WO2002073749A1

WO2002073749A1 - Lever type electrical connector

Info

Publication number: WO2002073749A1
Application number: PCT/US2002/007843
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shinichi Maezono
Original assignee: Molex Incorporated
Priority date: 2001-03-13
Filing date: 2002-03-13
Publication date: 2002-09-19
Also published as: JP2002280112A; WO2002073749A9; JP4508448B2; WO2002073749B1

Abstract

A lever type electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a connector body. A cover is slidably movably mounted on the connector body and includes a cam groove formed therein. An actuating lever is pivotally movably mounted on the cover and is engageable with the connector body, whereby pivotal movement of the actuating lever relative to the cover effects sliding movement of the cover relative to the connector body. A second connector has a cam follower projection engageable within the cam groove of the cover, whereby the connectors are mated and unmated in response to rotation of the actuating lever and resulting translation of the cover.

Description

LEVER TYPE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

Field of the Invention:

This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to a low-insertion-force electrical connector having a lever whereby mating and unmating of the connector with a second connector is effected by rotation of the lever.

Background of the Invention:

With some electrical connectors, large forces are required to mate and unmate a connector with an associated connector because of the connectors having large numbers of terminals. Consequently, low-insertion-force connectors have been developed which enable mating and unmating with small forces by means of an operating lever. A typical lever type electrical connector assembly includes a first connector which has an actuating lever rotatably or pivotally mounted thereon for connecting and disconnecting the connectors with a complementary mating second connector. The actuating lever and the second connector typically operate through some form of cam groove/cam follower arrangement for drawing the second connector into mating condition with the first connector in response to rotation of the lever. A common structure for a lever-type electrical connector is to provide a generally

U-shaped lever structure having a pair of lever arms which are disposed on opposite sides of the first ("actuator") connector.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1 1-329583 discloses such a connector which includes a connector body to be electrically connected to the second connector. A slider is slidably mounted on the connector body and is adapted to be driven by the lever to guide the second connector into mated condition. By engaging the lever to a central portion of the slider, it is possible to mate the connectors easily and reliably through the lever operation while preventing rattling caused by vibration, wear and the like.

While the low-insertion-force connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-329583 is a considerable improvement over conventional lever type connectors, improvements still can be made. For instance, it would be desirable to reduce the number of parts of the connector. Such connectors often are used in automobile or other vehicular applications, and a cover is used to seal the connector from moisture or other adverse debris. Typically, the cover is formed as a separate member which increases the number of parts of the connector. The attachment of the cover typically is performed in the field which increases the number of assembly steps.

In addition, fabrication of the prior connector has been difficult. The cam grooves are provided in the connector body, so that the construction of the connector body is rather complicated. An insulator often is used for aligning the terminals as well as a retainer for locking the terminals, which further complicates fabricating the connector body when the cam grooves also must be provided thereon.

Still further, assembly of the prior connector is difficult. A booster mechanism including the lever is added directly to the connector body. The booster mechanism and lever often obstructs insertion of other components such as the terminals into the connector body.

Accommodating these assembly problems often reduces the degree of freedom in design.

The prevent invention is directed to solving these various problems and providing considerable improvements in the prior lever-type connectors.

Summary of the Invention: An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved lever type electrical connector assembly.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a first connector includes a connector body. A cover is slidably movably mounted on the connector body and includes a cam groove formed therein. An actuating lever is pivotally movably mounted on the cover and is engageable with the connector body, whereby pivotal movement of the actuating lever relative to the cover effects sliding movement of the cover relative to the connector body. A second connector has a cam follower projection to be engaged in the cam groove of the cover, whereby the connectors are mated and unmated in response to rotation of the actuating lever and resulting translation of the cover. As disclosed herein, the actuating lever is provided as one actuating arm of a generally U-shaped lever structure having a pair of actuating arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the cover. A pair of the cam grooves are provided inside a pair of side walls of the cover. The cam grooves in each pair thereof are spaced laterally of a mating direction of the connectors and are engageable by a pair of the cam follower projections on the second connector. According to principal aspects of the invention, the cover is positionable over the connector body and the cam grooves are located inside the cover. The actuating lever is pivotally mounted to the outside of the cover. The second connector is mateable inside the first connector, and the cam follower projections extend from the second connector through the connector body of the first connector and into the cam grooves inside the cover. The connector body includes an engagement projection extending outwardly beyond the cover for engaging the lever.

Other features of the invention include the provision of complementary interengaging guide rail means between the cover and the connector body and extending transversely of a mating direction of the connectors. The actuating lever is pivotally mounted to the cover at a point spaced from a distal end of the lever. The distal end is engageable with the connector body.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings:

The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lever type electrical connector assembly according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly in assembled but pre-mated condition;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, with the assembly in its mated condition; FIG. 4 is an end elevational view looking toward the left-hand end of Figure 3, and including exploded enlarged sections showing the guide rail means between the cover and the connector body; and FIG. 5 is an exploded side elevational view, partially in section, of the cover, connector body and mating connector.

The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which:

Description of the Preferred Embodiments:

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to Figure 1 , the invention is embodied in a lever type electrical connector assembly, generally designated 10, which includes a first or "actuator" connector, generally designated 12, and a second or "mating" connector, generally designated 14. In the drawings, the cables, terminals and the like of connector assembly 10 are omitted to facilitate the illustrations in the drawings and to avoid unnecessarily cluttering and blocking the major views depicted in the drawings.

With that understanding, actuator connector 12 includes a connector body, generally designated 16; a cover, generally designated 18; and an actuating lever, generally designated

20. The lever is a generally U-shaped lever structure having a pair of actuating arms 20a joined by a cross or bight portion 20b. The actuating arms have actuating bosses 20c at the distal ends thereof. Each actuating arm has a pivot hole 20d therethrough and located at a point spaced from the distal end of the respective arm and the respective actuating boss 20c. Cover 18 is positionable over connector body 16 and is slidably mounted thereon, as will be seen hereinafter. The cover includes a top wall 18a and a pair of depending side walls 18b. Each side wall has a pivot pins 18 projecting outwardly therefrom. Referring to Figure 5 in conjunction with Figure 1, a pair of cam grooves 22 are formed inside each side wall 18b of the cover. Each cam groove includes a mouth 22a, a first inclined portion 22b, a second inclined portion 22c and a closed end portion 22d. The pair of cam grooves are spaced laterally of a mating direction of connectors 12 and 14, as will be seen hereinafter, and mouths 22a of the cam grooves open downwardly in a vertical direction.

Actuating lever 20 is mounted to the outside of cover 18 by spreading actuating arms 20a of the cover slightly outwardly to align pivot pins 18c of the cover with pivot holes 20d of the lever. On releasing the actuating arms, the arms will spring back inwardly so that pivot pins 18c are inserted into pivot holes 20d. In essence, the pivot pins form fulcrums for rotating or pivoting the actuating lever relative to the cover.

Connector body 16 of actuator connector 12 of connector assembly 10 includes a pair of side walls 16a. A plurality of guide rails 16b project outwardly from each side wall and are elongated in the horizontal direction. A plurality of guide flanges 16c on each side wall form guide grooves 16d along opposite sides of connector body 16 outside side walls 16a thereof. A pair of guide ribs 16e extend along the top of the connector body. An engagement projection 24 extends outwardly from each side wall and forms a vertical notch 24a which opens in an upward direction. A pair of vertical slots 26 are formed in each side wall spaced horizontally or laterally of the mating direction of the connectors.

Mating connector 14 of connector assembly 10 includes a connector body 14a having a mating portion 14b which is inserted into the underside of connector body 16 of actuator connector 12. A pair of laterally spaced cam follower projections 30 project outwardly from each opposite side of mating portion 16b of mating connector 14. Before proceeding with the mating operation of connector assembly 10, some assembly considerations should be observed to better understand the operation of the connector assembly. As stated above, cover 18 is positionable over the top and sides of connector body 16 of actuator connector 12, with cam grooves 22 being located inside side walls 18b of the cover. When so assembled as shown in Figures 2 and 3, engagement projections 24 which extend outwardly from the connector body are located outside the cover, along with vertical notches 24b of the engagement projections. Therefore, when actuating lever 20 is mounted to the outside of the cover, actuating bosses 20c are positionable within vertical notches 24a of the connector body. Still further, when mating portion 14b of mating connector 14 is inserted into the bottom of connector body 16 of actuator connector 12, cam follower projections 13 project through slots 26 in side walls 16a of connector body 16 for insertion into cam grooves 22 inside the side walls of cover 18.

With these understandings, reference is now made to Figure 2 which shows the pre- mated condition of lever type electrical connector assembly 10. It can be seen that actuating lever 20 has been assembled to cover 18, and the cover has been assembled over connector body 16. During assembly, actuating bosses 20c of the lever are inserted in the direction of arrow "A" into vertical notches 24a in engagement projections 24 which extend outwardly from the connector body beyond the side walls of the cover. Actuator connector 12 is positioned onto and over mating portion 14b of mating connector 14 in the direction of arrow "B". In order to fully mate connectors 12 and 14, actuating lever 20 is pivoted or rotated about pivot pins 18c in the direction of arrow "C" (Fig. 2). When the lever is pivoted, cover 18 is driven forwardly in the direction of arrow "D" due to the interengagement of actuating bosses 20c of the lever within vertical notches 24a of the connector body. Movement of the lever to its final position shown in Figure 3 slides the cover to its final mated condition shown in that drawing.

In essence, cover 18 acts as a slider when mounted over connector body 16. This is accomplished by a guide rail means or arrangement as depicted best in Figure 4. It can be seen that the bottom edge of each side wall 18b defines a guide rail or rib 32 which extends into guide groove 16d on the outside of connector body 16. Guide rails 16b of the connector body project into a guide groove 34 on the inside of guide rail 32. At the top of connector body 16, a guide flange 36 on the inside of cover 18 extends downwardly behind guide rib 16e on the connector body as described above and seen in Figure 1. In the pre-mated condition of Figure 2, guide follower projections 30 on the mating connector are positioned within through slots 26 in side walls 16a of connector body 16, and the cam follower projections enter mouths 22a of cam grooves 22 described above in relation to Figure 5. As actuating lever 20 is pivoted from its pre-mated position shown in Figure 2 to its mated position shown in Figure 3, cover 18 is slidably translated relative to connector body 16, and cam follower projections 30 are forced along cam grooves 22: i.e., along first inclined portions 22a, then along second inclined portions 22c and into closed end portions 22d of the cam slots. With the cam slots being inclined, mating connector 14 is drawn into mating condition within connector body 16 of actuating connector 12 opposite the direction of arrow "B" (Fig. 2). In the final mated condition of the connector assembly, a lock protrusion 40 (Fig. 1) on the top of connector body 16 engages a locking mechanism (not shown) on the inside of cover 18 to hold the components in a locked state.

In order to unmate connectors 12 and 14, actuating lever structure 20 is rotated back from its mated position shown in Figure 3, opposite the direction of arrow "C" (Fig. 2) to its unmated position shown in Figure 2. This slidably moves cover 18 back to its pre-mated position and unmates connector 14 from connector 12.

In actual practice, connector body 14a of mating connector 14 most often will be fixed or mounted to some form of support structure. In that instance, connector body 16 of actuator connector 12 is positioned over mating portion 14b of the mating connector. When lever 20 is rotated to mate the connectors, mating connector 12 is driven downwardly in the direction of arrow "B" (Fig. 2) which, in essence, defines the mating direction of the connectors.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the cam slider mechanisms of the prior art have been completely eliminated by the invention herein. In essence, cover 18 performs a dual function of acting as a cover for actuating connector 12 as well as providing a cam grooved slider mechanism for the overall connector assembly 10.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A lever type electrical connector assembly, comprising: a first connector including a connector body; a cover slidably movably mounted on the connector body and including a cam groove formed therein; an actuating lever pivotally movably mounted on the cover and engageable with the connector body whereby pivotal movement of the actuating lever relative to the cover effects sliding movement of the cover relative to the connector body; and a second connector having a cam follower projection to be engaged in the cam groove of the cover whereby the connectors are mated and unmated in response to rotation of the actuating lever and resulting translation of the cover.

2. The lever type electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said actuating lever comprises one actuating arm of a generally U-shaped lever structure having a pair of actuating arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the cover.

3. The lever type electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said cover includes a pair of said cam grooves spaced laterally of a mating direction of the connectors and engageable by a pair of said cam follower projections on the second connector.

4. The lever type electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said cover is positionable over the connector body and said cam groove is located inside a side wall of the cover.

5. The lever type electrical connector assembly of claim 4 wherein said second connector is mateable inside the first connector and said cam follower projection extends from the second connector through the connector body of the first connector and into the cam groove inside the cover.

6. The lever type electrical connector assembly of claim 1 , including complementary interengaging guide rail means between the cover and the connector body and extending transversely of a mating direction of the connectors.

7. The lever type electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said actuating lever is pivotally mounted to the cover at a point spaced from a distal end of the actuating lever, and the distal end is engageable with the connector body.

8. The lever type electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said cover is positionable over the connector body, said actuating lever is pivotally mounted to the outside of the cover, and the connector body includes an engagement projection extending outwardly beyond the cover and engageable with the actuating lever.

9. The lever type electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said second connector is mateable inside the first connector and said cam follower projection extends from the second connector through the connector body of the first connector.

10. A lever type electrical connector assembly, comprising: a first connector including a connector body; a cover positionable over the connector body and being slidably movably mounted thereon with a cam groove located in a side wall of the cover; a generally U-shaped lever structure having a pair of actuating arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the cover, the actuating arms being engageable with the connector body whereby pivotal movement of the lever structure effects sliding movement of the cover relative to the connector body; and a second connector mateable inside the first connector and having a cam follower projection extending from the second connector through the connector body of the first connector and into the cam groove inside the side wall of the cover, whereby the connectors are mated and unmated in response to rotation of the actuating lever structure and resulting translation of the cover.

1 1. The lever type electrical connector assembly of claim 10 wherein said cover includes a pair of said cam grooves spaced laterally of a mating direction of the connectors and engageable by a pair of said cam follower projections on the second connector.

12. The lever type electrical connector assembly of claim 10, including complementary interengaging guide rail means between the cover and the connector body and extending transversely of a mating direction of the connectors.

13. The lever type electrical connector assembly of claim 10 wherein said lever structure is pivotally mounted to the cover at points spaced from distal ends of the actuating arms, and said distal ends are engageable with the connector body.

14. The lever type electrical connector assembly of claim 10 wherein said cover is positionable over the connector body, said actuating arms of the lever structure are pivotally mounted to the outside of the cover, and the connector body includes a pair of engagement projections extending outwardly beyond opposite sides of the cover and engageable with the actuating arms of the lever structure.