Patent Publication Number: US-9837749-B2

Title: Connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. §119 (a)-(d) of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-0033281 filed on Feb. 24, 2016. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an electrical connector provided with an electric shock prevention structure. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Some hybrid vehicles or electric vehicles use high voltage that instantaneously reaches as high as 1200V, for example. For this reason, an electrical connector to which such a high voltage is applied is provided with an electric shock prevention mechanism in order to prevent an operator who handles the connector from getting an electric shock. 
     In this regard, JP2003-068401A discloses a connector in which a slidable member for preventing contact with a male contact is provided inside a hollow portion in which the male contact is disposed, and the slidable member is provided with an engagement arm extending forward for engaging with a mating connector. 
     An electrical connector provided with such an electric shock prevention mechanism is required to have high reliability to ensure that the electric shock prevention mechanism is caused to function such that the operator or the like will never get an electric shock. 
     However, the aforementioned connector disclosed in JP2003-068401 does not ensure the engagement of the engagement arm with the mating connector with the slidable member located in a retreat position and poses a risk that the slidable member may not follow the mating connector to unmate. 
     SUMMARY 
     An electrical connector, constructed in accordance with the present invention, includes a housing having a hollow portion opened in a front side facing a mating electrical connector to be mated with the electrical connector and an anti-deflection portion. This electrical connector also includes a terminal supported by the housing and projecting forward into the hollow portion of the housing. An electrical connector, constructed in accordance with the present invention, further includes a slidable member disposed in the hollow portion of the housing and has an insertion hole in which the terminal is positioned. The slidable member is slidable between a forward position in which a front end of the terminal is in the insertion hole of the slidable member and a rearward position in which a portion of the terminal required for connection with a terminal of the mating electrical connector protrudes forward beyond the insertion hole. The slidable member also has an abutting wall formed with an insertion hole being pushed by the mating electrical connector when the mating electrical connector advances toward a mating abuts against the abutting wall. The slidable member also has a front side wall extending forward beyond the abutting wall of the slidable member and an engagement arm. The engagement arm of the slidable member has a cantilever shape having on a front side a fixed end joined to the front side wall of the slidable member. The engagement arm also has a hook portion adapted to engage the mating electrical connector when advancing toward the mating electrical connector, so that when the mating electrical connector in a mating state is extracted, the engagement causes the hook portion of the engagement arm to be pulled by the mating electrical connector and the hook portion causes the slidable member to slide to the forward position. The engagement arm is deflectable when within the anti-deflection portion of the housing allowing the engagement arm to deflect when the slidable member is located in the forward position, so that the mating electrical connector can climb over the hook portion of the engagement arm and prevent deflection of the slidable member when the slidable member is located rearward of the forward position. 
     The present invention, as summarized above, is an electrical connector having a highly reliable electric shock prevention mechanism. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical connector and a mating electrical connector that are mateable with each other according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view in cross-section taken along a horizontal plane passing through the center of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view showing the same cross-section as the perspective view of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4(A)  is a perspective view of a slidable member and  FIG. 4(B)  is a perspective view in cross-section taken along a horizontal plane passing through the center of the slidable member; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a front housing, cross-section in the same manner as in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 6(A), 6(B) , and  6 (C) are views sequentially showing actions during the mating of the mating electrical connector with the electrical connector in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIGS. 7(A), 7(B) , and  7 (C) are views sequentially showing actions during the mating of the mating electrical connector with the electrical connector in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 8(A), 8(B) , and  8 (C) are views sequentially showing actions during the mating of the mating electrical connector with the electrical connector in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
       FIGS. 1 and 3  show an electrical connector  1 , constructed in accordance with the present invention, and a mating electrical connector  2  that are intended to mate with each other. In  FIG. 1 , the electrical connector  1  and the mating electrical connector  2  are shown poised for mating with each other as shown. 
     The electrical connector  1  is provided with a housing  10 . This housing  10  has a hollow portion  11  opened in a front side facing the mating electrical connector  2  (in a direction of arrow X) intended to be mated with the electrical connector  1 . This hollow portion  11  is fitted with a part of a housing  200  of the mating electrical connector  2 . This fitting causes the electrical connector  1  and the mating electrical connector  2  to mate with each other. 
     The housing  10  is constituted by a combination of a front housing  10 A and a rear housing  10 B. The front housing  10 A is provided with a waterproof seal ring  40  disposed along the outer periphery of the front housing  10 A and the waterproof seal ring  40  is located near the rear housing  10 B and rearward of a flange  14 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , test fingers  50  are shown that represent human fingers and comply with safety standards. 
     The electrical connector  1  is also provided with two tab terminals  20  and a slidable member  30 . The tab terminals  20  are positioned in the housing  10  by press-fit and thus supported by the housing  10 . However, the tab terminals  20  may be fixed by another means. In addition, the tab terminals  20  protrude forward (in a direction of arrow X) into the hollow portion  11 . In use, high voltage (for example, instantaneously, 1200V) is applied to the tab terminals  20 . For this reason, an electric shock prevention mechanism is required so that a touch to the tab terminals  20  may not occur to cause an electric shock. These tab terminals  20  correspond to an example of a terminal referred to in the present invention. 
     In addition, the slidable member  30  is disposed in the hollow portion  11  and freely slides forward (in the direction of arrow X) and rearward (in the opposite direction of the arrow X). The position to which the slidable member  30  slides forward (in the direction of arrow X) is referred to as forward position.  FIGS. 2 and 3  show the slidable member  30  in the forward position. The position to which the slidable member  30  slides rearward (in the opposite direction of arrow X) is referred to as rearward position.  FIGS. 6(C), 7(C) , and  8 (C), described hereinafter, show the slidable member  30  in the rearward position. 
     The slidable member  30  and the housing  10  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5 . The slidable member  30  is formed with two insertion holes  31 . The two tab terminals  20  are inserted into these two insertion holes  31 . When the mating electrical connector  2  (see  FIG. 1 ) is not mated with the electrical connector  1 , the slidable member  30  remains in the forward position as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . In addition, when the slidable member  30  is located in the forward position, front ends  21  of the tab terminals  20  are withdrawn into the insertion holes  31  of the slidable member  30 . Therefore, like the test fingers  50  shown in  FIG. 3 , a finger never touches the tab terminals  20  even if the finger gets into the hollow portion  11  of the housing  10 . Thus, an electric shock is prevented. 
     When the slidable member  30  slides to the rearward position (see  FIG. 6(C) ,  FIG. 7(C) , and  FIG. 8(C) ), longitudinal portions of the tab terminals  20  required for connection with female terminals  202  provided in the mating electrical connector  2  protrude forward beyond the insertion hole  31 . 
     It is necessary to ensure that this electric shock prevention mechanism operates. To this end, it is important to ensure that the slidable member  30  slides to the forward position when the mating electrical connector  2  (see  FIG. 1 ) is extracted from the electrical connector  1 . In order to achieve this result, this embodiment of the present invention includes a mechanism described below. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2, 3, 4 (A), and  4 (B), the slidable member  30  is provided with an abutting wall  32  and a front side wall  33 . The abutting wall  32  is a wall formed with the insertions holes  31  for abutting on the mating electrical connector  2  in the process of mating and being pushed by the mating electrical connector  2 . In addition, the front side wall  33  is a wall extending forward beyond the abutting wall  32 , in this embodiment, like a hood. In addition, the slidable member  30  is provided with two engagement arms  34  for each of top and bottom portions. These engagement arms  34  have on their front sides fixed ends joined to the front side wall  33 , and extend rearward in the form of cantilevers. In addition, the engagement arms  34  are provided with hook portions  341  (see  FIGS. 6(A), 6(B) , and  6 (C)) disposed closer to a rear end side than the fixed ends and forward of the abutting wall  32  in this embodiment and protrude inward for engaging with the mating electrical connector  2  advancing toward the mating. The hook portions  341  have a function of engaging with engaging portions  201  (see  FIGS. 1 and 6 ) of the mating electrical connector  2 , thereby being pulled by the second mating connector  2  to cause the slidable member  30  to slide forward when the mating electrical connector  2  in the mating state is extracted. 
     The engagement arms  34  are prevented from deflecting by anti-deflection walls  12  (see  FIG. 5 ) of the housing  10  when the slidable member  30  is located rearward of the forward position. In addition, the engagement arms  34  are detached from the anti-deflection wall  12  and allowed to deflect when the slidable member  30  is located in the forward position. The details of this point will be described hereinafter. The anti-deflection wall  12  is an example of an anti-deflection portion of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2, 3, 4 (A), and  4 (B), the slidable member  30  is provided with a lock arm  35  on each of right and left sides. These lock arms  35  have on their front sides fixed ends joined to the front side wall  33  and extend in the form of cantilevers rearward beyond the abutting wall  32 . In addition, the lock arms  35  have slidable-member-side engaging portions  351  located rearward of the abutting wall  32 . The housing  10  is formed with housing-side engaging portions  13  (see  FIGS. 2, 3, and 5 ). When the slidable member  30  is located in the forward position, the slidable-member-side engaging portions  351  provided in the lock arms  35  engage with the housing-side engaging portions  13 , and the slidable member  30  is thus locked in the forward position. This lock prevents the slidable member  30  from retreating even if the slidable member  30  is pushed rearward by a force of 10 Newtons, for example. 
     In addition, the right and left lock arms  35  are provided with disengagement protrusions  352  located forward of the abutting wall  32  and have projecting shapes (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 (B)). The disengagement protrusions  352  have a function of being pushed by the mating electrical connector  2  in the process of mating, thereby deflecting the lock arms  35  outward. When the lock arms  35  deflect outward, the engagement of the slidable-member-side engaging portions  351  with the housing-side engaging portions  13  is cancelled so that the slidable member  30  can slide rearward. 
     In this regard, the engagement arms  34  deflect outward in such a manner that the hook portions  341  are pushed by the engaging portions  201  of the second mating connector  2  in the process of mating when the slidable member  30  is located in the forward position. Then, the engaging portions  201  climb over the hook portions  341 . The disengagement protrusions  352  of the lock arms  35  have not been pushed yet by the second mating connector  2  when the engaging portions  201  of the second mating connector  2  have just climbed over the hook portions  341 . That is, at this moment, the lock arms  35  are not deflected yet, and the slidable-member-side engaging portions  351  are still engaged with the housing-side engaging portions  13 . In other words, the engaging portions  201  of the mating electrical connector  2  climb over the hook portions  341  and become engaged therewith with the slidable member  30  locked in the forward position. When the mating electrical connector  2  is inserted further in the mating direction, then the disengagement protrusions  352  of the lock arms  35  are pushed by the mating electrical connector  2  and the lock arms  35  deflect. Thus, the engagement of the slidable-member-side engaging portions  351  with the housing-side engaging portions  13  are cancelled, so that the slidable member  30  becomes able to move to the rearward position. By continuing inserting the mating electrical connector  2  in the mating direction, the slidable member  30  slides to the rearward position and, accordingly, the tab terminals  20  project forward beyond the abutting wall  32  so as to be connected with the female terminals  202  of the mating electrical connector  2 . 
     In addition, the slidable member  30  is provided with retention arms  36  (see  FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) ) extending rearward in the form of cantilevers. The retention arms  36  have hook portions  361 . The hook portions  361  enter into slots  15  (see  FIG. 5 ) of the housing  10  and engage with front end faces of the slots  15  when the slidable member  30  is located in the forward position. Thus, the slidable member  30  is prevented from slipping off from the housing  10 . 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 3, 4 (A), and  4 (B), the slidable member  30  is provided with temporary engagement arms  37 . The temporary engagement arms  37  have distal end portions held between two protrusions  16  (see  FIG. 8 ) provided side by side in the forward and rearward directions on the housing  10  in the middle of mating of the mating electrical connector  2  and in the middle of extraction thereof. Thus, a half-mating state of the electrical connector  1  and the mating electrical connector  2  due to temporary engagement is achieved. 
       FIGS. 6(A), 6(B) , and  6 (C) are views sequentially showing actions during the mating of the mating electrical connector  2  with the electrical connector  1 . It should be noted that  FIG. 6(A), 6(B) , and  6 (C) are side views showing the electrical connector  1  and the mating electrical connector  2  in cross-section taken by a vertical plane cutting the hook portion  341  of the engagement arm  34 .  FIG. 6(A)  is a view showing a state immediately after the mating electrical connector  2  advances in the mating direction and the mating electrical connector  2  abuts against the abutting wall  32  of the slidable member  30 . In addition,  FIG. 6(B)  is a view showing a state in which the slidable member  30  is slightly pushed in by the mating electrical connector  2 . Furthermore,  FIG. 6(C)  is a view showing a state in which the mating is completed. 
     In  FIGS. 6(A) to 6(C) , cross sections of the engagement arms  34  are shown. The engagement arms  34  extend rearward in the form of cantilevers and have widths tapering rearward. For this reason, free-end vicinity portions  34   a  extending rearward of the engagement arms  34  shown in  FIGS. 6(A) to 6(C)  are shown in non-cross-sectioned states. 
     In  FIG. 6(A) , the engaging portions  201  of the mating electrical connector  2  have already climbed over the hook portions  341  of the engagement arms  34  of the slidable member  30 . That is, when the mating electrical connector  2  is mated, before the mating electrical connector  2  advances to the state shown in  FIG. 6(A) , the engaging portions  201  of the mating electrical connector  2  push the hook portions  341  to cause the engagement arms  34  to deflect outward, and climb over the hook portions  341 . When the slidable member  30  is located in the forward position shown in  FIG. 6(A) , the engagement arms  34  are detached from the anti-deflection walls  12  (see also  FIG. 5 ) along the entire lengths to their rear ends that are the free ends. For this reason, as the mating electrical connector  2  advances toward mating, the hook portions  341  are pushed by the engagement arms  201  of the mating electrical connector  2 , so that the engagement arms  34  become able to deflect. 
     The slidable member  30  is slightly pushed in from the state shown in  FIG. 6(A)  to reach the state shown in  FIG. 6(B) . Then, portions on the free end sides of the engagement arms  34  overlap with the anti-deflection walls  12  of the housing  10  in the vertical direction, so that the engagement arms  34  are no longer able to deflect. Thereafter, the mating electrical connector  2  further advances toward the mating and finally reaches the state of complete mating shown in  FIG. 6(C) . At this time, the slidable member  30  is moved to the rearward position. 
     When the mating electrical connector  2  is extracted, these actions are reversed. That is, the extraction is started from the state of complete mating shown in  FIG. 6(C) . At the time of this extraction, during a period from the state shown in  FIG. 6(C)  to the state shown in  FIG. 6(B) , the engagement arms  34  are prevented from deflecting by the anti-deflection walls  12 . This ensures that the hook portions  341  of the engagement arms  34  and the engaging portions  201  of the second mating connector  2  are kept engaged. Therefore, when the mating electrical connector  2  is extracted, the slidable member  30  reliably moves to the forward position according to the extraction. 
     When the mating electrical connector  2  is extracted to the position shown in  FIG. 6(A) , the engagement arms  34  are detached from the anti-deflection walls  12  along the entire lengths to their free ends and thus become able to deflect. After being extracted to the position shown in  FIG. 6(A) , the mating electrical connector  2  is further moved in the direction of extraction. Then, the hook portions  341  are pushed by the engaging portions  201  of the mating electrical connector  2  and thus the engagement arms  34  deflect and the engagement of the engaging portions  201  of the mating electrical connector  2  with the hook portions  341  is cancelled, so that the mating electrical connector  2  becomes able to be pulled out. 
       FIGS. 7(A), 7(B), 7(C), 8(A), 8(B) , and  8 (C) are views sequentially showing actions during the mating of the mating electrical connector  2  with the electrical connector  1 , like  FIGS. 6(A) to 6(C) . 
     In this regard,  FIGS. 7(A), 7(B) , and  7 (C) are plan views showing the electrical connector  1  and the mating electrical connector  2  in cross-section by a horizontal plane intersecting the center in the vertical direction. In addition,  FIGS. 8(A), 8(B), 8(C)  are plan views showing the electrical connector  1  and the mating electrical connector  2  in cross-section by a horizontal plane intersecting a portion slightly above the center in the vertical direction. 
     The actions of the lock arms  35  will be described below. The slidable-member-side engaging portions  351  provided in the lock arms  35  have vertically elongated shapes. The housing-side engaging portions  13  engaging with the slidable-member-side engaging portions  351  are not provided at the center in the vertical direction, but provided closer to the top and bottom than to the center. Therefore, in this regard,  FIGS. 8(A), 8(B) , and  8 (C), which show cross-sections of the horizontal plane intersecting the housing-side engaging portions  13  provided closer to the top than to the center, will be referred to in combination with  FIGS. 7(A), 7(B) , and  7 (C). 
     It should be noted that  FIGS. 7(A) and 8(A)  show a state in which the mating electrical connector  2  is mated to the same position as in  FIG. 6(A) . In addition,  FIGS. 7(B) and 8(B)  show a state in which the mating electrical connector  2  is mated to the same position as in  FIG. 6(B) . Furthermore,  FIGS. 7(C) and 8(C)  show a state that the mating electrical connector  2  is mated to the same position as in  FIG. 6(C) , namely, the state of complete mating. 
     When the mating electrical connector  2  is mated, as shown in  FIG. 6(A) , the engaging portions  201  of the mating electrical connector  2  have already climbed over the hook portions  341  of the engagement arms  34 . However, as shown in  FIGS. 7(A) and 8(A) , in this stage, the slidable-member-side engaging portions  351  of the lock arms  35  remain engaged with the housing-side engaging portion  13 . 
     When the mating electrical connector  2  is mated to the position shown in  FIGS. 7(B) and 8(B) , the mating electrical connector  2  pushes the disengagement protrusions  352  of the lock arms  35  and deflects the lock arms  35 . Thus, the engagement of the slidable-member-side engaging portions  351  with the housing-side engaging portion  13  is cancelled. However,  FIGS. 7(B) and 8(B)  show the lock arms  35  in their free states before deflection. Therefore, in  FIGS. 7(B) and 8(B) , the slidable-member-side engaging portions  351  and the housing-side engaging portions  13  are drawn in the same position in an overlapping manner. However, this is merely a matter of illustration and actually the lock arms  35  are deflected, and the slidable-member-side engaging portions  351  are climbing over the housing-side engaging portions  13 . 
     Thereafter, the mating electrical connector  2  is further moved in the mating direction to the state of complete mating shown in  FIGS. 7(C) and 8(C) . In this process, the tab terminals  20  of the electrical connector  1  are inserted into the female terminals  202  of the mating electrical connector  2  and an electrical conduction is established between the electrical connector  1  and the mating electrical connector  2 . 
     When the mating electrical connector  2  is extracted, these actions are reversed. As the extraction of the mating electrical connector  2  advances from the state of complete mating shown in  FIGS. 7(C) and 8(C) , when the extraction reaches the state shown in  FIGS. 7(B) and 8(B) , the slidable-member-side engaging portions  351  of the lock arms  35  climb forward over the housing-side engaging portions  13  and additionally reach the state shown in  FIGS. 7(A) and 8(A) . When the mating electrical connector  2  is extracted to the state shown in  FIGS. 7(A) and 8(A) , the slidable-member-side engaging portions  351  of the lock arms  35  are securely engaged with the housing-side engaging portions  13 . That is, when the extraction advances to the stage shown in  FIGS. 7(A) and 8(A) , the slidable member  30  is securely locked in the forward position. At this time, since the hook portions  361  of the slidable member engage with the front end faces of the slots  15  of the housing  10 , the slidable member  30  is prevented from sliding forward. That is, the slidable member  30  is retained in the housing  10 . On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 6(A) , in this stage, the engaging portions  201  of the mating electrical connector  2  are still engaged with the hook portions  341  of the engagement arms  34 . When the mating electrical connector  2  is further extracted from the state shown in  FIG. 6(A) , the engagements with the hook portions  341  are cancelled. 
     As described above, when the mating electrical connector  2  is mated, the engaging portions  201  of the mating electrical connector  2  are securely engaged with the hook portions  341  of the engagement arms  34  and then the lock to the forward position of the slidable member  30  by the lock arms  35  is cancelled. In addition, when the mating electrical connector  2  is extracted, the slidable member  30  is securely locked in the forward position by the lock arms  35  and then the engagement of the engagement arms  34  is cancelled. In this embodiment, this order is always reliably kept. Therefore, according to this embodiment, a highly-reliable electric shock prevention function is achieved. 
     It should be understood that various modifications may be made to the invention as described above that will remain within the scope of the invention. For example, suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.