Connector assembly

A connector assembly is disclosed, in which elastic contact and electric connection between first contacts supported in a first contact body and second contacts supported in a second connector body is obtained when the second connector body is inserted into the first connector body through an opening. Automatic lock means is provided which automatically locks the second connector body to the first connector body when the former is correctly inserted into the latter. The first connector body has one surface formed with a complementary recess and an aperture extending from the bottom of the recess to reach the opening. A lock piece integral with the first connector body can be turned to be received in the complementary recess. The lock piece has an integral engagement ridge. When the lock piece is received in the complementary recess in a state where the second connector body is correctly inserted in the first connector body, the engagement recess passes through the aperture to be engaged with an engagement recess formed in the second connector body, whereby the first and second connector bodies are locked in a correctly coupled state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a connector assembly in which electric connection 
between first contacts supported in a first connector body and second 
contacts supported in a second connector body is obtained when the second 
connector body is inserted into the first connector body, and more 
particularly relates to a structure for maintaining the first and second 
contacts in contact with each other. 
In the prior art connector assembly of this type, pin contacts extend from 
the inner surface of a pin connector body facing a front opening thereof. 
When a socket connector body is inserted into a pin connector body through 
the front opening thereof, the pin contacts are fitted into socket 
contacts supported in the socket connector body, so that elastic contact 
and electric connection between the pin contacts and socket contacts are 
obtained. 
However, when the socket connector body is inserted into the pin connector 
body insufficiently, good electric connection between the pin contacts and 
socket contacts can not be obtained. In addition, pin contacts and socket 
contacts which have been brought into contact, are liable to get out of 
contact with one another due to vibrations or other causes. Accordingly, 
an arrangement has been suggested heretofore wherein, when the socket 
connector body is sufficiently inserted into the pin connector body, a 
pawl provided on the outer surface of the leading end of the socket 
connector body is brought into engagement with a pawl provided on the 
bottom inner surface of the pin connector body, whereby both the bodies 
are locked to each other. The pin connector body is provided with an outer 
lever capable of elastic deformation, while the socket connector is 
provided with a rockable see-saw lever facing the pin connector body 
lever. By turning the see-saw lever from the outside, the pin connector 
body lever is displaced to release the engagement between the pawls, thus 
releasing the lock. This lock is called a see-saw lock or a cantilever 
lock. In this arrangement, the pin connector body has a pawl projecting 
from the inner surface near the front opening. When the socket connector 
body is sufficiently inserted into the pin connector body, a pawl provided 
on a cantilever integral with the outer surface of the socket connector 
body is brought into engagement with the pin connector body pawl, so that 
the two bodies are locked to each other. By causing a displacement of the 
cantilever, the two pawls are disengaged to release the lock. 
With reduction of the connector size, however, it has become difficult with 
the prior art lock systems to confirm from a click touch or a mounting 
sound that a lock of the two bodies is obtained. Further, when a small 
size connector assembly is used for electric connection in a vehicle, for 
instance, disconnection of the contacts is liable to result due to 
vibrations. 
Further, the socket contacts have to be held at predetermined positions 
(regular positions) in the socket connector body. Otherwise, the pin 
contacts and socket contacts are liable to be brought into unsatisfactory 
contact or not brought into contact at all when the socket connector body 
is inserted into the pin connector body. 
Accordingly, there has been proposed a twofold lock structure as disclosed 
in, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,239,791 (issued on Mar. 8, 1966). In 
this case, each of the first and second connector bodies has an integral 
cover member provided on one surface and capable of being turned. After 
the first and second connector bodies are coupled together, each cover 
member is turned to be fitted and engaged with a receiving member provided 
on the opposite connector body, whereby the two connector bodies are 
locked together in a coupled state. In this twofold lock structure, the 
two locks are alike, and each cover member is turned to effect a lock. 
Therefore, the locking operation is rather cumbersome, and the twofold 
lock can not be obtained if the operation of turning either one of the 
cover members is neglected. Further, it is difficult to adopt this twofold 
lock structure where one of the connector bodies is secured to a substrate 
and the connector bodies are comparatively small in size. Further, the 
cover members project outwardly. Therefore, the lock is readily released 
when an object strikes a cover member. Still further, the cover member 
also serves as a lid to close the opening of the connector body. 
Therefore, the size of the cover member is increased with increase of the 
number of contacts. 
The present inventors have proposed a different twofold lock structure for 
a connector assembly, as disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 4 and the related 
description of U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,903 issued Aug. 26, 1986, "Connector 
Assembly". In this case, the two locks are of different types, and one of 
them is an automatic lock, and only a single manual locking operation is 
necessary. However, a lock piece projects outwardly, so that a lock is 
liable to be released by an external force that is applied when an object 
strikes the lock piece. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the invention is to provide a connector assembly in which a 
lock cannot be accidentally released when an object strikes a lock piece. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a connector assembly which 
has two lock means, one of these lock means being automatic lock means, 
the automatic lock being capable of being confirmed by the lock of the 
other lock means, the lock of the other lock means being incapable of 
accidental release when an object strikes the lock means. 
According to the invention, the first connector body is a synthetic resin 
molding and has an opening, through which the second connector body is 
inserted into the first connector body. The first connector body has a 
complementary recess formed on one side and an aperture extending from the 
bottom of the recess and communicating with the opening. First contacts 
are supported in the first connector body. They extend from the inner 
surface of the first connector body facing the opening thereof forwardly 
in the direction of insertion and removal of the second connector body. 
The first connector body has an integral lock piece which can be turned to 
be received in the complementary recess noted above. The lock piece has an 
integral engagement ridge. When the lock piece is received in the recess, 
the engagement ridge penetrates the aperture toward the opening. When the 
second connector body is inserted into the first connector body through 
the opening so that second contacts supported in the second connector body 
are brought into correct contact with the first contacts, the engagement 
ridge is engaged in an engagement recess formed on the outer periphery of 
the second connector body to restrict the relative movement thereof in the 
direction of inserting and removing connector. Thus, it can be confirmed 
that the first and second contacts are in correct contact with one 
another. Also, the first and second connector bodies are locked in a 
coupled state. 
The first and second connector bodies are also provided with second lock 
means for automatically locking the first and second connector bodies to 
each other when they are correctly coupled together. This second lock 
means may consist of a cantilever provided on either the first or second 
connector body. When the first and second connector bodies are coupled 
together, an end of the cantilever is slightly displaced, and then the 
cantilever restores to its initial state to engage with the other 
connector body in the direction of inserting and removing the socket 
connector. In consequence, the two connector bodies are automatically 
locked to each other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the connector assembly according to the 
invention. The connector assembly comprises a first connector and a second 
connector. In this embodiment, the first and second connectors are a pin 
connector 11 and a socket connector 12, respectively. The pin connector 11 
consists of a substantially rectangular connector body 13 and a 
rectangular lid-like lock piece 32, which are formed by a synthetic resin 
molding, the connector body 13 having a front opening 14. The socket 
connector 12 can be inserted into and removed from the pin connector 11 
through the front opening 14. The inner wall surface of the connector body 
13 adjacent to the front opening 14 is provided with a guide ridge 15 
extending in the longitudinal direction, i.e., in the direction of 
insertion and removal of the socket connector. The connector body inner 
surface facing the guide ridge 15 is formed with two guide grooves 16 and 
17 extending in the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a 
plurality of pin contacts 18 are held as first contacts in the connector 
body 13. The pin contacts 18 extend in the longitudinal direction along 
the connector body inner surfaces adjacent to the front opening. 
The socket connector 12 also consists of a substantially rectangular 
connector body 21 which is a synthetic resin molding. The connector body 
21 has a plurality of contact reception bores 22 extending in the 
longitudinal direction. A socket contact 23 is received and held as a 
second contact in each of the contact reception bores 22, as shown in FIG. 
2. The bottom of the connector body 21 is formed with a guide groove 24 
extending in the longitudinal direction. The top of the connector body 21 
is provided with two guide ridges 25 and 26 extending in the longitudinal 
direction. The connector body 21 can be substantially snugly fitted into 
the connector body 13 through the front opening 14. At this time, the 
guide ridge 15 and guide grooves 16 and 17 of the connector body 13 and 
the guide groove 24 and guide ridges 25 and 26 of the connector body 21 
engage and guide one another. Each pin contact 18 is inserted into a 
corresponding socket contact 23 and electrically connected to the socket 
contact 23 in elastic contact therewith. 
Further, this embodiment is provided with lock means, which ensures a 
correct contact between pin contacts 18 and socket contacts 23 and locks 
the pin connector 11 and socket connector 12 in a mutually coupled state. 
More specifically, the connector body 13 has a shallow recess 31 formed in 
the top surface thereof. In FIG. 1, the recess 31 is formed as a 
rectangular recess substantially over the entire top surface of the 
connector body 13 in complementary shape to the lock piece 32. The lock 
piece 32 can be turned i.e., pivoted about a hinge at its rear end, so as 
to be received in the complementary recess 31. An aperture 33 is formed in 
the bottom of the recess 31 to reach the front opening 14. In this 
embodiment, the aperture 33 is an elongate slot extending substantially at 
right angles to the direction of insertion and removal of the socket 
connector 12. In the bottom of the recess 31 is also formed a slot 30 
immediately behind the front wall of the connector body 13, thereby 
defining a bridge 36 extending between opposite side walls of the 
connector body 13. 
The lock piece 32 has an integral ridge 34. When the lock piece 32 is 
turned and received in the complementary recess 31, the ridge 34 extends 
into and substantially fills the aperture 33. In the aperture 33, the 
ridge 34 extend into and across both of the guide grooves 16 and 17 above 
the front opening 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer surface of the lock 
piece 32, when the lock piece is properly received in the recess 31, is 
substantially flush with the top of the connector body 13. To retain the 
lock piece 32 in this position, the ridge 34 is provided with a triangular 
protuberance 35 formed on a central portion of the front surface thereof 
for engagement with the bridge 36. 
The connector body 21 of the socket connector 12, on the other hand, has an 
engagement space, in which the ridge 34 is received. In this embodiment, 
the engagement space is constituted by recesses 37 and 38 formed in the 
guide ridges 25 and 26. When the connector body 21 inserted into the 
connector body 13 through the front opening 14 up to a regular position so 
that the pin contacts 18 are correctly inserted into and connected to the 
socket contacts 23, the ridge 34 is received in the recesses 37 and 38, 
thereby locking a correct coupling state between the pin contacts 18 and 
the socket contacts 23. 
Thus, if the lock piece 32 can be correctly received in the complementary 
recess 31, i.e., if the triangular protuberance 35 of the lock piece 32 
can be engaged with the bridge 36, after the insertion of the socket 
connector 12 into the pin connector 11, the connection between the pin 
contacts 18 and socket contacts 23 can be confirmed, and also the socket 
connector 12 is locked in the pin connector 11. This connection state can 
be maintained without possibility of detachment of the connectors due to 
externally applied vibrations. On the other hand, if the pin contacts 18 
are not correctly connected to the socket contacts 23 when the socket 
connector 11 is inserted into the pin connector 11, the ridge 34 strikes 
the guide ridges 25 and 26, i.e., the lock piece 32 fails to be received 
in the recess 31 and also the triangular protuberance 35 fails to be 
engaged with the bridge 36, as shown in FIG. 4, when an attempt is made to 
pivot the lock piece 32 into the recess 31. In this case, it is 
immediately apparent that the pin contacts 18 and socket contacts 23 are 
not correctly connected to one another, and the socket connector 12 may be 
inserted afresh to obtain correct connection of the pin contacts 18 and 
socket contacts 23 for use. 
When the pin contacts 18 and socket contacts 23 are correctly connected, 
the lock piece 32 is correctly received in the complementary recess 31, 
with its outer surface substantially flush with the top of the connector 
body 13, i.e., the top of the recess 31. Thus, no external force tending 
to pull the lock piece 32 out of the recess 31 can be applied to the lock 
piece 32. Therefore, the lock is never released accidentally. The lock 
piece 32 thus can be reliably held in the recess 31 by the engagement of 
the triangular protuberance 35 with the bridge 36. 
Further, this embodiment is provided with second lock means which 
automatically locks the socket connector 12 to the pin connector 11 when 
the former is inserted into the latter. More specifically, as shown in 
FIG. 1, in the complementary recess 31 of the connector body 13 a cutout 
space 41 is formed in the bottom of the recess 31. The cutout space 41 
extends from a central portion of the aperture 33 to the other end of the 
recess 31 in the neighborhood of the hinge portion of the lock piece 32. A 
T-shaped cantilever 42 is disposed in the space 41. A longitudinal portion 
of the T-shaped cantilever 42 is integral with the connector body 13 in 
the neighborhood of the hinge portion of the lock piece 32. A transversal 
portion of the T-shaped cantilever, which is a free end, extends in the 
neighborhood of and parallel to the aperture 33. The longitudinal portion 
of the T-shaped cantilever 42 has a reduced thickness to facilitate 
elastic displacement. 
On the other hand, a pair of wedges 43 are provided side by side between 
the guide ridges 25 and 26 of the connector body 21 of the socket 
connector 12. When the socket connector 12 is inserted into the pin 
connector 11, the transversal portion of the T-shaped cantilever 42 is 
raised and elastically displaced by the wedges 43. When the transversal 
portion clears the wedges 43, it is restored, whereby the T-shaped 
cantilever 42 is engaged with the wedges 43, as shown in FIG. 2. In this 
way, the socket connector 12 and pin connector 11 are automatically locked 
in the coupled state. In this state, the pin contacts 18 and socket 
contacts 23 are correctly connected. This lock by the second lock means is 
guaranteed by the lock of the lock piece 32. The pin connector 11 has a 
release recess 44, which is open at the front adjacent to the front 
opening 14 between the guide grooves 16 and 17. The socket connector 12 
has a channel 45 formed between raised lands 46 and 47 at the rear ends of 
the guide ridges 25 and 26. The engagements between the triangular 
protuberance 35 and the bridge 36 and between the T-shaped cantilever 42 
and wedges 43 can be simultaneously released by inserting an acute wedge 
bar (not shown) through the channel 45 and the release recess 44 into 
small gaps between the top surface of the connector body 21 and the 
respective ridge 34 and cantilever 42. 
FIG. 5 shows a different embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, 
a pin connector 11 has a plurality of front openings 14.sub.1 to 14.sub.5, 
and separate socket connectors are inserted into the pin connector 11 
through the respective front openings 14. In FIG. 5, only a single socket 
connector 12 is shown. The pin connector 11 has a shallow complementary 
recess 31 formed substantially over the entire top of connector body 13. 
An aperture 33 is formed in the bottom of the recess 31 to extend across 
the respective openings 14.sub.1 -14.sub.5 and communicates therewith. 
Plural cutout spaces 41.sub.1 -41.sub.5 are also formed in the bottom of 
the recess 31, in which are provided with T-shaped cantilevers 42.sub.1 
-42.sub.5 of the same shape as the T-shaped cantilever 42 shown in FIG. 1 
and each of which corresponds to each of the front openings 14.sub.1 
-14.sub.5. The pin connector 11 also has a lock piece 32 integral with the 
connector body 13 and adapted to be received in the recess 31. The lock 
piece 32 has an integral ridge 34 which is received in the aperture 33. 
Further, guide grooves 16 and 17 are provided for each of the front 
openings 14.sub.1 -14.sub.5. 
Each socket connector 12 has a construction substantially similar to the 
one shown in FIG. 1, so its parts like those in FIG. 1 are designated by 
like reference numerals and are not described in detail. In this 
embodiment, a plurality of socket connectors 12 can be locked by the 
common lock piece 32. The socket connectors 12 that are to be inserted 
into the openings 14.sub.1 -14.sub.5 are respectively identified by the 
different positions of their respective guide grooves 24 corresponding to 
the various different positioned mating guide ridges 15.sub.1 -15.sub.5 in 
the openings 14.sub.1 -14.sub.5 of the pin connector 11. 
The cantilever of the second lock means may be provided on the socket 
connector 12 instead of on the pin connector 11. FIG. 6 shows one such 
example. In the Figure, parts like those shown in FIG. 1 are designated by 
like reference numerals. More specifically, a socket connector 12 has a 
longitudinally extending cantilever 51 provided on connector body 21 
between guide ridges 25 and 26. The cantilever 51 is integral at the front 
end with the connector body 21. It has a pawl 52 formed on the outer 
surface of its intermediate portion. The pin connector 11 has a cantilever 
guide recess 44 in the inner wall of the front opening 14. The cantilever 
51 is guided through the recess 44. The pin connector 11 further has an 
engagement hole 53 formed in a front central portion of the bottom of the 
recess 31. When the socket connector 12 is inserted into the pin connector 
11, the pawl 52 is brought into contact with the lower edge of the slot 
30. After displacement of the cantilever 51, the cantilever 51 is restored 
when the pawl 52 is received in the engagement hole 53 as shown in FIG. 7. 
When the pawl 52 is received in the hole 53, the socket connector 12 is 
automatically locked in the pin connector 11. 
In this embodiment, the bottom of the recess 31 is provided with apertures 
33a and 33b in correspondence to the recesses 37 and 38 of the socket 
connector 12, and the lock piece 32 is provided with engagement 
protuberances 34a and 34b. Further, the lock piece 32 has a hook-like 
portion 55 formed on a central portion of the front end thereof. The 
hook-like portion 55 has a triangular protuberance 35. 
In the above description, the two protuberances 34a and 34b are provided 
for engagements at two points, i.e., recesses 37 and 38. However, the same 
effect may be obtained by providing a single engagement point for the 
ridge. Further, it is possible to form a recess or two in the bottom 
surface of the recess 31 instead of forming recesses 37 and 38 in the 
guide ridges 25 and 26 or like ridges. Further, the lock piece 32 may be 
integrally provided on the connector body 13 such that it can be turned 
about an axis parallel to the direction of insertion and removal of the 
connector. Further, the invention is applicable where a pin connector 
accommodating pin contacts is inserted into a socket connector 
accommodating socket contacts. 
As has been described in the foregoing, according to the invention it is 
possible to confirm correct contact between the first and second contacts 
of the first and second connectors and lock the two connectors in a 
coupled state simply by turning the lock piece 32 according to the 
invention. This operation consists of a single operation. Further, since 
the lock piece 32 is received in the complementary recess 31, it will not 
be released easily from the lock by an external accidental force applied 
to the coupled connectors. Further, where automatic lock means is 
incorporated, the locked state by the automatic lock means can be 
confirmed by the operation of turning the lock piece 32.