CA1109130A - Electrical connector - Google Patents
Electrical connectorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1109130A CA1109130A CA319,453A CA319453A CA1109130A CA 1109130 A CA1109130 A CA 1109130A CA 319453 A CA319453 A CA 319453A CA 1109130 A CA1109130 A CA 1109130A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- wires
- housing
- mating
- face
- axially aligned
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 72
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 45
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000009422 external insulation Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000002788 crimping Methods 0.000 description 2
- 102100035683 Axin-2 Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 101700047552 Axin-2 Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 241000272470 Circus Species 0.000 description 1
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012212 insulator Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
- H01R12/50—Fixed connections
- H01R12/59—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
- H01R12/61—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures connecting to flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
- H01R12/613—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures connecting to flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures by means of interconnecting elements
- H01R12/616—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures connecting to flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures by means of interconnecting elements having contacts penetrating insulation for making contact with conductors, e.g. needle points
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
- H01R12/50—Fixed connections
- H01R12/59—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
- H01R12/62—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
- H01R12/70—Coupling devices
- H01R12/77—Coupling devices for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
- H01R13/502—Bases; Cases composed of different pieces
- H01R13/506—Bases; Cases composed of different pieces assembled by snap action of the parts
Landscapes
- Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
- Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)
Abstract
ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An electrical connector assembly (10), having one or more electrical contacts (110) mounted therein, each contact (110) in-cluding a forward mating end (112) and a rear portion (114) adapted to mate with an insulated electrical conductor (210) without requiring the preparation of the insulated electrical conductor (210) by removal of the external insulation (212). The electrical contact in the assembly includes a plurality of fine, axially aligned wires (114) at the rear portion of the contact, with each wire having an acutely angled end portion (118). The acutely angled end portions of the fine wires project through the insulation (212) of the insulated electrical conductor (210) into the central conductor (214) to pro-vide an electrical connection between the central (metallic) conduc-tor (214) which is located proximate to, and transverse of, the axially aligned wires. Preferably, the contact is mounted to a first housing (100) and the insulated electrical conductor (210) is mounted to a second housing (300) and means (150, 160, 350, 360) are provided to guide and secure said first and second housings together in proper alignment. Such housings may provide protection for the circuit connection between the contact wires (114) and the insulated conduc-tor (210) and provide strain relief for the insulated conductor (210).
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An electrical connector assembly (10), having one or more electrical contacts (110) mounted therein, each contact (110) in-cluding a forward mating end (112) and a rear portion (114) adapted to mate with an insulated electrical conductor (210) without requiring the preparation of the insulated electrical conductor (210) by removal of the external insulation (212). The electrical contact in the assembly includes a plurality of fine, axially aligned wires (114) at the rear portion of the contact, with each wire having an acutely angled end portion (118). The acutely angled end portions of the fine wires project through the insulation (212) of the insulated electrical conductor (210) into the central conductor (214) to pro-vide an electrical connection between the central (metallic) conduc-tor (214) which is located proximate to, and transverse of, the axially aligned wires. Preferably, the contact is mounted to a first housing (100) and the insulated electrical conductor (210) is mounted to a second housing (300) and means (150, 160, 350, 360) are provided to guide and secure said first and second housings together in proper alignment. Such housings may provide protection for the circuit connection between the contact wires (114) and the insulated conduc-tor (210) and provide strain relief for the insulated conductor (210).
Description
The present invention is related to and an i.mprovement to the invention described in U.S. Patent 3,725,844 issued April 3, 1973, to McKeown, et al for "Hermaphroditic Electrical Contact", assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
That patent is hereafter referred to as the "Brush Contact Patent".
. . :
. :
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to electrical connectors of the type including a mating electrical contact in electrical circuit relation~
ship with an insulated electrical conductor. More specifically, th.is invention relates to electrical contacts of the type wherein a plur-ality of fine wires are held together and axially aligned in a bundlewithin a sleeve and extending rearwardly therein. The axially aligned wires are urged through a portion of an insulated conductor at a proximate and transverse portion thereof with the fine wire piercing through the insulation of the conductor into the central conductor in an electrical circuit relationship t~erewith. The electrical contact includes a forward or mating element chosen from one of the many well known types, such.as a pin, a socket or those shown in the Brush Contact Patent.
~-. . , p~
BACKGROUNO ART
Electrical contacts of the type including a plurality of axially aligned fine wires held in a sleeve are old and Rnown in t~e prior art, as shown in the Brush Contact Patent. Suc~ a contact typically includes in the forward portion thereof a plurality of wires axially aligned, each wit~ an acutely angled forward end portion and held toward the rear of the wires within an electrically conducting holder by a crimp. An insulated electrical wire is coupled to the f;ne wires by removing the end portion of the insulation to expose a central conductor at the end thereof, inserting the exposed conductor into a rear portion of the conducting holder and crimping the sleeve to maintain the conductor in place and in electric circuit relation-ship with the sleeve.
Preparing the insulated conductor to make a prior art electrical contact is time consuming and adds manufacturing expense and steps.
Such a prior art electrical contact for a connector as disclosed in the Brush Contact Patent also requires an electrically conductin~ holder or sleeve to make an electrical path between the conductor at the rear and the forward fine wires of the contact. In some applications, a holder made from a non-conducting material or a low conductance material would be more advantageous, as a lower manufacturing cost might result by substituting a material such as plastic.
The process of individually inserting a conductor into each contact and separately crimping the contacts in place is also unde-sirable in that it requires handling of each conductor separately~
Since there are generally a number of electrical contacts in an electrical connector assembly, the handling and installing of each conductor separately can be expensive.
The foregoing and other limitations of the prior art pre-sents problems and costs in the manufacturing of electrical connector assemblies and contacts.
.
According to the present invention there is provided an electrical connector assembly having a housing with a ma~ing face and a second face with a passage extending from the mating face to the second face. A contact is mounted within the housing, the contact having a mating element extending in the direction of the mating face and a plurality of axially aligned wires, each having a tapered end portion and extending in the direction of the second face, the wires being in electrical circuit relationship with the mating element. An insulated wire has a central electrical conductor and a layer of insulation around the conductor, means is provided for securing the insulator wire to the housing with at least a portion of the wire transverse to the axially aligned wires, the transverse portion being impaled upon the axial wires with the wires extending into the central conductor so that the axially aligned wires extend through the insulation and into the central conductor of the insulated wire to connect the mating element and the central conductor of the insulated wire in electric circuit relationship.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of making an electrical connector assembly, the method including the steps of providing a housing with the mating face and a second face with a passage extending from the mating to the second face and mounting a contact within the housing passage including a mating end extending in the direction of the mating face and a plurality of axially aligned wires, each having a tapered end portion and extending in the direction of the second face, the wires ~, , .: . :
~Q~
being in electrical circuit relationship with the mating end.
The method further includes the step of securing an insulated wire having a central conductor and a layer of insulation around the conductor to the housing with at least a portion of wire being formed transverse to the axially aligned wires by impaling the insulated wires upon the axial wires with the wires extending through the insulation and into the central conductor so that an electrical conductor assembly with a mating end and the central conductor of the insulated wires in electrical circuit relationship is made. -The electrical connector assembly of the present invention is especially adapted to have a plurality of contacts arranged in spaced relationship, mounted in a first housing. A plurality of insulated wires, arranged in a similar spaced relationship and adapted to be mated simultaneously with each of the respective electrical contacts, is mounted to a second housing.
Although a plurality of individual wires could be mounted to the housing in the spaced relationship, the present invention is especially adapted for use with conductors arranged in a spaced ribbon.
In a specific embodiment of the invention, the first electrical connector assembly, described above, has a plurality of passages, with a contact mounted in each passage.
The contact includes a plurality of straight line wires, each with an acutely angled rear end portion and axially aligned to form a bundle. The acutely angled rear end portion of each of the wires is adapted to engage a transverse portion of an insulated electrical conductor by piercing through the .~,,-~. ~
_5_ :: . , . - ,: .~ ~
,: , - , .. ~- :, , :, -.: : . - .
~9~
insulation and engaging the central electrical conductor.
The transverse portion of the insulated conductor is held in place by the second housing.
The present invention allows the assembly of an insulated electrical wire to an electrical contact without requiring that the insulation first be removed from the conductor of that wire by being prepared to have an exposed portion.
The present invention also allows a plurality of electrically conductins wires to be easily and quickly assembled in electrical circuit relationship with a plurality of respective contacts, with said wires and contacts arranged in a spaced relationship.
It is a further object to provide in one embodiment of the present invention an electrical connector with a plurality of electrical contacts, each having a holder or sleeve for holding a plurality of axially aligned wires in which the sleeve or holder need not be electrically conducting.
In such embodiment, the axially aligned wires extend completely from the forward mating and through the sleeves and into the electrical conductor at the rear and provide a current path themselves, thereby eliminating the necessity of providing an electrically conducting sleeve to provide a current path.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel electrical connector assembly and a novel method of manufacturing the assembly which is economical and reliable.
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method of connecting an electrical contact to -Sa-an insulated electrical conductor.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention wlll be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of the following description and the accompanying drawings.
~ ,i -5b-.
.... .:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OT THE DRA~INGS
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is-a cross sectional v;ew of the electrical connector of FIGURE 1 looRing in the di~rection of the line 2.2.
FIGURE 3 ;s a partial cross sectional view of an assembled electrical connector of an alternate embodiment bf the present in-vention.
FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of the connector shown in FIGURE 3, the view looking in the direct view of the line 4.4 in FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a portion of the present invention, showing a housing captivating individual insulated conductors and providing strain-relief for the conductors.
FIGURE 6 is a top view of the housing shown in FIGURE 5.
FIGURE 7 is a partial cross sectional view of an electrical connector assembly (partially assembled) including the conductor termination of the present invention.
FIGURE 8 is a partial cross sectional view of an alternate partially-assembled embodiment of the present invention.
FIGURE 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of a mated pair of electrical connectors demonstrating one embodiment of the present invent;on.
. . .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 illustrates an electrical connector 10 of the present ~nvention. The connector 10 includes a first housing 100 and a multiple-conductor rib60n 20Q mounted to a second housing 300.
The first and the second housings are assembled together and are 5 mounted to a printed circuit board 400.
The multiple conductor ribbon 200 is a comnercially avail-able type such as is sold Ijy the 3M Company under the trademark Scotchflex brand. The rib~on 200 includes a plurality of individually insulated conductors 210 generally parallel to one another and 10 formed into a single piece with connecting material 211 between the conductors. The second housing 300 includes two parallel passageways 302, 304 surrounding a central tongue portion 310 of the housing 300.
The ribbon 200 extends through qne passageway 302 toward the first Kousing 100 and is wrapped around the lower edge (not shown~ of the tongue portion 310 proximate to the ~irst housing lQO. A portion of the rib~on 200 is inserted into the lower portion of the second passageway 304, not shown in FIGURE 1.
The first housing 100 includes a forward mating surface with contacts for mating with the circuit board 400 and a rear 20 surface 104 for connection with the electrical conductors 210 in the ribbon.
FIGUPE 2 shows a cross section view of the assembly of FIGU~E 1, looking along the line 2-2 and thereby showing the detail of the interior structure of the housings 100, 200 and the connection 25 of electri-cal contacts 110. Mounted to the first housing 100 is a plurality of electrical contacts 110, each in a separate passage 108.
The passages 108 are generally axially aligned and spacially separated from an adjacent passage by a uniform distance. Each electrical contact 110 includes a forward mating portion 112 and a 3Q rear portion including a plurality of axially aligned fine wires 114 which are held in place in a known manner, such as a crimp 116. The axially aligned wires each have a rear end portion having an acutely angled end surface 118. The acute angle on the end sur~ace 118 is preferable 30, although greater or lesser angles- could be used 35 adventageously to practice the present invention.
`~ -8- 3L~L~ L~C9 The fine ~I;res of the present invention make up a bundle which is generally disclosed in the Brush Contact Patent.
In one embodiment of the invention, seven strands o~ Berylium Copper wire, each having a diameter of .OOB inch, are used, although.other mater-ials, size of wires or stand count could be substituted without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
FIGURE 3 shows a partial cross sectional view of an alter-nate e~bodiment of the electrical connector 10 of the present invenr tion. The electrical connector contact 11~ includes a plurality of axially aligned wires 114 extendi:ng throu~h the contact from proxi-mate the forward mating surface 102 to the rear portion 104 at which the insulated conductors 210 are mounted. The first housing 100, the second ~ousing 300 and the ri~bon 200 of insulated conductors may be unchanged from those descri~ed in FIGURE 1. The contact llQ, which.
must retai:n the fine wires 11~ in axial and radial position, includes an inwardly crimped portion 116 to maintain the wires in the proper position.
FIGURE 4 shows a partial cross section side view of the connector 10 shown in FIGURE 3, looking alone the line 4-4. The insulated conductor 210 is shown in partial cross section, showing the insulation 212 and the central conductor 214 ~h.ich, although shown in its preferred embodiment as a plurality of strands, might be a single strand of various cross sectional shapes or configurations as - 25 are commercially available.
- The conductor 210 is shown extending through the one passage-way 302 of housing 300, over the tongue portion 310 and then into the second passageway 304, where the free end of the conductor 210 ter-minates.
3Q The rear end portions of the axially aligned wires 114 has acutely angled end surfaces 118 which pierce through the insulation 212 and into contact with the central conductor 214 of the insulated conductor 210. In this way the forward mating portion of the contact 110 is connected in electric circuit relationship with the central conductor 214 of the insulated conductor 210.
., , ,~.... .
... .. . ..
. . . . , . ` ~ . -_ g_ ~ ? ~3 FIGURES 5 and 6 show an alternate embodiment of the second housing 30~' adapted to use i-ndividually-mounted insulated wires 210'~
rather than a ribbon includin~ a plurality of wires.
In FIG~RE 5, a plurality of slots 302' is provided in the housing 300'~. The three slots on the right side of the housing con-ducting wires 210' ~ave been inserted while the remainder of the slots 302'~ remain vacant.
FIGURE 6 shows the housing 300'~ of FIGURE 5 from the top.
The housing 300'~ includes the plurality of parallel slots 302' and a second plurality of similarly spaced slots 304'. Between one slot 302' and a corresponding slot 304'~ is a transverse groove 310' for defining a position for the wire 210' when inserted between the slots.
FlGURE 7 shows the first housing 100 and the second housing 300 being assembled. The first housing 100 is provided with a pair of outwardly-extending triangular portions lSO, 150. Arms 350, 360 are yieldably mounted to the housing 30Q to allow outward deflection along ramps 351, 361 by the triangular portions 150, 160 respectively as the first and second housings are assembled together. When the housings are fully assembled, the triangular portion 150 is capti-vated between the surfaces 352, 353 on the arm 350 and the triangular portion 160 is captivated between the surfaces 362, 363 on the arm 360.
FIGURE 8 shows an alternative embodiment for securing the first housing 100 to the second housing 300. A screw hole is pro-vided in an end portion of each housing, through which a screw 500is placed. A nut 510 is threaded onto the screw 500 and tightened to bring the rear ends 116 of axially aligned wires 114 into the central conductor 214 of the insulated wire 210. Once the wires are brought in the conductor 214 by the tightening of the screw 500, a forward portion 380 of the housing 300 and a rear portion 180 of the housing 100 will be in contact and resist further tightening of the screw 500.
FIGURE 9 shows a mated electrical connector assembly 900 in which two connectors 910, 920 of the type shown in FIGURE 3 are mated.
The connector 910 includes a ribbon 912 of electrical conductors at the rear end thereof and forward mating contact 914 of the type des-cribed in the Brush Contact Patent. The connector 920 includes a .
.
ribbon 922 and forward mating contact 924 which are mated With the contact 914 which are mated with the ribbon 912. A locking mechanism including yielda~le triangular porti`ons 925, 926 mates with recepticle 915 to secure the Connectors 910, 920 together with Contacts 914, 924 S mated in electr;c circu;t relationship.
Other modifications to the systems of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the sp;rit o~ the present inyention as defined by the appended cla;ms.
O' ~ .
. . .
--, ~
That patent is hereafter referred to as the "Brush Contact Patent".
. . :
. :
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to electrical connectors of the type including a mating electrical contact in electrical circuit relation~
ship with an insulated electrical conductor. More specifically, th.is invention relates to electrical contacts of the type wherein a plur-ality of fine wires are held together and axially aligned in a bundlewithin a sleeve and extending rearwardly therein. The axially aligned wires are urged through a portion of an insulated conductor at a proximate and transverse portion thereof with the fine wire piercing through the insulation of the conductor into the central conductor in an electrical circuit relationship t~erewith. The electrical contact includes a forward or mating element chosen from one of the many well known types, such.as a pin, a socket or those shown in the Brush Contact Patent.
~-. . , p~
BACKGROUNO ART
Electrical contacts of the type including a plurality of axially aligned fine wires held in a sleeve are old and Rnown in t~e prior art, as shown in the Brush Contact Patent. Suc~ a contact typically includes in the forward portion thereof a plurality of wires axially aligned, each wit~ an acutely angled forward end portion and held toward the rear of the wires within an electrically conducting holder by a crimp. An insulated electrical wire is coupled to the f;ne wires by removing the end portion of the insulation to expose a central conductor at the end thereof, inserting the exposed conductor into a rear portion of the conducting holder and crimping the sleeve to maintain the conductor in place and in electric circuit relation-ship with the sleeve.
Preparing the insulated conductor to make a prior art electrical contact is time consuming and adds manufacturing expense and steps.
Such a prior art electrical contact for a connector as disclosed in the Brush Contact Patent also requires an electrically conductin~ holder or sleeve to make an electrical path between the conductor at the rear and the forward fine wires of the contact. In some applications, a holder made from a non-conducting material or a low conductance material would be more advantageous, as a lower manufacturing cost might result by substituting a material such as plastic.
The process of individually inserting a conductor into each contact and separately crimping the contacts in place is also unde-sirable in that it requires handling of each conductor separately~
Since there are generally a number of electrical contacts in an electrical connector assembly, the handling and installing of each conductor separately can be expensive.
The foregoing and other limitations of the prior art pre-sents problems and costs in the manufacturing of electrical connector assemblies and contacts.
.
According to the present invention there is provided an electrical connector assembly having a housing with a ma~ing face and a second face with a passage extending from the mating face to the second face. A contact is mounted within the housing, the contact having a mating element extending in the direction of the mating face and a plurality of axially aligned wires, each having a tapered end portion and extending in the direction of the second face, the wires being in electrical circuit relationship with the mating element. An insulated wire has a central electrical conductor and a layer of insulation around the conductor, means is provided for securing the insulator wire to the housing with at least a portion of the wire transverse to the axially aligned wires, the transverse portion being impaled upon the axial wires with the wires extending into the central conductor so that the axially aligned wires extend through the insulation and into the central conductor of the insulated wire to connect the mating element and the central conductor of the insulated wire in electric circuit relationship.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of making an electrical connector assembly, the method including the steps of providing a housing with the mating face and a second face with a passage extending from the mating to the second face and mounting a contact within the housing passage including a mating end extending in the direction of the mating face and a plurality of axially aligned wires, each having a tapered end portion and extending in the direction of the second face, the wires ~, , .: . :
~Q~
being in electrical circuit relationship with the mating end.
The method further includes the step of securing an insulated wire having a central conductor and a layer of insulation around the conductor to the housing with at least a portion of wire being formed transverse to the axially aligned wires by impaling the insulated wires upon the axial wires with the wires extending through the insulation and into the central conductor so that an electrical conductor assembly with a mating end and the central conductor of the insulated wires in electrical circuit relationship is made. -The electrical connector assembly of the present invention is especially adapted to have a plurality of contacts arranged in spaced relationship, mounted in a first housing. A plurality of insulated wires, arranged in a similar spaced relationship and adapted to be mated simultaneously with each of the respective electrical contacts, is mounted to a second housing.
Although a plurality of individual wires could be mounted to the housing in the spaced relationship, the present invention is especially adapted for use with conductors arranged in a spaced ribbon.
In a specific embodiment of the invention, the first electrical connector assembly, described above, has a plurality of passages, with a contact mounted in each passage.
The contact includes a plurality of straight line wires, each with an acutely angled rear end portion and axially aligned to form a bundle. The acutely angled rear end portion of each of the wires is adapted to engage a transverse portion of an insulated electrical conductor by piercing through the .~,,-~. ~
_5_ :: . , . - ,: .~ ~
,: , - , .. ~- :, , :, -.: : . - .
~9~
insulation and engaging the central electrical conductor.
The transverse portion of the insulated conductor is held in place by the second housing.
The present invention allows the assembly of an insulated electrical wire to an electrical contact without requiring that the insulation first be removed from the conductor of that wire by being prepared to have an exposed portion.
The present invention also allows a plurality of electrically conductins wires to be easily and quickly assembled in electrical circuit relationship with a plurality of respective contacts, with said wires and contacts arranged in a spaced relationship.
It is a further object to provide in one embodiment of the present invention an electrical connector with a plurality of electrical contacts, each having a holder or sleeve for holding a plurality of axially aligned wires in which the sleeve or holder need not be electrically conducting.
In such embodiment, the axially aligned wires extend completely from the forward mating and through the sleeves and into the electrical conductor at the rear and provide a current path themselves, thereby eliminating the necessity of providing an electrically conducting sleeve to provide a current path.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel electrical connector assembly and a novel method of manufacturing the assembly which is economical and reliable.
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method of connecting an electrical contact to -Sa-an insulated electrical conductor.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention wlll be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of the following description and the accompanying drawings.
~ ,i -5b-.
.... .:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OT THE DRA~INGS
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is-a cross sectional v;ew of the electrical connector of FIGURE 1 looRing in the di~rection of the line 2.2.
FIGURE 3 ;s a partial cross sectional view of an assembled electrical connector of an alternate embodiment bf the present in-vention.
FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of the connector shown in FIGURE 3, the view looking in the direct view of the line 4.4 in FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a portion of the present invention, showing a housing captivating individual insulated conductors and providing strain-relief for the conductors.
FIGURE 6 is a top view of the housing shown in FIGURE 5.
FIGURE 7 is a partial cross sectional view of an electrical connector assembly (partially assembled) including the conductor termination of the present invention.
FIGURE 8 is a partial cross sectional view of an alternate partially-assembled embodiment of the present invention.
FIGURE 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of a mated pair of electrical connectors demonstrating one embodiment of the present invent;on.
. . .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 illustrates an electrical connector 10 of the present ~nvention. The connector 10 includes a first housing 100 and a multiple-conductor rib60n 20Q mounted to a second housing 300.
The first and the second housings are assembled together and are 5 mounted to a printed circuit board 400.
The multiple conductor ribbon 200 is a comnercially avail-able type such as is sold Ijy the 3M Company under the trademark Scotchflex brand. The rib~on 200 includes a plurality of individually insulated conductors 210 generally parallel to one another and 10 formed into a single piece with connecting material 211 between the conductors. The second housing 300 includes two parallel passageways 302, 304 surrounding a central tongue portion 310 of the housing 300.
The ribbon 200 extends through qne passageway 302 toward the first Kousing 100 and is wrapped around the lower edge (not shown~ of the tongue portion 310 proximate to the ~irst housing lQO. A portion of the rib~on 200 is inserted into the lower portion of the second passageway 304, not shown in FIGURE 1.
The first housing 100 includes a forward mating surface with contacts for mating with the circuit board 400 and a rear 20 surface 104 for connection with the electrical conductors 210 in the ribbon.
FIGUPE 2 shows a cross section view of the assembly of FIGU~E 1, looking along the line 2-2 and thereby showing the detail of the interior structure of the housings 100, 200 and the connection 25 of electri-cal contacts 110. Mounted to the first housing 100 is a plurality of electrical contacts 110, each in a separate passage 108.
The passages 108 are generally axially aligned and spacially separated from an adjacent passage by a uniform distance. Each electrical contact 110 includes a forward mating portion 112 and a 3Q rear portion including a plurality of axially aligned fine wires 114 which are held in place in a known manner, such as a crimp 116. The axially aligned wires each have a rear end portion having an acutely angled end surface 118. The acute angle on the end sur~ace 118 is preferable 30, although greater or lesser angles- could be used 35 adventageously to practice the present invention.
`~ -8- 3L~L~ L~C9 The fine ~I;res of the present invention make up a bundle which is generally disclosed in the Brush Contact Patent.
In one embodiment of the invention, seven strands o~ Berylium Copper wire, each having a diameter of .OOB inch, are used, although.other mater-ials, size of wires or stand count could be substituted without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
FIGURE 3 shows a partial cross sectional view of an alter-nate e~bodiment of the electrical connector 10 of the present invenr tion. The electrical connector contact 11~ includes a plurality of axially aligned wires 114 extendi:ng throu~h the contact from proxi-mate the forward mating surface 102 to the rear portion 104 at which the insulated conductors 210 are mounted. The first housing 100, the second ~ousing 300 and the ri~bon 200 of insulated conductors may be unchanged from those descri~ed in FIGURE 1. The contact llQ, which.
must retai:n the fine wires 11~ in axial and radial position, includes an inwardly crimped portion 116 to maintain the wires in the proper position.
FIGURE 4 shows a partial cross section side view of the connector 10 shown in FIGURE 3, looking alone the line 4-4. The insulated conductor 210 is shown in partial cross section, showing the insulation 212 and the central conductor 214 ~h.ich, although shown in its preferred embodiment as a plurality of strands, might be a single strand of various cross sectional shapes or configurations as - 25 are commercially available.
- The conductor 210 is shown extending through the one passage-way 302 of housing 300, over the tongue portion 310 and then into the second passageway 304, where the free end of the conductor 210 ter-minates.
3Q The rear end portions of the axially aligned wires 114 has acutely angled end surfaces 118 which pierce through the insulation 212 and into contact with the central conductor 214 of the insulated conductor 210. In this way the forward mating portion of the contact 110 is connected in electric circuit relationship with the central conductor 214 of the insulated conductor 210.
., , ,~.... .
... .. . ..
. . . . , . ` ~ . -_ g_ ~ ? ~3 FIGURES 5 and 6 show an alternate embodiment of the second housing 30~' adapted to use i-ndividually-mounted insulated wires 210'~
rather than a ribbon includin~ a plurality of wires.
In FIG~RE 5, a plurality of slots 302' is provided in the housing 300'~. The three slots on the right side of the housing con-ducting wires 210' ~ave been inserted while the remainder of the slots 302'~ remain vacant.
FIGURE 6 shows the housing 300'~ of FIGURE 5 from the top.
The housing 300'~ includes the plurality of parallel slots 302' and a second plurality of similarly spaced slots 304'. Between one slot 302' and a corresponding slot 304'~ is a transverse groove 310' for defining a position for the wire 210' when inserted between the slots.
FlGURE 7 shows the first housing 100 and the second housing 300 being assembled. The first housing 100 is provided with a pair of outwardly-extending triangular portions lSO, 150. Arms 350, 360 are yieldably mounted to the housing 30Q to allow outward deflection along ramps 351, 361 by the triangular portions 150, 160 respectively as the first and second housings are assembled together. When the housings are fully assembled, the triangular portion 150 is capti-vated between the surfaces 352, 353 on the arm 350 and the triangular portion 160 is captivated between the surfaces 362, 363 on the arm 360.
FIGURE 8 shows an alternative embodiment for securing the first housing 100 to the second housing 300. A screw hole is pro-vided in an end portion of each housing, through which a screw 500is placed. A nut 510 is threaded onto the screw 500 and tightened to bring the rear ends 116 of axially aligned wires 114 into the central conductor 214 of the insulated wire 210. Once the wires are brought in the conductor 214 by the tightening of the screw 500, a forward portion 380 of the housing 300 and a rear portion 180 of the housing 100 will be in contact and resist further tightening of the screw 500.
FIGURE 9 shows a mated electrical connector assembly 900 in which two connectors 910, 920 of the type shown in FIGURE 3 are mated.
The connector 910 includes a ribbon 912 of electrical conductors at the rear end thereof and forward mating contact 914 of the type des-cribed in the Brush Contact Patent. The connector 920 includes a .
.
ribbon 922 and forward mating contact 924 which are mated With the contact 914 which are mated with the ribbon 912. A locking mechanism including yielda~le triangular porti`ons 925, 926 mates with recepticle 915 to secure the Connectors 910, 920 together with Contacts 914, 924 S mated in electr;c circu;t relationship.
Other modifications to the systems of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the sp;rit o~ the present inyention as defined by the appended cla;ms.
O' ~ .
. . .
--, ~
Claims (10)
1. An electrical connector assembly comprising;
a housing with a mating face and a second face with a passage extending from said mating face to said second face;
a contact mounted within said housing, said contact having a mating element extending in the direction of said mating face and a plurality of axially aligned wires, each having a tapered end portion and extending in the direction of the second face, said wires being in electrical circuit relationship with said mating element;
an insulated wire having a central electrical conduc-tor and a layer of insulation around said conductor;
means for securing said insulated wire to said housing with at least a portion of said wire transverse to said axially aligned wires, said transverse portion impaled upon said axial wires with the wires extending into the central conductor whereby the axi-ally aligned wires extend through the insulation and into the central conductor of the insulated wire to connect the mating element and the central conductor of the insulated wire in electric circuit relation-ship.
a housing with a mating face and a second face with a passage extending from said mating face to said second face;
a contact mounted within said housing, said contact having a mating element extending in the direction of said mating face and a plurality of axially aligned wires, each having a tapered end portion and extending in the direction of the second face, said wires being in electrical circuit relationship with said mating element;
an insulated wire having a central electrical conduc-tor and a layer of insulation around said conductor;
means for securing said insulated wire to said housing with at least a portion of said wire transverse to said axially aligned wires, said transverse portion impaled upon said axial wires with the wires extending into the central conductor whereby the axi-ally aligned wires extend through the insulation and into the central conductor of the insulated wire to connect the mating element and the central conductor of the insulated wire in electric circuit relation-ship.
2. An electrical connector of the type described in Claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises a second housing matable with said housing, said second housing having a member with a surface transverse to the axially aligned wires upon mating, said member with the connector housing over which the wire is wrapped and said second housing including means for securing said second housing to said first housing.
3. An electrical connector of the type described in Claim 2 wherein the transverse portion of said insulated wire is approxi-mately perpendicular to the axially aligned wires.
4. An electrical connector of the type described in Claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of contacts located in spaced relation-ship along the mating face and extending to the second face in spaced relationship; and wherein there are a plurality of insulated wires ar-ranged in the same spaced relationship as said contacts, said wires disposed in a single ribbon structure for mating with the respective contacts.
5. An electrical connector of the type described in Claim 2 wherein there are a plurality of contacts located in spaced rela-tionship along the mating face and extending to the second face in spaced relationship; and wherein there are a plurality of insulated wires ar-ranged in the same spaced relationship as said contacts, said wires disposed in a single ribbon structure for mating with the respective contacts.
6. An electrical connector of the type described in Claim 1 wherein said mating face is a forward face of the connector and said second face is the rear face.
7. An electrical connector of the type described in Claim 1 wherein the mating element consists of the other end of the axially aligned wires, with said other ends of each axially aligned wire having a tapered end portion.
8. A first electrical connector assembly adapted for mating with a second electrical connector assembly comprising:
a housing having a front face and a rear face and a plurality of axially extending passages extending in spaced relation-ship between said front and rear faces;
a plurality of electrical contacts mounted within said housing, each in a respective passage, each contact having a forward portion adapted to mate with a portion of said second electrical connector assembly and a bundle of axially aligned wires, each of said wires having an acutely angled end surface and extending in the direc-tion of the rear face;
a plurality of insulated wires, each arranged in the spaced relationship and having a central conductor and coaxial layer of insulation around the conductor;
means for securing each of said plurality of insulated wires to said housing for mating with a respective bundle of axially aligned wires, each of said insulated wires including at least a portion oriented transverse to the axially aligned wires and extending through the layer of insulation and into the central conductor, whereby the central conductor of each insulated wire and the mating element are connected in electric circuit relationship.
a housing having a front face and a rear face and a plurality of axially extending passages extending in spaced relation-ship between said front and rear faces;
a plurality of electrical contacts mounted within said housing, each in a respective passage, each contact having a forward portion adapted to mate with a portion of said second electrical connector assembly and a bundle of axially aligned wires, each of said wires having an acutely angled end surface and extending in the direc-tion of the rear face;
a plurality of insulated wires, each arranged in the spaced relationship and having a central conductor and coaxial layer of insulation around the conductor;
means for securing each of said plurality of insulated wires to said housing for mating with a respective bundle of axially aligned wires, each of said insulated wires including at least a portion oriented transverse to the axially aligned wires and extending through the layer of insulation and into the central conductor, whereby the central conductor of each insulated wire and the mating element are connected in electric circuit relationship.
9. An electrical connector of the type described in Claim 8 wherein the mating element consists of the other end of the axially aligned wires, with said other ends of each axially aligned wire having a tapered end portion.
10. A method of making an electrical connector assembly, the steps of the method comprising:
providing a housing with a mating face and a second face with a passage extending from said mating face to said second face;
mounting a contact within said housing passage inclu-ding a mating end extending in the direction of said mating face and a plurality of axially aligned wires, each having a tapered end por-tion and extending in the direction of the second face, said wires being in electrical circuit relationship with said mating end;
securing an insulated wire having a central conductor and a layer of insulation around said conductor to said housing with at least a portion of said wire being formed transverse to said axially aligned wires, by impaling the insulated wires upon said axial wires with the wires extending through the insulation and into the central conductor, whereby an electrical connector assembly with the mating end and the central conductor of the insulated wire in electric circuit relationship is made.
providing a housing with a mating face and a second face with a passage extending from said mating face to said second face;
mounting a contact within said housing passage inclu-ding a mating end extending in the direction of said mating face and a plurality of axially aligned wires, each having a tapered end por-tion and extending in the direction of the second face, said wires being in electrical circuit relationship with said mating end;
securing an insulated wire having a central conductor and a layer of insulation around said conductor to said housing with at least a portion of said wire being formed transverse to said axially aligned wires, by impaling the insulated wires upon said axial wires with the wires extending through the insulation and into the central conductor, whereby an electrical connector assembly with the mating end and the central conductor of the insulated wire in electric circuit relationship is made.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US87445178A | 1978-02-02 | 1978-02-02 | |
| US874,451 | 1992-04-27 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1109130A true CA1109130A (en) | 1981-09-15 |
Family
ID=25363806
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA319,453A Expired CA1109130A (en) | 1978-02-02 | 1979-01-11 | Electrical connector |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS54116690A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR7900556A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1109130A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2903490A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2416567A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2013991B (en) |
| IN (1) | IN153185B (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1109894B (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2110886B (en) * | 1981-12-01 | 1985-12-11 | Bunker Ramo | Electrical connector member |
| JPS6255880A (en) * | 1985-09-03 | 1987-03-11 | 株式会社 潤工社 | Connector for flat cable |
| USD1004124S1 (en) * | 2020-12-11 | 2023-11-07 | Orasure Technologies, Inc. | Developer solution vial |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3414867A (en) * | 1967-04-13 | 1968-12-03 | Electro Connective Systems Inc | Termination of cable |
| US3602875A (en) * | 1969-07-18 | 1971-08-31 | Texas Instruments Inc | Connector for use between integrated circuit units and circuit boards |
| US3696319A (en) * | 1970-08-20 | 1972-10-03 | Berg Electronics Inc | Flat conductor cable connector |
| US4025141A (en) * | 1976-01-28 | 1977-05-24 | E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Electrical connector block |
-
1979
- 1979-01-11 CA CA319,453A patent/CA1109130A/en not_active Expired
- 1979-01-15 GB GB7901407A patent/GB2013991B/en not_active Expired
- 1979-01-26 FR FR7902068A patent/FR2416567A1/en active Granted
- 1979-01-30 DE DE19792903490 patent/DE2903490A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1979-01-30 JP JP883979A patent/JPS54116690A/en active Pending
- 1979-01-30 BR BR7900556A patent/BR7900556A/en unknown
- 1979-02-01 IT IT19782/79A patent/IT1109894B/en active
- 1979-09-24 IN IN675/DEL/79A patent/IN153185B/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS54116690A (en) | 1979-09-11 |
| GB2013991A (en) | 1979-08-15 |
| BR7900556A (en) | 1979-08-28 |
| IN153185B (en) | 1984-06-09 |
| FR2416567A1 (en) | 1979-08-31 |
| IT1109894B (en) | 1985-12-23 |
| GB2013991B (en) | 1982-06-23 |
| IT7919782A0 (en) | 1979-02-01 |
| DE2903490A1 (en) | 1979-08-09 |
| FR2416567B1 (en) | 1982-11-19 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |