AU604572B2

AU604572B2 - Interconnection of components

Info

Publication number: AU604572B2
Application number: AU24135/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Claude Post; Case Schaafsma
Original assignee: Utilux Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Tyco Electronics Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1987-11-13
Filing date: 1988-10-21
Publication date: 1990-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2008-10-21
Also published as: AU2413588A

Description

COMMONWEALTH OF AUS~A PATENTS ACT 1952 rm l 107 COMPLETE SPECIFICATIO14

(ORIGINAL)

Jr Short Title: Int. Cl: FOR OFFICE 'US L afl2"CL fiS Application Number: Lodged: P15415 13th November, 1987 o .111 000 0 00 0 000000 0 0 0000 0000 *a a 0 00a a so *00 00 s 0 00 0 00 -0 t 00 t000C0 Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art: Thlis docurnceit contains thce iamendnients allowed under Section 83 lUy tl1 Supervising Exumirncr on and is correct fur printing TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Appic~ant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: UTILUX PTY. LIMITED '14 Commercial Road, Kingsgrove, New South Wales 220$, AUSTRALIA CASE SCHAAFSMA CLAUDE POST GRIFFITH HACK CO.

71 YORK STREE$T SYDNEY NSW 20000

AUSTRALIA

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "INTERCONNECTION OF COMPONENTS" The following statement is a full description of this invention, inclkiding the best method of performing it known to me/us:- The present invention relates to the interconnection of components and more particularly is concerned with releasable interconnection of component parts of a device.

The invention will be explified herein with reference to securing together the components of an electrical connector assembly such as an electrical socket connector for mounting on the exterior of a vehicle for connection to the lighting circuit of a road trailer.

However, the invention is not limited to such applications and extends to any similar application where the problem is to secure readily together and readily to release component parts which include curved surfaces. The e problem is well illustrated by an electrical connector for a trailer lighting circuit. A conventional electrical i1 t e j 15 connector of this type has a tubular metal body into one end of which electricc;l cable passes to be connected to a socket i cr r unit which is inserted into the metal body in an axial j direction and secured at the correct position (both axially and rotationally) by a small metal securing screw, which usually is a counter-sunk screw.

The assembly of the connector after wiring up requires Sdexterity and a considerable degree of precision. The small metal screw is easily dropped and installation is often 'tci difficult working in limited space upside down under the ,,rf 25 rear of a vehicle. It can be an even greater problem to disassemble the connector, for example if a wiring fault develops, since corrosion is liable to make the process of Llunscrewing the metal screw difficult.

Furthermore, the manufacturing process has the expense of providing a machined and tapped bore on the socket unzit Sand a counter-sunk bore has to be provided in the outer body. Furthermore, plating may be necessary for corrosion prevention reasons.

It has now been appreciated that it would be desirable to provide more cost-effective manufacture and greater user convenience and the present invention is directed towards arrangements which may at least partly deal with such long 5597S/MB 2 -r it standing problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is prdriiod an article having a securing element for securing together in a releasable manner an elongated, generally tubular body of the article and a secondary element adapted to be fitted and removed from the body by motion in a, direction along the axis of the body, the body having an exterior surface which is curved around the axis, the securing element comprising a pin projecting from an enlarged base portion which is adapted to abut when in use the exterior surface of the curved body, and the pin being Sadapted to project through a passageway in the curved body SI for engaging normally with the secondary element to secure 0 the secondary element in the curved body, said passageway S 15 for receiving the pin being non-circular about the axis 9 0 along which the passageway extends through the curved body, and the securing element further comprising an enlarged head on said pin and spaced from the enlarged base, the head being non-circular about the axis of said pin and being adapted to be inserted through said passage in a first relative rotational position and, after insertion being Sc0' adapted to be rotated by torque applied to said enlarged jC, c base portion to a securing position which is rotatably displaced from said first position, the enlarged base and St ':0125 enlarged head being shaped and dimensioned to engage respectively with the curved exterior surface and an inner surface of the body in frictional engagement sufficient to C hold the securing element in the securing position and said pin further comprising an engagement portion for engaging i 30 the secondary element and securing it against removal from the curved body when the pin is in its securing position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article having an elongate, generally tubular body which has an outer surface including a convexly curved part-cylindrical surface extending around a first generating axis co-incident or parallel with the axis of the tubular body, a secondary element adapted to be 5597/MS inserted in and withdrawn from the tubular body by movement along the axis of the tubular body, and a securing element for releasably securing the secondary element within the tubular body, the securing element comprising a resiliently deformable base portion with a concave part-cylindrical surface which extends around a second generating axis, for abutment with the convexly curved part-cylindrical surface and (ii) a pin projecting from the base portion to a tip portion and having an enlargement projecting laterally from the pin between the base and tip portions; the secondary element has an opening for receiving the tip portion of the pin, the tubular body has a non-circular aperture through which the pin and the S" enlargment can be inserted when the securing element is ,,15 rotationally orientated so that the first and second o 4 01 oe generating axes are skewed, and the base portion pressed against the convexly curved part-cylindrical surface of the S tubular body to deform sufficiently to allow the enlargement to pass right through the non-circular aperture in the tubular body, whereby the tip portion is intrcduced into the C opening in the secondary element, the securing element being then rotatable to bring the first and second generating axes to be co-incident or parallel with reduction in the S deformation of the base portion and the enlargement on the pin is obstructed by the tubular body and cannot be j withdrawn through the non-circular aperture of the tubular body.

In practice, the tubular body is normally annular in cross-section so that the convexly curved part-cylindrical S9 surface is part of a cylindrical surface which extends circumferentially around the tubular body and, in a 3A 5597S ^s "i X- -_r preferred embodiment, the enlargement extends symmetrically on opposite sides of the pin, the aperture in the tubular body constitites a slot extending circumferentially of the tubular body, and the enlarged outer end o the opening in the secondary element is a counterbore which permits 900 rotation of the securing element in both directions from its rotational orientation in qhich the enlargement is aligned with the slot.

Preferably the securing element is integrally formed, for example by moulding in a plastics material.

In a preferred embodiment the exterior surface of the base portion of the securing element has a large elongate So°o slot running in the axial direction of the tubular body when 0 0 00 oo in the securing position and the base portion tapers to a °0 15 thin edge in both directions away from said slot and in a o 0 O direction which is circumferential relative to the tubular 0oo00o 0,0 body when in the securing position. The enlargement of the pin of the securing element, in transverse cross-sectional o 0o view, is generally rectangular but with curved ends and the slot in the tubular body is of corresponding shape. This f oo arrangement facilitates flexing of the base portion during 0 o the installation process and the securing element can be readily rotated by application of a screwdriver or even a oaos coin.

oono 25 Embodiments of the invention are especially suitable a 0 for securing together the components of a lighting connector o"0o o for a vehicle and for this purpose the base portion Sa advantageously has a dimension of the order of 1 cm and is a coloured plastics material so it can readily be seen and manipulated.

Preferably the tip portion of the securing element pin is of circular cross-section to engage in a circular bore in the secondary element.

The invention extends to an electrical connector unit forming said article and wherein the secondary element of the article is an interior cylindrically shaped connector elemant having screw connectors for the wiring znd 5597S/MB 4 electrical push-fit contacts.

Particularly for embodiments of the invention applied to such an electrical connector unit, the advantages which can be achieved include the following: The securing element can be integrally moulded economically in plastics material and can be brightly coloured to facilitate ready location and the base portion can simply be slotted to permit rotation with a coin.

The securing element can snuggly abut the convexly curved part-cylindrical surface of the body i thereby resisting ingress of foreign matter and i water into the interior of the tubular body.

S The securing element can be of an electrically insulating mater.. I1 and be of non-corrosive "e t material.

i 20 Precise and expensive engineering steps which occur when a conventional screw is used are i Iobviated.

i ,0 c(e) The shape and configuration ofE the securing Sct,,t 25 element can provide the necessary means for biasing the securing element in the securing S"position; flexing of edge portions of the base portion being required during rotation to disengage the securing element.

i| 30 An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of A.llustration only. in the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a securing element for use in an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan of the securing element; Figure 3 is an inverted plan view of the securing element; 5597S/MB 5 Figure 4 is a side elevation of the securing element taken in the direction of arrow A shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a front elevation of the securing element taken in the direction of arrow B of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is an axial cross-sectional view showing the securing element installed on an electrical connector for mounting on a vehicle.

Referring first to Figure 6, the securing element 10 is shown in the securing position on an electrical connector unit 11 which is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle. The unit 11 has a tubular body 12 of generally circular cross-sectional shape which has an electrical cable inlet 13 o at one end and a pivotable cover plate 14 at the opposite ooo 00o o end and into which a cylindrical electrical connector block 0 0 S0 15 15 (shown in chain-dotted lines for clarity) is inserted, 00000 0 0 after the electrical cable is engaged by screw connectors.

00 at i o Figure 6 also s"-ws in dotted outline the location of a a wiring connector plug 16 which engages with the connector block 15, a latching plate 17 formed on the interior of the cover plate 14 projecting in latching engagement into a "t recess 18 formed in the plug 16.

The connector block 15 has a transverse cylindrical bore 19 for accommodating a correspondingly shaped tip 20 of S the locking pin 28 of the securing element 10. The j t00 25 connector block 15 also has a larger counterbore 21 for accommodating an enlargement 22 extending from the locking S pin 28 of the securing element 10, irrespective of the S rotational orientation of the securing element The installation of the securing element 10 shown in Figure 6 is achieved by initially presenting the securing element 10 at a position rotated through 90° relative to the securing position shown in Figure 6 so that the rectangular shaped enlargement 22 fits through a correspondingly shaped slot 23 in tubular body 12. The slot 23 is rectangular, and is elongated in the circumferential direction.

Figures 1 to 5 illustrate the securing element 10 in more detail. The securing element is illustrated with its 5597S/MB 6 base portion 24 uppermost. The base portion has a concave lower surface, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, and provides an abutment surface 25 of cylindrical shape and of the same radius of curvature as the tubular body 12, typically 12 mm, The base portion is of crescent shape in side view with a thicker central region having a broad slot 26 for accommodating a coin or screwdriver and the base tapers towards thin parallel side edges 27 thereby providing a high degree of resilient deformability in the sides of the base portion.

The circular cross-section pin 28 extends centrally from the base portion and terminates in the tip portion o a0o which extends beyond the enlargement 22. The enlargement oo o has curved end faces and flat longer sides with a chamfered leading edge 29 and a sharply shouldered trailing edge q The distance between the trailing edge 30 and the underside o qOo of the base portion 24 is equal to the wall thickness of 00 0 0 "t tubular body 12.

In use, the connector block 15 is secured in tubular 0 20 body 10 by insertion with correct rotational orientation to 0 °0 ensure that the bore 19 is aligned with the slot 23; the 0 00 securing element is arranged such that the slot 26 and the O enlargement 22 extend at right angles to the axis of the tubular body. As the enlargement 22 is inserted into the corresponding bore 21 in the connector block 15, axial Spressure is applied to the securing element to cause the B sides of the base portion to flex and torque is applied to i *t turn the securing element through 900, thereby securing the securing element with the trailing edges 30 of the enlargement 22 engaging the inside wall of the tubular body 12. In this position the curved abutment surface 25 of the base portion fit snuggly over the curved exterior surface of the tubular body 12 and the tip portion 20 restrains the connector block 15 from axial movement.

5597S/MB 7

Claims

1. An article having an elongate, generally tubular body which has an outer surface including a convexly curved part-cylindrical surface extending around a first generating axis co-incident or parallel with the axis of the tubular body, a secondary element adapted to be inserted in and withdrawn from the tubular body by movement along the axis of the tubular body, and a securing element for releasably securing the secondary element within the tubular body, th securing element comprising a resiliently deformable base portion with a concave part-cylindrical surface which extends around a second generating axis, for o abutment with the convexly curved part-cylindrical surface N o a0o15 and (ii) a pin projecting from the base portion to a tip 0 0 00o0 portion and having an enlargement projecting laterally from o0°0 the pin between the base and tip portions; the secondary o element has an opening for receiving the tip portion of the pin, the tubular body has a non-circular aperture through which the pin and the enlargment can be inserted when the securing element is rotationally orientated so that the c first and second generating axes are skewed, and the base o' portion pressed against the convexly curved part-cylindrical surface of the tubular body to deform sufficiently to allow the enlargement to pass right through the non-circular aperture in the tubular body, whereby the tip portion is I d t introduced into the opening in the secondary element, the securing element being then rotatable to bring the first and second generating axes to be co-incident or parallel with reduction in the deformation of the base portion and the enlargement on the pin is obstructed by the tubular body and cannot be withdrawn through the non-circular aperture of the tubular body.

2. An article according to Claim 1, in which the enlargement extends symmetrically on opposite sides of the pin, the aperture in the tubular body constitutes a slot -8- extending circumferentially of the tubular body, and the opening in the second~ary element has an enlarged outer end which is a counterbore adapted to accommod. he enlargement and permitting 900 rotation of the securing element in either direction from a rotational orientation in which the enlargement is aligned with the slot. 3 An article, according to Claim I or Claim 2, in which tlhe securing element is integrally formed of plastics material.

4. An article, according to any one of the preceding claims in which the exterior surface of the base portion has an elonga-te slot running in the axial direction of the 0 tubular body when the securing~ element is in the securing QQ0 9 position.

0155. An article, according to any one of the preceding claims in which the base portion tapers circumferentially, 00010in opposite directions, to two edges. 00 a 0~ go 6. An article having a securing 41ement for securing together in a releasable manner an elongated, generally tubular body, of the article and a secondary, element adapted to be f itted and removed from the body by motion in a 0000 direction along the axis of the body, the body having an 00 exterior surface which is curved around the axis, the securing element comprising a pin projecting from an S00 *425 enlarged base portion which is adapted to abut when in use the exterior svirface of the curved body, and the pin be,4z~t adapted to project through a passageway in the oturved bod for engaging normally with the secondary element to secure the secondary element in the curved body, t~aid passageway for receiving the pin being non-circular about the axis along which the passageway extends through the curved body, and the securing element further comprizing an enlarged head on said pin and spaced from the enlarged base, the head being non-circular about the axis of said pin and being adapted to be inserted through said passage in a first relative rotational position and, after insertion being adapted to be rotated by torque applied to said enlarged, -9- 5597S/MS base portion to a securing position which is rotatably V displaced from said first position, the enlarged base and p enlarged head being shaped and dimensioned to engage respectively with the curved exterior surface and an inner surface of the body in frictional engagement sufficient to hold the securing element in the securing position and said pin further comprising an engagement portion for engaging the secondary element and securing it against removal from the curved body when the pin is in its securing position. 7. An article as claimed in Claim 6 and wherein the securing element is integrally formed of plastics material. 8. An article as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 and wherein the enlarged base portion with a generally part-cylindrical form, the surface thereof adapted to abut the curved body having a radius of curvature substantially equal to that of the cuirved body. _J19. An article as claimed in any one of Claim 6 to 8, and wherein the enlarged base portion has a large elongated slot in the outside surface of the enlarged base portion, the slot running in the axial direction of the tubular body when in, the securir', position and the enl6arqed base portion tapering to a thin edge in both directions nway from said slot and in a direction which is circumferential relative to the tubular body when in the se~yuring position. 10. An article as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and in L~he form of an electrical connector unit. 11. An article substantially as hereinbefore described with refererwe to the accompanying drawings. DATED t. is, 21st day of November 1988 UTILUX PTY. LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO. 357 S/~iS