Abstract:
A connector having a first connector portion and a lever movably connected to an outside of the first connector portion is disclosed. The lever is rotatable with respect to the first connection portion and the lever is translatable with respect to the first connection portion. A guide projection is connected to the lever and the connector further has a second connector portion. The second connector portion has a guide channel having an open upper part, at least a portion of the guide channel having a sloped portion being sloped with respect to a direction in which the first connector portion is connectable to the second connector portion, the guide channel configured to receive the guide projection through the open upper part of the guide channel.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the previously filed Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0011801 that has a filing date of Feb. 5, 2007. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a connector. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Generally, an electrical connector functions to electrically connect separate parts of a circuit. Electrical connectors often comprise a cap and a plug as a pair. Electrical connectors are widely used to supply electric power to various machines and electronic appliances. Electrical connectors are also used to intermittently connect various electric operation signals with one another. 
         [0004]    However, when connecting the cap to the plug of a conventional connector, an operator has to grip the cap and the plug using both hands and apply a great force to the cap and the plug in opposite directions. Therefore, connection of the cap and the plug is sometimes very laborious, especially when doing so within the confines of a small space. 
         [0005]    To solve such problems, a lever connector has been introduced that forcibly connects a cap and a plug of the lever connector with each other by pivoting a lever that is mounted to the connector. In such a conventional lever connector, however, since the lever is pivotable in one direction, and enough space for the pivoting of the lever is required, a length of the lever is necessarily increased. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention relates to, in one embodiment among others, a connector having a first connector portion and a lever movably connected to an outside of the first connector portion. The lever is rotatable with respect to the first connection portion and the lever is translatable with respect to the first connection portion. A guide projection is connected to the lever and the connector further has a second connector portion. The second connector portion has a guide channel having an open upper part, at least a portion of the guide channel having a sloped portion being sloped with respect to a direction in which the first connector portion is connectable to the second connector portion, the guide channel configured to receive the guide projection through the open upper part of the guide channel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an oblique view of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an orthogonal view of the connector of  FIG. 1  before assembly; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an orthogonal view of the connector of  FIG. 1  during assembly; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an orthogonal view of the connector of  FIG. 1  after assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a connector  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a first connector portion  10  and a second connector portion  20  that are connected to each other, thereby supplying power or connecting electric signals. The connector  1  further comprises a lever  30  for pivoting that is mounted to an outside of the second connector portion  20 . The connector  1  can be easily assembled with minimal force using the principle of leverage, more specifically, by forcibly connecting the first connector portion  10  with the second connector portion  20  by pivoting operation of the lever  30 . 
         [0014]    The first connector portion  10  comprises a first terminal  11  formed at one end thereof for connection with a circuit board or a cable, and a guide channel  12  formed on an outer surface thereof to be engaged with the lever  30  so that the first connector portion  10  is introduced into the second connector portion  20  by pivoting the lever  30 . 
         [0015]    The second connector portion  20  supplies power or connects electric signals through connection with the first connector portion  10 . The first connector portion  10  is inserted in and engaged with the second connector portion  20 . The second connector portion  20  comprises a second terminal  21  at one end for connection with the circuit board or the cable to be supplied with the power or the electric signals, and first shafts  22  formed at opposite positions on an outer surface of the second connector portion  20  for the lever  30  to be hinged upon. 
         [0016]    The lever  30  is hinged on the outside of the second connector portion  20  to pivot vertically with respect to the second connector portion  20 , thereby forcing the first connector portion  10  into the second connector portion  20 . For this operation, the lever  30  comprises first apertures  32  engaged with the first shafts  22 , and a guide projection  31  formed to be projecting inwardly at a lower part of the first aperture  32  to be engaged with the guide channel  12  of the first connector portion  10 . 
         [0017]    The guide channel  12  is recessed from the outer surface of the first connector portion  10  and open at the upper part thereof in a state where the lever  30  is maximally lifted, such that the guide projection  31  can be conveniently engaged with the guide channel  12 . In addition, the guide channel  12  is sloped downward in a direction opposite to the lever  30 . Therefore, the guide projection  31  is slid into the guide channel  12  by leverage with respect to the first shafts  22 . 
         [0018]    The lever  30  further comprises second apertures  33  formed on lateral sides of the lever  30  in a longitudinal direction corresponding to a pivoting motion of the lever  30 . In addition, a second shaft  23  is formed on the outer surface of the second connector portion  20  and inserted in a second aperture  33 . The first aperture  32  is in the form of slot allowing the lever  30  to move horizontally with respect to the second connector portion  20 . 
         [0019]    According to this structure, when the lever  30  pivots vertically relative to the second connector portion  20 , the lever  30  is also able to move horizontally depending on positions thereof. Therefore, a moving distance of the guide projection  31  can be maximized in proportion to a pivoting angle of the lever  30 . Consequently, a length of the lever  30  can minimized, thereby reducing the overall size of the connector  1 . 
         [0020]    The second connector portion  20  further includes upper and lower lock projections  24  formed on the outer surface at positions corresponding to a highest position and a lowest position of the lever  30 , respectively. The lever  30  includes a third aperture  34  for receiving the lock projections  24  therein so as to secure the lever  30  at the highest position and the lowest position, thereby preventing disassembling of the connector  1  by an external impact applied to the lever  30 . Preferably, movement of the lever  30  is prevented to avoid deviation between the guide channel  12  and the guide projection  31 , during assembling of the connector  1 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 2-4  show the operation of the connector  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. When connecting the first connector portion  10  and the second connector portion  20 , which are separated, to each other, the lever  30  is lifted to the highest position as shown in  FIG. 2 , thereby engaging the upper lock projection  24  with the third aperture  34 . In this state, the lever  30  is prevented from pivoting downward by gravity. 
         [0022]    In this state, since the lever  30  is moved outward relative to the second connector portion  20  by pivoting, the guide projection  31  is maintained at a position corresponding to the open part of the guide channel  12 . When the first connector portion  10  and the second connector portion  20  are pushed toward each other, the guide projection  31  is inserted in the guide channel  12 , hence completing a primary step of assembling connector  1 . 
         [0023]    Next, when the lever  30  is pivoted as shown in  FIG. 3 , the lever  30  moves down, maintaining engagement between the second shaft  23  and the second aperture  33 , thereby moving toward the second connector portion  20 . Simultaneously, as the guide projection  31  moves along the guide channel  12 , the first connector portion  10  is pulled into the second connector portion  20 . 
         [0024]    When being pivoted down to the lowest position, the lever  30  is fully moved toward the second connector portion  20 . Simultaneously, the guide projection  31  is inserted up to an inner end of the guide channel  12 , thereby completely connecting the first connector portion  10  and the second connector portion  20  to each other so that the power supply connection or the signal connection is accomplished. 
         [0025]    After the lever  30  is pivoted down to the lowest position, the third aperture  34  of the lever  30  is fixed by engagement with the lower lock projection  24  of the second connector portion  20  so that the lever  30  is not affected by an external impact or the like. Accordingly, undesired separation of the first connector portion  10  from the second connector portion  20  is prevented. 
         [0026]    As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a connector  1  capable of forcibly connecting a first connector portion  10  and a second connector portion  20  with each other through a pivoting operation of a lever  30  mounted to the first connector portion  10 . According to the present invention, assembly of the connector  1  can be achieved even with minimal force since the first connector portion  10  and the second connector portion  20  are easily connected by the principle of leverage of the lever  30  even though the connector  1  includes a plurality of first and second terminals  11  and  21 . Furthermore, since a length of the lever  30  can be reduced, the overall size of the connector  1  can be minimized, while maximizing a moving distance of the connector  1 . 
         [0027]    The connector  1  according to the present invention enables both vertical and horizontal movements of the lever  30  relative to the first connector portion  10 , by comprising first apertures  32  and second apertures  33  formed on the lever  30 . As a result, the structure of the connector  1  is simplified, further simplifying the manufacture of the connector  1 . Further, assembly and disassembly of the connector  1  can be performed more precisely. 
         [0028]    Moreover, since the lever  30  is fixed at highest and lowest positions thereof by third apertures  34  and lock projections  24 , undesired movement of the lever  30  is prevented before assembly of the connector  1 . Consequently, more precise assembly is achieved while preventing failure in connection due to movement of the lever  30  after assembly. 
         [0029]    Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.