A lever-type connector capable of securely and efficiently carrying out a secondary latch onto a contact by a retainer and release of the secondary latch is provided. The lever-type connector includes an inner housing, an outer housing, a retainer, a slider, a lever and a first and second retainer operation passageway. The inner housing includes a contact receiving passageway for receiving a contact, which is latched by a retainer inserted into the inner housing. The inner housing is inserted into and received by the outer housing. The slider is movable within the outer housing and having a cam groove into which a cam pin provided on the mating connector is inserted. The lever is attached to the outer housing and moves the slider by rotation of the lever. The first retainer operation passageway is positioned on a side surface of the outer housing, while the second retainer operation passageway is located on the slider. The first retainer operation passageway is in communication with the second retainer operation passageway when the slider is set to a mated position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connector and in particular to a lever-type connector to unite and release from a mating connector by rotation of a lever.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, electric connectors having numerous terminals are being used in the field of automobiles and the like, and are continually become more and more advanced. With an electric connector having numerous terminals, a large force is necessary to mate together connectors and release the connection. Therefore, in the field of automobiles and the like, a lever-type connector to mate with and release from a mating connector utilizing effect of boosting by a lever is used.

Here, the lever-type connector design has adopted a retainer to prevent a contact that is received in a contact receiving passageway in an inner housing from falling out of the contact receiving passageway. The retainer secondarily latches onto the contact received in the contact receiving passageway. Moreover, this type of lever-type connector has adopted a configuration where the retainer is arranged inside of an outer housing in order to prevent the latch on the contact by the retainer from unintentionally being released due to exertion of external force on the retainer.

However, the lever-type connector having a retainer arranged inside of an outer housing, a problem occurs in that it is difficult to move the retainer from a released position to a locked position when latching the retainer onto the contact.

A conventional lever-type connector100shown inFIGS. 10 to 13, for example, is well-known, which is used to solve the above problem. The lever-type connector100includes a housing110that receives a contact101(seeFIG. 12andFIG. 13), a wire cover120that covers an electrical wire102(seeFIG. 12andFIG. 13) lead out from the contact in the housing110, and a lever130for mating with a mating connector200.

As shown inFIG. 10andFIG. 11, the housing110includes an inner housing140having multiple contact receiving passageways141in which the contact101is received, and an outer housing150that receives the inner housing140.

A retainer receiving depression142that opens upward is provided on the inner housing140, as shown inFIG. 12andFIG. 13. A retainer160that secondarily latches on to the contact101is inserted into the retainer receiving depression142. Moreover, a tool insertion passageway143is provided on the rear surface of the inner housing140, into which a tool210for operating the retainer160is to be inserted.

A retainer insertion passageway151in which the retainer160is to be inserted is provided on the top surface of the outer housing150.

When receiving the contact101in the contact receiving passageways141of the inner housing140, the retainer160is first inserted into the retainer receiving depression142of the inner housing140through the retainer insertion passageway151of the outer housing150. The retainer160is then set to the released position, as shown inFIG. 12.

Next, as shown inFIG. 12, the contact101is inserted in the contact receiving passageways141of the inner housing140in which the retainer is set to the released position. The contact101inserted in the contact receiving passageways141is primarily latched on to by a catch144provided within the respective contact receiving passageways141of the inner housing140.

Then, as shown inFIG. 12andFIG. 13, the tool210is inserted into the tool insertion passageway143, and by pressing a slant face161on the retainer160by an end211of the inserted tool210, the retainer160at the released position is moved to the locked position. Next, as shown inFIG. 13, by moving the retainer160to the locked position, the contact101inserted in the contact receiving passageways141is secondarily latched by the retainer160.

However, the lever-type connector100ofFIG. 10has adopted a configuration where the slant face161of the retainer160is pressed by the end211of the inserted tool210, in order to move the retainer to the locked position. As a result, with the lever-type connector100, when moving the retainer160, there is a problem in that it is not easy to move the retainer160to the locked position, since the direction in which the tool210is inserted is not the same direction in which the retainer160is moved. If the retainer160cannot be moved completely to the locked position, the latch onto the contact101by the retainer160becomes incomplete, and there is a chance that the contact101may fall out of the inner housing140.

SUMMARY

The invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an objective of the invention, among other things, to provide a lever-type connector capable of securely and efficiently carrying secondary latching of a contact by a retainer.

The lever-type connector includes an inner housing, an outer housing, a retainer, a slider, a lever and a first and second retainer operation passageway. The inner housing includes a contact receiving passageway for receiving a contact, which is latched by a retainer inserted into the inner housing. The inner housing is inserted into and received by the outer housing. The slider is movable within the outer housing and having a cam groove into which a cam pin provided on the mating connector is inserted. The lever is attached to the outer housing and moves the slider by rotation of the lever. The first retainer operation passageway is positioned on a side surface of the outer housing, while the second retainer operation passageway is located on the slider. The first retainer operation passageway is in communication with the second retainer operation passageway when the slider is set to a mated position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

Hereinafter, a lever-type connector1of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The lever-type connector1shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2includes a housing10, which receives multiple contacts (not illustrated in the drawings), a wire cover20attached to a rear side (upper side inFIG. 1andFIG. 2) of the housing10, and a lever30, which is attached to the wire cover20.

The housing10has an inner housing40, and an outer housing50that receives the inner housing40. The inner housing40includes a housing main body41, a front cover42and a first sealing member43, which are to be attached to the front surface side of the housing main body41, a second sealing member44to be attached to the rear side of the housing main body41, and a retainer45to be inserted into the housing main body41, as shown inFIG. 5.

The housing main body41has multiple contact receiving passageways11, as shown inFIG. 5. A catch (not illustrated in the drawing) for primarily latching on to a contact is provided to the respective contact receiving passageways11. A hood portion41aextending rearward is provided on the rear side of the housing main body41. Latch arms41bfor securing the inner housing40to the outer housing50are provided on both ends of the hood portion41a. Moreover, a retainer receiving depression41cis provided on the housing main body41. The retainer receiving depression41cis open downward. Furthermore, two openings41dare provided on the top surface side of the retainer receiving depression41cof the housing main body41. Respective protrusions7and8of a retainer45, which is inserted into the retainer receiving depression41c, penetrate through the two openings41d.

The front cover42is formed so as to cover the front surface of the housing main body41. As shown inFIG. 4, multiple mating terminal insertion passageways42aare provided on the front surface of the front cover42. The front cover42is then attached to the front surface of the housing main body41.

The first sealing member43is formed having a ring form. The first sealing member43is then attached to the outer side of the housing main body41, providing a sealing between the mating connector (not illustrated in the drawing) and the housing main body41.

The second sealing member44is formed having a plate form. Contact insertion passageways44aare provided at positions corresponding to the respective contact receiving passageways11in the housing main body41of the second sealing member44. The second sealing member44is then received in the hood portion41aof the housing main body41and adhered to the outer surface of electrical wires that are lead out from contacts (not illustrated in the drawing) inserted in the respective contact insertion passageways44a, thereby preventing penetration of water into the inner housing40.

The retainer45is formed having a plate form. Contact insertion passageways44bare provided at positions corresponding to the respective contact receiving passageways11in the housing main body41. Two protrusions7and8, which protrude from the respective openings41dwhen the retainer45is inserted into the retainer receiving depression41cof the housing main body41, are provided on the upper end of the retainer45.

The retainer45is then inserted into the retainer receiving depression41cof the housing main body41. It is possible to move the retainer45inserted into the retainer receiving depression41cof the housing main body41between the released position and the locked position. The lever-type connector1has a configuration allowing insertion of contacts in the contact receiving passageways11of the housing main body41when the retainer45has been set to the released position. Moreover, it is configured such that the retainer45secondarily latches on to the contacts that are inserted in the contact receiving passageways11of the housing main body41by pushing upward the retainer45that is set to the released position to arrange the retainer45at the locked position.

As shown inFIG. 2, a slider receiving slot12provided on either inner surface of the outer housing50. A slider13is received in each of the slider receiving slots12, as shown inFIG. 1. The respective sliders13are received in a slider receiving slot12so as to freely move between a released position (seeFIG. 9) and a mated position (seeFIG. 7). Two first retainer operation passageways5and6into which is inserted a tool (not illustrated in the drawing) for operating the retainer45are provided laterally to the retainer45on either side surface of the outer housing50. In the housing10, positions of the respective first retainer operation passageways5and6, which are on the respective side surfaces of the outer housing50, nearly match positions of the retainer45in the front-and-back direction, which is inserted into the inner housing40nearly match. The first retainer operation passageway5is provided so as to communicate with a second retainer operation passageway3of the slider13only when the slider13is set to the mated position. Moreover, a first retainer operation passageway6is provided so as to communicate with the second retainer operation passageway4of the slider13only when the slider13is set to the mated position.

As shown inFIG. 4, four cam pin insertion passageways14, into which cam pins (not illustrated in the drawing) provided on the mating connector are inserted, are provided on the front surface of the outer housing50. The respective cam pin insertion passageways14are provided so as to communicate with to the respective cam grooves13aof the respective sliders13only when the sliders13are set to the released position. A first temporary fastening passageway18and a second temporary fastening passageway19, into which projections13cof the respective sliders13are joined, are provided on the top and bottom surfaces of the outer housing50. The first temporary fastening passageway18is provided so as to be joined to the respective projections13cof the respective sliders13when the sliders13are set to the released position. The second temporary fastening passageway19is provided so as to be joined to the respective projections13cof the respective sliders13when the sliders13are set to the mated position.

Each of the sliders13(seeFIG. 7andFIG. 9) is formed having a plate shape. Two of the cam grooves13a, which lead in and push out cam pins provided on the mating connector, are provided on the inner surface of each of the sliders13. Moreover, a rack13b(seeFIG. 7andFIG. 9), with which gears32bof the lever30are engaged, is provided on the rear side of the respective sliders13. Each slider13is received in a slider receiving slot12of the outer housing50, and is capable of moving between the released position and the mated position along the side surfaces of the outer housing50. A projection13cfor temporarily fastening the sliders13at the released position or the mated position is provided on one end of the respective sliders13. Each slider13is temporarily fastened at the released position by joining the projection13cto the first temporary fastening passageway18of the outer housing50. Each slider13is temporarily fastened at the mated position by joining the projection13cto the second temporary fastening passageway19of the outer housing50. Two retainer operation passageways3and4, into which a tool for operating the retainer45is inserted, are provided on the respective sliders13. In the housing10, positions of the respective second retainer operation passageways3and4in the front-and-back direction, which are on the respective sliders13received in the outer housing50, nearly match positions of the retainer45, which is inserted into the inner housing40. Here, both of the second retainer operation passageways3and4are provided at a position avoiding the cam grooves13a. This allows prevention of decrease in strength of the sliders13.

The lever30includes a pair of side plates32and a connecting part33for connecting an end of both of the side plates32to each other, as shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2. A pivot receiving passageway32, into which a pivot21of the wire cover20is joined, is provided on the other ends of both of the side plates32. Moreover, gears32bthat engage with the rack13bof the sliders13are provided around the pivot receiving passageway32aon the other ends of both of the side plates32.

The wire cover20is formed in an approximate box shape so as to cover an electrical wire (not illustrated in the drawing) connected to the contact received in the housing10, as shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2. The pivot21that joins to the pivot receiving passageway32aof the lever30is provided on the front end of the top and bottom surfaces of the wire cover20.

A first deterring section22is provided on one side of the wire cover20. A second deterring section23is provided on the other side of the wire cover20. The first deterring section22deters the lever30that has been set to the released position (seeFIG. 1) from rotating further toward the one side. The second deterring section23deters the lever30that has been set to the mated position (seeFIG. 2) from rotating further toward the other side. An electrical wire outlet24, which leads out the bound, electrical wires connected to the contact that is accommodated in the housing10, is provided on the other end of the wire cover22.

A lock member27for preventing rotation of the lever30that has been set to the mated position to the one side is provided on the rear surface of the wire cover20. The lock member27is formed having a cantilever plate-spring form and prevents the lever30from rotating toward the one side by intercepting the sides of the connecting part33of the lever30set to the mated position. A lock projection portion28for preventing rotation of the lever30that has been set to the released position to the other side is provided on an end of the top and bottom surfaces of the wire cover20. Each of the lock projection portions28prevents rotation of the lever30that has been set to the released position to the other side by intercepting the sides of the respective side plates32of the lever30.

An assembling method of the lever-type connector1will now be described. The wire cover20, to which the lever30is attached, connects with the housing10where the inner housing40is received in the outer housing50and both of the sliders13are received, during an assembly process of the lever-type connector1.

The wire cover20is fixed by the lock member27in order to prevent damage to the lever30when the lever30is set to the mated position. Moreover, as shown inFIG. 6andFIG. 7, the housing10is introduced into the assembly process in a state where the respective sliders13are set to the mated position and the projections13cof the respective sliders13are joined to the second temporary fastening passageway19. As a result, if the wire cover20where the lever30is set to the mated position is combined with the housing10where the respective sliders13are set to the mated position in the assembly process of the lever-type connector1, the respective gears32bof the lever30and the rack13bof the respective sliders13are properly engaged with together. Furthermore, the housing10is assembled in a state where the retainer45is inserted into the retainer receiving depression41cof the housing main body41, and the retainer45is set to the released position.

When assembling the lever-type connector1, the multiple contact receiving passageways11of the inner housing40first receive respective contacts from the outer housing50of the housing10. The contacts received in the contact receiving passageways11are each primarily latched on to by a catch provided within the respective contact receiving passageways11.

Next, the retainer45at the released position is then pushed upward to be moved to the locked position.

Here, the housing10in which the sliders13are at the mated position is in a state where the first retainer operation passageway5is in communication with the second retainer operation passageway3, and the first retainer operation passageway6is in communication with the second retainer operation passageway4. Accordingly, the bottom surface of the retainer45is visible through the corresponding second retainer operation passageways3and4of the sliders13on the bottom surface side of the outer housing50and the first retainer operation passageways5and6on the bottom surface side of the outer housing50, respectively. As a result, it is possible to insert a tool in a rod shape (no illustrated in the drawing) into the corresponding first retainer operation passageways5and6and second retainer operation passageways3and4, respectively, and push the bottom surface of the retainer45upward by the end of the inserted tool.

According to the lever-type connector1, securely and efficiently moving of the retainer45from the released position to the locked position is possible since direction in which the tool is inserted matches direction in which the retainer45is moved.

By moving the retainer45to the locked position, the contacts received in the contact receiving passageways11of the inner housing40are then secondarily latched by the retainer45.

Here, the lever-type connector1is a design allowing external detection of the positions of the respective sliders13received in the housing10. Therefore, with the lever-type connector1, displacement of the slider13cannot be detected externally, even in the case where displacement of the slider13that has been temporarily fastened at a mated position within the housing10occurs due to impact or the like during transportation of the housing10.

Consequently, the lever-type connector1has a configuration where pushing in of the retainer45is performed using a tool since the first retainer operation passageways5and6and second retainer operation passageways3and4being successive only when the sliders13are at the mated position. Accordingly, when the sliders13are not set to the mated position, the first retainer operation passageways5and6and second retainer operation passageways3and4are not aligned, and therefore, pushing in of the retainer45using a tool is not possible.

As such, according to the lever-type connector1, detection of displacement of the sliders13when moving the retainer45is possible. If the outer housing50and the sliders13have different colors than that of the retainer45, then the colors facilitates visual detection of displacement of the sliders13.

The wire cover20to which the lever30is attached is then attached to the housing10in which the retainer45has been moved to the locked position. In this case, as described above, the wire cover20is in a state where the lever30is set to the mated position and the lever30is fixed by the lock member27. Moreover, the housing10in which the retainer45has been set to the locked position is in a state where the respective sliders13are set to the mated position and the projections13cof the respective sliders13are joined to the second temporary fastening passageway19. As a result, the wire cover20, where the lever30is set to the mated position, is combined with the housing10, where the respective sliders13are set to the mated position, thereby properly engaging the respective gears32bof the lever30and the rack13bof the respective sliders13. Where attachment of the wire cover20to the housing10is complete, the bound, electrical wires connected to the multiple contacts are lead out from the electrical wire outlet24of the wire cover20.

This attaches the wire cover20to the housing10, thereby completing assembly of the lever-type connector1, as shown inFIG. 2.

Mechanical use of the lever-type connector1will now be described. With the lever-type connector1, by rotating the lever30relative to the housing10, the gears32bof the lever30drive the rack13bof the sliders13, the sliders13are moved. Moreover, if the lever30is turned toward the released position, the sliders13are moved toward the released position. Furthermore, if the lever30is turned toward the mated position, the sliders13are moved toward the mated position. In addition, when the lever30is set to the released position, the sliders13are then set to the released position, as shown inFIG. 8andFIG. 9. When the lever30is set to the mated position, the sliders13are then set to the mated position, as shown inFIG. 6andFIG. 7.

When mating the lever-type connector1with a mating connector, the lever30is first set to the released position. When the lever30has been set to the released position, setting the sliders13to the released position results in the respective cam pin insertion passageways14of the outer housing50in communication with the respective cam grooves13aof the respective sliders13.

Then, in the state where the lever30has been set to the released position, the respective cam pins of the mating connector are inserted in the multiple cam grooves13aof the sliders13via the respective cam pin insertion passageways14of the outer housing50, temporarily mating the lever-type connector1and the mating connector.

Next, the lever30by the lock projection portion28of the wire cover20is released, and the lever30is turned from the released position toward the mated position. Once the lever30is turned toward the mated position, the sliders13move toward the mating position so that the multiple cam grooves13aof the sliders13lead the cam pins, which are provided to the mating connector, toward the rear surface. As a result, the multiple contacts received in the inner housing40are mated with contacts received in the mating connector.

The lever30is then set to the mated completion position such that the sliders13are set to the mated position, thereby completing mating of the lever-type connector1and the mating connector. Note that the lever30set to the mated position is prevented from rotating toward the released position by the lock member27of the wire cover20.

Meanwhile, when releasing the mating of the lever-type connector1and the mating connector, the lock of the lever30by the lock member27of the wire cover20is released, and the lever30that has been set to the mated position is turned toward the released position. Once the lever30is turned toward the released position, the sliders13are moved toward the released position so that the multiple cam grooves13aof the sliders13lead the cam pins that are provided to the mating connector out toward the front surface. As a result, the mating of the contacts received in the inner housing40of the lever-type connector1and the contacts received in the mating connector is released.

Once the lever30is turned to the released position, release of the mating of the lever-type connector1and the mating connector is then complete.

Next, a method of replacing a contact of the lever-type connector1will be described. When replacing a contact of the lever-type connector1, the lever30is first set to the mated position. The wire cover20where the lever30is set to the mated position is then removed from the housing10.

Moreover, the housing10in which the wire cover20has been removed is in a state where the respective sliders13are set to the mated position and the projections13cof the respective sliders13are joined to the second temporary fastening passageway19.

Next, the retainer45at the locked position is pushed downward to the released position. Here, the housing10in which the sliders13are at the mated position is in a state where the first retainer operation passageway5is communication with the second retainer operation passageway3, and the first retainer operation passageway6is communication with the second retainer operation passageway4. Accordingly, the top surface of the protrusion7of the retainer45is visible through either of the communicated second retainer operation passageway3on the top surface side of the outer housing50or the first retainer operation passageway5on the top surface side of the outer housing50. Moreover, the top surface of the protrusion8of the retainer45is visible through either of the communicated second retainer operation passageway4of the sliders13on the top surface side of the outer housing50or the first retainer operation passageway6on the top surface side of the outer housing50. As a result, it is possible to insert a rod-shaped tool in the communicated first retainer operation passageways5and6and second retainer operation passageways3and4, respectively, and push the respective top surfaces of the protrusions7and8downward using the end of the inserted tool.

In this manner, according to the lever-type connector1, securely moving of the retainer45from the locked position to the released position is possible since direction in which the tool is inserted matches direction in which the retainer45is moved.

By moving the retainer45to the released position, the contacts, which are received in the contact receiving passageways11of the inner housing40in the housing10, are then released.

Once released from the retainer45, the contacts may be replaced by releasing the primary latches by the catch of the housing10using a tool.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, various modifications to those embodiments are possible. 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. For example, the number of the first retainer operation passageways5and6and the second retainer operation passageways3and4in the outer housing50may be appropriately increased.

A lever-type connector according to the invention allows secure and efficient movement of a retainer to a released position or a locked position. Moreover, the lever-type connector according to the invention, among other things, allows for detection of slider displacement when moving the retainer. Furthermore, the lever-type connector according to the invention prevents reduction in strength of a slider.