Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a connector which comprises a female housing and a male housing to be inserted and fitted into the female housing for establishing an electrical connection therebetween. The connector further comprises locking member pivotably provided on one of the female and male housings in such a manner that one housing is locked with the other housing by the locking member only when the female and male housings are properly fitted together. The locking member includes engagement projection for temporarily hooking the locking member to one housing until the other housing is inserted into one housing. On the other housing, there is provided a projection for disengaging the lock member from one housing when one housing is inserted into the other housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a connector, and in particular to a connector comprising a female housing and a male housing to be inserted and fitted into the female housing, and a locking mechanism enabling easy confirmation a proper fitting of the housings. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In connectors including a female housing and a male housing to be inserted and fitted into the female housing, it is very important that the male housing be properly fitted into the female housing in order to establish electrical connection therebetween. 
     One of such conventional connectors is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Utility Model Publication No. 55-49433, which comprises a female housing 1 and a male housing 2 to be fitted to the female housing 1. In the female and male housings 1 and 2, there are provided a plurality of female and male terminals, respectively (not shown). The female and male terminals are arranged so as to be connected to each other when the female and male housings 1 and 2 are properly fitted together. On the male housing 2, there is provided a locking arm 3 which is flexibly supported thereon. A locking projection 4 is formed on the locking arm 3. On the female housing 1, there is provided a locking cover 5 with a locking aperture 6. The locking projection 4 and the locking aperture 6 are arranged so as to engage with each other by means of the restoring force of the locking arm 3 only when the housings 1 and 2 are properly fitted together. 
     In such a conventional connector, however, if the force for inserting the male housing 2 into the female housing 1 is insufficient, there is the unfavorable possibility that an imperfect fitting of the housings may occur, thus leading to a poor electrical connection between the female and male terminals. Namely, there is the possibility that an operator who is connecting the housings may misjudge an imperfect fitting to be a proper fitting. 
     As a connector that solved such a problem for conventional connectors, there is known an improved connector having a locking mechanism which can easily confirm whether the female and male housings are properly fitted together, and this connector is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. 62-10885. 
     Namely, as shown in FIG. 2, the improved connector 10 comprises a female housing 11 and a male housing 12. The female housing 11 has a fitting space 11a therein into which a fitting section 12a of the male housing 12 is inserted and fitted. 
     On the upper surface 11b of the female housing 11, there is provided a substantially square locking cover member 13 through a hinge member 14 in such a manner that the cover member 13 is pivotingly rotated between a first position in which the cover member 13 overlaps the upper surface 11b of the female housing 11, and a second position in which the cover member 13 is rotated at an angle of about 180° from the first position. On the underside of the cover member 13, there is formed an engagement portion 13a. The engagement portion 13a, which is formed from a plate-like member, is provided on the cover member 13 so as to protrude into the fitting space 11a of the female housing 11 through a slit 11c formed on the upper surface 11a of the female housing 11 when the cover member 13 is pivoted to the first position. 
     On the upper surface 12b of the fitting section 12a of the male housing 12, there are formed two locking projections 15 which lock with a locking portion (not shown) provided in the fitting space 11a of the female housing 11 when the male housing 12 is properly fitted to the female housing 11. Further, on the upper surface 12a of the male housing 12, there are formed two parallel guide portions 16 which are slidably guided by two guide recesses 11c provided in the fitting space 11a of the female housing 11. On each of the guide portions 16, there is formed a notch 16a. The notches 16a are arranged in such a manner that the engagement portion 13a of the cover member 13 will be engaged thereto only when the male housing 12 is properly fitted into the female housing 11. 
     According to this improved connector, before the male housing 12 is inserted into the female housing 11, the cover member 13 is in the second position, as shown in FIG. 3(A). When the male housing 12 is properly fitted into the female housing 11, as shown in FIG. 3(B), the cover member 14 is pivoted to the first position, thereby engaging the engagement portion 13a of the cover member 13 with the notches 16a of the guide members 16 of the male housing 12. However, as shown in FIG. 3(C), when the male housing 12 is imperfectly fitted into the female housing 11, the cover member 13 can not properly be pivoted to the first position because the engagement portion 13a is abutted on the guide members 16. As a result, an operator who is connecting the housing 11 and 12 will be able to perceive when the housings are not properly fitted together, and thus prevent the occurrence of imperfect fittings between the housings 11 and 12. 
     Although the connector 10 has the above-mentioned advantage, it is required to pivot the cover member 13 from the second position, in which the cover member 13 is opened, to the first position when the female and male housings 11 are to be connected, because the cover member 13 normally resides in the second position as shown in FIG. 3(A). This leads to the disadvantage that the cover member 13 may be damaged by being caught on any parts during the pivoting action of the cover member 13 from the second position to the first position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantage of the improved connector mentioned above, the present invention has been made. Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a connector having a locking mechanism for preventing the occurrence of imperfect fittings between the female and male housings, in which the locking mechanism is constructed so as not to be caught by any parts around the connector when the housings are connected. 
     In order to accomplish the above object, the connector of the present invention comprises a female housing and a male housing to be inserted and fitted into the female housing for establishing an electrical connection therebetween. The connector further comprises locking means pivotably provided on either the female or male housing in such a manner that one housing is locked with the other housing by the locking means only when the female and male housings are properly fitted together. The locking means includes means for temporarily hooking the locking means to the first housing until the other housing is inserted into the first housing. On the other housing, there is provided means for disengaging the lock means from the first housing while the first housing is inserted into the other housing. 
     According to the connector having the above structure, since the locking means is temporarily hooked on one housing until the other housing is inserted into the first housing, it is possible to prevent the locking means from being caught on any parts around the connector when the the housing are connected. Further, the locking means is easily disengaged from the first housing only by the insertion of the other housing into the first housing, thus making the connection of the housings relatively easy to accomplish. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as the details of the preferred embodiments, will be more fully understood when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional connector; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of other conventional connector having a locking mechanism; 
     FIGS. 3(A) to (C) are explanatory drawings showing the fitting processes of the female and male housings of the conventional connector of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of a connector of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 5(A) to (D) are explanatory drawings showing the fitting processes of the female and male housings of the connector of the first embodiment; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of a connector of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the female housing of the connector of the second embodiment; 
     FIGS. 8(A) to (C) are explanatory drawings showing the fitting processes of the female and male housings of the connector of the second embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. 
     FIG. 4 shows the first embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, a connector 20 comprises a female housing 21 and a male housing 31 to be inserted and fitted into the female housing 21. In the female and male housings 21 and 31, a plurality of male and female terminals (not shown) are accommodated, respectively. 
     The female housing 21 comprises a terminal accommodating section 22 in which the male terminals are accommodated and a fitting section 23 having a fitting space 23a into which the male housing 31 is fitted. On the upper side of the fitting space 23a of the female housing 21, two guide recesses 23b which extend toward the insertion direction of the male housing 31 are provided. 
     On the upper surface 23c of the fitting section 23, there is formed a substantially square concave portion 24. In the concave portion 24, a slit 25 which opens into the fitting space 23a is formed at one side thereof that the male housing 31 is inserted. On the opposite side of the concave portion 24, a locking cover member 26 is provided through a hinge member 27 so as to normally open with a small angle with respect to the upper surface 23c of the fitting section 23 by elasticity given in the hinge member 27. The locking cover 26 is formed from a substantially square plate having a size to be accommodated in the concave portion 24. Therefore, the locking cover member 26 is pivotable between a first position in which the cover member 26 is accommodated in the concave portion 24 and a second position in which the cover member 26 is opened with one small angle. 
     On a free edge of the locking cover member 26, there is integrally formed a bent portion 26a having a U-shape in cross section so as to generate elasticity therein. On the edge of the bent portion 26a, there are formed two locking portions 26b at both sides thereof. Each of the two locking portions 26b is arranged so as to protrude into the fitting space 23a of the female housing 21 through the slit 25 when the locking cover member 26 is in the first position. On the tip portion of each locking portion 26b, there is formed an engagement projection 26c which is arranged so as to hook with the edge of the slit 25 when the locking cover member 26 is in the first position. 
     On the upper surface 31a of the male housing 31, there is provided a locking arm 32. The locking arm 32 comprises a substantially L-shaped member having a first and a second ends. The first end of the locking arm is attached on the upper surface 31a at the front portion of the male housing in such a manner that the second end extends toward the rear portion of the male housing 31, so that the locking arm 32 is flexibly supported on the male housing 31. On the locking arm 32, there is provided a locking projection 33 which engages with a locking portion 23d (see FIGS. 5(C) and (D) provided in the female housing 21 when the female and male housings 21 and 31 are properly fitted. On the the upper surface 31a of the male housing 31, there are two vertical plate members 34. The vertical plate members are located on both sides of the front portion of the male housing 31 so as to upwardly protrude from the upper surface 31a of the male housing 31. Each of the vertical plate members 34 has a substantially trapezoidal shape having an inclined surface 34a declining toward the insertion direction of the male housing 31, a flat surface 34b and vertical surface 34c. Further, the vertical plate members 34 are arranged so as to be guided by the guide recesses 23b of the female housing 21 when the male housing 31 is inserted into the female housing 21. 
     Hereinafter, the fitting processes of the female and the male housings 21 and 31 will be described. 
     When the female and male housings 21 and 31 are connected, in advance the locking cover member 26 is to be in the first position by temporarily hooking the engagement projections 26c of the cover member 26 with the edge of the slit 25. In this case, the engagement projections 26c are hooked with the edge of the slit by the elasticity generated in the bent portion 26a of the cover member 26. 
     As shown in FIG. 5(A), when the male housing 3 is inserted into the fitting space 23a of the female housing 21, the locking cover member 26 keeps in its first position until the inclined surfaces 34a of the vertical plate members 34 contact with the engagement projections 26c of the cover member 26. 
     When the male housing 31 is further inserted into the fitting space 23a of the female housing 21 from the position of FIG. 5(A), the inclined surface 34a of the vertical plate member 34 abuts on the engagement projection 26c so as to deform the U-shaped bent portion 26a, thereby the engagement projections 26c are disengaged from the edge of the slit 25, as shown in FIG. 5(B). Then, the locking cover member 26 is automatically pivoted to the second position by the elasticity in the hinge member 27, as shown in FIG. 5(C). Namely, the engagement projections 26c of the locking cover member 26 are easily disengaged from the edge of the slit 25 only by the insertion of the male housing 31, thus making the connection of the housings relatively easy to accomplish. Further, under the condition, even if an operator attempts to return the locking cover member 26 to the first portion in order to lock the housings, it is not possible to do so since the locking portions 26b of the locking cover member 26 are abutted on the flat surfaces 34b of the vertical plate members 34 of the male housing 31. As a result, the operator perceives that the male housing 31 is not yet fitted to the female housing 21 perfectly. 
     As shown in FIG. 5(D), when the male housing 31 is completely fitted to the female housing 31, the cover member can be pivoted to the first position and then the locking portions 26b of the locking cover member 26 are locked with the vertical surfaces 34c of the vertical plate members 34 of the male housing 31, thereby it is possible to confirm the perfect fitting of the female and male housings 21 and 31. In this condition, the locking projection 33 of the locking arm 32 of the male housing 31 is also locked with locking portion 23d of the female housing 21, thereby the female and male housings 21 and 31 are doubly locked together. 
     FIG. 6 shows the second embodiment of a connector of the present invention. The connector of the second embodiment has substantially the same structures and functions as those of the connector of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same number will be used in the drawings to designate the same part in each embodiment. 
     In FIG. 6, a female housing 21 comprises a terminal accommodating section 22 in which a plurality of male terminals are accommodated and a fitting section 23 having a fitting space 23a into which a male housing 31 is fitted. On the upper side of the fitting space 23a, there are provided two guide recesses 23b which extend toward the insertion direction of the male housing 31. 
     On the upper surface 23c of the fitting section 23, there is formed a longitudinal slit 24 which also extends toward the insertion direction of the male housing 31. Further, on the upper surface 23c of the fitting section 23, there is formed a concave portion 24 so as to traverse the slit 25. At one end of the concave portion 24, there is provided a locking lever 26 through a hinge member 27 in such a manner that the locking lever 26 is normally opened with a small angel with respect to the upper surface 23c of the fitting section 23 by means of elasticity given in the hinge member 27. The locking lever 26 has a size to be accommodated in the concave portion 24. Therefore, the locking lever 26 is pivotable between a first position in which the locking lever 26 is accommodated in the concave portion 24 and a second position in which the locking lever 26 is opened with the small angle. On the under side of the locking lever 26, there are provided two engagement projections 26c which are arranged so as to temporarily hook with edges of openings in the concave portion 24, respectively, when the locking lever 26 is pivoted to the first position. Between the engagement projections 26c,  there is formed an inclined surface portion 26e. Furthermore, on the upper surface 23c at the side of the terminal accommodating section 22, there is provided a locking portion 23d so as to span the slit 25. 
     On the upper surface 31a of the male housing 31, there is provided a locking arm 32. The locking arm 32 comprises a substantially L-shaped member having first and second ends. The first end of the locking arm 32 is attached on the upper surface 31a of the rear portion of the male housing 31 in such a manner that the second end extends toward the front portion of the male housing 31, so that the locking arm 32 is flexibly supported on the male housing 31. On the tip portion of the locking arm 32, there is provided a first locking projection 33 which engages with a locking portion 23d of the female housing 21 when the female and male housings 21 and 31 are properly fitted together. Further, on the locking arm 32 between the first and second ends thereof, there is provided a second projection 34. The tip portion of the second projection 34 has a substantially trapezoidal shape in cross section, which has an inclined surface 34a declining toward the insertion direction of the male housing 31, a flat surface 34b and vertical surface 34c. Further, on the upper surface 31a of the male housing 31, there are provided two guide plates 36 which are arranged so as to be guided by the guide recesses 23b of the female housing 21 when the male housing 31 is inserted into the female housing 21. 
     Hereinafter, the fitting processes of the female and the male housings 21 and 31 of the second embodiment will be described. 
     When the female and male housings 21 and 31 are connected, in advance the locking lever 26 is to be in the first position by temporarily hooking the engagement projections 26c with the edges of the openings of the concave portion 24. This condition is shown in FIG. 7. 
     As shown in FIG. 8(A), when the male housing 31 is inserted into the fitting space 23a of the female housing 21 and then the inclined surface 34a of the second projection 34 abuts on the inclined surface portion 26e of the locking lever 26, the engagement projections 26c of the locking lever 26 are disengaged from the edges of the openings of the concave portion 24, as shown in FIG. 5(B). Then, the locking lever 26 is automatically pivoted to the second position by the elasticity given in the hinge member 27. Namely, the engagement projections 26c of the locking lever 26 are easily disengaged from the edges only by the insertion of the male housing 31 to the female housing 21, thus making the connection of the housings relatively easy to accomplish. 
     FIG. 8(B) shows the imperfect fitting condition of the female and male housings 21 and 31. Under the condition, even if an operator attempts to pivot the locking lever 26 to the first portion in order to lock the housings, it is not possible to do so since the under surface of the locking lever 26b are abutted on the flat surfaces 34b of the second projection 34. As a result, the operator perceives that the male housing 31 is not yet fitted to the female housing 21 perfectly. 
     As shown in FIG. 8(C), when the male housing 31 is completely fitted to the female housing 31, the locking lever 26 are locked with the vertical surfaces 34c of the second projection 34 of the male housing 31, thereby it becomes possible to confirm the perfect fitting of the female and male housings 21 and 31. In this condition, the locking projection 33 of the locking arm 32 of the male housing 31 is also locked with locking portion 23d of the female housing 21, thereby the female and male housings 21 and 31 are doubly locked together. 
     In these embodiments, the locking cover member or the locking lever is integrally formed on the fitting section of the female housing 21 through the hinge member. However, it is of course possible to form the locking cover member or the locking lever as a separate part. 
     Further, in these embodiments, it is also possible to remove the locking mechanism constituted by the locking arm of the male housing and the locking portion of the female housing. 
     It must be understood that the invention is no way limited to the above embodiments and that many changes may be brought therein without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.