Patent ID: 6419507
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
A connector comprising two mutually engageable connector housings and a detecting unit for detecting incomplete engagement of said housings, said detecting unit being a separate component for selective attachment to one of said housings, and having a spring acted on by the other of said housings during fitting of the housings together such that the spring accumulates a resilient force as said housings are fit together, said force tending to move said housings in the direction of separation, the other of said housings ceases to act on said spring on complete engagement of said housings, thereby releasing spring force accumulated during engagement of said housings;said detecting unit comprises a body, a compression spring housed in said body, and a slider movable in said body to compress said spring, said slider having a resilient cantilever arm and an abutment on said arm engageable by the other of said housings during engagement of said housing, and means to disengage said abutment from the other of said housings on complete engagement of said housings; wherein said body includes a ramp adapted to bend said arm during engagement of said housings, to permit disengagement of said abutment from the other of said housings on full engagement thereof, the ramp comprises an arc-shaped face of the body, and the end of the resilient cantilever arm is rounded and engages the arc-shaped face during engagement of the housings to bend the arm inwardly.