Makoto Fukamachi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:34
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/629; H01R13/62933; H01R13/62938
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
380 words
A lever action connector comprising: a pair of connector housings including a female connector housing having opposing end walls and opposing side walls with opposite side ends, and a male connector housing having a hood; a plurality of terminals provided on each of said connector housings, said terminals having a variable distribution density such that a distribution density is lower in one half area of each of said connector housings than the distribution density in the other half area of each of said connector housings; a coupling mechanism comprising a lever having cam grooves for effecting a lever action, said lever being rotatably attached to said male connector housing, and bosses respectively positioned at lower, central portions of said opposite side walls of said female connector housing, said bosses being operative to respectively engage in said cam grooves, such that when said lever is rotated with said bosses engaged in said cam grooves, said bosses are pushed down by said cam grooves thereby displacing said female connector housing in a coupling direction in said hood of said male connector housing so that said terminals are interconnected against their mechanical insertion resistance, so as to create areas of varying levels of mechanical insertion resistance due to the variable distribution density of said terminals; a resistance-applying means provided on said connector housings at said one half area associated with a low level of said mechanical insertion resistance of said terminals so as to give a resistance against a displacement of one housing relative to the other housing, said resistance-applying means comprising a pair of spaced apart, wedge-shaped projections which extend vertically on one of said end walls, which is associated with said one half area and which is on a side toward which said lever is rotated during coupling of said connector housings, of said female connector housing, and a pair of corresponding slots provided within said hood of said male connector housing; and four guide ribs, with two of said guide ribs disposed on each of said opposite side ends of said female connector housing, and four corresponding guide grooves disposed on said hood of said male connector housing, thereby assuring that said female connector housing is limited to move vertically by engagement of said guide ribs with said guide grooves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
380 words
A lever action connector comprising: a pair of connector housings including a female connector housing having opposing end walls and opposing side walls with opposite side ends, and a male connector housing having a hood; a plurality of terminals provided on each of said connector housings, said terminals having a variable distribution density such that a distribution density is lower in one half area of each of said connector housings than the distribution density in the other half area of each of said connector housings; a coupling mechanism comprising a lever having cam grooves for effecting a lever action, said lever being rotatably attached to said male connector housing, and bosses respectively positioned at lower, central portions of said opposite side walls of said female connector housing, said bosses being operative to respectively engage in said cam grooves, such that when said lever is rotated with said bosses engaged in said cam grooves, said bosses are pushed down by said cam grooves thereby displacing said female connector housing in a coupling direction in said hood of said male connector housing so that said terminals are interconnected against their mechanical insertion resistance, so as to create areas of varying levels of mechanical insertion resistance due to the variable distribution density of said terminals; a resistance-applying means provided on said connector housings at said one half area associated with a low level of said mechanical insertion resistance of said terminals so as to give a resistance against a displacement of one housing relative to the other housing, said resistance-applying means comprising a pair of spaced apart, wedge-shaped projections which extend vertically on one of said end walls, which is associated with said one half area and which is on a side toward which said lever is rotated during coupling of said connector housings, of said female connector housing, and a pair of corresponding slots provided within said hood of said male connector housing; and four guide ribs, with two of said guide ribs disposed on each of said opposite side ends of said female connector housing, and four corresponding guide grooves disposed on said hood of said male connector housing, thereby assuring that said female connector housing is limited to move vertically by engagement of said guide ribs with said guide grooves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
378 words
A lever action connector comprising: a pair of connector housings including a female connector housing having opposing end walls and opposing side walls with opposite side ends, and a male connector housing having a hood; a plurality of terminals provided on each of said connector housings, said terminals having a variable distribution density such that a distribution density is lower in one half area of each of said connector housings than the distribution density in the other half area of each of said connector housings; a coupling mechanism comprising a lever having cam grooves for effecting a lever action, said lever being rotatably attached to said male connector housing, and bosses respectively positioned at lower, central portions of said opposite side walls of said female connector housing, said bosses being operative to respectively engage in said cam grooves, such that when said lever is rotated with said bosses engaged in said cam grooves, said bosses are pushed down by said cam grooves thereby displacing said female connector housing in a coupling direction in said hood of said male connector housing so that said terminals are interconnected against their mechanical insertion resistance, so as to create areas of varying levels of mechanical insertion resistance due to the variable distribution density of said terminals; a resistance-applying means provided on said connector housings at said one half area associated with a low level of said mechanical insertion resistance of said terminals so as to substantially even out said areas of varying levels of mechanical insertion resistance, said resistance-applying means comprising a pair of spaced apart, wedger-shaped projections which extend vertically on one of said end walls, which is associated with said one half area and which is on a side toward which said lever is rotated during coupling of said connector housings, of said female connector housing, and a pair of corresponding slots provided within said hood of said male connector housing; and four guide ribs, with two of said guide ribs disposed on each of said opposite side ends of said female connector housing, and four corresponding guide grooves disposed on said hood of said male connector housing, thereby assuring that said female connector housing is limited to move vertically by engagement of said guide ribs with said guide grooves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
378 words
A lever action connector comprising: a pair of connector housings including a female connector housing having opposing end walls and opposing side walls with opposite side ends, and a male connector housing having a hood; a plurality of terminals provided on each of said connector housings, said terminals having a variable distribution density such that a distribution density is lower in one half area of each of said connector housings than the distribution density in the other half area of each of said connector housings; a coupling mechanism comprising a lever having cam grooves for effecting a lever action, said lever being rotatably attached to said male connector housing, and bosses respectively positioned at lower, central portions of said opposite side walls of said female connector housing, said bosses being operative to respectively engage in said cam grooves, such that when said lever is rotated with said bosses engaged in said cam grooves, said bosses are pushed down by said cam grooves thereby displacing said female connector housing in a coupling direction in said hood of said male connector housing so that said terminals are interconnected against their mechanical insertion resistance, so as to create areas of varying levels of mechanical insertion resistance due to the variable distribution density of said terminals; a resistance-applying means provided on said connector housings at said one half area associated with a low level of said mechanical insertion resistance of said terminals so as to substantially even out said areas of varying levels of mechanical insertion resistance, said resistance-applying means comprising a pair of spaced apart, wedger-shaped projections which extend vertically on one of said end walls, which is associated with said one half area and which is on a side toward which said lever is rotated during coupling of said connector housings, of said female connector housing, and a pair of corresponding slots provided within said hood of said male connector housing; and four guide ribs, with two of said guide ribs disposed on each of said opposite side ends of said female connector housing, and four corresponding guide grooves disposed on said hood of said male connector housing, thereby assuring that said female connector housing is limited to move vertically by engagement of said guide ribs with said guide grooves.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-12-17 | 2000-06-17 | 2000-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-17 | 2004-06-17 | 2004-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-17 | 2008-06-17 | 2008-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |