US5876230A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector
Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
•
Filing: 1997-02-07
•
Granted: 1999-03-02
•
Expires: 2017-02-07
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector assembly includes two connector housings. One of the housings has a locking arm engageable with the other housing in the fully fitted condition. A spring member urges the housings apart unless in the fully fitted state. The locking arm is deflected to compress the spring member during fitting. In the fully fitted state the locking arm moves to an undeflected condition and the spring member consequently adopts a position which blocks further movement of the locking arm to the deflected state, thereby latching the connector housings with certainty against forcible separation on the engagement axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Satoru Nishide
- 👤 Takahiro Yoneda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:24
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/64; H01R13/641; H01R13/62; H01R13/627; H01R13/6271; H01R13/6272; H01R13/66; H01R13/70; H01R13/703; H01R13/7031; H01R13/7032
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
An electrical connector assembly comprising a first connector housing and a second connector housing engageable with the first connector housing in an engagement direction through a semi-fitted state to a fully-fitted state, the first connector housing having a locking arm, the second connector housing having a spring and a fitting member at a free end of the spring for contact with said locking arm, said spring being resiliently movable in the engagement direction along a path, said fitting member having a tapered guide face for contact with said locking arm to urge said locking arm smoothly out of said path of said spring in the fully-fitted state, the second connector housing further having a guiding member adapted to deflect the locking arm into said path of said spring in a semi-fitted state of said housings for contact with said fitting member such that movement of the connector housings in the engagement direction causes said locking arm to move said fitting member against a resilient bias of the spring, and in the fully-fitted state the locking arm being movable to a latched condition outside said path of said spring, the fitting member returning under resilient bias of the spring to prevent return movement of said locking arm into said path of said spring, and said locking arm in said latched condition being movable to a release condition without moving in the path of the spring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
234 words
An electrical connector assembly comprising a first connector housing and a second connector housing engageable with the first connector housing in an engagement direction through a semi-fitted state to a fully-fitted state, the first connector housing having a locking arm, the second connector housing having a spring and a fitting member at a free end of the spring for contact with said locking arm, said spring being resiliently movable in the engagement direction along a path, said fitting member having a tapered guide face for contact with said locking arm to urge said locking arm smoothly out of said path of said spring in the fully-fitted state, the second connector housing further having a guiding member adapted to deflect the locking arm into said path of said spring in a semi-fitted state of said housings for contact with said fitting member such that movement of the connector housings in the engagement direction causes said locking arm to move said fitting member against a resilient bias of the spring, and in the fully-fitted state the locking arm being movable to a latched condition outside said path of said spring, the fitting member returning under resilient bias of the spring to prevent return movement of said locking arm into said path of said spring, and said locking arm in said latched condition being movable to a release condition without moving in the path of the spring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 comprising two parallel coil compression springs, said fitting member bridging said springs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 wherein the second housing further includes an abutment for said fitting member to normally retain said fitting member in a condition whereby movement of said locking arm into said path of said spring from the latched condition is prevented.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 whereby said locking arm protrudes from the first connector housing in the disengagement direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 wherein in the fully-fitted conditions, said fitting member biases said locking arm to the latched condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 wherein said guiding member is elongate in the engagement direction and has a tapered guide face adapted to urge said locking arm towards said path of said spring in response to relative movement in the engagement direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 6 wherein said guiding member has a tapered guide face at both ends thereof, the guide faces being adapted to urge said locking arm towards said path of said spring in response to relative movement in the engagement direction and the disengagement direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 7 wherein said locking arm includes guides having opposed angled faces for respective abutment with said tapered guide faces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 8 wherein said angled faces are adjacent to one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 1 wherein said fitting member is adapted for contact with said first housing, thereby to urge said connector housings apart other than in the fully fitting state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 2 wherein the second housing further includes an abutment to normally retain said fitting member in a condition whereby movement of said locking arm into said path of said spring from the latched condition is prevented.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 4 wherein in the fully-fitted condition, said fitting member biases said locking arm to the latched condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 10 whereby said locking arm protrudes from the first connector housing in the disengagement direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 10 wherein in the fully-fitted condition said fitting a member biases said locking arm to the latched condition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
180 words
A electrical connector assembly comprising a first connector and a second connector engageable with each other through a semi-fitted state to a fully-fitted state, the first connector having a locking arm, the second connector having a spring and a fitting member, said spring being resiliently movable along a path, the second connector further having a guide member to deflect said locking arm into engagement with said fitting member in a first position in the semi-fitted state so as to compress said spring when said connectors are moved toward the fully-fitted state, said guide member maintaining said locking arm in contact with said fitting member through the semi-fitted state and permitting said locking arm to move to a latched condition out of the path of said spring upon reaching the fully-fitted state, said fitting member being pushed by said spring to return to the first position to prevent movement of said locking arm into the path of the spring from said latched condition, and said locking arm being releasable from said latched condition without moving in the path of said spring.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
180 words
A electrical connector assembly comprising a first connector and a second connector engageable with each other through a semi-fitted state to a fully-fitted state, the first connector having a locking arm, the second connector having a spring and a fitting member, said spring being resiliently movable along a path, the second connector further having a guide member to deflect said locking arm into engagement with said fitting member in a first position in the semi-fitted state so as to compress said spring when said connectors are moved toward the fully-fitted state, said guide member maintaining said locking arm in contact with said fitting member through the semi-fitted state and permitting said locking arm to move to a latched condition out of the path of said spring upon reaching the fully-fitted state, said fitting member being pushed by said spring to return to the first position to prevent movement of said locking arm into the path of the spring from said latched condition, and said locking arm being releasable from said latched condition without moving in the path of said spring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 15 wherein said fitting member has a tapered guide face for contact with said locking arm thereby to urge said locking arm smoothly out of said path of said spring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 16 comprising two parallel coil compression springs, said fitting member bridging said springs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 16 wherein the second housing further includes an abutment to normally retain said fitting member in a condition whereby movement of said locking arm into said path of said spring from the latched condition is prevented.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 15 wherein said guide member and said locking arm each has a latching face which engages one another in the latched condition to prevent separation of the connectors.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrical connector assembly according to claim 19 wherein said latching faces are complementarily inclined to urge said locking arm toward said spring member upon movement of the connectors in a separation direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4927374A
Cited
US4915648A
Cited
US4993067A
Cited
US5041017A
Cited
US5183410A
Cited
US5362248A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-01 | 2002-08-31 | 2003-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-01 | 2006-08-31 | 2007-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-01 | 2010-08-31 | 2011-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |