EP1324433B1

EP1324433B1 - Electric connector

Info

Publication number: EP1324433B1
Application number: EP20020257479
Authority: EP
Inventors: Shinichi c/o Tohoku Pioneer Corp. Hayasaka; Hiroyuki c/o Tohoku Pioneer Corp. Kobayashi
Original assignee: Tohoku Pioneer Corp; Pioneer Corp
Current assignee: Tohoku Pioneer Corp; Pioneer Corp
Priority date: 2001-12-27
Filing date: 2002-10-29
Publication date: 2005-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-29
Also published as: EP1324433A3; EP1324433A2; DE60207970D1; JP2003197321A; DE60207970T2

Description

The present invention relates an electric connector, which is connectable to any one of a plurality of counter-connectors having different configurations from each other.
Some different standards may be applied to a certain kind of apparatus, with the result that there may be used different kinds of connectors that have been manufactured by different manufacturers in accordance with the different standards. For instance, connection terminals for car audio systems are different from each other, depending upon the type of a car in a region. It may be necessary to attach a specific connector, which is exclusively used for a certain type of a car, when selling a speaker system, for example.
However, it is troublesome for a user to select, when buying a speaker system, a product provided with suitable connectors for the type of a car. A cost of the product also increases.
US-A-4764129 and US-A-5244402 which is considered to represent the closest prior art, disclose electrical connector assemblies.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an electric connector, which is commonly connectable to any one of a plurality of counter-connectors, which have different configurations from each other.
In order to attain the aforementioned object, an electric connector according to the first aspect of the present invention, which is connectable to a counter-connector, comprises:
a main body having a connection portion at which said counter-connector is to be connected; said connection portion having four side walls; and
terminals disposed in said main body,

In the second aspect of the present invention, there may be adopted an optional feature that said connection portion has a shape serving as said structure, said shape being obtained by combining the configurations of said counter-connectors with each other so that said connection portion is connectable to said any one of said counter-connectors in a proper positional relationship of said connection portion with said any one of said counter-connectors, while said connection portion comes into contact with said any one of said counter-connectors to prevent said connection portion from being connected to said any one of said counter-connectors in a improper positional relationship thereof.
In the third aspect of the present invention, there may be adopted optional features that said electric connector serves as a female connector, into which any one of said counter-connectors serving as male connectors is to be inserted; and said main body has an insertion opening with an inner peripheral portion serving as said connection portion, into which said any one of said male connectors is to be inserted, said shape of said insertion opening being obtained by combining outer configurations of said male connectors with each other.
In the fourth aspect of the present invention, there may be adopted optional features that said electric connector serves as a male connector, which is to be inserted into any one of said counter-connectors serving as female connectors each provided with insertion openings; and said main body has an outer peripheral portion serving as said connection portion, which is to be inserted into said any one of said female connectors, said shape of said outer peripheral surface being obtained by combining shapes of said insertion openings of said female connectors with each other.
According to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the electric connector is connectable to any one of the counter-connectors, which have different configurations from each other, thus making it possible to eliminate the need for providing a plurality of connectors corresponding to the counter-connectors. In addition, the connection portion of the main body of the electric connector has the structure for coming into contact with any one of the counter-connectors in case where any one of them is placed in a position other than the normal position. It is therefore possible to prevent the electric connector from being wrongly connected to the counter-connector.
In the fifth aspect of the present invention, said main body may have a guide means for guiding said any one of said plurality of counter-connectors. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily connect the electric connector to the counter-connector.
In the sixth aspect of the present invention, said main body may have a separation preventing means for preventing said any one of said counter-connectors from being removed from said main body. According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the counter-connector from being erroneously removed from the electric connector.
FIG. 1(a) is a plan view illustrating an electric connector of the embodiment of the present invention, which serves as a gender changer, FIG. 1(b) is a front of the electric connector and FIG. 1(c) is a side view thereof;
FIG. 2(a) is a perspective view illustrating a state where the electric connector of the present invention is to be connected to the first counter-connector, FIG. 2(b) is a perspective view illustrating a state where the electric connector thereof is to be connected to the second counter-connector and FIG. 2(c) is a perspective view illustrating a state where the electric connector thereof is to be connected to the third counter-connector;
FIG. 3(a) is a front view illustrating the electric connector of the present invention, together with the first counter-connector kept in its normal position and inverted position, FIG. 3(b) is the front view illustrating the electric connector of the present invention, together with the second counter-connector kept in its normal position and inverted position and FIG. 3(c) is a front view illustrating the electric connector of the present invention, together with the third counter-connector kept in its normal position and inverted position; and
FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a cross-section of the electric connector of the present invention and an external form of the second counter-connector.
Now, an electric connector of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1(a) to 1(c), 2(a) to 2(c) and 3(a) to 3(c). In the embodiment of the present invention, the electric connector of the present invention is used for connection of a car audio system.
FIG. 1(a) is a plan view illustrating the electric connector of the embodiment of the present invention, which serves as a gender changer, FIG. 1(b) is a front of the electric connector and FIG. 1(c) is a side view thereof.
The electric connector 100, which serves as the gender changer as well as a female connector, includes a main body, i.e., a housing 1 formed of synthetic resin and terminals, i.e., a pair of conductive pins 2, 2 that is firmly secured to the housing 1, as shown in FIGS. 1(a) to 1(c). The pins 2, 2 have a rectangular cross-section. The pins 2, 2 are connected to lead wires 3, 3, respectively, through a swaging connection. The lead wires 3, 3 are connected to terminals of a loudspeaker (not shown). The housing 1 has a connection portion provided with an insertion opening 100a into which any one of the first to third counter-connectors 200, 300 and 400 serving as a male connector can be inserted. The shape of the insertion opening 100a will be described in detail below. The housing 1, which receives the pins 2, 2 in the insertion opening 100a, protects the pins 2, 2 from damage thereof.
FIG. 2(a) is a perspective view illustrating a state where the electric connector 100 is to be connected to the first counter-connector 200, FIG. 2(b) is a perspective view illustrating a state where the electric connector 100 is to be connected to the second counter-connector 300 and FIG. 2(c) is a perspective view illustrating a state where the electric connector 100 is to be connected to the third counter-connector 400. FIG. 3(a) is a front view illustrating the electric connector 100, together with the first counter-connector 200 kept in its normal position and inverted position, FIG. 3(b) is the front view illustrating the electric connector 100, together with the second counter-connector 300 kept in its normal position and inverted position and FIG. 3(c) is a front view illustrating the electric connector 100, together with the third counter-connector 400 kept in its normal position and inverted position. FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a cross-section of the electric connector 100 and an external form of the second counter-connector 300.
As is clear from FIGS. 2(a) to 3(c), the electric connector 100 of the present invention is connectable to any one of the first to third counter-connectors 200, 300 and 400 having the different configurations from each other. FIG. 2(a) illustrates the state where the electric connector 100 is to be connected to the first counter-connector 200, FIG. 2(b) illustrates the state where the electric connector 100 is to be connected to the second counter-connector 300 and FIG. 2(c) illustrates the state where the electric connector 100 is to be connected to the third counter-connector 400.
Each of the first to third counter-connectors 200, 300 and 400 is provided with connection terminals (not shown), to which lead wires 5, 5 are connected, as shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c). The lead wire 5, 5 are connected to an output unit of an amplifier of an audio system, which is to be mounted on a car. When the electric connector 100 of the present invention is connected to any one of the first to third counter-connectors 200, 300 and 400, the pins 2, 2 of the electric connector 100 come into contact with the connection terminals of any one of the first to third counter-connectors 200, 300 and 400 so that output terminals of the above-mentioned amplifier are connected to the terminals of the loudspeaker.
The shape of the insertion opening 100a of the housing 1 will be described below. The insertion opening 100a has an inner peripheral portion, which serves as the connection portion, into which any one of the first to third counter-connectors 200, 300 and 400. More specifically, the shape of the insertion opening 100a is obtained by combining outer configurations 200a, 300a and 400a of the first to third counter-connectors 200, 300 and 400 with each other, which are placed in their normal positions relative to the electric connector 100.
As is clear from FIG. 3(a), the housing 1 of the electric connector 100 receives the first counter-connector 200, which is placed in the normal position. More specifically, the insertion opening 100a of the housing 1 includes grooves 101, 102 and 103 formed therein. The grooves 101, 102 and 103 receive projections 201, 202 and 203 formed on the first counter-connector 200, respectively. When the housing 1 of the electric connector 100 receives the first counter-connector 200 in this manner, the pins 2, 2 of the former are connected to the connection terminals (not shown) of the latter, respectively. At least a part of the inner peripheral portion of the housing 1 matches with the outer configuration 200a of the first counter-connector 200. The housing 1 therefore serves as a guide means for guiding the first counter-connector 200 to the connection position thereof.
In addition, the housing 1 of the electric connector 100 has an engaging opening 121 formed therein, as shown in FIG. 2(a). The projection 203 of the first counter-connector 200 is provided with an engaging lug 203a and an operation button 203b, which is placed on the rear side of the engaging lug 203a in the insertion direction of the first counter-connector 200 into the electric connector 100. The engaging lug 203a is engageable in the above-mentioned engaging opening 121 of the housing 1 of the electric connector 100. When the first counter-connector 200, which is placed in the normal position, is connected to the electric connector 100, the projection 203 of the first counter-connector 200 is elastically deformed so that the engaging lug 203a of the first counter-connector 200 is engaged in the engaging opening 121 of the electric connector 100. In this respect, the engaging opening 121 of the electric connector 100 serves as a separation preventing means for preventing the first counter-connector 200 from being removed from the electric connector 100. In case where the first counter-connector 200 is removed from the electric connector 100, a pushing operation of the operation button 203b causes the projection 203 to be elastically deformed so that the engaging lug 203a is disengaged from the engaging opening 121 of the electric connector 100.
When the insertion operation of the first counter-connector 200 is carried out in the inverted position, the projections 201, 202 and 203 of the first counter-connector 200 come into contact with the end surface of the housing 1 of the electric connector 100. In this respect, the housing 1 of the electric connector 100 serves as a means for preventing the connection portion of the housing 1 from being connected to the first counter-connector 200 in an improper positional relationship of the electric connector 100 relative to the first counter-connector 200. It is therefore possible to prevent the electric connector 100 from being wrongly connected to the first counter-connector 200.
As is clear from FIG. 3(b), the housing 1 of the electric connector 100 also receives the second counter-connector 300, which is placed in the normal position. More specifically, the insertion opening 100a of the housing 1 includes grooves 105 and 106 formed therein. The grooves 105 and 106 receive projections 301 and 302 formed on the second counter-connector 300, respectively. When the housing 1 of the electric connector 100 receives the second counter-connector 300 in this manner, the pins 2, 2 of the former are connected to the connection terminals (not shown) of the latter, respectively. At least a part of the inner peripheral portion of the housing 1 matches with the outer configuration 300a of the second counter-connector 300. The housing 1 therefore also serves as the guide means for guiding the second counter-connector 300 to the connection position thereof.
In addition, the housing 1 of the electric connector 100 has an engaging gap 115 formed therein, as shown in FIG. 4. The engaging gap 115 is formed in a projection 113, which inwardly extends from the housing 1, as shown in FIGS. 3(b) and 4. The housing 1 has the other projection 114, which is provided in parallel with the projection 113. The above-mentioned projection 114 may have an additional engaging gap corresponding to the above-mentioned engaging gap 115. The second counter-connector 300 is provided with an engaging lug 303, as shown in FIG. 4. The engaging lug 303 is engageable in the above-mentioned engaging gap 115 of the housing 1 of the electric connector 100. When the second counter-connector 300, which is placed in the normal position, is connected to the electric connector 100, the engaging lug 303 of the second counter-connector 300 is engaged in the engaging gap 115 of the electric connector 100. In this respect, the engaging gap 115 of the electric connector 100 serves as a separation preventing means for preventing the second counter-connector 300 from being removed from the electric connector 100.
When the insertion operation of the second counter-connector 300 is carried out in the inverted position, the end surface of the second counter-connector 300 come into contact with projections 111, 112 of the housing 1 of the electric connector 100. In this respect, the housing 1 having the projections 111, 112 of the electric connector 100 serves as a means for preventing the connection portion of the housing 1 from being connected to the second counter-connector 300 in an improper positional relationship of the electric connector 100 relative to the second counter-connector 300. It is therefore possible to prevent the electric connector 100 from being wrongly connected to the second counter-connector 300.
As is clear from FIG. 3(c), the housing 1 of the electric connector 100 also receives the third counter-connector 400, which is placed in the normal position. More specifically, the insertion opening 100a of the housing 1 includes a recess 108 formed therein. The recess 108 receives a projection 401 formed on the third counter-connector 400. When the housing 1 of the electric connector 100 receives the third counter-connector 400 in this manner, the pins 2, 2 of the former are connected to the connection terminals (not shown) of the latter, respectively. At least a part of the inner peripheral portion of the housing 1 matches with the outer configuration 400a of the third counter-connector 400. The housing 1 therefore also serves as the guide means for guiding the third counter-connector 400 to the connection position thereof.
In addition, the housing 1 of the electric connector 100 has an engaging opening 122 formed therein, as shown in FIG. 2(c). The projection 401 of the third counter-connector 400 is provided with an engaging lug 401a. The engaging lug 401a is engageable in the above-mentioned engaging opening 122 of the housing 1 of the electric connector 100. When the third counter-connector 400, which is placed in the normal position, is connected to the electric connector 100, the projection 401 of the third counter-connector 400 is elastically deformed so that the engaging lug 401a of the third counter-connector 400 is engaged in the engaging opening 122 of the electric connector 100. In this respect, the engaging opening 122 of the electric connector 100 serves as a separation preventing means for preventing the third counter-connector 400 from being removed from the electric connector 100. In case where the third counter-connector 400 is removed from the electric connector 100, a pushing operation of the projection 401 causes the projection 401 to be elastically deformed so that the engaging lug 401a is disengaged from the engaging opening 122 of the electric connector 100.
When the insertion operation of the third counter-connector 400 is carried out in the inverted position, the projection 401 of the third counter-connector 400 come into contact with the end surface of the housing 1 of the electric connector 100. In this respect, the housing 1 of the electric connector 100 serves as a means for preventing the connection portion of the housing 1 from being connected to the third counter-connector 400 in an improper positional relationship of the electric connector 100 relative to the third counter-connector 400. It is therefore possible to prevent the electric connector 100 from being wrongly connected to the third counter-connector 400.
According to the electric connector of the embodiment of the present invention, the electric connector 100 can be connected to any one of the first to third counter-connectors 200, 300 and 400, thus coping with a problem of compatibility with many counter-connectors, which are different from each other in accordance with types of a car. There is no need to provide many kinds of connectors corresponding to counter-connectors used in accordance with the types of a car. It is therefore possible for a user to apply the speaker system to any one of many types of a car, utilizing the electric connector of the present invention, which is connectable to any one of the counter-connectors that are used exclusively for many types of a car.
The housing 1 of the electric connector 100 rejects insertion of any one of the first to third counter-connectors 200, 300 and 400 therein in the improper positional relationship of the electric connector 100 relative to any one of these counter-connectors. It is therefore possible to prevent the electric connector 100 from being wrongly connected to any one of the first to third counter-connectors 200, 300 and 400.
In addition, at least a part of the inner peripheral portion of the housing 1 of the electric connector 100 of the present invention matches with any one of the outer configurations 200a, 300a and 400a of the first to third counter-connectors 200, 300 and 400. In other words, the shape of the inner peripheral portion of the housing 1 is obtained by combining the outer configurations 200a, 300a and 400a of the first to third counter-connectors 200, 300 and 400. Such a structure facilitates connection of the electric connector 100 of the present invention to any one of the first to third counter-connectors 200, 300 and 400.
In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is applied to the female connector, which is connectable to any one of the male connectors, i.e., the first to third counter-connectors 200, 300 and 400. The present invention may be applied to a male connector, which is connectable to any one of female connectors.

Claims

An electric connector, which is connectable to a counter-connector, the connector comprising:

a main body (1) having a connection portion at which said counter-connector is to be connected, said connection portion having four side walls; and

terminals (2,2) disposed in said main body (1),

characterized in that
the four side walls are different from each other in cross section to provide a structure for enabling said connection portion to be connected to any one of at least three counter-connectors (200,300,400), which have different configurations (200a, 300a, 400a) from each other, and for coming into contact with said any one of said counter-connectors (200,300,400) in case where said any one of said counter-connectors (200, 300, 400) is placed in a position other than a normal position, to prevent said connection portion from being connected to said any one of said counter-connectors (200, 300, 400).
The electric connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said connection portion has a shape (100a) serving as said structure, said shape (100a) being obtained by combining the configurations (200a, 300a, 400a) of said counter-connectors (200,300,400) with each otherso that said connection portion is connectable to said any one of said counter-connectors (200, 300, 400) in a proper positional relationship of said connection portion with said any one of said counter-connectors (200, 300, 400), while said connection portion comes into contact with said any one of said counter-connectors (200, 300, 400) to prevent said connection portion from being connected to said any one of said counter-connectors (200, 300, 400) in an improper positional relationship thereof.
The electric connector as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein:

said electric connector (100) serves as a female connector, into which any one of said counter-connectors (200, 300, 400) serving as male connectors is to be inserted; and

said main body (1) has an insertion opening (100a) with an inner peripheral portion serving as said connection portion, into which said any one of said male connectors (200, 300, 400) is to be inserted, said shape of said insertion opening (100a) being obtained by combining outer configurations (200a, 300a, 400a) of said male connectors (200, 300, 400) with each other.
The electric connector as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein:

said electric connector serves as a male connector, which is to be inserted into any one of said counter-connectors serving as female connectors each provided with insertion openings; and

said main body has an outer peripheral portion serving as said connection portion, which is to be inserted into said any one of said female connectors, said shape of said outer peripheral surface being obtained by combining shapes of said insertion openings of said female connectors with each other.
The electric connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein:

said main body (1) has a guide means (100a) for guiding said any one of said counter-connectors (200,300,400).
The electric connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein:

said main body (1) has a separation preventing means (115, 121, 122) for preventing said any one of said counter-connectors (200,300,400) from being removed from said main body (1).