DE2204924A1 - Electrical connector assembly - Google Patents

Description

Dr. ph «. G. B. HAGEN

Patent attorney

MUNICH 71 (Solin)

Franz-Hals-Strasse 21

Telephone 796213

AMP 3OO9 Munich, February 1, 1972

NS

AMP Incorporated
Eisenhower Boulevard
Harrisburg, Pa., V. St. A.

Electrical connector assembly

Priorities: February 12 _o I97I and 12 July, 1971; V. St. Aj No. 114 793 and No. I6I 8O9

In the applicant's German patent specification 1 297 729 , an electrical connector arrangement is described for connecting an electrical supply line to an electrical conductor on a plate, the connector on an insulating block with a groove formed in one side for receiving the plate and with a Slot in the block transverse to and intersecting the trough from the side of the block in which the trough is formed and from an adjacent side of the block; a portion of the slot forms a first shoulder and a tab-type connector is received in the slot and has contact means extending into the channel and engaging the panel when the panel is inserted into the channel, the connector having a web portion and an elongated conductor connection portion and a tongue protruding from the web portion and having an end portion which cooperates with the first shoulder and prevents the terminal from being pulled out of the slot.

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Bayeriidie Vereinsbank Mündien 820993

AMP 3OO9 - 2 -

For example, if the lead is pulled to detach the connector assembly from the plate, the lead will be released acting pull-out force is transferred to the tongue and drives it against the first shoulder, so that the tongue possibly kinked and thus useless for the purpose assigned to it.

In the known arrangement, the tongue is also from the slot through which the terminal is inserted into the block becomes, inaccessible, so that the wall of the block opposite the wall in which the channel is formed must have an opening for receiving a tool for the purpose of flexing the tongue with respect to the shoulder, so that the connector can be removed from the block kaniio This makes it difficult to form the block. But what More importantly, the channel and slot are formed so that the block can only be opened through the use of moldings can be shaped that are moved at right angles with respect to each other »

With this known arrangement there is also the possibility that the connector will not be sufficiently inserted into the slot is used and the tongue does not engage properly locking behind the shoulder, so that when you insert the Plate, the connector may become dislodged from the block.

An electrical connector assembly of the aforementioned Kind is characterized according to the invention in that the tongue is substantially at a right angle to the Extends connecting part which is connected to the web part via a stop portion which extends transversely to the plane of the web portion extends, and that the terminal is inserted into the slot in the same direction as that Circuit board is inserted into the channel, with the stop part on a second school bounded by the slot

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amp 3009-3-2204324

ter is directed to and the tongue extends to the first shoulder, which is transverse to the second shoulder.

Extraction forces acting on the supply line only serve to to press the stop part of the terminal against the second shoulder, and are therefore not transferred to the tongue.

Another advantage of the embodiment of the invention is that, even if the tongue does not initially snap properly behind the second shoulder, the plate, once inserted into the channel, has a tendency to drive the terminal further into the slot so that the tongue is behind the shoulder clicks into place. As will be described, the connector block by means of the simplest molding equipment can be made, namely, having a shape whose parts linearly toward and be removed from the block further away from each other and are not moved toward each other at a right angle _o The terminal can by means of a Tool that is inserted into the slot in the same direction as the plate, and therefore no additional recess is required to receive the tool.

Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings. From the figures demonstrate;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a connector arrangement according to the invention, which is mated with an edge portion of a printed circuit board;

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AMP 3OO9

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view, partially in section, of a portion of the connector assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of an insulating block of the connector assembly; with parts of the block being shown offset and with perforated pins for use in the manufacture of the block are shown;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of an electrical connector arrangement according to a second embodiment the invention;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view, partially in section, of a portion of the connector assembly of Figure 4;

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a strip of metal stampings which are used in the manufacture of the connecting terminal Figures 4 and 5 are used;

FIG. 7 a perspective view of a first tool, used with the connector assembly of Figures 4 and 5;

Figures are partial sections of the connecting terminal according to S ¹ A, 8B, FIGS. 4 and 5, the use of the tool and 8C tool according to FIG. 7 being illustrated;

FIG. 9 is a section of a portion of a terminal of the connector assembly of FIG and 51 wherein the clamp is in contact with a printed circuit only partially shown Circuit board is located; and

FIG. 10 shows a partial section of part of the connector arrangement according to FIGS. 4 and 5, wherein the application a second tool is illustrated.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 to 3. As Figure 1 shows an electrical connector assembly 2 connected to the edge portion of a printed circuit board 4 on which there are printed conductors 6, the extend to the edge of the plate. The connector assembly has two main components, namely an im

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Section generally L-shaped block 3 of nylon or a other electrically insulating moldable material and a plurality of tab-type terminals 5 contained therein are included. The block 3 has an elongated channel 10 which extends inwardly from one side 8 and the edge portion of the plate 4 receives.

A plurality of longitudinally spaced slots 20 provided in the block extend from side 8 and from a side 22 adjacent to it inward. The slots 20 have, measured from the side 8, a depth which is greater than the depth of the channel 10, so that they receive the terminals 5. Cut the slots 20 the channel 10, and from the bottom l6 of the channel 10, the slots enlarge upwards (according to FIG. 2) with respect to their width and length at 18, the slots 20 being delimited by narrow walls 19. Root parts 26 of the slots 20 are widened in the longitudinal direction to the left according to FIG. 2 and delimit a shoulder 28, that of the adjacent one Side 22 of the block is opposite, and a shoulder 29, which is from the direction of insertion of the terminal 5 and the printed circuit board 4 is directed away. The root parts of the slots 20 outside the channel 10 are at 30 further enlarged to accommodate pressing sections of the connection terminals 5

As Figure 2 shows, each terminal 5 'has the punched and formed spring metal, a web portion 40 with a conductor clamp 36 and an insulation clamp 38, with the clamps extending outward from one edge of the web part and with the conductor pressing clamp 36 to the electrically conductive core of an insulated Conductor 34 and the clamp 38 to the insulation of the Head 3 ^ were pressed. One partially from the bridge part 40 knocked out locking tongue 42 extends at a right angle to the pressure clamps of the terminal ο The web part 40 and the pressure clamps are

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arranged offset with respect to one another and are separated from one another by a flat section 41 of an expensive springy contact arms 46 which are made in one piece with the web part 40. The arms 46 have outwardly bent portions 48 which form a V-shaped opening for receiving the printed circuit board 4, the width of which is slightly greater than that of the opening between the arms 46, so that the arms 46 bend slightly to receive the inserted edge section of the circuit board. It should be noted that the entire width of each arm engages the plate so that an area of optimal surface contact is achieved between the arms and the associated conductor of the circuit board = the block 3 has a circular mounting hole 49 at each end so that the Block can be attached to a base or other pad 53 by means of screws 51 _{or the like}

In operation, the terminals 5 are first pressed against the conductors 34, so that an external connection with the printed Circuit board is effected, and then the terminals 5 are inserted into the block from the side 8, d. H. in the same direction as the printed circuit board and on the side of the block 3j the die printed circuit board. During insertion, the tongue 42 of each terminal is flexed inwardly, when it is passed through the narrow part of the slot 20, but when entering the enlarged root section 26 of the slot springs the tongue outward and moves into position just below the shoulder 29 »whereby a pulling out of the connection terminal in the opposite direction, i. H. away from side 8 of the block, is prevented. In addition, the flat portion 4l of the terminal forms a stop surface that fits well on the Shoulder 28, which extends at a right angle to shoulder 29, rests and resists forces that in act on the conductors 34 in a direction away from the side 22 of the block. 209835/0765

amp 3009 -7- 220A924

When the terminals 5 have been inserted, the Ends 48 of the arms are directed towards the open end of the channel 10 and between the walls I9 and in the enlarged ones Slot parts l8 are positioned, the ends of the arms 46 from the sides of the sections l8 have a slight Distance so that when the plate 4 is inserted, the arms 46 can be spread apart by the plate. A single terminal 5 can be removed from the block simply by inserting the blade of a tool into the enlarged root portion 26 of the respective slot 20 is inserted and the tongue 42 is pressed in so that this comes free from the shoulder 29 and lies within the web part 40 when the clamp through the narrow section of the slot 20 is guided.

The block 3 can be made by using a simple two-piece and bi-directional mold can be molded at a low cost.

In Figure 3, the created with the mold block 3 is shown broken away, with a portion 3 ¹ is rotated clockwise by 90 with respect to the actual block to illustrate the various portions of the groove 10 and the intersecting them slots 20th Figure 3 also shows the use of two pin devices 60 and 62 of the mold (only partially shown) which cooperate with a two-part die, not shown, the parts of which move together with assemblies 60 and 62 in opposite directions, such as arrows 64 and 66 demonstrate. This enables compression molding in a longitudinally moving mold, in which the two mold parts move towards and away from each other along a straight path, with all the shoulders and the other recesses of the block 3 being formed by the pin devices which are in the form individual units assigned to each molded part are present. In Figure 3

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the piercing device 62 is in the correct orientation shown in relation to the actual block, while the block part 3 'has been rotated by 90 °, as already was said. Portions 68 of the upper piercer 60 form the channel 10 in the side 8 of the block, and one into itself outwardly and downwardly extending portion 70 of the device 60 forms the shoulders 28. A narrow side extension 72 of the device 60 cooperates with the sections 68 and 70 together to form the slot 20, while a portion 74 forms the enlarged portion 30 of the root portion of the slot 20 shapes.

The device 62 has rectangular stop sections 76 and 78 which form the shoulder 29 and the enlarged root section, respectively 26 of each slot 20.

Reference is now made to FIGS. K to 10. As the figures show ¹ I and 5, an electrical connector assembly 2 ¹ is reacted with an edge portion of a printed circuit board (a fragment of which is indicated in Figure 9 with 73) together, the circuit board with the plate k is the same and in a groove 10 ' is used, which ^{extends inwardly from one side 8 1 of} an L-shaped block 3 'of nylon or other moldable electrically insulating material. A plurality of tab-type terminals 5 'received in longitudinally spaced slots 20' in block 3 'extend ^{inwardly from side 8 1} and an adjacent side 22'. The slots 20 ', which are delimited by narrow walls 19', have, ^{measured from the side 8 1} , a depth which is greater than the depth of the channel 10 ', so that the connection terminals 5 ¹ can be received. The slots 20 * intersect the channel 10 · and are ^{widened with respect to their width and length at 18 1} from the bottom surface 16 'of the channel 10 · upwards. Root portions 26 of the slots 20 are

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amp 3009-9-22Q4S24

to the left in FIG. 4 in the longitudinal direction and delimit a shoulder 28 'which lies opposite the adjacent side 22 of the block, and a shoulder 29' which extends from the direction of insertion of the terminals 5 ¹ and the printed circuit board, which from side 8 ^{1 of} the block enters, is directed away. Root parts of the slots 20 'that lie outside the channel 10' are widened at 3O 'to accommodate the pressing force of the connection terminals 5'.

As Figure 6 shows, the terminals 5 'are made of spring metal stampings 64 shaped. A carrier strip 60 connecting the diecuts 64 has holes 62 with the aid of which a metal strip through a staged die forming machine was performed, in which the diecuts 64 were produced. The diecuts 64 are with the perforated strip connected via webs 68. Locking tabs 42 · for the connection terminals 5 'are provided without reducing the amount of time required to create the individual terminals from the strip of the metal required for punching. Each tongue 42 'is therefore formed from the material which lies between the sections of the respective adjacent diecuts intended for forming the contact arms 46 '.

Each terminal 5 'has a web 42', and from one At the edge of the web part, a conductor pressure clamp 36 'and an insulation pressure clamp 38' extend outward, with the former to the electrically conductive core of an insulated conductor 34 ″ and the latter to the insulation of the conductor 34 'are pressed ο

In each terminal 5 ¹ , the tongue 42 'is made in one piece with the web part 4θ · and extends outwardly from an edge 70 of the web part and is bent around a line 72 of the die 64 which is parallel with the edge 70 and in line with this runs. In Figure 6 correspond

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the reference numerals those with which the finished molded terminal 5 'is designated, with the exception of the above-mentioned reference numeral 72'. The tongue 42 ′ extends upward between the arms 46 ′ and extends obliquely away from the web part 40. The web part 40 and the pressure clamps are arranged laterally offset with respect to one another and are separated from one another by a flat section 41 of one of the contact arms 46 ', the contact arms 46 being made in one piece with the web part 40' and extending from opposite sides thereof The arms 46 have outwardly bent end portions 48 which delimit a V-shaped opening for receiving the printed circuit board 73 (FIG. 9), and the end portions have contact protrusions 71 which engage printed conductors of the circuit board 73 (not shown). The tongue 42 is much longer and therefore stronger and more durable than the tongue 42 of the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3. The tongue 42 'ends in an enlarged head 74 which widens towards its free end and a pair of shoulders 76 forms, one on each side of a rectangular nose 78 which is bent inwardly from the head 74 at a right angle and is coplanar with the shoulders 76.

The block 3 ¹ has circular holes 49 'by means of which the block is attached to a base or other support, not shown. The block 3 'differs from the block 3 described above in that it has a notch 80 extending from the bottom 16' of the channel 10 * to the shoulder 29 *, so that an arm 86 of an extraction tool 82 (FIGS. 7 and 8A- 8C) can pass the nose 78 of the tongue 42 * after it has been inserted in the same direction as the printed circuit board 73 so that removing a clip 5 'from its slot 20 * from the same side as the clip and the plate is inserted, is facilitated.

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After pressing against the conductor, the terminals 5 ^{1 are} in the block 3 ¹ from the side 8 ', ie. in the direction of insertion of the printed circuit board. As a result of the enlarged head 74, the tongue 42 'of each clamp 5' flexes inwardly, ie towards the web portion 40 ', as it moves through the narrow portion of the slot 20 upon entering the enlarged portion 26' of the With the slot, however, the tongue 42 springs outwardly and moves into a position such that the shoulders 76 lie immediately below the shoulder 29 *, thereby resisting pulling out of the connector. The flat section 41 'of the terminal forms a stop which rests well against the shoulder 28 and withstands forces acting on the conductors 3' in a direction away from the side 22 'of the block.

The block 3 'can be compression molded in the same simple manner wexlen like block 3 of the execution of Figures 1-3

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8A-8C the extraction tool 82 is described. The tool 82 is formed from Strexfen-shaped spring material, which is bent is that a loop-shaped handle 84 is formed with a first arm 86 and a second arm 88. Of the Arm 86 is bent over most of its length to an L-shaped cross-section and has a right-angled guide section 90 and ends in a rearwardly bent one Tip 92, the free edge 94 of which forms a stop surface. A fixed L-shaped stop 96 extends across the guide member 90 and is inserted in a notch 98 in an edge 100 of the Arnes 88 added. The arm 88 is rotated at 102 so that it is parallel to the guide part 90 and the-? sem is adjacent. The end portion 104 of the arm 88 terminates in a chamfered cam surface IO6. Of the Handle 84 is used to preload the arm 88 so that in the relaxed position of the arm 88 its tip 104 'is directly

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bar above (in Figure 7) the edge 9k . When the handle 8k is grasped and squeezed, the arm 88

in relation to .
axially / on the arm whether to be moved uin a distance that is limited by the notch 98 and the stop 96.

As FIG. 8A shows, a connection terminal 5 ¹ lies in dom block 3 ¹ within the section L.6 · of the corresponding slot 20 ', the nose 78 of the connection terminal abutting ^{against the shoulder 29' and the tongue k'd 1} following the connection terminal extends upwardly and outwardly inclined, d _o h. of the web part ^ to 'of the terminal 5 ¹ weighed. The tip 92 of the arm 86 of the tool 82 is guided (FIG. 8B) into the slot 20 'and is inserted ^{between the web part kO 1} and the tongue k2 * until it extends well beyond the nose "(6. If if the handle oil is in the relaxed state, the tip IO6 of the arm 88 is directed inwardly with respect to the tip 92 of the arm 86. However, if the arm 86 is between the tongue '± 2' and the web part ΊΟ ¹ below abuts, the handle Sk is compressed, so that the edge IO6 engages the tongue 42 'and those to be pressed onto the web portion kO · of the terminal 5 ^1, so that the nose 78 from underneath the shoulder ^29! moved away and in this way the clamp 5 ¹ 'is released The edge of the section 104 of the arm 88, which is directed towards the arm 86, holds the tongue k'A * in the bent position (Figure 8C) parallel to the web part ^ O ¹ , and at Withdrawal of the tool, the edge 9k of the part 92 of the arm 86 engages the lower part te of the nose 78 of the tongue k'2. ¹ so that the terminal 5 ^{1 is} pulled out with the tool 82 to agree.

Figure 10 illustrates a method of using a

simple, only one arm tool I92 for Pull out the connector when the side of the block, which is opposite to the side receiving the printed circuit board is easily accessible. The tool 192, from only part of which is shown has a single, through

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a sheet engaging arm 188 is formed with a recess 190 and terminates at its upper (in Figure 10) end at an inclined cam edge 206, the k2 at the nose of the tongue and the nose ^78% of pushes below the shoulder 29 '. One

continued movement of the tool 192 upward in Figure 10 causes the terminal 5 ¹ to be pushed up and out of the slot £ 0 '.

Claims;

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Claims (1)

Patent claims ü che ! ^ Electrical verb in the arrangement for connecting an electrical lead to an electrical conductor on a plate, consisting of an insulating block, in one side of which a groove for receiving the circuit board is formed, with a slot in the block transverse to the groove and extending intersecting from the side of the block in which the channel is formed and from an adjacent side of the block and with part of the slot forming a first shoulder, and from a tab-type connector received in the slot and extending into the channel Contact means for engaging the circuit board when it is inserted into the channel, the terminal having a web part, an elongated conductor connection part and a tongue, the latter protruding from the web part and having an end portion which cooperates with the first shoulder and a pulling out of the Connector from the slot prevents dad characterized by that the tongue (42; 42 ») extends essentially at a right angle to the connecting part (36; 36 ¹ ) which is connected to the web part (40; 40 ') via a stop section (4lj 4l ·) which extends transversely to the plane of the web part (40 ; 40 ') and that the connecting terminal (5 »5') is inserted into the slot (20 | 20 ·) in the same direction as the circuit board (4; 73) is inserted into the channel (10; 10 ·) the stop part (4l; 4l ·) ■ is directed towards a second shoulder (28 ·, 28 ») delimited by the slot (20; 20 *) and the tongue (42; 42 ·) is directed towards the first Shoulder (29; 29 ") extends transversely to the second shoulder (28; 28"). 2 · Connector arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting terminal (5; 5 ¹ ) has a pair of flat arms (46; 46 ¹ ) for receiving the 209835/0765 Circuit board, the arms extending in the same direction from the ends of opposite side walls (41; 4l ') of the web portion (40; 4θ ·), and that the slot (20; 20') for receiving the arms (46; 46 ^s ) is widened on each side of the channel (10; 1O ^1). 3. Connector arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the end section of the tongue (42 ¹ ) has the shape of a nose (78) which extends transversely to the rest of the tongue (42 ¹ ) and between the side walls (4l) of the web part ( Λθ ·) protrudes, the tongue (42 *) being substantially parallel with the first shoulder (29 '). 4. Electrical connector for use in a connection The arrangement of claim 1, having a substantially flat web portion having an elongated side wall, which extends from an edge of the web part, and with a struck out of the web part tongue and an elongated tongue Conductor connection part and a contact spring arm, which also extends from the web part, characterized in that the Contact arm (46; 46 ·) from one end of the side wall (4l; 4l>) and the conductor connecting part (36; 36 ') from a longitudinal edge the side wall (4l; 4l ·) and that the tongue (42; 42 ') at a right angle to the connecting part (365 36 ') and transversely to the contact arm (46; 46'). 5. Terminal according to claim 4, characterized in that the web part (40; 40 ·) has a further elongated side wall (4l; 4l ·) which extends from the opposite edge of the web part (40; 40 ') to the first-mentioned side wall (4l ; 4l ') extends, and a further contact spring arm (46; 46 ·) which extends from one end of the second side wall (4lj 4I ¹ ) in the same general direction as the first-mentioned contact ^{arm (46; 46 s} ), the arms (46; 46) opposite con 209835/0765 have tact surfaces and at one introduced between them Attack contact element (4; 73) 6. Terminal according to claim 4 or 5 »characterized in that the tongue (42 ') extends from the same side of the web part (40 ^! ) As each side wall (4lj 4l') and has a nose (78), which in relation on the tongue (42 ') is bent at a right angle and protrudes between the side walls (4l; 4l'), and that the tongue (42 ') has a shoulder (76) on each side of the nose (78), wherein these shoulders (76) are substantially coplanar with the nose (78). 7. Tool for pulling out a tab-type connector from the slot of the block of a connector arrangement according to claim 3j, characterized in that that a first (86) and a second (88) arm are connected to one another in such a way that they have one extending in the axial direction Perform relative movement so that the arms (86, 88) can be inserted through the channel (10 ·) and into the slot (20 ·), wherein in
the first arm (86) / a position located between the tongue (42 ·) and the web portion (40 ·) of the connector is movable and the second arm (88) extends parallel to the web portion (40 ·) and a cam surface (IO6 ) and is displaceable relative to the first arm (86) so that the cam surface (106) engages the tongue (42 ') and deflects it in the direction of the first arm (86) and the tongue (42 ¹ ) in it holds the bent position, and that the first arm (86) has a stop (94) which then engages under the nose (78) of the tongue (42) so that the connecting terminal (5 ¹ ) is pulled out by pulling out the arms (86, 88) of the tool (82) from the slot (20 ·) is also removed from the slot (20 ·). 8. Tool according to claim 7 »characterized in that the first arm (86) one to the rear 209835/0765 bent tip (9 ^) which forms the stop (9 ^) engaging under the nose (78) of the tongue (k2 ^t ), that the tool is formed from band-shaped spring steel and that the tool has a loop forming a handle (84) which connects the arms (86, 88), the first arm (86) being L-shaped in cross-section and having a notch (98) which receives a stop (96) on the second arm (88) to limit the relative axial movement of the arms (86,88). 20983S / 076S Blank page