EP0005370B1 - Electrical connector - Google Patents
Electrical connector Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0005370B1 EP0005370B1 EP79300770A EP79300770A EP0005370B1 EP 0005370 B1 EP0005370 B1 EP 0005370B1 EP 79300770 A EP79300770 A EP 79300770A EP 79300770 A EP79300770 A EP 79300770A EP 0005370 B1 EP0005370 B1 EP 0005370B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- terminal
- finger
- connector
- engagement
- extension
- 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
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000002788 crimping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000881 depressing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000994 depressogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011810 insulating material Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/02—Contact members
- H01R13/20—Pins, blades, or sockets shaped, or provided with separate member, to retain co-operating parts together
-
- 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
- H01R13/02—Contact members
- H01R13/10—Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades
- H01R13/11—Resilient sockets
- H01R13/115—U-shaped sockets having inwardly bent legs, e.g. spade type
-
- 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
- H01R13/50—Bases; Cases formed as an integral body
Definitions
- This invention relates to electrical connectors which can be removed from a terminal by applying a small force when required but resist pulling on the cable or other conductor connected to the contact of the connector.
- Connectors of this type are known in which the connector includes a forwardly-projecting resilient cantilever finger having a rear facing shoulder for latching engagement with an oppositely facing rigid shoulder on the terminal, the free-end of the finger having an extension for engagement with a suitable tool for unlatching the connector from the terminal.
- This type of connector is described in UK Patent Specification 1080420.
- An alternative form of known connector as described in UK Patent Specification No. 1463751 has a rearwardly projecting resilient cantilever finger. This connector latches to a terminal in a similar manner to the previous connector, but is released by depressing the free-end of the finger, preferably by pulling the connector housing.
- the first connector requires the use of a special tool to release the connector from a terminal.
- the second connector has the disadvantage that the extension of the finger needs to be a considerable distance from the rear-facing shoulder on the finger, and hence the free-end of the finger has to be depressed a considerable amount in order to release the latching engagement of the rear-facing shoulder with the terminal.
- an electrical connector comprises an electric contact engageable with a terminal by moving the connector in a forward direction into engagement with the terminal, a resilient cantilever finger having a rear-facing shoulder for latching engagement with an oppositely facing rigid shoulder on the terminal, the free-end of the finger having an extension for engagement for unlatching the connector from the terminal by flexing the finger to release the latching engagement, and a housing having a formation so shaped that when the housing moves in the rearward direction with respect to the contact the formation will engage the extension of the finger to release the latching engagement, allowing the connector to be removed from the terminal characterised in that the finger projects forwardly.
- the extension of the finger and/or the engaging formation on the housing has a flat surface oblique to the mating axis for engaging the other.
- the invention also includes a two-part electrical coupling comprising the connector described and a terminal having a forwardly facing rigid shoulder for engagement with it in the manner described.
- a two-part electrical coupling comprising the connector described and a terminal having a forwardly facing rigid shoulder for engagement with it in the manner described.
- the cantilever finger of the connector is so shaped that when the connector is engaged with the terminal, the terminal abuts a part of the finger to inhibit further relative movement.
- This invention does not require the use of a special unlatching tool, and the rear-facing shoulder on the cantilever finger can be positioned adjacent the extension of the finger so that a small amount of movement of the free-end of the finger will release the latching engagement of the rear-facing shoulder with the terminal.
- the contact and the finger are stamped in one piece from sheet metal.
- the housing will be made from insulating material and in this case, one housing may be common to several connectors.
- the coupling 1 comprises a connector 2 having a sheet-metal contact 3 which has a part 9 which is crimped to a conductor 4 and joined to a part having a channel cross-section 5, the free ends of the arms 6 being curved inwards whereby to engages a blade terminal 7.
- the contact 3 has a cantilever finger 8 pressed out from the base of the channel part 5, one end remaining attached to the contact 3 between the channel part 5 and the crimping part 9.
- the finger 8 is bent to form a first part 20 extending upwards, approximately normal to the mating axis, from this end, a second part 11 extending forwards, approximately parallel to the mating axis, and an extension 12 at the free-end extends at an oblique angle away from the mating axis.
- the upward part 10 of the finger 8 abuts the terminal 7, inhibiting further relative movement.
- a rear-facing tab 13 is pressed down from the forward part 11 of the finger 8 near its free-end, to form a shoulder 14 which latchingly engages the edge of a hole 1 5 in the blade terminal 7.
- the connector 2 also has an insulating housing 16 surrounding the contact 3.
- the housing has a rearwardly directed formation 17 with a surface 18 oblique to the mating axis in the same direction as the oblique extension -12 of the finger 8 on the in S óde of the housing 16 at the blade terminal entry aperture 19.
- the surface 18 of the formation 17 engages under the epoque extension 12 of the finger 8, lifting the 13 on the finger 8 out of the hole 15 in the blade terminal 7, allowing the connector 2 to slide freely from the terminal 7.
- the length of the sheet-metal blank from which this contact is made does not have to be increased to allow the addition of a cantilever finger.
- the upward part 10 of the finger 8 also prevents the conductor 4 from being inserted too far into the connector 2 before the conductor 4 is crimped to the connector 2.
Landscapes
- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
- Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to electrical connectors which can be removed from a terminal by applying a small force when required but resist pulling on the cable or other conductor connected to the contact of the connector.
- Connectors of this type are known in which the connector includes a forwardly-projecting resilient cantilever finger having a rear facing shoulder for latching engagement with an oppositely facing rigid shoulder on the terminal, the free-end of the finger having an extension for engagement with a suitable tool for unlatching the connector from the terminal. This type of connector is described in UK Patent Specification 1080420.
- An alternative form of known connector as described in UK Patent Specification No. 1463751 has a rearwardly projecting resilient cantilever finger. This connector latches to a terminal in a similar manner to the previous connector, but is released by depressing the free-end of the finger, preferably by pulling the connector housing.
- Both these connectors have disadvantages. The first connector requires the use of a special tool to release the connector from a terminal. The second connector has the disadvantage that the extension of the finger needs to be a considerable distance from the rear-facing shoulder on the finger, and hence the free-end of the finger has to be depressed a considerable amount in order to release the latching engagement of the rear-facing shoulder with the terminal.
- According to the invention an electrical connector comprises an electric contact engageable with a terminal by moving the connector in a forward direction into engagement with the terminal, a resilient cantilever finger having a rear-facing shoulder for latching engagement with an oppositely facing rigid shoulder on the terminal, the free-end of the finger having an extension for engagement for unlatching the connector from the terminal by flexing the finger to release the latching engagement, and a housing having a formation so shaped that when the housing moves in the rearward direction with respect to the contact the formation will engage the extension of the finger to release the latching engagement, allowing the connector to be removed from the terminal characterised in that the finger projects forwardly.
- Preferably the extension of the finger and/or the engaging formation on the housing has a flat surface oblique to the mating axis for engaging the other.
- The invention also includes a two-part electrical coupling comprising the connector described and a terminal having a forwardly facing rigid shoulder for engagement with it in the manner described. Preferably the cantilever finger of the connector is so shaped that when the connector is engaged with the terminal, the terminal abuts a part of the finger to inhibit further relative movement.
- This invention does not require the use of a special unlatching tool, and the rear-facing shoulder on the cantilever finger can be positioned adjacent the extension of the finger so that a small amount of movement of the free-end of the finger will release the latching engagement of the rear-facing shoulder with the terminal.
- Preferably the contact and the finger are stamped in one piece from sheet metal.
- Under normal circumstances the housing will be made from insulating material and in this case, one housing may be common to several connectors.
- An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view on the line I-I in Figure 2 of a coupling in accordance with the invention; and
- Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line II-II in Figure 1, with the blade terminal omitted.
- The coupling 1 comprises a connector 2 having a sheet-metal contact 3 which has a part 9 which is crimped to a conductor 4 and joined to a part having a
channel cross-section 5, the free ends of thearms 6 being curved inwards whereby to engages a blade terminal 7. The contact 3 has acantilever finger 8 pressed out from the base of thechannel part 5, one end remaining attached to the contact 3 between thechannel part 5 and the crimping part 9. Thefinger 8 is bent to form a first part 20 extending upwards, approximately normal to the mating axis, from this end, asecond part 11 extending forwards, approximately parallel to the mating axis, and anextension 12 at the free-end extends at an oblique angle away from the mating axis. Theupward part 10 of thefinger 8 abuts the terminal 7, inhibiting further relative movement. A rear-facingtab 13 is pressed down from theforward part 11 of thefinger 8 near its free-end, to form ashoulder 14 which latchingly engages the edge of a hole 1 5 in the blade terminal 7. The connector 2 also has aninsulating housing 16 surrounding the contact 3. The housing has a rearwardly directedformation 17 with asurface 18 oblique to the mating axis in the same direction as the oblique extension -12 of thefinger 8 on the inSóde of thehousing 16 at the bladeterminal entry aperture 19. When thehousing 16 is moved backwards with respect to the contact 3 thesurface 18 of theformation 17 engages under theepoque extension 12 of thefinger 8, lifting the 13 on thefinger 8 out of thehole 15 in the blade terminal 7, allowing the connector 2 to slide freely from the terminal 7. - The length of the sheet-metal blank from which this contact is made does not have to be increased to allow the addition of a cantilever finger.
- The
upward part 10 of thefinger 8 also prevents the conductor 4 from being inserted too far into the connector 2 before the conductor 4 is crimped to the connector 2.
Claims (3)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AT79300770T ATE208T1 (en) | 1978-05-08 | 1979-05-04 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1816378 | 1978-05-08 | ||
GB1816378 | 1978-05-08 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0005370A1 EP0005370A1 (en) | 1979-11-14 |
EP0005370B1 true EP0005370B1 (en) | 1981-09-09 |
EP0005370B2 EP0005370B2 (en) | 1988-08-24 |
Family
ID=10107735
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP79300770A Expired EP0005370B2 (en) | 1978-05-08 | 1979-05-04 | Electrical connector |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0005370B2 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE208T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE2960773D1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2478383A1 (en) * | 1980-03-11 | 1981-09-18 | Amp France | ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEMBER FOR CONNECTING WITH A MALE CONTACT MEMBER, AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR COMPRISING SUCH A CONTACT MEMBER |
US4407558A (en) * | 1980-05-13 | 1983-10-04 | Smiths Industries Public Limited Company | Electrical connector assemblies for capacitive fluid-gauging probes |
ATE5221T1 (en) * | 1980-06-27 | 1983-11-15 | Amp Incorporated | ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WITH A RELEASE ELEMENT. |
EP0127195B1 (en) * | 1981-06-25 | 1986-10-22 | AMP INCORPORATED (a New Jersey corporation) | Electrical tab receptacle |
US4458971A (en) * | 1982-06-14 | 1984-07-10 | Amp Incorporated | Electrical tab receptacle and connector |
US4448468A (en) * | 1982-07-09 | 1984-05-15 | Amp Incorporated | Receptacle terminal having latching feature |
DE3244939C1 (en) * | 1982-12-04 | 1984-03-29 | Kabelwerke Reinshagen Gmbh, 5600 Wuppertal | Lockable electrical flat receptacle and electrical connector provided with it |
US5525070A (en) * | 1994-04-15 | 1996-06-11 | Panduit Corp. | Positive lock insulated disconnect |
JP3501340B2 (en) | 1998-01-09 | 2004-03-02 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Structure to prevent terminal buckling |
JP3465779B2 (en) * | 1998-01-09 | 2003-11-10 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Prevention of terminal deformation |
FR3051982B1 (en) * | 2016-05-25 | 2022-12-16 | Delphi Int Operations Luxembourg Sarl | MOTOR VEHICLE CONNECTOR HAVING A FEMALE CONTACT WHICH HAS A SOCKET WITH AT LEAST ONE FLEXIBLE TONGUE |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3346834A (en) * | 1964-10-20 | 1967-10-10 | Amp Inc | Feed-thru connector |
US3644872A (en) * | 1970-10-22 | 1972-02-22 | Gen Motors Corp | Hermaphroditic terminal |
US3970353A (en) * | 1974-08-29 | 1976-07-20 | Amp Incorporated | Locking clip |
GB1463751A (en) * | 1974-05-03 | 1977-02-09 | Amp Inc | Electrical tab receptacle |
FR2373896A1 (en) * | 1976-12-10 | 1978-07-07 | Bernier Raymond | Connector parts locking and unlocking device - uses spring-loaded interior bolt and sliding sleeve performing camming action on bolt |
-
1979
- 1979-05-04 DE DE7979300770T patent/DE2960773D1/en not_active Expired
- 1979-05-04 EP EP79300770A patent/EP0005370B2/en not_active Expired
- 1979-05-04 AT AT79300770T patent/ATE208T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0005370B2 (en) | 1988-08-24 |
DE2960773D1 (en) | 1981-11-26 |
EP0005370A1 (en) | 1979-11-14 |
ATE208T1 (en) | 1981-09-15 |
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