Patent ID: 6132232
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
A connector locking construction for locking a connector with an electrical connection box of an automotive vehicle, the electrical connection box having a housing made of a material having a brittleness higher than that of polybutylene (PBT) and having a plurality of tab terminals projecting from the housing, comprising:a connector connected with an end of at least one wire and being mateable with the tab terminals of the electrical connection box by moving the connector alone a mating direction, the connector having a plurality of outer surfaces and at least one locking beam provided on one said outer surface of the connector, the locking beam having a locking surface facing away from the mating direction, andthe electrical connection box being formed with a plurality of side walls defining a receptacle configured for slideably receiving the outer surfaces of the connector, the side walls of the receptacle having a selected thickness, the receptacle further having a claw support wall with a lock claw formed thereon at a location for engaging the locking surface of the locking beam when the connector is inserted in the mating direction into the receptacle, the claw support wall having a thickness, wherein the thickness of the claw support wall of the receptacle is smaller than the thickness of the side walls, and wherein the claw support wall defines a length sufficiently long to facilitate deflection of the claw support wall and to substantially prevent cracking of the locking portion.