Connector socket

Abstract: A connector terminal 40 having a relay terminal 42 in the form of a flat plate is inserted through an opening of a connector receptacle 23. Then, a bulb terminal 30 having a relay terminal 36 in the form of a flat plate is inserted through an opening of bulb receptacle 22. As a result of the inserting operations, relay terminal 36 is fitted in an engaging hole 43 formed in relay terminal 42, thereby establishing an electrical connection between terminals 30 and 40.

Description: The present invention relates to a connector socket, particularly, an L-shaped bulb socket including a bulb receptacle and a connector receptacle. The bulb socket disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication 1-86085 (prior art 1) is known as a bulb socket of this type. As shown in Figure 13, a bulb socket 1 has a main body 2 formed with a bulb receptacle 3 in which a bulb 7 is mounted and a connector receptacle 4 in which a feeder connector 8 for supplying electric power is mounted. Bulb receptacle 3 and connector receptacle 4 are arranged such that main body 2 has a substantially L-shaped form. A bulb terminal 5 and a connector terminal 6 electrically connectable with bulb 7 and a feeder connector 8, respectively are inserted and assembled in main body 2. As shown in Figure 14, connector terminal 6 includes a connector tab 6a which is in the form of a long and narrow plate member engageable with feeder connector 8, and a holder 6b electrically connectable with bulb terminal 5. Connector terminal 6 is mounted in main body 2 by inserting connector tab 6a through an insertion hole 10 from a recess 9 formed in the outer surface of main body 2, so that the leading part of connector tab 6a projects into connector receptacle 4 and holder 6b is disposed in recess 9. Bulb terminal 5 includes a pair of bulb holders 5a, 5a which are elastically deflected to come into contact with a wedge portion 7a of bulb 7 from opposite sides, and a tongue portion 5b which is provided below bulb holders 5a, 5a and in the form of a long and narrow plate member electrically connectable with connector terminal 6. Bulb terminal 5 is mounted in main body 2 by inserting tongue portion 5b from an opening of bulb receptacle 3 to recess 9 through an insertion hole 11 and by engaging tongue portion 5b with holder 6b. After mounting terminals 5 and 6 in main body 2, insulating sealing agent 12 is filled in recess 9 to cover tongue portion 5b and holder 6b. This prevents penetration of water from the outside of main body 2, thereby preventing occurrences of corrosion and short-circuit of terminals 5 and 6. Further, Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication No. 3-14791 (prior art 2) and Japanese unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 3-17429 (prior art 3) disclose a bulb socket in which a bulb terminal and a connector terminal are integrally formed into a single L-shaped terminal which is inserted from a connector receptacle or bulb receptacle to be mounted. However, bulb socket 1 according to the embodiment of prior art 1 has a likelihood that sealing agent 12 filled in recess 9 enters into bulb receptacle 3 and connector receptacle 4 through clearances between walls defining insertion holes 10 and 11 and terminals 5 and 6 to thereby deposit on the surface of bulb holder 5a and connector tab 6a. This causes contact failures with bulb 7 and feeder connector 8 to be mounted. Further, the fabrication of bulb socket 1 necessitates a step of filling sealing agent 12 in addition to a step of mounting terminals 5 and 6 and a waiting period until sealing agent 12 is hardened. With the bulb socket of the prior art 2 or 3, in order to mount the L-shaped terminal, the connector receptacle or bulb receptacle from which the terminal is inserted is required to have a larger size and a complicated structure. Particularly, the embodiment of prior art 2 has the problem that the terminal cannot establish a secure electric connection with the bulb because the bulb holder for holding the bulb with its spring force cannot have a sufficient length (elastic force) sufficient to insert the terminal through the connector receptacle. US-A-3 999 095 discloses a lamp socket having a housing and a power contact terminal arranged therein for connecting terminals of the lamp with a power source. The power contact terminal comprises a clamp collar for the connection to a connector tab, a curvilinear spring contact for the electrical connection to the lamp and sidewalls having bent flanges thereon for the support of the power contact terminal on the housing, wherein the clamp collar, the curvilinear spring contact, the sidewalls and the bent flanges are all integrally formed. The prior art lamp socket according to US-A-3 999 095 has however the disadvantage that its power contact terminal has a very complicated construction and thus implies a higher production cost for the lamp socket as a whole. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector socket which has a simple structure and is capable of securely accomplishing an electric contact. This object is achieved by a connector socket according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent subclaims. Specifically in the connector socket according to the invention an engaging portion is formed at one of the device or bulb terminal and connector terminal, the inserting end of the other terminal being fitted in said engaging portion, wherein the engaging portion is a through hole. Accordingly the device terminal and the connector terminal can be configured in a simple way and do not require any sealing agent, which may cause failures in the electric contact. Furthermore with this configuration the withdrawal of the terminal having the engaging portion in the form of a through hole is prevented by the other terminal being fitted in said engaging portion. Thus securing means may be dispensed with, thus rendering the construction particularly even more simple. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inserting end(s) of one or both of the device terminal and connector terminal is/are elastically deflectable in a direction transverse to the insertion direction, preferably by the provision of a hole. Thus a secure electrical connection can be established with a very simple and effective structure. According to the invention, the bulb terminal and the connector terminal are inserted into respective receptacles, preferably, through the openings of the bulb receptacle and connector receptacle to be mounted in the socket main body, thereby realizing the easy mounting of these elements of the bulb socket. This also securely prevents contact failures which occur between the bulb terminal and the bulb and between the connector terminal and the feeder connector resulting from the use of sealing agent necessary in prior art. Further, since a step of filling sealing agent is not necessary, the bulb socket can be fabricated more easily. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bulb terminal is mounted by being inserted through the opening of the bulb receptacle and the connector terminal is mounted by being inserted through the opening of the connector receptacle. Thus, it is not necessary to form an opening specially for inserting the terminals on the outer surface of the socket main body. This obviates the need to fill sealing agent into the opening for inserting the terminals which is necessary when the terminals are inserted through the outer surface of the socket main body. In another embodiment of the invention, the terminal having the engaging hole is first inserted and then the other terminal is inserted. In the fully mounted state, the second inserting end is fitted into the engaging hole of the first inserted terminal, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the both terminals. According to an embodiment of the invention, the electrical contact between the inserting ends of the bulb and connector terminals is established by fitting the inserting end of one terminal in the engaging hole formed in the inserting end of the other terminal. Thus, the shape of the inserting ends can be simplified, thereby facilitating the fabrication of the bulb terminal and the connector terminal. According to another embodiment of the invention as defined in claim 3, since the inserting ends of the both terminals are in contact while at least one of the inserting ends is elastically deflected, the electrical contact can be established more securely. In this embodiment of the invention, an electrical connection can be securely established since the inserting ends of the terminals are in contact while one or both of the inserting ends is undergoing an elastic deflection. It should be appreciated that the term "inserting end" used in the claims refers to the part of the terminals which is to be introduced first into the corresponding receptacle. These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a section of embodiment 1, Figure 2 is a section along line A-A of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of a bulb terminal and a connector terminal, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a bulb terminal and a connector terminal of embodiment 2, Figure 5 is a section of embodiment 3, Figure 6 is a view of embodiment 3 viewed from a direction of arrow B of Figure 5, Figure 7 is a section along line C-C of Figure 5, Figure 8 is a perspective view of a bulb terminal, Figure 9 is a front view of the bulb terminal, Figure 10 is a perspective view of a connector terminal, Figure 11 is a plan view of the connector terminal, Figure 12 is a perspective view of a wedge-base bulb, Figure 13 is a section of a prior art bulb socket, and Figure 14 is a perspective view of a bulb terminal and a connector terminal of the prior art bulb socket. Hereafter, embodiment 1 of the invention for mounting a bulb 50 of wedge-base type is described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 and 12. A bulb socket 20 of embodiment 1 includes a socket main body 21 of insulating synthetic resin, a bulb terminal 30 of conductive metal and a connector terminal 40 which are mounted in a socket main body 21. Socket main body 21 is, as a whole, L-shaped and is formed with a bulb receptacle 22 in the form of a hood in which bulb 50 is mounted and a connector receptacle 23 in which a feeder connector 60 is mounted. Bulb and connector receptacles 22 and 23 are open in directions normal to each other. A gasket G of elastic rubber is mounted on the outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical outer wall portion 22a of bulb receptacle 22, outer wall portion 22a defining a circle in its horizontal cross-section, so that bulb socket 20 can be watertight-mounted in a mount hole of an unillustrated lamphouse. Inside outer wall portion 22a is formed an inner wall portion 22b in which bulb terminal 30 is mounted. The inner wall portion 22b has a closed bottom and defines substantially a rectangle in its horizontal cross-section. Outer and inner wall portions 22a and 22b are concentrically formed. In the bottom surface of the inner wall portion 22b are formed a pair of bulb terminal insertion holes 24 into which the leading ends of bulb terminals 30 are inserted. In connector receptacle 23, a seal ring S of elastic rubber is fitted at the bottom of a hood portion 23a having a closed bottom and a circular vertical cross-section, and a hollow cylindrical ring holder 26 for holding seal ring S is mounted in hood portion 23a while being engaged with an unillustrated engaging projection. A feeder connector 60 is fittable in ring holder 26. In the bottom surface of hood portion 23a are formed a pair of connector terminal insertion holes 25 in which the leading ends of connector terminal 40 are insertable. The leading ends of insertion holes 25 cross insertion holes 24 at right angles and communicate therewith. In Figure 1, a receiving face 27 for supporting the leading end of inserted connector terminal 40 is formed in each insertion hole 24 extending from corresponding insertion hole 25. Bulb terminal 30 mounted in bulb receptacle 22 is, as shown in Figure 3, formed by bending a conductive metal plate cut by means of a press. Bulb terminal 30 has a side wall 31 fittable along one longitudinal surface of inner wall portion 22b and a pair of support plates 32, 32 fittable along side surfaces of inner wall portion 22b. Support plates 32, 32 are formed by bending opposite bottom side portions of the cut metal plate at right angles in the same direction. Bulb terminal 30 is substantially fittably contained in the inner wall portion 22b. Inwardly curving bulb contacts 33, 33 are formed at leading ends of opposite support plates 32, 32 to tightly hold inserted bulb 50. The surface of each support plate 32 is triangularly cut and turned outward and upright to form a locking projection 34 projecting outward. Locking projections 34 cut into the inner surface of inner wall portion 22b to fix bulb terminal 30 in inner wall portion 22b. A base end of bulb terminal 30 is bent inward at right angles with respect to side wall 31 at the bottom end of side wall 31 and further bent downward at right angles to form an L-shaped relay connecting portion 35. At the leading end of connecting portion 35 is formed a relay terminal 36 which is flat and wide. A hole 37 is formed in relay terminal 36, making the parts of relay terminal 36 at opposite sides of hole 37 narrower to permit an elastic deflection of relay terminal 36 in the lateral direction. Connector terminal 40 is formed by cutting a conductive metal plate by means of a press as shown in Figure 3 and is in the form of a flat plate having substantially a constant width. One end of connector terminal 40 is a connector tab 41 engageable with an unillustrated female terminal mounted in feeder connector 60, and the other end thereof is a relay terminal 42. In relay terminal 42, there is formed an engaging hole 43 which is slightly shorter than the width of relay terminal 36 of bulb terminal 30. Between connector tab 41 and relay terminal 42 are formed a pair of winglike locking projections 44, 44 which project outward from the opposite lateral edges of connector terminal 40. The width of connector terminal 40 where locking projections 44, 44 are formed is slightly larger than the width of connector terminal insertion hole 25. Each locking projection 44 is in the form of a wedge tapered toward relay terminal 42. Locking projections 44 are pressed into insertion hole 25 to fix connector terminal 40. At the leading end of relay terminal 42 is formed a stepped narrow portion 45 which is placed on receiving face 27 in bulb terminal insertion hole 24. As shown in Figure 12, a bulb 50 mounted in bulb receptacle 22 has a known structure of, so-called, single filament type. Specifically, bulb 50 includes a bulb body 52 for containing a filament 51 and a flat rectangular base portion 53 of glass which is formed integrally with bulb body 52 at the bottom thereof. Two lead wires 54, 54 extending from the bottom of base portion 53 are turned along the opposite side surfaces of base portion 53, thereby forming feeder terminals 55, 55. Further, a locking projection 56 is formed on each side surface of base portion 53 to prevent base portion 53 from coming out of inner wall portion 22b. Being mounted in inner wall portion 22b, base portion 53 is tightly held with an elastic force rendered from bulb holders 33 of bulb terminal 30, and bulb holders 33 and feeder terminals 55 come into contact, thereby electrically connecting base portion 53 with bulb terminal 30. Feeder connector 60 mounted in connector receptacle 23 is provided with an unillustrated feeder terminal at its leading end and a lead wire 61 extending from its rear end, lead wire 61 being connected with an unillustrated battery. Being mounted in connector receptacle 23, the feeder terminal of feeder connector 60 is electrically connected with connector terminal 40. Next, the operation of embodiment 1 is described. Bulb terminal 30 and connector terminal 40 are mounted in socket main body 21 in the following procedure. Connector terminal 40 is first mounted in connector receptacle 23. Specifically relay terminal 42 of connector terminal 40 is inserted first into connector receptacle 23 until the leading end of relay terminal 42 is fitted in connector terminal insertion hole 25 and narrow portion 45 reaches receiving face 27. During this insertion, locking projections 44 are pressed into insertion hole 25, with the result that locking projections 44 cut in the inner wall of insertion hole 25 to thereby lockingly hold connector terminal 40. In this state, engaging hole 43 is located in a part of insertion hole 25 communicating with bulb terminal insertion hole 24. Subsequently, bulb terminal 30 is mounted in bulb receptacle 22. Relay connecting portion 35 of bulb terminal 30 is inserted first into bulb receptacle 22, thereby inserting relay connecting portion 35 into bulb terminal insertion hole 24. Relay connecting portion 35 is inserted until its base end reaches the bottom face of bulb receptacle 22 while side wall 31 and support plates 32, 32 slide in contact with and along the inner side surfaces of inner wall portion 22b. Locking projections 34 cut in the inner side surfaces of inner wall portion 22b, with the result that bulb terminal 30 is lockingly held. Relay terminal 36 at the leading end of relay connecting portion 35 is pressed into engaging hole 43 of relay terminal 42. Relay terminal 36 is fitted in engaging hole 43 while being elastically deflected by the presence of hole 37, thereby securely contacting the wall defining engaging hole 43. Since narrow portion 45 of relay terminal 42 is supported on receiving face 27, relay terminal 36 is fitted in engaging hole 43 without bending relay terminal 42. In this way, both terminals 30 and 40 are mounted in socket main body 21. In bulb socket 20 of embodiment 1, bulb terminal 30 is inserted through bulb receptacle 22 and connector terminal 40 is inserted through connector receptacle 23. Accordingly, terminals 30 and 40 can be mounted without forming openings in the outer surface of socket main body 21 specially for inserting terminals 30 and 40. Since penetration of water is prevented by seal ring S when feeder connector 60 is fitted in hood portion 23a, seal ring S in cooperation of gasket G realizes a bulb socket provided with a waterproof function. The connection of bulb terminal 30 and connector terminal 40 is accomplished by the elastic contact of relay terminal 36 with the wall of engaging hole 43 formed in connector terminal 40. Despite the simple structure of the connecting portion of terminals 30 and 40, there can be established a secure electrical connection. In embodiment 1, engaging hole 43 is formed in connector terminal 40 and relay terminal 36 of bulb terminal 30 is fitted in engaging hole 43. Conversely, an engaging hole may be formed in a bulb terminal and a connector terminal may be fitted in this engaging hole. Embodiment 2 of the invention is described next with reference to Figure 4. Socket main body is not here described since bulb terminal 70 and connector terminal 80 in embodiment 2 are modifications of bulb terminal 30 and connector 40 in embodiment 1, respectively. Bulb terminal 70 has a structure similar to bulb terminal 30 of embodiment 1: A side wall 71, a pair of support plates 72, 72 which extend from opposite side ends of side wall 71 and each have a bulb holder 73 and a locking projection 74, and a narrow, long and L-shaped relay connecting portion 75 extending from the bottom end of side wall 71 are provided. The leading end of relay connecting portion 75 is in the form of a long and narrow plate having a fixed width over its length. Connector terminal 80 is, as a whole, in the form of a long and narrow plate having a substantially constant width. At a relay terminal 82 at the opposite side of a connector tab 81 is formed an engaging slot 83 which is oblong in the lengthwise direction of connector terminal 80 and open at the leading edge of relay terminal 82. At the open inner edges of engaging slot 83 are formed a pair of substantially triangular engaging projections 84, 84 which are opposed to each other. The clearance between engaging projections 84, 84 is slightly smaller than the thickness of the relay connecting portion 75. Similar to embodiment 1, a pair of winglike locking projections 85, 85 project outward from the opposite lateral edges of connector terminal 80 between connector tab 81 and relay terminal 82. Terminals 70 and 80 are mounted in the socket main body not shown in Figure 4 as follows. Similarly to embodiment 1, after connector terminal 80 is inserted into the connector terminal insertion hole, bulb terminal 70 is inserted into the bulb terminal insertion hole. The leading end of engaging slot 83 is opened during the insertion of bulb terminal 70. Since the leading end of engaging slot 83 is elastically deflectable, engaging projections 84, 84 are spaced wider apart by inserted relay connecting portion 75 and come into contact with relay connecting portion 75 due to its elastic force, thereby establishing a secure electrical connection. Embodiment 3 of the invention is described next with reference to Figures 5 to 11. Bulb socket 90 of embodiment 3 is adapted to mount bulb 50 (see Figure 12) of the same wedge-base type as in embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 5, a socket main body 91 is, as a whole, L-shaped and is formed with a bulb receptacle 92 in the form of a hood in which bulb 50 is mounted and a connector receptacle 93 in which feeder connector 60 is mounted. Bulb and connector receptacles 92 and 93 are open in directions normal to each other. At the bottom surface of connector receptacle 93 are formed a pair of connector terminal insertion holes 95 which communicate with corresponding bulb terminal insertion holes 94. As shown in Figure 7, each insertion hole 95 has such a width that corresponding locking projections 115 of a connector terminal 110 to be described later are pressed against the wall defining insertion hole 95. In each bulb terminal insertion hole 94 communicating with a corresponding connector terminal insertion hole 95 is formed a receiving face 97 for supporting the leading end of inserted connector terminal 110. Connector terminal 110 pressed into insertion hole 95 has its end supported on receiving face 97 and is locked therein by locking projections 115. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, a bulb terminal 100 mounted in bulb receptacle 92 includes at its upper part a bulb contact portion 101 which is bent into a L-shaped form when viewed downward from the above. Bulb contact portion 101 has a function of mechanically holding base portion 53 of bulb 50 and electrically contacting feeder terminals 55 thereof. More specifically, contact portion 101 is formed with an elastic pressing member 102 for pressing the opposite longitudinal surfaces of base portion 53 and an elastic holding member 103 for pressing the opposite side surfaces of base portion 53. Pressing member 102 is formed by cutting the face of contact portion 101 along two substantially parallel lines and bending the portion between these two lines to project inward. The holding member 103 is formed by means of bending. Below holding member 103 is formed a feeder electrode 104 which is bent to face downward. Feeder electrode 104 is in contact with feeder terminal 55 in a state where base portion 53 is held by contact portion 101. At opposite sides of pressing member 102 are formed a pair of locking projections 105, 105 by cutting the face of contact portion 101 along two lateral sides and an upper side and bending this cut part to open outward and upward. Locking projections 105, 105 cut in the inner wall of bulb receptacle 92 to lock bulb terminal 100 in bulb receptacle 92. At the bottom end of bulb terminal 100 is formed a long and narrow relay connecting portion 106 which extends downward. At the leading end of the connecting portion 106 is formed a wide relay terminal 107 in which a hole 108 is formed. Hole 108 permits an elastic deflection of connecting portion 107 in the widthwise direction. As shown in Figures. 10 and 11, connector terminal 110 is, as a whole, in the form of a long and narrow plate having a constant width. One end of a connector terminal 110 is a connector tab 111 engageable with an unillustrated female terminal and the other end thereof is a relay terminal 112. Relay terminal 112 has an engaging hole 113 which is slightly longer than the width of relay terminal 107 of bulb terminal 100. A pair of winglike pressing projections 114, 114 project outward from the opposite lateral edges of connector terminal 110 between connector tab 111 and relay terminal 112. A locking projection 115 is formed at the outer end of each pressing projection 114. Each locking projection 115 is in the form of a wedge tapered toward relay terminal 112 and its lengthwise end facing connector tab 111 is cut away at right angles with respect to the lateral side edge of connector terminal 110. Next, the operation of embodiment 3 is described. Bulb terminal 100 and connector terminal 110 are mounted in socket main body 91 in the following procedure. Connector terminal 110 is first inserted into connector receptacle 93 from relay terminal 112, thereby pressing relay terminal 112 into connector terminal insertion hole 95. Locking projections 115 of pressing projections 114 cut in the inner wall of insertion hole 95 to lockingly hold connector terminal 110 in connector receptacle 93. Consequently, engaging hole 113 is located in a part of insertion hole 95 communicating with bulb terminal insertion hole 94. Subsequently, relay connecting portion 106 of bulb terminal 100 is inserted first into bulb receptacle 92, thereby pressing connecting portion 106 into bulb terminal insertion hole 94. Locking projections 105 of bulb terminal 100 are elastically deflected to come into contact with the inner wall of bulb receptacle 92, with the result that bulb terminal 100 is lockingly held in bulb receptacle 92. Relay terminal 107 at its leading end is fitted in engaging hole 113 of connector terminal 110. In this way, terminals 100 and 110 are mounted in socket main body 91. In this state, similar to embodiment 1, relay terminal 107 is securely in contact with engaging hole 113 while being elastically deflected in the widthwise direction because the length of engaging hole 113 is slightly smaller than the width of relay terminal 107 and the presence of hole 108 permits an elastic deflection of relay terminal in the widthwise direction. Since no sealing agent is used in bulb socket 90 of this embodiment similar to embodiment 1, bulb socket 90 is free from undesirable contact failures resulting from that the sealing agent moves along the surface of the terminals and deposits at contact portions of the terminals with the bulb and the feeder connector. Since the connection between bulb terminal 100 and connector terminal 110 is accomplished by a simple structure of fitting bulb terminal 100 into engaging hole 113 formed in connector terminal 110, terminals 100 and 110 can be fabricated easily and inexpensively. In embodiment 3, relay portion 107 of bulb terminal 100 is fitted into engaging hole 113 formed in relay terminal 112 of connector terminal 110 in embodiment 3. However, a bulb terminal may be formed with a relay terminal having an engaging hole and a relay connecting portion of the connector terminal may be fitted into this engaging hole. The invention is not limited to foregoing embodiments 1 to 3, but may, for example, be embodied as follows. (1) Although embodiments 1 to 3 are described with respect to the case where the invention is applied to the bulb socket for holding a wedge-base bulb of single filament type, the invention is applicable to bulb sockets for holding a wedge-base bulb of double filament type and a bulb having a metal base, rather than a wedge-base. (2) Although embodiments 1 to 3 are described with respect to the case where both the bulb terminal and the connector terminal have means for locking themselves in the socket main body, the connector terminal is not necessarily provided with locking means since the bulb terminal engaged therewith prevents it from coming out of the socket main body. Further, since both terminals are connected in directions normal to each other at their leading ends, the locking means formed in the bulb and connector terminals to lock themselves in the bulb and connector receptacles can be replaced by locking means provided in the connecting structure. This makes the mounting of the bulb and connector terminals easier. A connector socket is, in particular, a socket for bulbs, fuses, diodes, transistors, resistors, electronic chips, switches or the like. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 20 Bulb Socket 21 Socket Main Body 22 Bulb Receptacle 23 Connector Receptacle 30 Bulb Terminal 40 Connector Terminal 43 Engaging Hole

Claims: A connector socket, particularly bulb socket (20; 90), including a main body (21; 91) with a device receptacle (22; 92) and a connector receptacle (23; 93), the device receptacle (22; 92) and the connector receptacle (23; 93) being arranged such that their axes form an angle greater than 0° and smaller than 180°, preferably 90°, and being connected with each other, a device terminal (30; 70; 100) and a connector terminal (40; 80; 110) being inserted into said respective receptacles (22, 23; 92, 93) so as to establish electrical contact therewith, wherein an engaging portion (43; 83; 107, 108) is formed at one of the device terminal (30; 70; 100) and connector terminal (40; 80; 110), the inserting end of the other terminal being fitted in said engaging portion (43; 83; 107, 108), characterized in that the engaging portion is a through hole (43; 83; 108). A connector socket according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion (43; 83; 107, 108) is formed at the inserting end of the respective terminals (30, 40; 70, 80; 100, 110). A connector socket according to any of preceeding claims, wherein the inserting end(s) of one or both of the device terminal (30; 70; 100) and connector terminal (40; 80; 110) is/are elastically deflectable in a direction transverse to the insertion direction. A connector socket according to claim 3, wherein the inserting end(s) comprises/comprise a hole (37; 108) to permit the elastic deflection thereof. A connector socket according to one of the preceeding claims, wherein said main body (21; 91) includes at least one support portion (32) for supporting one of the two terminals (30, 40; 70, 80; 100, 110) while they are connected. A connector socket according to claim 5, wherein said device receptacle (22; 92) and said connector receptacle (23; 93) include terminal inserting channels (24; 95) extending from the respective bottoms thereof and being connected with each other, one of said channels (24; 95) forming the support portion (32) for one of the terminals. A connector socket according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one of said terminals (30, 40; 70, 80; 100, 110) includes locking portions (115, 105). A connector socket according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one of said terminals (30, 40; 70, 80; 100, 110) includes wing-like pressing projections (44; 144). A connector socket according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the connector receptacle (23; 93) and device receptacle (22; 92) include sealing means (S; B; G) in order to seal the interior of the main body (21; 91), rendering the socket (20; 90) waterproof.

Inventors: ITO KATSUYA, ITO, KATSUYA, ITO, KATSUYA, C/O SUMITOMO WIRING SYST.LTD.
Applicants: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: H01R33
IPC codes: H01R33