Abstract: A charge coupling for an electric vehicle wherein conduction is enabled from a charger to an electric vehicle battery when a supply connector to the charger is completely fitted to a vehicle inlet installed in the electric vehicle. A locking member is provided for temporarily locking the supply connector to the vehicle inlet at a half fitting position, the locking device being further provided with a spiral groove extending from the half fitting position to the complete fitting position. An engagable boss which projects from a distal end of either the vehicle inlet or supply connector is adapted to detachably engage the spiral groove and the supply connector is provided, on its outer periphery, with a handle for assisting rotation of the supply connector so that the engagable boss moves within the spiral groove from an outer end to a terminating end.

Abstract: An engaging member including a reinforcing projection and a cut-out portion. A recess complementary to the reinforcing projection is formed in the inner wall of the deflection space which receives the engaging member when it is deflected. When the engaging member is deflected by the terminal, the reinforcing projection fits into the recess. Excessive deflection of the engaging member is prevented by the contact of the surface of the cut-out portion with the inner wall of the deflection space. The strength of the engaging member is assured by the presence of the reinforcing projection. Since sufficient deflection room for the engaging member is provided by both the deflection space and the recess, the thickness of the deflection space can be made smaller than in prior art connectors by the depth of the recess.

Abstract: A rubber plug for a water-proof connector has an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder. The rubber plug into which an electrical wire inserted and which is inserted into a cylindrical structure of the water-proof connector sealingly closes the gap between the electrical wire and the cylindrical structure. The inner cylinder is provided at a portion which is positioned near the opening of the cylindrical structure of the water-proof connector, for sealingly closing a gap between the electrical cylinder and the inner cylinder. The outer cylinder has an annular groove, and is provided outside the inner cylinder at the portion in such a manner that the outer cylinder surrounds said inner cylinder through the annular groove for closing a gap between the inner cylindrical surface of the cylindrical structure and the outer cylinder.

Abstract: A spring is wound on a connection terminal with one end thereof fixedly secured to the connection terminal. A spiral protuberance is formed on a bore wall of a holder hole and is engaged with the spring. With this construction, when the connection terminals are to be fitted together, the spring is guided by the spiral protuberance to be angularly displaced, and at the same time, the connection terminal fixed to the spring is also angularly displaced in synchronism therewith. Therefore, even if dust or the like deposits on connection terminals, it can be removed by the rotation of one of the connection terminals during the fitting operation to maintain a good electrical connection.

Abstract: A water-resistant electrical connector includes a housing having at least one cavity dedicated to receive a terminal fixture and at least one cavity which is configured to prevent a terminal fixture from being inserted therein. Although both of the cavities are open at opposite ends of the housing, a wall closes up the cavity which is not to receive a terminal fixture constituting an electric circuit. This wall presents water from passing through the cavity from one side of the housing to the other. A fin also extends across this cavity from an open end of the cavity to the wall to thereby prevent a terminal fixture from being inserted in the cavity and into contact with the wall. A molding system can manufacture connector housings having various combinations of the cavities configured to receive a terminal fixture and cavities which prevent a terminal fixture from being inserted therein.

Abstract: This invention prevents terminals 4 and 5 from being abraded or ground at contacting portions due to vibrations. An end of a male terminal 5 is secured in a part of a stepped hole 16 in a rear wall portion 12 and the other end off the terminal 5 18 coupled to a female terminal 4. Even if the female terminal 4 is displaced due to vibrations in a coupled position relative to the male terminal 5, the male terminal 5 can elastically deflect in another part of the stepped hole 16 in accordance with a displacement of the female terminal 4. Consequently, an abnormal contacting pressure caused by vibration at contacting portions of the male and female terminals 5 and 4 can be absorbed to reduce wear or abrasion between them.

Abstract: A lock connector for normally biasing a flexible lock piece in the upward direction includes a short circuit electrode disposed on the upper surface of a female connector housing. Two lock detecting electrodes are held at positions in a male connector housing by the elastic restoring action of the flexible lock piece. Thus, a restoring operation of the flexible piece and short-circuiting between the cooperating terminals can simultaneously be achieved without any deviation from the correct timing relationship established among the components.

Abstract: A charge coupling for an electric vehicle wherein conduction is enabled from a power source on the ground to a battery on the electric vehicle when a supply connector connected to the power source is completely fitted to a vehicle inlet installed in the electric vehicle, including means for temporarily locking said supply connector to the vehicle inlet at a half fitting position.

Abstract: A connector inspecting device that positively determines whether a metal terminal has been correctly inserted into the housing of the connector includes a slider provided in a checker housing in such a manner that it is movable and urged toward a connector by a compression spring. The slider includes a lance check pin protruded toward the connector and an electrical contactor that is integral with the lance check pin. When the connector is at a "normal position," the lance check pin goes in a lance bending space provided for a lance, so that the electrical contactor is electrically connected to the metal terminal. In the case where the metal terminal is set at a "half insertion position," the lance check pin abuts against the lance, which prevents the contact of the electrical contactor with the metal terminal.

Abstract: For effecting a terminal insertion operation with respect to a connector in which a retainer is disposed in a completely-retained position before inserting metal terminals, the metal terminal is inserted into a terminal receiving chamber. As a result, the metal terminal abuts against a slanting guide surface formed on the retainer. When the metal terminal is further advanced, an engagement force in the completely-retained position is released, so that the retainer is forced back to a provisionally-retained position where an engagement projection piece is retracted from the terminal receiving chamber. The retainer thus disposed in the provisionally-retained position is again pushed into the completely-retained position, thereby finishing the insertion of the metal terminal.

Abstract: A coupling device interconnects a car connector BC and a charger connector SC positively under a small force to charge a battery in an electric car. After bringing housings 1 and 2 of both connectors BC and SC, when an operation lever 8 together with a grip 32 are grasped, an engaging projection 229 pushes a rear end of a coupling groove 228 so that a coupling plate 10 is moved from an advanced position to a retracted position. During a former movement of the plates 10, a projection 232 rids on an inner side from a rear edge of an escape groove 233 so that distal ends of the coupling plates 10 are closed. Consequently, windows 231 in the plates receive projections 209 on the housing of the car connector BC. The housing 2 of the charger connector SC together with a body 3 are drawn into the housing 1 during a latter movement of the plates, thereby completely interconnecting both connectors BC and SC.

Abstract: A coupling device interconnects a car connector BC and a charger connector SC positively by a small force to charge a battery in an electric car. After incompletely coupling, when an operation lever 8 together with a grip 32 are grasped, a sector gear 16 is turned to an anticlockwise direction and a pinion 15 is rotated to the anticlockwise direction through an intermediate gear 17. Thus a coupling plate 10 is moved from an advanced position to a retracted position through engagement of the pinion 15 and a rack 13. Distal ends of the coupling plates 10 are closed during a former movement of the plates so that windows 21 in the plates receive projections 22 on a connector housing of a car connector BC. A connector housing 2 of a charger connector SC together with a body 3 are drawn into the housing 1 during a latter movement of the plates, thereby completely interconnect both connectors BC and SC.

Abstract: A connector housing has a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has a plate-like movable locking member provided through a thin hinge formed closer to the front of the connector housing. The movable locking member has a locking pawl at its free end and a locking portion which is formed in its inner surface and adapted to engage with a locking projection formed on a terminal. The locking pawl is adapted to engage, for locking, with a shoulder formed at the rear end of the connector housing.

Abstract: A single sheet material is punched and bent to form an improved female terminal comprising a contactor block including a resilient contact piece a bottom plate and an upper plate having an extension bent toward the bottom plate to form a protective guide tag at an end opening of the contactor block through which a male terminal is inserted into the contactor block. The protective guide tag corrects insertion posture of the male terminal, thereby preventing degradation in resiliency of the resilient contact piece of the contactor block and improving electrical connection between the male terminal and the female terminal.