The present invention relates to a lever-type connector, and more specifically relates to a lever-type connector which uses both a cam slide and a lever.

As the number of electrical contacts used in connectors has increased, a corresponding increase in the mating force has been required m order to mate connectors with each other. Various types of force amplifying mechanisms ha ^ττ e been installed in connectors in order to deal with this problem. For example, the connector disclosed m Japanese Utility Model No. 3-74483 is a known connector which uses a cam slide. In this connector, a cam slide, which has a cam follower, is attached to one connector so that the cam slide is free to slide, and the engagement of this connector with a mating connector is accomplished by causing the cam follower to engage with a cam slot m the mating connector, and inserting or removing the cam slide. Furthermore, the lever-equipped connector disclosed in Japanese Utility Model No. 6-79080 is known as another conventional example. In this connector, a lever with a cam slot, which is installed on one connector, is pivoted, thus causing insertion or removal of a mating connector which has a cam follower that engages with the cam slot.

Furthermore, among connectors which use a cam slide, connectors in which the clam slide is inserted and removed by hand are most common; however, connectors m which the cam slide is driven by a lever or by a rack and pinion are also known. Connectors using a lever are constructed so that tne cam slide is caused to slide by a lever which pivots about a fixed supporting point. Connectors in which driving matable connectors together is accomplished by

means of a rack and pinion include the connector assembly disclosed m Japanese Patent No. 6-295766, which is illustrated in Figure 8. This connector assembly 200 includes a connector 204 which has a cam slide 202, and another connector 220 which mates with connector 204. Cam slots 206 and a rack 208 are formed as part of the cam slide 202. Cam followers 222, which engage with the cam slots 206, are located on the other connector 220. The rack 208 of the cam slide 202 is driven by a pinion 210, so that the cam slide 202 slides in the direction of its own length. As a result, cam followers 222 are pulled in by the cam slots 206, so that the connectors are matably engaged with each other.

In the connector with a cam slide disclosed in Japanese Utility Model No. 3-74483, the force required in order to drive the cam slide by hand is determined by the inclination of the cam slot, and the amount of movement of the slide and the required operating force are in an inversely proportional relationship. In other words, in order to reduce the required operating force to a small value, it is necessary to increase the amount of movement of the cam slide; accordingly, a surrounding space must be maintained in order to operate the cam sliαe. Furthermore, m cases where the amount of movement is reduced, the required operating force is increased.

Similarly, in the lever-type connector disclosed in Japanese Utility Model No. 6-79080 as well, the lever- operating force and the amount of movement of the lever are m an inversely proportional relationship. Accordingly, in order to lower the operating force required, it is necessary to increase the surrounding space used for operation of the lever.

Furthermore, in the connector disclosed m Japanese Patent No. 6-79080, in which the cam slide is driven by another member (1. e., a pinion), some other device is required in order to rotate the pinion. Moreover, although the force-amplifying effect is large in connectors m which the cam slide is caused to slide by means of a lever, a large amount of lever movement is required, so that the surrounding space must be correspondingly increased. The present invention overcomes the above drawbacks. One object of the present invention is to provide a lever- type connector m which the amount of movement of the lever is small, and the force-amplifying effect is large.

Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a lever-type connector which does not require a large space for operation of the lever.

The lever-type connector of the present invention is directed to a lever-type connector equipped with a housing which has electrical contacts, a cam slide which is cam engaged with a mating connector and which slides inside the housing, and a lever which is attached to the housing by pivot members so that the lever can pivot, wherein the cam slide is driven by the pivoting of the lever so that the mating connector is inserted or removed, the pivot members are attached to the housing in a manner which allows linear sliding so that the lever can slide linearly together with the cam slide prior to the pivoting of the lever until the electrical contacts thereof and the electrical contacts of the mating connector are in close proximity to each other.

A lever-type electrical connector comprises a housing in which electrical terminals are to be secured, a cam slide slidably mounted in the housing and having cam

grooves in which cam followers on a matable housing of a matable connector are disposed, a lever pivotally mounted onto the housing by pivot members on the lever and the housing, and operating members on the lever and the cam slide for moving the matable housing inwardly within the housing, the lever, housing and cam slide have mterengagmg members permitting linear movement of the lever and the cam slide relative to the housing thereby causing the matable housing to move to a position so that the matable terminals to be secured in the matable housing are positioned for electrical connection with the electrical terminals to be secured in the housing.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a front housing of a lever- type connector according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the front housing shown m Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of the front housing shown m Fig. 1 as seen from the direction indicated by the arrow X.

Fig. 4 is an exploded plan view of the lever-type connector of the present invention and mating connectors. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the connector at the beginning of mating engagement.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the lever at a pulled-out condition and the connectors at a part- mating engagement.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the connectors in complete mating engagement via pivoting of the lever.

Fig. 8 is a part cross-sectional view showing a conventional connector assembly.

Below, a preferred working embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 -7. Below, main body 2 of the electrical connector 1 will be described with reference to Figs. 1-3. The main body 2 is constructed as an insulating front housing 4 which is molded from a suitable plastic, and a lever 6, which is pivotally mounted to housing 4, so that the lever 6 can pivot relative thereto. The lever 6 is substantially C-shaped m which operating members 8 formed at one end are connected to each other by a connecting member 10; thus lever 6 extends in the same direction on opposite sides of the housing 4. Cylindrical projections 14a and 14b are disposed at a fixed interval in the vicinity of the side edges 12a at the other end of the lever 6. The projections 14b constitute the pivot members of the lever 6. Furthermore, extensions 16, which protrude to one side, are formed on the side edges 12b at the other end of lever 6. Cylindrical projections 20, which face in the opposite direction from the surface of the page, are disposed on the tip portions 18 of the extensions 16.

In Fig. 1, slots 22 and 24 are formed in the end portions of the housing 4. The slots 22 and 24 have substantially the same length in the direction of length of the housing 4. Furthermore, a short leg 24a is formed in each of the slots 24 in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of length of the housing 4, so that the slots 24 are substantially L- shaped. It is desirable that the short legs 24a have an

arcuate shape so that the projections 14a can pivot about the projections 14b. The other end of the lever 6 is disposed mside the upper surface 28 and lower surface 29 of the housing 4, while the first end of the lever 6 extends along the upper surface 28 and lower surface 29 via openings 26. A step 30, which extends obliquely along the lever 6, is formed in the upper surface 28 of the housing 4. The projections 14a and 14b of the lever 6 are respectively disposed in the slots 24 and 22 so that the lever 6 is attached to the housing 4. As a result, the lever 6 can slide linearly in the direction of length of the housing 4 by a distance corresponding to the slots 24 and 22.

In Fig. 1, a cam slide 32 extends m the direction of length of the housing 4. The cam slide 32 is substantially rectangular in shape, and has rectangular-projecting members 32a at one end. The cam slide 32 is constructed so that it can slide relative to the housing 4 in the direction of length. The movement of the cam slide 32 will be described later. Slots 34, which extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction of length of the housing 4, are formed in the projecting members 32a in positions corresponding to the projections 20. The projections 20 of the lever 6 are inserted into slots 34, so that the movement of the lever 6 is transmitted to the cam slide 32. Furthermore, cam grooves 36a and 36b are formed at specified intervals in the cam slide 32. Latch arms 40 and 40' are formed on the rear side 38 of the mam body 2 at both ends. As will be described later, latch arms 40 and 40' are used to latch a rear housing 100 (Fig. 4) to main body 2. Furthermore, a locking arm 44, which is located within a substantially C-shaped slot 42, and which is used to lock the lever 6, is formed on the upper surface 28 of the housing 4. When the lever 6 is m the position shown

in Fig. 1, the connecting member 10 is in contact with a front snoulder 46 of the housing 4; accordingly, the lever 6 cannot pivot in the direction indicated by arrow A. Furthermore, pivoting of the lever 6 m the opposite direction from the direction indicated by arrow A is prevented by the oblique step 30.

The mam body 2 exhibits the form of a frame when viewed from the front as shown m Fig. 2. Mating connectors 150 and 170 (Fig. 4) are inserted into a cavity 50 which extends mto the mam body 2 from the engaging surface 48 to the rear surface 38.

The side view m Fig. 3 shows a state in which two latch arms 40, 40' which engage with the rear housing 100 are installed at each end of the housing 4 with respect to the direction of length of the housing 4. In other words, a total of four latch arms 40, 40, 40', 40' are formed. Through-holes 52 are formed m the side end walls 54 of the housing 4. Through-holes 52 have the form of a flattened T-shape with grooves 56, and they accommodate the cam slide 32, which has a complementary cross- sectional shape in a manner that allows sliding therein.

Next, the procedure by which the connectors are matably engaged with each other will be described with reference to Figs. 4 through 7. Fig. 4 is an exploded plan view which shows the rear housing 100 attached to the housing 4, and which also shows the mating connectors 150 and 170. A tine plate 102, which is attached to the rear housing 100, and a box 110 is provided to which the connector 1 is attached. The rear housing 100 and the latch arms 40 and 40' are engaged in an mterlatchmg manner so that both housings 4 and 100 are latched together. The mating connectors 150 and 170 have plug housings 152 and 172 of respectively different dimensions.

the respective plug housings 152 and 172 have substantially cylindrical projections, l. e., cam followers 154 and 174, which are inserted mto the cam grooves 36a and 3βb of cam slide 32. Wire covers 156, 176 are respectively attached to the plug housings 152 and

172. The connectors 150 and 170 are inserted into the housing 4 from the positions shown in Fig. 4.

Next, Fig. 5 is a plan view (similar to Fig. 4) which shows the plug housings 152 and 172 inserted mto the housing 4 and temporarily maintained m the housing 4. At this point at which the cam followers 154 and 174 are seated in the linear portions 36a' and 36b' of the cam grooves 36a and 36b of the cam slide 32, the connectors 150 and 170 are temporarily maintained in the housing 4 as a result of the engagement of interlocking engaging parts (not shown) with the housing 4. At this point, the respective tips of the terminals m the rear housing 100 and the terminals in the connectors 150 and 170 are separated from each other. Accordingly, temporary maintaining of the connectors 150 and 170 in the housing 4 can be accomplished very easily.

Fig. 6 is a plan view (similar to Fig. 5) which illustrates a state m which the connectors 150 and 170 have been moved even further inward, i. e., even further in the direction of insertion. This can be accomplished by pulling the connecting member 10 of the lever 6 linearly in the direction of length of the housing 4 as indicated by arrow B, when the connectors 150 and 170 are in the temporary maintaining positions shown in Figure 5. The projections 14a and 14b on the lever 6 slide along the slots 24 and 22, and stop after engaging the ends of the slots 24 and 22 as shown m Fig. 6. In this case, the cam slide 32 is also driven m the direction indicated by

arrow B via the projections 20 on the lever 6 and the slots 34 in the cam slide 32. The amount of movement of the cam slide 32 in this case is the same as the distance moved by the projections 14a and 14b along the slots 24 and 22. As a result of the movement of the cam slide 32, the cam followers 154 and 174 are pressed inward; accordingly, the connectors 150 and 170 are pulled inward. The distance by which the connectors 150 and 170 are pulled inward corresponds to the gap between the terminals of the connector 100 and the terminals of the connectors 150 and 170. Until these terminals make contact with each other, there is almost no resistance to the insertion of the connectors 150 and 170; accordingly, the operating force required in order to pull the lever 6 is small, so that operation of the lever 6 is easy. When the lever 6 stops in the position shown in Figure 6, the connecting member 10 protrudes or is positioned outside of the main body 2 free of shoulder 46; accordingly, pivoting of the lever 6 becomes possible. In this case, the respective terminals have begun to make contact with each other, or are in a state immediately prior to making contact. This will be described with reference to Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a plan view (similar to Fig. 5) which illustrates a state in which the connectors are completely engaged with each other. When the lever 6 is caused to pivot in the direction indicated by arrow C in Fig. 7 from the pulled-out position shown in Fig. 6, the lever pivots about the projections 14b which constitute the pivots of the lever. The projections 14a of the lever 6 move along the short legs 24a of the L-shaped slots 24. Furthermore, the projections 20, while moving along the slots 34 in the cam slide 32, cause the cam slide 32 to slide in the direction indicated by arrow B. As a result, the cam grooves 36a and 36b press against the cam followers 154

and 174 of the connectors 150 and 170, sc that the connectors 150 and 170 are moved further inwarα. In this case, since the terminals of the connector 1 and the terminals of the connectors 150 and 170 are in electrical engagement with each other, considerable force was required in order to cause the engagement of the connectors; however, as a result of the multiplying effect of the force-amplifying mechanism comprising the lever 6 and the cam slide 32, smooth engagement of the terminals is accomplished by means of a small force. When the pivoting of the lever 6 is completed, the connector 1 and the connectors 150 and 170 are completely engaged. In this case, the projections 14a are positioned at the ends of the short legs 24a. These short openings 24a make it possible to resist the force which attempts to return the lever 6 in the opposite direction from the direction mdicated by arrow B (as a result of the frictional engagement) , so that the operation of the lever 6 is made even more reliable. Furthermore, m the position where rotation of the lever 6 is completed, the lever 6 engages with the locking arm 44, so that the return of the lever in the opposite direction from the direction mdicated by arrow C is prevented.

The lever-type connector of the present mvention has been described in detail above. However, it goes without saying that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, in order to maintain the lever 6 in its initial position, it would also be possible to install an appropriate interlocking engagement device between the lever 6 and the housing 4 so that the lever is preventeα from moving in the direction indicated by arrow B.

/40553 P T/US97/ 6601

In the lever-type connector of the present invention, the cam slide and lever are interconnected so that linear sliding is possible prior to the pivoting of the lever up to the point where the respective terminals move into close proximity to each other. Accordingly, the following advantages are obtained: specifically, since driving is accomplished by the pulling out of the lever in the range where no force is required, the pivoting range of the lever can be reduced, so that a minimal surrounding space is sufficient. Accordingly, the connector can be attached even in locations where only limited room for attachment is present. Thus, the range of application of the connector is increased. Furthermore, since both a lever and a cam slide are used in combination, a large force- amplifying effect can be obtained in an extremely small operating range.