Lever type connector

Abstract: A lever type connector apparatus has first and second connectors (1,2) which are engagable by cam action between guide pins (5) projecting from the second connector and guide grooves (3a) defined by a lever (3) pivotally mounted on the first connector. The guide grooves are provided with projections (3e) such that the profile of the grooves prevents movement of the connectors from a temporary engaging position towards a fully engaged position in response to an applied force between the connectors in the direction of engagement. Electrical connection can thereby only be made by actuation of the lever thereby avoiding fault conditions in assembly. The connector is primarily for automotive electrics.

Description: The present invention relates to a lever type connector and more particularly to the lever type connector comprising a pair of connectors connected with each other by using a lever supported by a pair of shafts projecting from one of the connectors. A great force is required to connect a plurality of conductors housed within the connectors, for example 20 or more, with each other. Therefore, lever type connectors have been proposed to connect them easily by means of a lever which allows an operator to connect them by applying a relatively small force thereto. An example of a lever type connector is shown in GB 2179506. Referring to Fig. 4, another example of the above described conventional lever type connector is described below. A lever 3 is rotatably supported by a pair of supporting shafts 4 and 4 on both outer side surfaces of a connector 1. A pair of guide pins 5 and 5 engaging guide grooves 3c and 3c of the lever 3 project from a connector 2. The lever 3 is rotated to move the connector 2 into the connector 1 so as to connect them with each other or move the connector 2 away from the connector 1 so as to disconnect them from each other due to the engagement between the guide pins 5 and 5 of the connector 2 and each of the guide grooves 3c and 3c of the connector 1. In connecting the connectors 1 and 2 of the above described lever type connector with each other, an operator has the connector 2 in one hand to engage the connectors 1 and 2 with each other while the operator rotates the lever 3 by the other hand. This arrangement eliminates the need for using both hands in connecting them with each other. That is, an operator rotates the lever 3 by one hand with the connector 2 held by the connector 1 in a temporary engaging position. In the temporary engaging position, the connectors 1 and 2 are not in contact with each other and thus are unconductive to each other. The above-described lever type connector has, however, the following problem in installing it on an automobile or the like: As shown in Fig. 5, in the temporary engaging position, the guide pin 5 of the connector 2 is in contact with an inclined surface 3b of a guide groove 3a formed on the lever 3. If a force F1 in the engaging direction acts on the connector 2 by accident, the guide pin 5 applies a rotational force F2 in the engaging direction to the lever 3. As a result, the lever 3 rotates in the engaging direction (A) and hence the connector 2 is moved from the temporary engaging position toward the predetermined engaging position. Consequently, the terminals of the connectors 1 and 2 are brought into contact with each other and as a result, both connectors 1 and 2 become conductive to each other although the connector 2 is not in engagement with the connector 1 at the predetermined engaging position. If the operator has forgotten to connect the connector 2 with the connector 1 at the predetermined engaging position with the connector 2 held at the temporary engaging position, there is a possibility that an incomplete engagement between the connectors 1 and 2 cannot be detected in a conductivity inspection test, because the connectors 1 and 2 are conductive to each other. It is an object of the present invention to provide a lever type connector, comprising a male connector and a female connector, in which the male connector can be prevented from being erroneously moved from a temporary engaging position toward a predetermined engaging position. According to the present invention there is disclosed a lever type connector apparatus comprising first and second connectors which are mutually connectable such that in a fully connected position electrical contact is made between respective conductors housed therein, a lever rotatably supported on the first connector by pivot means and a pair of guide pins projecting from the second connector engagable with respective guide grooves defined by the lever; the connectors having cooperating mating formations facilitating engagement in a temporary engaging position in which no contact is made between the conductors, the connectors being relatively moveable in a linear direction of engagement into the fully connected position in response to pivotal actuation of the lever in a predetermined engaging direction of rotation (A) whereby in use the connectors are urged from the temporary engaging position into the fully engaged position by cam action between the guide pins and guide grooves; characterised in that the profile of the grooves is such as to prevent movement of the connectors from the temporary engaging position towards the fully engaged position in response to a force applied between the connectors in the linear direction of engagement. Preferably the lever comprises projections extending into the respective grooves and delineating in each groove between a longitudinally extending portion of the groove traversed by the respective guide pin in response to actuation of the lever and a holding portion of the groove in which the guide pin is captively held in response to movement of the guide pin in the linear direction of engagement. In a preferred embodiment there is provided a lever type connector, comprising: a pair of a first connector and a second connector to be connected with each other, in which a lever is rotatably supported by a pair of supporting shafts on the first connector; a pair of guide pins which engage each of a pair of guide grooves formed on the lever project from the second connector; and the lever is rotated to move the second connector into the first connector so as to connect the first and second connectors with each other or move the second connector away from the first connector so as to disconnect the first and second connectors from each other due to the engagement between the guide pins and the guide grooves. In the above construction, there is provided a pair of projections, formed on each of the guide grooves of the lever, which converts the rotation of the lever in a predetermined engaging direction effected due to the engagement between the guide pins and the guide grooves into the rotation thereof in a direction opposite to the predetermined engaging direction when the guide pins are brought into contact with each of the projections when the male connector is held at a temporary engaging position thereof. According to the above-described construction, if a force in the predetermined engaging direction acts by accident on the male connector disposed at the temporary engaging position, the guide pin is brought into contact with the projection formed on the guide groove of the lever supported by the shaft of the female connector. The projection converts the rotation of the lever in the predetermined engaging direction effected due to the engagement between the guide pin of the male connector and the guide groove of the lever into the rotation thereof in the direction opposite to the predetermined engaging direction. Therefore, the lever does not rotate in the predetermined engaging direction and thus the male connector held in the temporary engaging position is not moved toward the predetermined engaging position. That is, the male connector remains held at the temporary engaging position. If an operator has forgotten to rotate the lever to engage the female connector and the male connector with each other with the male connector held at the temporary engaging position thereof, it is easy to detect an incomplete engagement between the male and female connectors in a conductivity inspection test, because the terminals thereof are not in contact with each other. These and other objects and features of the present invention will become clear from the following description taken in conjunction with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing a lever type connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view showing a modified lever of the lever type connector shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view showing a lever according to a modification of the lever type connector of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional lever type connector; and Fig. 5 is a side elevational view showing the conventional lever type connector of Fig. 4. Before the description of the present invention proceeds, it is to be noted that like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the accompanying drawings. Referring to the drawings, a lever type connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. As shown in Fig. 1, the lever type connector according to the embodiment comprises a female connector 1 on which a lever 3 has been installed. The female connector 1 is a multipolar connector having a plurality of terminal-accommodating chambers (not shown) arranged in parallel with each other. Referring to Fig. 4, a male connector 2 is inserted into the female connector 1 from an opening portion la thereof so as to connect the male connector 2 with the female connector 1. A pair of supporting shafts 4 and 4, integral with the female connector 1, projecting outward from the outer surfaces of a pair of sides 1b and 1b of the female connector 1 is inserted into each of a pair of openings 3d and 3d formed on the sides 3c and 3c of the lever 3 so that the lever 3 is rotatably supported on the female connector 1 by means of the supporting shafts 4 and 4. The lever 3 has on the inner surfaces of both sides 3c and 3c thereof a pair of guide grooves 3a and 3a, in a circular arc configuration, which are engaged by each of a pair of guide pins 5 and 5 of the male connector 2. The female connector 1 has on both sides 1b and 1b thereof a pair of locating grooves 1c and 1c formed inward from the forward end of the opening portion 1a. The guide pins 5 and 5 of the male connector 2 engage each of the grooves 1c and 1c so that the guide pins 5 and 5 guide the male connector 2 into and out of the female connector 1 linearly. Before the lever 3 is rotated to engage the male connector 2 and the female connector 1 with each other, the guide pins 5 and 5 of the male connector 2 are inserted into each of the locating grooves 1c and 1c of the female connector 1 from the opening portion 1a of the female connector 1 so as to hold the male connector 2 at a temporary engaging position (state shown in Fig. 1). At the temporary engaging position of the male connector 2, a pair of projections 3e and 3e with which the guide pins 5 and 5 are brought into contact are formed on the guide grooves 3a and 3a of the lever 3 unlike the conventional lever type connector in which the inclined surface 3b is formed on the guide grooves 3a and 3a as shown in Fig. 5. The projections 3e extend into the guide grooves 3a so as to delineate in each groove between a longitudinally extending portion and a holding portion. In Figures 1 and 3 the guide pins 5 are shown engaging the holding portion of grooves 3a. The projections 3e and 3e change the rotational direction of the lever 3. More specifically, the projections 3e and 3e convert the rotation of the lever 3 in a predetermined engaging direction (A) (refer to Fig. 5) which is made due to the engagement between the guide pins 5 and 5 and each of the guide grooves 3a and 3a into the rotation thereof in a direction (B) opposite to the predetermined engaging direction (A). That is, as shown in detail in Fig. 2, the projection 3e is disposed above a line CL formed by connecting the center of the guide pin 5 and that of the supporting shaft 4 when the guide pin 5 guided by the locating groove 1c of the female connector 1 is brought into contact with the projection 3e. According to this construction, not a rotational force F2 in the predetermined engaging direction (A) but a rotational force F3 in the direction (B) opposite to the predetermined engaging direction (A) acts on the lever 3 due to the engagement between the guide pins 5 and 5 and each of the guide grooves 3a and 3a. It is possible to form the projection 3e in an elongated configuration as shown in Fig. 3. According to the above construction, let it be supposed that the force F1 in the predetermined engaging direction (A) acts on the male connector 2 by accident in the temporary engaging position in which the female connector 1 is in an incomplete engagement with the male connector 2. When the guide pin 5 is brought into contact with the projection 3e formed on the guide groove 3a of the lever 3, the projection 3e converts the rotational force F2 of the lever 3 in the predetermined engaging direction (A) into the rotational force F3 in the direction (B) opposite to the predetermined engaging direction (A). As a result, the lever 3 does not rotate in the predetermined engaging direction (A) and thus the male connector 2 held in the temporary engaging position is not moved in the predetermined engaging direction (A). That is, the male connector 2 remains held at the temporary engaging position. Therefore, if an operator has forgotten to rotate the lever 3 in engaging the female connector 1 and the male connector 2 with each other, with the male connector 2 held the temporary engaging position, it is easy to detect an incomplete engagement between the connectors 1 and 2 in a conductivity inspection test, because the terminals of the connectors 1 and 2 are not in contact with each other. When the lever 3 is rotated with the male connector 2 held at the temporary engaging position, the female connector 1 can be engaged by the male connector 2 at the predetermined engaging position due to the engagement between the guide groove 3a and the guide pin 5. That is, unless the lever 3 is rotated, the female connector 1 cannot be engaged by the male connector 2 at the predetermined engaging position. Although the present invention has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications are apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims unless they depart therefrom.

Claims: A lever type connector apparatus comprising first and second connectors (1,2) which are mutually connectable such that in a fully connected position electrical contact is made between respective conductors housed therein, a lever (3) rotatably supported on the first connector by pivot means and a pair of guide pins (5) projecting from the second connector engagable with respective guide grooves (3a) defined by the lever; the connectors having cooperating mating formations facilitating engagement in a temporary engaging position in which no contact is made between the conductors, the connectors being relatively moveable in a linear direction of engagement into the fully connected position in response to pivotal actuation of the lever in a predetermined engaging direction of rotation (A) whereby in use the connectors are urged from the temporary engaging position into the fully engaged position by cam action between the guide pins and guide grooves; characterised in that the profile of the grooves is such as to prevent movement of the connectors from the temporary engaging position towards the fully engaged position in response to a force applied between the connectors in the linear direction of engagement. A lever type connector apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lever comprises projections (3e) extending into the respective grooves and delineating in each groove between a longitudinally extending portion of the groove traversed by the respective guide pin in response to actuation of the lever and a holding portion of the groove in which the guide pin is captively held in response to movement of the guide pin in the linear direction of engagement. A lever type connector apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the projections are cooperable with the guide pins when the connectors are in the temporary engaging position to urge the lever in a direction (B) opposed to the predetermined engaging direction of rotation in response to the force being applied between the connectors in the linear direction of engagement. A lever type connector apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the pivot means comprises a pair of supporting shafts (4) projecting from the first connector and journaled in a cooperating pair of openings formed in side portions of the lever. A lever type connector as claimed in claim 4 wherein the supporting shafts and guide pins when viewed in axial projection are spaced apart ina direction at right angles to the linear direction of engagement. A lever type connector apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first connector defines a socket receiving the second connector whereby the first and second connectors constitute female and male connectors (1,2) respectively. A lever type connector comprising: a pair of a first connector and a second connector (2) to be connected with each other, in which a lever (3) is rotatably supported by a pair of supporting shafts (4) on the first connector; a pair of guide pins (5) which engage each of a pair of guide grooves (3a) formed on the lever project from the second connector; the lever being rotated to move the second connector into the first connector so as to connect the first and second connectors with each other or move the second connector away from the first connector so as to disconnect the first and second connectors from each other due to the engagement between the guide pins and the guide grooves, and a pair of projections (3e), formed on each of the guide grooves of the lever, which converts the rotation of the lever in a predetermined engaging direction effected due to the engagement between the guide pins and the guide grooves into the rotation thereof in a direction opposite to the predetermined engaging direction when the guide pins are brought into contact with each of the projections when the male connector is held at a temporary engaging position thereof. A lever type connector as defined in claim 7, wherein the projection converts the rotation of the lever in the predetermined engaging direction effected due to the engagement between the guide pin of the male connector and the guide groove of the lever into the rotation thereof in the direction opposite to the predetermined engaging direction, so that the lever does not rotate in the predetermined engaging direction and thus the male connector held in the temporary engaging position is not moved toward the predetermined engaging position to hold the male connector remains held at the temporary position.

Inventors: SAITO MASASHI, SAITO, MASASHI, SAITO, MASASHI, C/O SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
Applicants: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13