U.S. patent application number 09/745997 was filed with the patent office on 2001-07-05 for connector checker.
This patent application is currently assigned to YAZAKI CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Fukuda, Eiji.
Application Number | 20010006346 09/745997 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18496395 |
Filed Date | 2001-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010006346 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fukuda, Eiji |
July 5, 2001 |
Connector checker
Abstract
The connector checker has a main body with a block accommodating
a plurality of detection pins movable forward and backward in the
block each for detecting an incorrect insertion state of a
terminals which is inserted in a terminal accommodation chamber of
a connector by inserting the detection pin into the terminal
accommodation chamber. The checker main body has a plurality of
through holes vertically elongated in section and a plurality of
through holes horizontally elongated in section, and the vertically
elongated through holes are disposed to partially overlap with the
horizontally elongated through holes to define a plurality of
rectangular openings. Through one of the rectangular openings, the
detection pin is inserted so as to adequately limit vertical and
horizontal movements of the detection pin within the terminal
accommodation chamber.
Inventors: |
Fukuda, Eiji; (Shizuoka,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARMSTRONG, WESTERMAN, HATTORI
McLELAND & NAUGHTON
Suite 1000
1725 K Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
YAZAKI CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
18496395 |
Appl. No.: |
09/745997 |
Filed: |
December 26, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
324/538 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01R 31/69 20200101;
H01R 43/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
324/538 |
International
Class: |
H01H 031/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 27, 1999 |
JP |
11-370235 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A connector checker having a main body with a block
accommodating a plurality of detection pins movable forward and
backward in said block each for detecting an incorrect insertion
state of a terminal which is inserted in a terminal accommodation
chamber of a connector by inserting the detection pin into the
terminal accommodation chamber, wherein said checker main body has
a plurality of through holes vertically elongated in section and a
plurality of through holes horizontally elongated in section, and
said vertically elongated through holes are disposed to partially
overlap with said horizontally elongated through holes to define a
plurality of rectangular openings, each of said rectangular
openings preventing undesirable vertical and horizontal movements
of said detection pin within the terminal accommodation
chamber.
2. The connector checker set forth in claim 1 wherein said block of
said checker main body is formed with said vertically elongated
through holes or said horizontally elongated through holes, while a
plate is formed with said horizontally elongated through holes or
said vertically elongated through holes, said vertically elongated
through holes being parallel with each other, said horizontally
elongated through holes being parallel with each other, said plate
being mounted on a surface of said block to define said rectangular
openings.
3. The connector checker set forth in claim 2 wherein the elongated
holes of said block are separated from each other by partition
walls, while the elongated holes of said plate are separated by
partition walls, the partition walls of said block being disposed
to abut against and perpendicular to the partition walls of said
plate to define the plurality of said rectangular openings.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a connector checker for
detecting an incomplete insertion state of a terminal inserted in a
connector, particularly to a connector checker having a main body
in which a detection pin can be inserted without an undesirable
looseness to prevent damage of the detection pin.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, a known connector checker will be
discussed hereinafter. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a known
connector checker. FIGS. 4A and 4B each are a sectional view
showing an operation step of the connector the checker, and FIGS.
5A and 5B each are an enlarged view of FIG. 4A or 4B.
[0005] In FIG. 3, reference numeral 100 designates the connector
checker having a base structure 10 provided with two guide shafts
50, 50. On the base structure, there are disposed a holder 20 and a
checker main body 300 which are slidable along the guide shafts 50,
50.
[0006] The holder 20 is a frame holding a housing 81 of a connector
80 inspected therein, and each guide shaft 50 has a spring 60
mounted around it for resiliently urging the holder 20 toward the
checker main body 300.
[0007] As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4A, the checker main body
300 has an engagement recess 301 engageable with a forward portion
of the housing 81 of the connector 80 and has a plurality of
through holes 302 each associated with one of terminal
accommodation chambers 82 of the connector 80.
[0008] As illustrated in FIG. 5A, each through hole 302 of the
checker main body 300 accommodates a detection pin 40. Each
detection pin 40 has a continuity sensing portion 40a and an
incomplete insertion detection portion 40b in a forward side
thereof. The detection pin 40 is resiliently biased by a spring 41
toward the holder 20.
[0009] The thus configured checker main body 300, as illustrated in
FIGS. 4A and 4B, can be moved forward and backward by an actuation
lever 70.
[0010] As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5A, The connector 80 has
the housing 81 formed with a plurality of the terminal
accommodation chambers 82. Each terminal accommodation chamber 82
has a resilient locking arm 83 integrally formed therein.
[0011] The terminal accommodation chamber 82 receives a terminal 84
so that the locking arm 83 engages with a slit 84a formed in the
terminal 84 to hold the terminal 84 within the terminal
accommodation chamber 82.
[0012] Note that, when the terminal accommodation chamber 82 has
incompletely received the terminal 84, that is, when the terminal
84 has been incompletely inserted therein, the locking arm 83 does
not engages with the slit 84a of the terminal 84 as illustrated in
FIG. 5B.
[0013] In the mean time, electrical wires 42, 85 (see FIG. 3)
connected to the detection pin 40 or the terminal 84 are
electrically connected to an electrical continuity checking
apparatus (not shown). Thus-, an operator uses the checking
apparatus for detecting an incomplete insertion state or an
incorrect continuity state of the terminal 84.
[0014] Next, referring to FIGS. 4A, 4B and FIGS. 5A, 5B, checking
operations of the connector checker 100 will be discussed.
[0015] In FIGS. 4A and 5B, the holder 20 of the connector checker
100 receives the connector 80 to beset thereon, and pivoting the
actuating lever 70 moves the checker main body 300 toward the
connector 80.
[0016] Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 4B and FIG. 5B, the
engagement portion 301 of the checker main body 300 engages with a
forward portion of the connector 80, and each terminal
accommodation chamber 82 of the connector 80 receives the
associated detection pin 40.
[0017] In this state, when the terminal accommodation chamber 82
has completely received the terminal 84, the incomplete insertion
detection portion 40b of the detection pin 40 has advanced under
the locking arm 83. Thus, the continuity sensing portion 40a of the
detection pin 40 contacts the terminal 84, so that the checking
apparatus indicates a correct continuity state of the connector,
for example by turning on a lamp.
[0018] Meanwhile, when the terminal accommodation chamber 82 has
incompletely received the terminal 84, the incomplete insertion
detection portion 40b of the detection pin 40 abuts against the
locking arm 83, preventing the continuity sensing portion 40a of
the detection pin 40 from contacting the terminal 84. Thus, the
checking apparatus indicates an incorrect continuity state of the
connector, for example by not turning on a lamp.
[0019] The known connector checker 100, as illustrated in FIG. 6,
has the detection pin 40 which is rectangular in section, while the
through hole 302 of the checker main body 300 is an elongated one
slightly larger than the rectangular section of the detection pin
40. The elongated through hole 302 has an arc portion which allows
looseness of the detection pin 40 within the through hole302. Thus,
at an engagement operation of the checker main body 300 with the
connector 80, the detection pin 40 may abut an end wall of the
housing 81, disadvantageously causing damage of the pin 40 or the
end wall of the housing 81.
[0020] This problem may be eliminated by providing another through
hole 302 of the checker main body 300 which has a rectangular
section similar to the detection pin 40.
[0021] However, since the through hole 302 of the checker main body
300 is machined generally by a rotating cutter of an end mill, it
is difficult to form the rectangular through hole 302 by using such
a tool.
[0022] Furthermore, a plurality of the through holes 302 is
machined to be formed one after another in the checker main body
300, so that the mutual distances of through holes 302 are not
sufficient in precision, causing abutment of the detection pin 40
against the housing 81.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0023] In view of the above-mentioned disadvantages, an object of
the present invention is to provide a connector checker that can
eliminate looseness of a detection pin within the checker main
body. The checker allows an improved precise positioning of the
detection pin, surely preventing damage of the detection pin.
[0024] For achieving the object, a connector checker according to
the invention has a main body with a block accommodating a
plurality of detection pins movable forward and backward in the
block each for detecting an incorrect insertion state of a terminal
which is inserted in a terminal accommodation chamber of a
connector by inserting the detection pin into the terminal
accommodation chamber. The checker main body has a plurality of
through holes vertically elongated in section and a plurality of
through holes horizontally elongated in section. The vertically
elongated through holes are disposed to partially overlap with the
horizontally elongated through holes to define a plurality of
rectangular openings. Through one of the rectangular openings, the
detection pin is inserted so as to adequately limit vertical and
horizontal movements of the detection pin within the terminal
accommodation chamber.
[0025] The thus configured checker has the vertically elongated
holes disposed perpendicular to the horizontally elongated holes.
Even when each elongated hole has each end of an arc shape, the
plurality of rectangular openings can be defined each as
corresponding to a sectional shape of the detection pin.
[0026] The detection pin is inserted through the rectangular
opening, so that the vertical and horizontal movements of the
detection pin is adequately limited to eliminate the undesirable
looseness of the pin within the rectangular opening. This prevents
the detection pin from abutting against the connector housing,
causing no damage of the pin.
[0027] The method of defining a plurality of the rectangular
openings by disposing the vertically elongated holes perpendicular
to the horizontally elongated holes allows a greatly improved
precise positioning of the rectangular openings than a known method
in which through holes for detection pins are formed one after
another. The improved method prevents damage of the pins during
insertion thereof.
[0028] Preferably, the block of the checker main body is formed
with the vertically elongated through holes or the horizontally
elongated through holes, while a plate is formed with the
horizontally elongated through holes or the vertically elongated
through holes to define the rectangular openings. The vertically
elongated through holes are parallel with each other, and the
horizontally elongated through holes are parallel with each other.
The plate is mounted on a surface of the block which has open ends
of the elongated holes.
[0029] In the thus configure checker, the block or the plate may be
replaced by another block or plate which has a different number of
elongated holes, allowing to efficiently inspect various types of
connectors having a different number of terminals.
[0030] Preferably, the elongated holes of the block may be
separated from each other by partition walls, while the elongated
holes of the plate are also separated by partition walls. The
elongated holes of the block are disposed to abut against and
perpendicular to the elongated holes of the plate to define the
plurality of the rectangular openings.
[0031] In the thus configured checker, the rectangular opening is
defined by four partition walls of the vertically elongated holes
and the horizontally elongated holes, allowing a stable support of
the detection pin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] FIGS. 1A to 1C show a checker main body of a connector
checker of an embodiment according to the present invention, which
are sequentially a front view, a sectional view taken line A-A of
FIG. 1A, and a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 1A;
[0033] FIG. 2A is a front view showing a block constituting the
checker main body,
[0034] FIG. 2B is a front view showing a plate provided in the
checker main body, and
[0035] FIG. 2C is a front view showing the block assembled with the
plate;
[0036] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a known connector
checker;
[0037] FIGS. 4A and 4B each are a sectional view showing an
operation step of the known connector checker;
[0038] FIGS. 5A and 5B each are an enlarged view of FIG. 4A or 4B,
and
[0039] FIG. 6 is an enlarged front view showing detection pins and
through holes receiving the pins of the known connector
checker.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0040] Referring to the accompanied drawings, an embodiment of a
connector checker according to the present invention will be
discussed hereinafter.
[0041] Note that the connector checker according to the present
invention is characterized in a checker main body which is
different from the conventional one described in the prior art. The
other parts of the connector checker, which are the same as those
of the conventional checker, will not be discussed in detail
again.
[0042] FIGS. 1A to 1C show a checker main body of a connector
checker of an embodiment according to the present invention. FIGS.
2A to 2C show a block constituting the checker main body.
[0043] As illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C, a checker main body 30 has
a block 31 and a pair of plates 32, 32.
[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the block 31 has an engagement
recess portion 31a engageable with a connector 80 (see FIG. 3) in a
front surface of the block 31.
[0045] In an inner end surface of the engagement portion 31a, there
are provided a plurality of holes 31b horizontally elongated in
section. The holes 31b are parallel with each other and pass
through a rear end surface of the block 31.
[0046] Each horizontally elongated hole 31b is defined by machining
the block 31 with an end mill (not shown) having a rotating cutter.
Thus, the elongated hole 31b has each end of an arc shape.
[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the horizontally
elongated holes 31b are separated from each other by partition
walls 31c. Each partition wall 31c is formed with a plurality of
slits 31d at each longitudinal end thereof. Each slit 31d engages
with an associated one of partition walls 32b (see FIG. 2B) of the
plate 32.
[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 2B, each plate 32 is formed with a
plurality of through holes 32a vertically elongated in section. The
through holes 32a are parallel with each other.
[0049] In the same way as the horizontally elongated holes 31b, the
vertically elongated holes 32a are defined by machining the plate
32 with an end mill having a rotating cutter. Thus, each vertically
elongated hole 32a has each end of a circular arc shape.
[0050] As illustrated in FIG. 2B and FIGS. 1B, 1C, the partition
walls 32b of each plate 32 engage the associated slits 31d of the
partition walls 31c of the block 31, so that each plate 32 is
secured respectively to a fore or rear end portion related to the
horizontally elongated holes 31b.
[0051] This mounting of the plate 32 on the block 31, as
illustrated in FIG. 1A and FIG. 2C, positions the vertically
elongated holes 32a perpendicular to the horizontally elongated
holes 31b, thereby defining a plurality of the rectangular openings
33 in conformity with the sectional shape of the detection pins
40.
[0052] To assemble the above-mentioned checker main body 30, first,
the block 31 receives the pair of plates 32, 32 to define the
plurality of rectangular openings 33. Next, each rectangular
opening 33 is inserted by one of the detection pins 40.
[0053] That is, after the provision of the rectangular openings 33,
each detection pin 40 is inserted into each rectangular opening 33.
The detection pin 40 is more smoothly mounted in the checker main
body 30 than the prior-art one having the independently formed
through holes 302 (see FIG. 4A).
[0054] The thus configured checker of the embodiment has the
vertically elongated holes 32a disposed perpendicular to the
horizontally elongated holes 31b. Even when each elongated hole 31b
or 32a has each end of an arc shape, the plurality of the
rectangular openings 33 can be defined each as corresponding to a
sectional shape of the detection pin 40.
[0055] The detection pin 40 is inserted through the rectangular
opening 33, so that the vertical and horizontal movements of the
detection pin 40 is adequately limited to eliminate the undesirable
looseness of the pin within the rectangular opening 33. This
prevents the detection pin 40 from abutting against the connector
housing 81 of the housing 81 (see FIG. 3), preventing damage of the
pin 40 .
[0056] The method of defining the plurality of rectangular openings
33 by disposing the vertically elongated holes 32a perpendicular to
the horizontally elongated holes 31b allows a greatly improved
precise positioning of the rectangular openings 33 than a known
method in which the through holes 302 (see FIG. 4A) for the
detection pins 40 are formed one after another. The improved method
prevents damage of the pins 40 during insertion thereof.
[0057] In the thus configure checker, the block 31 or the plate 32
may be replaced by another block or plate which has a different
number of elongated holes 31b, 32a, allowing to efficiently inspect
various types of connectors having a different number of
terminals.
[0058] Furthermore, in the embodiment, the partition walls 31c of
the horizontally elongated holes 31b engage perpendicularly with
the partition walls 32b of the vertically elongated holes 32a.
Thus, the rectangular opening 33 is defined by four partition walls
31c, 32b of the vertically elongated holes 32a and the horizontally
elongated holes 31b, allowing a stable support of the detection pin
40.
[0059] Note that a connector checker according to the present
invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. For
example, the block31 of the checker main body 30 may have
vertically elongated holes while the plate 32 has horizontally
elongated holes.
* * * * *