Patent Publication Number: US-6213794-B1

Title: Lever fitting-type connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a lever fitting-type connector in which a connector is fitted into a mating connector by pivotally moving a lever mounted on the connector. 
     2. Related Art 
     FIG. 5 shows a conventional lever fitting-type connector. This lever fitting-type connector comprises a male connector  1 , a lever  2  pivotally mounted on the male connector  1 , and a female connector  3  into which the male connector  1  is fitted. The male connector  1  has a plurality of terminal receiving chambers  4  for respectively receiving terminals therein, which terminal receiving chambers  4  extend through the male connector  1  in an upward-downward direction. Disengagement prevention ribs  6  are respectively formed on and project laterally from opposite side surfaces  5  of the male connector  1  at one end thereof, and extend in a connector-fitting direction. A slot  7  is formed between each of the disengagement prevention ribs  6  and the corresponding side surface  5 , the slots  7  extending in the connector-fitting direction. Bosses  8  are also formed on and project from the opposite side surfaces  5  of the male connector  1 , respectively. Each boss  8  is disposed generally centrally of the length of the male connector  1 . The lever  2  is pivotally supported by these bosses  8 . 
     The lever  2  includes a pair of right and left side walls  9 , and an operating portion  10  interconnecting the right and left side walls  9 . The right and left side walls  9  have rotation holes  11 , respectively, in which the bosses  8  are inserted so that the lever  2  can be pivotally moved about the bosses  8 . The operating portion  10  of the lever  2  interconnects the rear end portions of the right and left side walls  9 , and this operating portion  10  is operated or pressed when fitting the connector. Front end portions of the right and left side walls  9  remote from the operating portion  10  serve as projected engagement portions  12 , respectively. These projected engagement portions  12  are inserted respectively in the slots  7  in the male connector  1 , and therefore will not be disengaged respectively from the disengagement prevention ribs  6 , so that the lever  2  is prevented from being disengaged from the male connector  1 . 
     The female connector  3  includes a hood portion  13  with an open top into which the male connector  1  is fitted. Engagement holes  15 , in which the projected engagement portions  12  can be engaged, respectively, are formed in that surface  14  of the hood portion  13  which is to be opposed to the projected engagement portions  12 . Elongate grooves  16  for respectively receiving the disengagement prevention ribs  6  of the connector  1  are formed respectively in opposite side surfaces of the hood portion  13 . 
     In this lever fitting-type connector, the lever  2  is mounted on the male connector  1 , as shown in FIG. 5, and the male connector and the lever in this assembled condition are inserted into the hood portion  13 , and a fitting operation is effected. At this time, the disengagement prevention ribs  6  are inserted respectively into the elongate grooves  16 , and by doing so, a gouging engagement between the connectors  1  and  3  can be prevented. 
     For fitting the connectors together, the projected engagement portions  12  of the lever  2 , are passed respectively through the slots  7  in the male connector  1 , and are engaged respectively in the engagement holes  15  in the hood portion  13 , and in this engaged condition, the operating portion  10  is pressed. In this pressing operation, the lever  2  is pivotally moved through the leverage in which the operating portion  10  serves as a force-applying point, and the bosses  8  serve as an application point, and the projected engagement portions  12 , engaged respectively in the engagement holes  15 , serve as a supporting point. Therefore, the lever  2  and the male connector  1  is fitted in unison into the female connector  3 . 
     In the lever fitting-type connector of the above construction, if it is desired to reduce the operating force required for the fitting operation, this can be effected by providing the projected engagement portions  12  (serving as the supporting point for the pivotal movement of the lever  2 ) at a point closer to the bosses  8 . In this case, the projected engagement portions  12  serve as the supporting point for the pivotal movement, and also are inserted and engaged in the respective disengagement prevention ribs  6 , thereby preventing the lever  2  from being disengaged from the male connector  1 . Therefore, if the projected engagement projections  12  are disposed closer to the bosses  8 , the disengagement prevention ribs  6  of the male connector  1  also need to be disposed closer to the bosses  8 . 
     In this case, however, the disengagement prevention ribs  6  interfere with spacer openings  17  formed in the male connector  1 , and therefore the disengagement prevention ribs  6  can not be disposed closer to the bosses  8 . In the conventional lever fitting-type connector, the projected engagement portions  12 , thus, need to be engaged respectively with the disengagement prevention ribs  6 , and therefore this connector can not be designed so as to reduce the operating force, and hence has a disadvantage that it can not meet with the requirement of a multi-pole design requiring a large operating force. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lever fitting-type connector in which although projected engagement portions need to be engaged respectively with disengagement prevention ribs, an operating force, required for fitting two connectors together, is reduced so as to meet with the requirement of a multi-pole design. 
     The above object has been achieved by a lever fitting-type connector, wherein a lever is pivotally mounted on bosses formed on a connector, and the connector is fitted into a mating connector by pivotally moving the lever with the bosses serving as an application point; wherein an operating portion, serving as a force-applying point for the pivotal movement of the lever, is formed at a rear end portion of the lever; and engagement projections are formed respectively on opposite side walls of the lever, and are disposed rather close to the bosses, respectively; and retaining holes are formed in the mating connector, and the engagement projections are retainingly engaged respectively in the retaining holes, so that the engagement projections serve as a supporting point for the pivotal movement of the lever. 
     In this invention, the engagement projections, formed respectively on the opposite side walls of the lever, are disposed rather close to the bosses of the connector, respectively, and the engagement projections are retainingly engaged respectively in the retaining holes in the mating connector, so that the engagement projections serve as the supporting point for the pivotal movement of the lever. 
     Namely, the supporting point (the engagement projections) for the pivotal movement of the lever are disposed rather close respectively to the bosses serving as the application point, so that the distance between the supporting point and the application point is reduced. Therefore, the operating force, required for pivotally moving the lever with the operating portion serving as the force-applying point, can be reduced. 
     The engagement projections, serving as the supporting point for the pivotal movement of the lever, are thus, formed respectively on the opposite side walls of the lever so as to reduce the operating force. Therefore, projected engagement portions and disengagement prevention ribs, which cooperate with each other to prevent the lever from being disengaged from the connector, do not need to be changed in design, and the requirement for a multi-pole design can be met although the projected engagement portions and the disengagement prevention ribs are provided. 
     Further, gouging prevention ribs are formed respectively on opposite side surfaces of the connector, and are juxtaposed respectively to the engagement projections in a direction of fitting of the connector, and rib grooves for respectively receiving the gouging prevention ribs are formed in an inner surface of the mating connector, and the retaining holes communicate with the rib grooves, respectively. 
     In the present invention, the gouging prevention ribs, as well as the rib grooves for respectively receiving the gouging prevention ribs, are provided, and therefore the connector can be smoothly fitted into the mating connector. The engagement projections are provided in juxtaposed relation to the gouging prevention ribs, respectively, and also each of the retaining holes, in which the engagement projection can be retainingly engaged, communicates with the rib groove for receiving the gouging prevention rib. Therefore, by inserting the gouging prevention ribs respectively into the rib grooves, the engagement projections are engaged respectively in the retaining holes. Therefore, the engagement projections can be easily retained relative to the retaining holes, respectively. 
     Besides, each of the engagement projections is disposed in juxtaposed relation to the associated gouging prevention rib, and therefore, the engagement projections will not interfere with the mating connector, and therefore will not be damaged. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a condition in which a lever and a male connector are assembled together. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lever. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an initial stage of fitting the male connector into a female connector. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of fitting the male connector into the female connector. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional lever fitting-type connector. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 to  4  show one preferred embodiment of a lever fitting-type connector of the present invention. The lever fitting-type connector of this embodiment comprises a male connector  21 , a lever  22  pivotally mounted on the male connector, and a female (mating) connector  23  into which the male connector  21  is fitted. 
     Like the conventional male connector, the male connector  21  has a plurality of terminal receiving chambers for respectively receiving terminals therein. Disengagement prevention ribs  26  are respectively formed on and project laterally from opposite side surfaces  25  of the male connector at their one ends (front ends), these ribs  26  extending in a connector-fitting direction (upward-downward direction). As shown in FIG. 3, a slot  27  is formed between each of the disengagement prevention ribs  26  and the corresponding side surface  25 , and extends in the connector-fitting direction (upward-downward direction). Bosses  28  are formed on and project from generally central portions of the opposite side surfaces  25  of the male connector  21 , respectively, and the lever  22  is pivotally supported by the bosses  28 . Thus, the bosses  28  serve as an application point for the pivotal movement of the lever  22 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the lever  22  includes a pair of right and left side walls  29 , and an operating portion  30  interconnecting the right and left side walls  29 . Rotation holes  31  are formed respectively through the pair of right and left side walls  29 , and the bosses  28  of the male connector  21  are inserted respectively in the rotation holes  31 . 
     When the two connectors are to be fitted together, the operating portion  30  of the lever  22  is operated or pressed to pivotally move the lever  22 , and at this time, the operating portion  30 , interconnecting rear end portions of the right and left side walls  29 , serves as a force-applying point. Projected engagement portions  32  are formed respectively on front ends of the right and left side walls  29  remote from the operating portion  30 , and these projected engagement portions  32  are inserted respectively in the slots  27  in the male connector  21 , and therefore are engaged respectively with the disengagement prevention ribs  26 . The projected engagement portions  32  are thus engaged respectively with the disengagement prevention ribs  26 , and with this construction, the lever  22  is prevented from being disengaged from the male connector  21 , so that the condition of mounting of the lever  22  on the male connector  21  is stable. 
     Engagement projections  33  are formed on and project from the right and left side walls  29  of the lever  22 , respectively. Each engagement projection  33 , formed on the side wall  29 , is disposed closer to the boss  28  than the projected engagement portion  32  (formed at the front end of the lever  22 ). The engagement projections  33  serve as a supporting point at the time of pivotal movement of the lever  22  as described later. Engagement (retaining) holes  34  are formed in the female connector  23 , and the engagement projections  33  are engaged respectively in these engagement holes  34  so that the engagement projections  33  can serve as the supporting point for the pivotal movement. 
     Like the conventional female connector, the female connector  23  has a hood portion  35  with an open top into which the male connector  21  is fitted. Engagement holes  37 , in which the projected engagement portions  32  can be engaged, respectively, are formed in a front wall  36  of the hood portion  35  which is to be opposed to the projected engagement portions  32  of the lever  22 . Elongate grooves  38  for respectively receiving the disengagement prevention ribs  26  of the male connector  21  are formed respectively in opposite side surfaces of the hood portion  35  (see FIG.  4 ). A plurality of terminal insertion holes  40  for the passage of mating terminals therethrough are formed through a bottom wall  39  of the hood portion  35 . 
     In this embodiment, gouging prevention ribs  41  are formed on and project from the male connector  21 , and rib grooves  42  for respectively receiving the gouging prevention ribs  41  are formed in the female connector  23 . 
     The gouging prevention ribs  41  are formed respectively on the opposite side surfaces  25  of the male connector  21 , and each of the gouging prevention ribs  41  is disposed in tandem with the corresponding engagement projection  33  of the lever  22 . Namely, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the gouging prevention rib  41  is disposed beneath the engagement projection  33  in such a manner that the gouging prevention rib  41  and the engagement projection  33  are juxtaposed to each other in the connector-fitting direction (upward-downward direction). With this construction, when the connectors are to be fitted together, the gouging prevention ribs  41  first enter the hood portion  35 , and subsequently the engagement projections  33  enter the hood portion  35 . 
     The rib grooves  42  are formed in the inner surface of the female connector  23 . As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rib grooves  42  are formed in the inner surface of the female connector  23 , and extend longitudinally in the connect or fitting direction. Each of the gouging prevention ribs  41  slides along the associated rib groove  42 , so that the connectors  21  and  23  can be fitted together smoothly. 
     In this embodiment, each of the retaining holes  34  (formed in the female connector  23 ), in which the engagement projections  33  can be retainingly engaged, respectively, is disposed intermediate opposite ends of the corresponding rib groove  42 , and communicates with this rib groove  42 , as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the retaining hole  34  is open to the outer surface of the hood portion  35 , but is closed at upper and lower sides thereof spaced from each other in the connector-fitting direction. The upper closed surface of this retaining hole serves as a retaining surface  43  for retaining the engagement projection  33 . At the time of pivotal movement of the lever  22 , the engagement projections  33  are retained respectively by the retaining surfaces  43 , and serve as the supporting point for the pivotal movement of the lever  22 . 
     In the above embodiment, the bosses  28  are inserted into the rotation holes  31 , respectively, and the projected engagement portions  32  are inserted respectively into the slots  27  to be engaged respectively with the disengagement prevention ribs  26 . In this manner, the lever  22  is mounted on the male connector  21 . Then, this assembly is inserted into the hood portion  35 . At this time, the disengagement prevention ribs  26  of the male connector  21  are inserted respectively into the slots  38  in the hood portion  35  while the gouging prevention ribs  41  of the male connector  21  are inserted respectively into the rib grooves  42  in the female connector  23 , as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     As a result of this inserting operation, the gouging prevention ribs  41  pass past the retaining holes  34 , respectively, and when the engagement projections  33  are brought into alignment with the retaining holes  34 , respectively, the operating portion  30  is pressed to pivotally move the lever  22 . Whether or not each engagement projection  33  is brought into alignment with the associated retaining hole  34  can be clearly confirmed by viewing the retaining hole  34  open to the outer surface of the hood portion  35 . 
     When the lever  22  is pivotally moved from a condition, indicated in a broken line (FIG. 4) to a condition, indicated in a solid line, upon depression of the operating portion  30 , the engagement projections  33  enter the retaining holes  34 , respectively. When the lever  22  is further pivotally moved, the engagement projections  33  are retained by the retaining surfaces  43 , respectively, so that the engagement projections  33  serve as the supporting point for the pivotal movement of the lever  22 . Namely, because of the leverage in which the operating portion  30  serves as the force-applying point, and the bosses  28  serve as the application point, and the engagement projections  33  serve as the supporting point, the lever  22  is pivotally moved in a direction of an arrow of FIG. 4, and as a result of this pivotal movement, the male connector  21  is fitted into the female connector  23 . In this fitted condition, the projected engagement portions  32 , formed at the front end of the lever  22 , are engaged respectively in the engagement holes  37  in the female connector  23 , and therefore are prevented from being disengaged from the female connector  23 . 
     In this embodiment, the engagement projections  33 , serving as the supporting point for the pivotal movement of the lever  22 , are disposed rather close to the bosses  28  serving as the application point, and therefore the distance between the supporting point and the application point is reduced. 
     Therefore, the operating force, required for pivotally moving the lever with the operating portion serving as the force-applying point, can be reduced, and the male and female connectors  21  and  23  can be fitted together with a small force. 
     Therefore, the projected engagement portions and the disengagement prevention ribs, which cooperate with each other to prevent the lever  22  from being disengaged from the male connector  21 , do not need to be changed in design, and the requirement for a multi-pole design can be met although the projected engagement portions  32  and the disengagement prevention ribs  26  are provided. 
     Thus, the gouging prevention ribs  41  are formed on the male connector  21  while the rib grooves  42  for respectively receiving the gouging prevention ribs  41  are formed in the hood portion  35 , and therefore the male connector  21  can be smoothly fitted into the hood portion  35  of the female connector  23 . 
     Further, the engagement projections  33  are provided in juxtaposed relation to the gouging prevention ribs  41 , respectively, and also each of the retaining holes  34 , in which the engagement projection  33  can be retainingly engaged, communicates with the rib groove  42  for receiving the gouging prevention rib  41 . Therefore, by inserting the gouging prevention ribs  41  respectively into the rib grooves  42 , the engagement projections  33  are engaged respectively in the retaining holes  34 . Therefore, the engagement projections  33  can be easily retained relative to the retaining holes  34 , respectively. 
     Each of the engagement projections  33  is disposed in juxtaposed relation to the associated gouging prevention rib  41 , and the gouging prevention ribs  41  are first inserted into the hood portion  35 , and subsequently the engagement projections  33  are inserted into the hood portion. Therefore, the engagement projections  33  will not interfere with the hood portion  35 , and therefore will not be damaged. 
     In summary, as described above, the engagement projections, serving as the supporting point for the pivotal movement of the lever, are disposed rather close respectively to the bosses serving as the application point, and therefore, the operating force, required for pivotally moving the lever with the operating portion serving as the force-applying point, can be reduced, and the requirement for a multi-pole design can be met. 
     Further, the engagement projections are provided in juxtaposed relation to the gouging prevention ribs, respectively, and also each of the retaining holes, in which the engagement projection can be retainingly engaged, communicates with the rib groove for receiving the gouging prevention rib. Therefore, by inserting the gouging prevention ribs respectively into the rib grooves, the engagement projections can be easily engaged in the retaining holes, respectively. Moreover, each of the engagement projections is disposed in juxtaposed relation to the associated gouging prevention rib, and therefore, the engagement projections will not interfere with the mating connector, and therefore will not be damaged.