Patent Abstract:
A connector-with-lever comprising a first connector ( 11 ), a second connector ( 12 ) and a lever ( 14 ) turnably mounted to a connector housing ( 13 ) of the first connector ( 11 ), in which the first connector ( 11 ) and the second connector ( 12 ) are connected to each other by operating the lever ( 14 ), wherein the connector-with-lever further comprises lever locking means ( 18 A), ( 23 ) for temporarily lock the lever ( 14 ) with the connector housing before the first connector ( 11 ) and the second connector ( 12 ) are connected to each other, and unlocking means ( 28 ) for unlocking the temporary locking state of the lever ( 14 ) when the first connector ( 11 ) and the second connector ( 12 ) start being connected to each other.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a connector structure for connecting male and female connectors by a low insertion force using a lever, and more particularly, to an inexpensive connector-with-lever in which the number of parts is small and connecting operation is excellent. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     As shown in FIG. 1 (not prior art), there is a proposed connector-with-lever, which comprises a first connector  2 , a second connector  6  and a substantially U-shaped lever  4 . The lever  4  pivotally supported by opposite ends of a connector housing  3  of the first connector  2 . A torsion coil spring  5  is interposed between the connector housing  3  and the lever  4 . The lever  4  is biased in a direction X in FIG. 7 with respect to the connector housing  3  by the torsion coil spring  5 . 
     The lever  4  is temporarily locked by a temporary locking member (not shown) at the side of the connector housing  3  for holding the temporary locking state shown in FIG. 2 in a state in which the second connector  6  is not fitted to the connector housing  3 . When the second connector  6  is fitted to the connector housing  3 , the temporary locking member is unlocked. 
     When the second connector  6  having the above structure is fitted to the connector housing  3 , guide pins  6 A,  6 A projecting from opposite sides of the second connector  6  are inserted into insertion guide grooves  4 A,  4 A formed in the lever  4 , and when the temporary locking members are unlocked, the lever  4  is biased in an direction opposite from the X direction shown in FIG. 7, the second connector  6  is reliably fitted into the connector housing  3 , and connecting terminals disposed in both the members are connected to each other. 
     However, in the case of the connector-with-lever  1 , when the lever  4  is mounted to the connector housing  3 , the torsion coil spring  5  is incorporated. Therefore, the assembling operation becomes complicated, and skill is required for the assembling operation. Further, there are problems that the operability is inferior, the torsion coil spring  5  is expensive and thus, cost of the connector  1  having lever is high. 
     Further, in the case of the above-described connector  1  having lever, when the second connector  6  is not fitted to the connector housing  3 , since the lever  4  is temporarily locked by the connector housing  3  in a state in which the lever  4  is biased by the torsion coil spring  5 , the lever  4  turns in accordance with biasing forces of the torsion coil spring  5  due to unexpected external force, inlets of the insertion guide grooves  4 A,  4 A are turned upward, and the second connector  6  can not be fitted. Therefore, if the lever  4  was turned, it is necessary an assembling operator to return the lever  4  to it original positions against the biasing forces of the torsion coil spring  5  and then, to fit the second connector  6 . For this reason, there is a problem that when the fitting operation is carried out in a narrow space such as an engine room of an automobile, the assembling operability is largely lowered. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Thereupon, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive connector capable of easily mounting lever to a connector housing, and capable of easily connecting a first connector and a second connector. 
     To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector-with-lever comprising a first connector, a second connector and a lever turnably mounted to a connector housing of the first connector, in which the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other by operating the lever, wherein the connector-with-lever further comprises lever locking means for temporarily lock the lever with the connector housing before the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other, and unlocking means for unlocking the temporary locking state of the lever when the first connector and the second connector start being connected to each other. 
     With the first aspect, before the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other, since the connector housing and the lever are temporarily locked with each other by the lever locking means, it is possible to prevent the lever from moving unintentionally even in a connection-standby state, and the connected state between both the connectors can be held. 
     When the connection between the connectors is stated, the temporary locking state of the lever is unlocked for the first time, the temporary locking state of the lever is held unless the connectors are connected. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, in the connector-with-lever of the first aspect, the lever locking means comprises a locking opening formed in the connector housing, and a locking projection piece which projects from the lever, the locking projection piece is inserted into and engaged with the locking opening, and the lever holds the temporary locking state with respect to the connector housing. 
     With the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the lever locking means comprises a locking opening formed in the connector housing, and a locking projection piece which projects from the lever, the locking projection piece is inserted into and engaged with the locking opening, and the lever is temporarily locked with respect to the connector housing. Therefore, it is possible to hold the lever in the temporary locking state with a simple structure without using a spring or the like. 
     According to a third aspect of the invention, in the connector-with-lever of the first aspect, the unlocking means comprises a projection formed on a connector housing of the second connector, the projection abuts against the locking projection piece to push the locking projection piece from the locking opening out of a housing, thereby unlocking the temporary locking state of the lever. 
     With the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, since the unlocking means is merely a projection formed on a connector housing of the second connector, the connector structure is extremely simple, and the molding die for the connector can be produced inexpensively. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of proposed connectors; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view one of the proposed connectors; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a connector according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which a first connector and a second connector of the embodiment are not yet connected to each other; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an essential portion of a state in which the first connector and the second connector of the embodiment are initially fitted to each other; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an essential portion of a state in which a temporary locking state between a locking projection piece and a locking opening are unlocked in the embodiment; and 
     FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state in which the first connector and the second connector are completely connected to each other in the embodiment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A connector-with-lever according to the present invention will be explained in detail below based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. 
     &lt;Structure of Connector-With-Lever&gt; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a connector-with-lever of the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, a connector-with-lever  10  comprises a first connector  11 , a second connector  12  and a lever  14  rotatably mounted to the first connector  11 . 
     [First Connector] 
     The first connector  11  includes a substantially cylindrical connector housing  13 . The connector housing  13  has a front opening into which the second connector  12  is fitted. A plurality of female terminals  15  are arranged vertically and horizontally in the connector housing  13 . Electric wires are connected to the female terminals  15  from rear ends thereof. 
     Guide grooves (slits)  16 A are formed on opposite side walls  16 ,  16  of the connector housing  13  in a back-and-forth direction (fitting direction). The guide grooves  16 A are notched from their front ends to their substantially central portions. A lever pivot shaft  17  projecting sideway is integrally formed on each of the side walls  16 ,  16  at its location slightly rear from its central portion. 
     A rectangular locking opening  18 A is formed on a front side of an upper wall  18  of the connector housing  13  such as to pass through into the housing. To-be engaged portions  20  to which engaging portions  19  of the lever  14  (which will be described later) are engaged are formed on a rear portion of the upper wall  18 . 
     [Lever] 
     The lever  14  comprises a pair of left and right lever side plates  21 ,  21  on which shaft holes  21 A are formed. Lever pivot shafts  17  projecting from the side walls  16 ,  16  of the connector housing  13  are fitted into the shaft holes  21 A. The lever  14  further comprises a connecting plate  22  for connecting upper portions of the pair of left and right lever side plates  21 ,  21  to each other. 
     The lever pivot shafts  17  are fitted into the shaft holes  21 A formed in the lever side plates  21 , and the lever  14  is movably assembled into the connector housing  13 . Each of engaging guide grooves (slits)  21 B is formed into such a shape that the engaging guide groove  21 B is curved rearward and downward from a front end edge of the lever side plate  21 . A reinforcing frame  21 C is formed on each of the lever side plates  21  astride the engaging guide groove  21 B from outside. 
     A locking projecting piece  23  projecting downward is integrally formed on a front portion of a center portion of a lower surface of the connecting plate  22  of the lever  14 . The locking projecting piece  23  is inserted into the locking opening  18 A formed in the upper wall  18  of the connector housing  13 , and a tip end  23 A of the locking projecting piece  23  is locked at the opening edge of the locking opening  18 A. The tip end  23 A of the locking projecting piece  23  is pushed from front side to back side in the connector housing  13  (in its fitting direction). With this operation the temporary locking state between the tip end  23 A and the opening edge of the locking opening  18 A is unlocked, and the tip end  23 A is pushed out from the connector housing  13  eventually. 
     The structure for pushing out and discharge the tip end  23 A of the locking projecting piece  23  from the locking opening  18 A is formed by appropriately setting shapes of the locking opening  18 A and the tip end  23 A. More specifically, the structure is set by a longitudinal length of the locking opening  18 A and a direction of turning locus of the locking projecting piece  23  which turns around the lever pivot shafts  17 . 
     The engaging portions  19  formed on the rear end of the connecting plate  22  of the lever  14  are set such that the engaging portions  19  engage the to-be engaged portions  20  formed on the rear portion of the upper wall  18  of the connector housing  13 . 
     [Second Connector] 
     The second connector  12  is formed into a cylindrical hood capable of fitting into the connector housing  13 . In the second connector  12 , male terminals  24  to be connected to the female terminals  15  in the connector housing  13 . Cylindrical guide projections  26  to be inserted into the guide grooves  16 A and the engaging guide grooves  21 B are projecting from opposite side walls  25  of the second connector  12 . When the guide projections  26  are fitted to the connector housing  13 , the guide projections  26  are inserted into the guide grooves  16 A and the engaging guide grooves  21 B. An unlocking projection  28  which is unlocking means for unlocking the temporary locking state of the lever  14  is formed on an upper wall  27  of the second connector  12 . 
     &lt;Connecting Operation&gt; 
     Next, operation of the connector-with-lever  10  having the above-described structure will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 to  7 . First, as shown in FIG. 4, the locking projecting piece  23  of the lever  14  pivotally supported by the connector housing  13  is inserted into the locking opening  18 A formed in the upper wall  18  of the connector housing  13 , and the tip end  23 A is locked by the opening edge. In this state, the guide grooves  16 A of the connector housing  13  and the tip end of the engaging guide groove  21 B of the lever  14  are in their superposed positions. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, if the first connector  11  and the second connector  12  are approached and fitted to each other, the guide projections  26  enters into the guide grooves  16 A and the engaging guide groove  21 B. 
     Then, if the second connector  12  is fitted into the connector housing  13  by a predetermined length, as shown in FIG. 5, the front end of the unlocking projection  28  formed on the upper wall  27  of the second connector  12  abuts against the tip end  23 A of the locking projecting piece  23  which projects slightly into to the connector housing  13 , and the tip end  23 A pushes the locking projecting piece  23  rearward. At that time, as shown in FIG. 6, the tip end  23 A is gradually pushed out from the housing through the locking opening  18 A, and the locking state is eventually unlocked. 
     In a state in which the guide projections  26  enters the guide grooves  16 A and the engaging guide grooves  21 B, the lever  14  is turned in a direction Y shown in the drawing by turning the connecting plate  22  of the lever  14 . With this operation, the guide projections  26  of the second connector  12  are guided by the guide grooves  16 A and the engaging guide grooves  21 B in a direction for deeply fitting the connectors by a low insertion force. With this operation, the first connector  11  and the second connector  12  are sufficiently fitted to each other and electrical connection therebetween is reliably established. The engaging portions  19  formed on the rear portion of the connector housing  13  engage the to-be engaged portions  20 , thereby holding the fitting state between the first connector  11  and the second connector  12 . 
     According to the connector-with-lever  10  of the present embodiment, it is unnecessary to provide a spring member between the lever  14  and the connector housing  13 , and it is possible to easily assemble the lever  14  into the connector housing  13 . Since no spring member is used, there is merit that the cost of the first connector  11  with lever can be reduced. Before the second connector  12  is fitted to the first connector  11 , since the locking projecting piece  23  is temporality locked with the locking projecting piece  23 , the lever  14  does not fall unintentionally. 
     The embodiment has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various changes associated with the subject matter of the invention can be made.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7